UBC Science

Alexis Bahl: tiny ocean drifters and global climate change - give UBC Alexis is uncovering the surprising role of tiny, gelatinous creatures called salps in the fight against climate change.

Alexis Bahl’s journey to the West Coast reflects her dedication to researching the ocean’s drifting zooplankton and advancing climate policy--thanks to essential donor funding. Learn more about the Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences PhD candidate give.ubc.ca/impact-stori...

Surprising Study Finds Potatoes Evolved From Tomato Ancestor You say potato, I say tomato? Turns out one helped create the other: Natural interbreeding between wild tomatoes and potato-like plants in South America gave rise to the modern day spud around nine mi...

Interbreeding between wild tomatoes and potato-like plants in South America gave rise to the modern day spud around nine million years ago #UBC’s Dr. Loren Rieseberg, says the findings point to a "profound shift" in evolutionary biology www.sciencealert.com/surprising-s...

UBC scientists may have found the reason for a mass Pacific oyster die-off Pacific oysters are the most widely farmed shellfish in the world, but have recently been dying in large numbers. Curtis Suttle, a marine microbiology professor at the University of B.C., says that th...

Pacific oysters have been dying in large numbers. Dr. Curtis Suttle, a marine microbiology professor at the #UBC, says that the reason for the die-off could be a previously unknown virus that is a distant relative of coronaviruses: t.co/VbASrGLJjk www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

Scientists identify bacterium behind devastating wasting disease in starfish After 90% loss of global sunflower sea star population in 10 years, researchers hope decline can now be tackled

"In the absence of sunflower stars, sea urchin populations increase, which means the loss of kelp forests, and that has broad implications for all the other marine species." #UBC scientists identify bacterium behind devastating wasting disease in starfish: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New mega RNA virus may hold the key to mass oyster die-offs Scientists have discovered a previously unknown virus in farmed Pacific oysters during a mass die-off in B.C., Canada.

#UBC scientists have discovered a previously unknown virus in farmed Pacific oysters during a mass die-off in B.C., Canada.
The discovery serves as a reminder that growers should exercise caution when moving young oysters internationally and domestically: science.ubc.ca/news/2025-08...

‘Disease detectives’ discover cause of sea star wasting disease that wiped out billions of sea stars Researchers have identified the cause of the wasting disease that has killed billions of sea stars from Mexico to Alaska since 2013: a strain of the Vibrio pectenicida bacteria.

‘Disease detectives’ at #UBC, the Hakai Institute and the University of Washington have discovered the cause of a wasting disease that wiped out billions of sea stars: science.ubc.ca/news/2025-08...

Wildlife show wide range of responses to human presence in U.S. national parks The presence of humans and human infrastructure in U.S. national parks has lasting effects on the behaviours of the large animals that call them home, according to a new study.

Zoologists look at the complex ways animals responded to the COVID Anthropause in US national parks: “Some species are just more wary of people than others ... while others have learned to associate humans with some benefit.” science.ubc.ca/news/2025-07...

Nations will see half their straddling fish stocks move toward the high seas by 2050 Fish stocks are on the move due to climate change, impacting the sustainability of important fisheries.

New research from #UBC #fisheries experts indicates nations will see half their straddling fish stocks move toward the high seas by 2050. The shift to international waters could complicate conservation efforts: science.ubc.ca/news/2025-07...

Scuba Diving Generates Up to $20 Billion Annually - environment coastal & offshore An international study estimates that scuba diving contributes between $8.5 and $20.4 billion to the global economy each year.

New #UBC research estimates that scuba diving contributes between $8.5 and $20.4 billion to the global economy each year ecomagazine.com/news/coastal...

We’re incredibly proud of Canada’s 2025 National Physics Olympiad team — trained right here at #UBC! They just brought home three silver and two bronze medals for Canada in Paris! @ipho2025 www.ipho2025.fr/final-result...

What is block-cave mining and why are mines transitioning to it? Three drillers have been freed from being trapped underground at the Red Chris Mine in northern B.C, a site transitioning from open-pit to block-cave mining. Erik Eberhardt, a professor of geological ...

#UBC geologist Erik Eberhardt discusses the transition to block cave mining in the wake of the Red Chris Mine collapse: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

JOB POSTINGS:
1. Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Ecological Modelling
2. Canadian Excellence Research Chair in AI for Improving Patient Outcomes and Enhancing Health Service Delivery
3. Assistant Professor of Teaching in STEM Public Engagement
science.ubc.ca/about/careers

South Australia algal bloom a 'natural disaster,' state's premier says, as species wiped out | CBC News South Australia's state premier has declared a toxic algal bloom a "natural disaster" amid thousands of marine animal deaths, as well as impacts to tourism and seafood farming.

A toxic algal bloom in Australian waters has killed thousands of marine animals.

"Once an algal bloom has flourished, all that can really be done is to leave it to die on its own," said @ubcbotany.bsky.social prof Dr. Patrick Martone. #ClimateChange

www.cbc.ca/news/climate...

Microbiology and Immunology and the Michael Smith Labs are seeking candidates for an Assistant Professor of Teaching in STEM Public Engagement position.

Learn more and apply at: www.msl.ubc.ca/careers/

#IndigenousinSTEM #BlackInNature #WomenInSTEM #MinoritiesInSTEM #DiversityInSTEM #STEMEducation

Want a Carbon Fix? It’s Closer than You Think | The Tyee While Canada bets big on engineered tech, experts say nature still offers our best climate solutions.

