Science

Amateur astronomer Jaskarn “Sid” Sidhu has his own observatory set up at his house in Highlands. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Humble West Shore amateur astronomer not one to bask in glow of asteroid naming

Jaskarn Singh ‘Sid’ Sidhu a dedicated volunteer with Victoria branch of astronomical society

Amateur astronomer Jaskarn “Sid” Sidhu has his own observatory set up at his house in Highlands. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
According to FishSounds.net, fish enjoy lively conversations over the coral reefs. (Photo by Kieran Cox)

University of Victoria researcher helps build global inventory of fish grunts, squeals

Research helps better understand how noise impacts marine life

According to FishSounds.net, fish enjoy lively conversations over the coral reefs. (Photo by Kieran Cox)
RCMP underwater recovery team members Cpl. Todd Kaufmann, left, Cpl. Steve Wells and Const. Tim Cucheran worked with ‘Fab’, a Seamor Marine Chinook ROV to recover a bulldozer operator’s body in Nunavut in February. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo company’s tech recovers body after bulldozer breaks through Arctic ice and sinks

Seamor Marine remotely operated vehicle used in deepest recovery operation in RCMP history

RCMP underwater recovery team members Cpl. Todd Kaufmann, left, Cpl. Steve Wells and Const. Tim Cucheran worked with ‘Fab’, a Seamor Marine Chinook ROV to recover a bulldozer operator’s body in Nunavut in February. (Photo submitted)
Christoph Deeg, Pacific Salmon Foundation researcher. Photo by Alanna D Photography.

New Pacific Salmon Foundation research sheds new light on open ocean survival

Study examines relationship between environmental conditions, pathogens, and gene expression

Christoph Deeg, Pacific Salmon Foundation researcher. Photo by Alanna D Photography.
This is a scanning electron microscope photo of some of the sediment from deep in the core from Topknot Lake (ca. 16,500 years ago), showing the remains of several species of diatoms, the identification of which indicates whether the water in the lake was fresh or marine at that time. In Topknot Lake there is no sign of marine diatoms, implying that relative sea level never rose to the height of the lake (13 metres above modern sea level). Photo: T. Holmes, NRCAN

Parts of Northern Vancouver Island missed by last Ice Age — researchers

Lake on west side of Island not covered by ice, prompting questions about early human habitation

This is a scanning electron microscope photo of some of the sediment from deep in the core from Topknot Lake (ca. 16,500 years ago), showing the remains of several species of diatoms, the identification of which indicates whether the water in the lake was fresh or marine at that time. In Topknot Lake there is no sign of marine diatoms, implying that relative sea level never rose to the height of the lake (13 metres above modern sea level). Photo: T. Holmes, NRCAN
Researchers recovering a core from Little Woss Lake. Photo Duncan McLaren

Parts of Northern Vancouver Island missed by last Ice Age — researchers

Lake on west side of Island not covered by ice, prompting questions about early human habitation

Researchers recovering a core from Little Woss Lake. Photo Duncan McLaren
Diplodocids, a type of long-necked sauropod, are seen in a hypothetical artist’s rendering of what they looked like during their lives. Cary Woodruff, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Toronto, and a team of researchers studied a fossil that may provide evidence of the first known case of a bird-style lung disease in a dinosaur. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Western Ontario

Researchers find evidence of first dinosaur with sore throat, flu symptoms

Canadian scientists say long-necked sauropod was feeling crummy from respiratory infection

Diplodocids, a type of long-necked sauropod, are seen in a hypothetical artist’s rendering of what they looked like during their lives. Cary Woodruff, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Toronto, and a team of researchers studied a fossil that may provide evidence of the first known case of a bird-style lung disease in a dinosaur. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Western Ontario
A MarineLabs Data Systems sensor buoy recorded a 17.6 metre rogue wave off Ucluelet’s coast in 2020 that the company believes is the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded. (MarineLabs Data Systems)

Massive rogue wave off Ucluelet reignites alternative energy interest

MarineLabs Data Systems says it is the “most extreme rogue wave ever recorded”

A MarineLabs Data Systems sensor buoy recorded a 17.6 metre rogue wave off Ucluelet’s coast in 2020 that the company believes is the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded. (MarineLabs Data Systems)
Senior biologist Allan Jan holds Methuselah, a 4-foot-long, 40-pound Australian lungfish that was brought to the California Academy of Sciences in 1938 from Australia, in its tank in San Francisco, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Meet Methuselah, the oldest living aquarium fish

1.2-metre Australian lungfish was brought to the San Francisco museum in 1938 from Australia.

Senior biologist Allan Jan holds Methuselah, a 4-foot-long, 40-pound Australian lungfish that was brought to the California Academy of Sciences in 1938 from Australia, in its tank in San Francisco, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
A rockfish. Courtesy Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance.

