Study gives a rare glimpse into urban behaviour of birds of prey
A popular Edmonton, Alberta landmark for local birdwatchers is teaching some valuable lessons about falcons – some of the most difficult raptors to observe. The Alberta Grain Terminal, a hulking brick structure in west Edmonton that’s been used to load grain rail cars for 96 years, is also a hotspot for pigeons and their predators,…
When University of Alberta pediatric cardiologist Lori West was put in charge of the transplant program at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children in 1994, the situation was dire for newborns with bad hearts. Up until the first infant heart transplant in 1986, children born with certain kinds of heart malformations had a 100 per cent…
Study could help health professionals understand what motivates patients to live on their own terms despite dealing with persistent pain
Chronic back pain can keep us from living our best lives, but a University of Alberta study shows why some people don’t let it stop them. The research, published in the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, sheds light on what motivates people to soldier through their persistent pain. The qualitative study is one of just a handful that…
U of A nursing researcher’s new study seeks input from family members and facilities to understand impact, plan for next pandemic
COVID-19 visitor restrictions may be even harder on residents of assisted living homes than on those in long-term care because of the vital role family caregivers play in helping with essential care tasks, according to Matthias Hoben, an assistant professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Nursing. “In assisted living, the residents are more independent and…
Follow the evidence - and science
Timothy Caulfield suggests trying the following thought experiment. It’s far-fetched to be sure, but to test the “stranger danger” hypothesis – known to cause considerable anxiety among today’s parents – imagine placing your child alone on the street as bait for some shady character in a white van. How long would it take for that child…
Answer to a fundamental question that has eluded scientists since the discovery of DNA
University of Alberta researchers have found an answer to a fundamental question in genomic biology that has eluded scientists since the discovery of DNA: Within the nucleus of our cells, is the complex package of DNA and proteins called chromatin a solid or a liquid? In a study published in the journal Cell, the research team, led…
U of A study shows anxiety, depression more likely among football players after a concussion than after other body injuries
Elite athletes report more anxiety and depression in the immediate aftermath of a concussion than those who have suffered an orthopedic injury, according to a concussion study that further builds the case that head injuries are an injury unlike any other. “Athletes get injured all the time and they have to deal with the stress of…
U of A physicists discover surprising new findings about how our planet’s magnetic field controls space weather as it shields us from solar wind
University of Alberta physicists have discovered a surprising imbalance in how the Earth responds to space weather driven by the sun. Energy generated as the electrically charged particles in solar wind hit the Earth result in more electromagnetic energy heading towards the magnetic north pole than to the magnetic south pole. The sun bathes our…
On the anniversary of the tragedy, the University of Alberta remembers the colleagues and friends who were lost
Russ Greiner’s artificial intelligence lab is made up of 15 or so grad students, post-docs and others who hold cheerful, heartfelt meetings, and why wouldn’t they? It’s a cohesive group made up of more friends than colleagues. And the one person most responsible for that cohesion during the 2019 iteration of the team was master’s…
A new University of Alberta observatory opening at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park will give area stargazers a cutting-edge way to enjoy the splendour of the night skies. The Hesje Observatory, located at the Augustana Miquelon Lake Research Station, opens with a virtual ceremony on Jan. 12. It brings the wonders of after-dark skies to the public, as well as…