Taking the 'neglect' out of neglected global diseases

First superconducting graphene created by UBC physicists

Graphene, the ultra-thin, ultra-strong material made from a single layer of carbon atoms, just got a little more extreme. UBC physicists have been able to create the first superconducting graphene sample by coating it with lithium atoms.

“Decorating monolayer graphene with a layer of lithium atoms enhances the its electron–phonon coupling to the point where superconductivity can be induced,” says Andrea Damascelli, director of UBC’s Quantum Matter Institute and lead scientist of the study outlining the discovery.

Send us your old photos and be #retroUBCscience

UBC Science needs your old snapshots. We are looking for photos that showcase the personal, unique and funny side of our history, from 1915 up to 2000.

UBC researcher helps develop astronomy in West Africa

UBC astronomer Linda Strubbe was busy this summer helping organize the second West African International Summer School of Young Astronomers. The program, held in Nsukka in South-East Nigeria, supports 50 university students.

The summer school began in 2013 and is the brainchild of Nigerian astronomer Bonaventure Okere. Okere met Strubbe at a conference in 2012 and talked about his ideas for developing astronomy in West Africa. Strubbe jumped at the opportunity to work with him to create the international summer school.

Asteroid bombardments might have made Earth habitable

Earth's first crust — rich in radioactive heat-producing elements such as uranium and potassium — was torn from the planet when asteroids bombarded it early in its history. The finding by UBC and University of California researchers could explain why our planet didn't end up like present-day Venus.

Climate scientist recognized by UBC

Gordon McBean (BSc’64, PhD’70), an internationally recognized climate scientist who shared the 2007 Nobel Prize, will receive a UBC Alumni Award of Distinction in October. McBean is president of the International Council for Science, and played a key role in the development of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with IPCC colleagues, including Al Gore.

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In Memoriam: Dr Peter Rastall (1931-2015)

Professor Emeritus Peter Rastall passed away on March 27, 2015. Rastall studied at the University of Manchester, coming to UBC in 1957, where he was professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy until his retirement in 1996. In addition to his love of physics he had a passion for spelling which led him to publish a paper titled Whole Language and Phonetic Spelling.

PHAS is celebrating the UBC100!

As a founding department of UBC, PHAS will be launching various initiatives throughout the year to celebrate this milestone. Stay tuned for more PHAS excitement in the coming months as we launch public lectures, an open house, and an alumni reunion!

To read more about the history of the UBC 100, please visit: http://100.ubc.ca/

Botanists conduct first large-scale genetic study of marijuana, hemp

The first large-scale genetic study of marijuana and hemp, co-authored by UBC botanist Jonathan Page, is providing a clearer picture of the genetic organization of cannabis.

“The genetic difference between marijuana and hemp has legal implications in many countries,” says Page. “Right now, the genetic identity of a marijuana strain can’t be accurately determined by its name or reported ancestry. We require a practical, accurate and more reliable classification system of this plant.”