Researchers uncover and map biological hotspots of B.C.’s Central Coast

Rich groups of rockfish, sponges and corals found, including in fjords and inland channels

A rockfish. Courtesy Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance.
Mark Pathy is seen in his office with a model of the SpaceX starship in Montreal on Monday, November 8, 2021. Pathy is slated to embark in February on a 10-day journey on the maiden voyage of Texas-based Axiom Space paying about 50 million dollars US for the privilege. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Private Canadian astronaut gears up for ‘pain’ experiments in space

Mark Pathy has boarded more than his share of vehicles. He rode…

Mark Pathy is seen in his office with a model of the SpaceX starship in Montreal on Monday, November 8, 2021. Pathy is slated to embark in February on a 10-day journey on the maiden voyage of Texas-based Axiom Space paying about 50 million dollars US for the privilege. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Benjamin Tutolo of the Solid Carbon team measures the pH of water in his laboratory at the University of Calgary. Solid Carbon is led by Ocean Networks Canada, an initiative of UVic. (Photo courtesy of Qin Zhang)

UVic, U-Calgary researchers investigate possibility of CO2 storage in ocean basalt

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions says innovation may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Benjamin Tutolo of the Solid Carbon team measures the pH of water in his laboratory at the University of Calgary. Solid Carbon is led by Ocean Networks Canada, an initiative of UVic. (Photo courtesy of Qin Zhang)
Mayor Fred Haynes meets with several members of the Vancouver Island Life Sciences group. Haynes hopes to ensure innovation in science continues in the district and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Fred Haynes)

Vancouver Island Life Sciences innovators discuss the latest with Saanich mayor

Sciences networking group resumes in-person meetings

Mayor Fred Haynes meets with several members of the Vancouver Island Life Sciences group. Haynes hopes to ensure innovation in science continues in the district and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Fred Haynes)
Shreya Sivakumar is approaching her Grade 12 year at Mount Douglas Secondary and just finished up a summer internship program at the University of Alberta that was tailored to her interests as she gears up for university. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Inclusive research program hosts Saanich Grade 12 student in paid online internship

Shreya Sivakumar participates in summer internship at University of Alberta

Shreya Sivakumar is approaching her Grade 12 year at Mount Douglas Secondary and just finished up a summer internship program at the University of Alberta that was tailored to her interests as she gears up for university. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Matthew Purse (left), Deng Jiang, Derek Scheltens, and Mingrui Qin designed and built a VR hang gliding simulator. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Engineering students showcase 8 innovative capstone projects at Saanich campus

Eight innovative capstone projects were showcased in total at the Aug. 20 event

Matthew Purse (left), Deng Jiang, Derek Scheltens, and Mingrui Qin designed and built a VR hang gliding simulator. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Sophia Teghtmeyer is this year’s sole Canadian in the American Fisheries Society’s Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program. She has worked this summer in the University of Victoria lab of researcher Francis Juanes. (Sophia Teghtmeyer)

Esquimalt High student lone Canadian in international fisheries program

Sophia Teghtmeyer studying the effects of noise pollution on fish at UVic

Sophia Teghtmeyer is this year’s sole Canadian in the American Fisheries Society’s Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program. She has worked this summer in the University of Victoria lab of researcher Francis Juanes. (Sophia Teghtmeyer)
Camille Zimmer, right, is a PhD candidate studying water treatment methods for hikers. Alice Gentleman landed a dream summer job as Zimmer’s lab technician. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

UVic student proves it’s possible to earn a PhD at the beach

The engineering PhD candidate is studying hiker’s water quality on Juan de Fuca Trail

Camille Zimmer, right, is a PhD candidate studying water treatment methods for hikers. Alice Gentleman landed a dream summer job as Zimmer’s lab technician. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
(The Canadian Press photo)

An ocean menace: Study finds ghost gear capturing species at risk and lobster

‘We can actually make more money if we clean up our act’

(The Canadian Press photo)
The Sardinia Radio Telescope, located in Sardinia, Italy. Credit: S. Fatigoni et al (2021)

B.C. scientists capture most-detailed radio image of the Milky Way’s sister galaxy

Scientists first to create a radio image of the Andromeda Galaxy at the microwave frequency of 6.6 GHz

The Sardinia Radio Telescope, located in Sardinia, Italy. Credit: S. Fatigoni et al (2021)
Bill Merilees, a retired B.C. Parks regional information officer, collected mollusk shells from B.C. and Washington state coastlines for 50 years and has donated his 140,000-specimen collection to University of British Columbia’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo man donates 140,000 mollusk specimens to biodiversity museum

UBC’s Beaty museum grateful for Bill Merilees’s historical record of B.C. marine biodiversity

Bill Merilees, a retired B.C. Parks regional information officer, collected mollusk shells from B.C. and Washington state coastlines for 50 years and has donated his 140,000-specimen collection to University of British Columbia’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)