Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Avoiding the very hungry caterpillar: Herbivores pose unexpected threat to predatory mite eggs
Predators don't expect to be preyed upon, and especially not by herbivores such as caterpillars. The slow-moving, leaf-eating larvae may only intend to consume...
Why some bosses reward 'dark traits' at work, and what it costs later
If you ever wondered why the most ruthless characters in corporate dramas, such as Succession, keep rising to the top, new research from the UBC Sauder School o...
Global trade in wild birds is poorly monitored: The risks to wildlife, ecosystems and human health
Birds have, for centuries, been captured from the wild to be kept in cages—valued for their looks, songs and ability to imitate sounds. Data compiled by the Con...
Physicists zero in on the mass of the fundamental W boson particle
When fundamental particles are heavier or lighter than expected, physicists' understanding of the universe can tip into the unknown. A particle that is just bey...
Countries suffer when credit rating agencies lack data: How to fix the problem at source
Some developing country governments spend years making the reforms that international financial institutions want—only to find that their efforts are not reward...
Why some children with learning difficulties get identified, and others don't
Two children sit in different schools. Both struggle to read. Both have similar low scores on national tests. But while one gets a diagnosis of specific learnin...
Can serendipity be harnessed? Reflecting on unplanned outcomes offers benefits
Superglue, penicillin, X-rays, the pacemaker: All are examples of "happy accidents"—inventions by individuals trying to do one thing, and winding up with someth...
AI uncovers hidden immune defenses inside bacteria
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered thousands of new proteins that protect bacteria from virus attacks using an AI sy...
Seal tooth pendant reveals ancient human culture and long-distance trading
The identity of a mysterious artifact found in Devon almost 160 years ago has finally been revealed. New research has identified it as a pendant made from the t...
The oldest breath: A 300-million-year-old mummy reveals the origins of how amniotes breathe
Every breath you take is an ancient inheritance. The rise and fall of your chest, the intercostal muscles pulling your ribs outward, the rush of air into your l...
Sound-sensing hair bundles in our ears act as tiny thermodynamic machines
The hair cells lining the inner ear are among the most sophisticated structures in the human body: capable of detecting sounds as faint as a whisper, while help...
Neanderthals in Central Europe hunted pond turtles—not for food, but likely for their shells
Neanderthals hunted European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Central Europe, though probably not for food. The careful cleaning of carapace elements at Neuma...