With restorative work Canada’s western ecosystems can absorb greenhouse gases better than any current technology. “It's not just the plants, because the animals are fundamental parts of those ecosystems,” says Kai Chan of ubcires.bsky.social. Via @thetyee.ca

thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

Nature vs. nurture beliefs are still holding women back in STEM - UBC News New research explores how everyday assumptions—not just policies—can quietly steer women away from system-focused roles in STEM.

New research explores how everyday assumptions — not just policies — can quietly steer #women away from system-focused roles in #STEM. news.ubc.ca/2025/07/tech... @ubcpsych.bsky.social

Shell company: Victoria venture aims to harness the power of oyster shells Their first product is a soil amendment made from the shells and coffee waste. But they say one critical way to recycle the shells is to return them to the ocean

Marine ecologist Dr. Chris Harley supports shell re-introduction on BC's coast despite the risk of invasive species: "We could absolutely test whether my intuition on that is correct by ... swabbing things and sequencing.”
@ubcoceans.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca

www.timescolonist.com/islander/she...

Colonization devastated biodiversity, habitats and human life in the Pacific Northwest Community-based research led by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation offers insight into how colonization has impacted the waters around Vancouver.

Through a collaborative research project between the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Nation, we assessed the impact of colonization on the Burrard Inlet ecosystem since Europeans first settled in the area.
theconversation.com/colonization... @theconversation.com @mefford.bsky.social

How Vancouver's urban orcas create connections and community among followers VANCOUVER — Chatchawan Jaksuwong says he used to feel empty when he looked at the ocean.

"We can't be like, 'Oh, they're recovered enough, so now let's go ahead and build this new pipeline or increase shipping traffic.' Those are all things that still concern us," says Dr. Andrew Trites about #SalishSea #orcas.
@ubcoceans.bsky.social

www.vancouverisawesome.com/national-bus...

Linking individual animal behavior to species range shifts under climate change Climate change has led animal species to shift their ranges to greater elevations, latitudes, and depths, tracking their preferred abiotic niche. Howe…

The first paper from my postdoc is finally out! In collaboration with @kaitlyngaynor.bsky.social and Amy Angert, we outline how behavioral plasticity influences animal species’ distributions and can improve our understanding of range shifts under climate change! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

University of British Columbia physicist Dr. Meigan Aronson

Studies of exotic materials called “strange metals” point to a whole new way to understand electricity. "Maybe electrons are not the fundamental particle in condensed matter physics,” says UBC physicist Dr. Meigan Aronson of @ubcphas.bsky.social. Via @science.org

www.science.org/content/arti...

Unstructured text data a ‘gold mine’ for AI language processing CLEVELAND — Patients with chronic diseases may have files that include dozens of clinical records that providers may not have time to read thoroughly. A presenter at Cleveland Clinic’s A.I...

“In our health care system, there really is a lot of text data that we never really have the time and the power to dig into,” says Dr. Raymond Ng of @cs.ubc.ca. “This is where AI large language modeling is going to help us.”

www.healio.com/news/pediatr...

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids But Why is a show led by kids. They ask the questions and we find the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end o...

Who created math problems? Why do numbers go on forever?

@ubcmath.bsky.social prof Dr. Melania Alvarez helps ‪@npr.org‬ answer all kinds of math questions from kids:

www.npr.org/podcasts/474...

Big Brother gets new powers in China with digital ID system China is launching a digital ID system, giving Beijing greater control over online activity and further raising concerns about surveillance and censorship.

‪Paywall:

@cs.ubc.ca‬ prof Dr. Nguyen Phong Hoang discusses China's new government-run digital ID system via @washingtonpost.com‬

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Ecological Modelling Academic Job Category Faculty Bargaining Job Title Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Ecological Modelling Department Faculty | Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences | Faculty of Science (Erik...

SEEKING: Canada Excellence Research Chair in #Ocean #Ecological #Modelling. #Professor or #Associateprofessor level with #tenure.
ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...
@science.ubc.ca @eoas.ubc.ca

50 years after Jaws, will B.C. ever see more great white sharks? | CBC News Fifty years after Steven Spielberg's Jaws set the template for the Hollywood summer blockbuster movie, the spectre of a great white shark attack still looms over ocean swimmers — but scientists say B....

"The great white is really, really rare—although maybe it'll be more common in another 50 years when we do another anniversary for Jaws," said Dr. Andrew Trites of @ubcoceans.bsky.social. "Maybe then we can talk about great whites because ... the waters are warming."

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Vancouver harbour a buffet of seals and sea lions for Bigg's orcas Sightings of Bigg's killer whales in the Vancouver and Victoria harbours have increased 'significantly' this year, say whale observers.

The population of Bigg’s killer whales has grown into the hundreds since the government stopped culling harbour seals and sea lions. In stark contrast there are only 73 endangered southern resident #orcas left.

@ubcoceans.bsky.social

vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...

UBC is recruiting a new Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ocean Ecological Modelling. This is a great opportunity for a mid-career scientist studying our changing oceans - CERCs are the best funded research chairs in the Canadian research system.
research.ubc.ca/media/file/c...

Male Guppies With Orange Spots 2X More Sexually Active Than Dull Males, UBC Study Finds - Karmactive Orange male guppies perform sexual displays twice as long and attempt mating 200% more than dull males. UBC scientists link bright coloration to brain development in genetic breakthrough study.

“Previously, people thought perhaps males realized that if they were more orange, they were more sexy,” explains Dr. Judith Mank of @zoology.ubc.ca.

www.karmactive.com/male-guppies...

POSTING: @ubcoceans.bsky.social and @eoas.ubc.ca are recruiting for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Ocean Ecological Modelling. Associate #Professor or Professor, with tenure.

Deadline: September 12, 2025

research.ubc.ca/media/file/c...