New research suggests that improving crop yields has reduced carbon emissions and land use worldwide, but that this might not be the case in the future. The “Green Revolution” refers to the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural technology to increase crop yields. Previous studies have shown that rather than decreasing the amount of land […]
Tag: British Columbia
RNA research could lead to tailored prostate cancer treatment
New genetic research could help doctors predict which treatments will work best for a given prostate cancer patient. Researchers sequenced the RNA – molecules that tell them which genes are being expressed – from tumours in 25 prostate cancer patients. They then cross-referenced the RNA data detailed follow-up information, including reactions to different therapies. They […]
Canola genome decoded
Scientists have decoded the genome of Brassica napus, the plant that gives us canola oil. Developed in the 1970s by researchers from the University of Manitoba, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and National Research Council (NRC) in Saskatoon (“canola” stands for CANadian Oil Low Acid) the crop has gained huge commercial importance. Because Brassica napus […]
How gut bacteria train our immune system
A new study helps shed light on which beneficial bacteria are needed to help train our immune system. Newborn mice were treated with vancomycin or streptomycin, two antibiotics that each kill certain species of gut bacteria but leave others relatively unaffected. Those treated with streptomycin were much more likely to develop a lung condition that […]
Scientists propose ‘roadmap’ to determine the impact of fracking
An international review highlights the knowledge gaps related to the ecological consequences of shale gas development, and sets priorities for future research. The authors point out that shale-drilling operations have increased by more than 700 per cent in the United States since 2007 and that it has occurred mostly in areas of biological diversity, yet […]
Milky Way galaxy may be lighter than previously thought
A new computer simulation has calculated that the mass of our own Milky Way galaxy is about half that of the Andromeda galaxy, one of our closest partners despite previous research. Using the motion and position of “satellite galaxies” researchers have showing that the Milky Way galaxy has a smaller mass than the Andromeda galaxy. The […]
Mixed genes lead to mixed migration
A new study indicates that genetics can have a strong influence on bird migration patterns. Using geolocators strapped to the backs of Swainson’s thrushes researchers were able to map the birds’ migration from British Columbia to South and Central America each year. As expected birds of one population chose one route, while birds of another population chose another. However hybrid […]
Tyrannosaurs travelled together
Well-preserved fossil footprints provide the first trackway evidence that Tyrannosaurs may have travelled in packs. The footprints were found in rocks from northeastern British Columbia and show three Tyrannosaurs travelling in the same direction at the same time, relatively close together. Until now, the evidence for the pack-like nature of Tyrannosaurs relied on the proximity […]
Wind in Southern Ocean influences mixing of the deep ocean
A new study shows that winds in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica influence the rate at which deep ocean waters – which act as a key reservoir for heat, carbon and nutrients – mix with the shallower waters above them. Using data from 20 years worth of satellite and probe-based measurements, researchers mapped out how […]
How salmon evolve to beat the heat
Researchers have discovered a link between egg size of chinook salmon and their ability to deal with warmer temperatures. The team captured spawning salmon and measured examined the genetic and maternal effects acting on the ability of offspring to tolerate heat; they found that mothers with larger eggs have more thermally tolerant offspring. As egg […]
Enzyme detector could lead to greener pulp and paper
Researchers have developed a new process to screen microorganisms for new enzymes that could make pulp and paper processes greener and cheaper. Lignin — one of the main components of wood — is hard to break down and usually requires treatment with harsh chemicals. However, some microorganisms use enzymes to break down lignin in nature. The […]
Phone app provides faster assessment of breathing problems
A phone app that requires users to tap the screen after each breath can provide faster assessment of breathing problems, a new analysis shows. Electrical engineers designed an app that measures the space between breaths and can provide a reasonable estimate of breathing rate in as little as 10 seconds. The traditional way to assess […]
Pacific salmon species benefit each other
The number of juvenile coho salmon in a stream can be up to three times higher if pink or chum salmon were there the season before, according to a new paper. Juvenile coho have been known to scavenge the carcasses or eggs of their cousins, but most of the coho in the latest study emerged […]
Genetics affirm existence of BC’s ‘coastal wolves’
New genetic information affirms what members of the Heiltsuk First Nation have long known: the islands off British Columbia host a population of ‘coastal wolves’ that is distinct but related to that of the timber wolves on the mainland. Examination of genetic markers from DNA collected in wolf droppings shows that coastal wolves are more […]
Most precise measurement of antimatter’s charge
New results from the ALPHA experiment at CERN have provided the most precise measurements yet of the electric charge of antihydrogen. Researchers from the international collaboration – which includes many Canadians – examined whether or not antihydrogen atoms would react to electric fields. They did not and the data indicates that as predicted, antihydrogen is […]
Expert Comments – Carbon Impact of Keystone XL
A study published Sunday in Nature Climate Change uses an economic model to quantify the potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport crude oil from Canadian oil sands projects to refineries in the US. The authors say that previous analyses did not adequately account for the ways […]