While in space, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques is using his vantage point from aboard the International Space Station to explore Earth. Saint-Jacques is observing our planet to better understand its geological, environmental and ecological...
Faculty of Science
Western planetary scientists assist in capturing first full-colour image of NASA InSight using HiRISE space camera
Houston, there is no problem here. Eric Pilles assisted in capturing – for the first-time ever – extraordinary and highly significant scientific images of the NASA InSight robotic lander using HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment), the camera currently...
Black widow spiders rely on posture and body dynamics for survival and sex
A new study led by Western University’s Natasha Mhatre shows that body dynamics and posture are crucial to how black widow spiders decode the important vibrations that travel through their webs and up their legs. Black widows rely on these vibrations for sexual...
Boy meets world: Life-long space buff and Western graduate student discovers exoplanet
Ever since Chris Fox was a young boy, he wanted to visit alien planets. With no immediate plans for such a voyage, the Western University graduate student has done the next best thing. He’s gone and found one. Teamed with Paul Wiegert, Graduate Program Director at...
Canadian Space Agency announces Western’s Sarah Gallagher as its first Science Advisor
Longueuil, Quebec - The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening science in its decision-making, supporting the vital work done by Canadian researchers and ensuring that government science is fully available to the public. In keeping with these national...
New statistical study shows how to rid hospitals of ‘hallway medicine’
A new study from Western University outlines statistics-based solutions to eliminate ‘hallway medicine’ in Canadian hospitals, which was a key talking point during the recent Ontario election. Hospital crowding is always a hot button topic in Canada because emergency...
Western-led research team uncovers lost images from the 19th century using 21st century tech
Art curators will be able to recover images on daguerreotypes, the earliest form of photography that used silver plates, after a team of scientists led by Western University learned how to use light to see through degradation that has occurred over time. Research...
Matt Davison named next Dean of Western’s Faculty of Science
Matt Davison has been appointed to a five-year term as the new Dean of Western University's Faculty of Science, commencing July 1, 2018. Following an eight-month international search, Davison's appointment was approved by the Senior Operations & Policy Committee...
NASA shortlists Western co-investigated project for future launch to Saturn’s largest moon
NASA has shortlisted a revolutionary strategy, co-investigated by a Western University planetary scientist, for a future launch mission that could see a drone-like quadcopter buzz above the surface of Saturn's largest moon. The Dragonfly project would take advantage...
Rate of earthquakes depends on volume of fluids in hydraulic fracturing operations – but the magnitude of the largest possible events does not
New findings published by the high impact journal Science show that the rate in which earthquakes are triggered or induced by fracking depends on the volume of the hydraulic fracturing operations. But the magnitude of the triggered events is not capped - contrary to a...
Western planetary scientist readies for Mars mission with exciting new surface images
The Mars Camera, officially known as CaSSIS (Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System), aboard the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) captured its first high resolution images of the Red Planet last week. The Swiss-led camera worked almost...
Asteroid impacts could create habitats for life, suggests Chicxulub crater study
Scientists studying the Chicxulub crater have shown how large asteroid impacts deform rocks in a way that may produce habitats for early life. Around 65 million years ago a massive asteroid crashed into the Gulf of Mexico causing an impact so huge that the blast and...