https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from University of Waterloo Hydrilla verticillate (hydrilla), one of North America's most invasive species, has been found for the first time in Canada. Dr. Rebecca Rooney, a biology professor, and members of her Waterloo Wetland Laboratory were surveying a secluded section of the Hillman Marsh Conservation Area in Leamington, Ontario, when they found the unexpected species. Upon review, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry confirmed their findings. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-team-invasive-hydrilla-canada.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:48:03 EDT news646584481 A new study by University of Waterloo researchers has found that the majority of young people on social media are dissatisfied with their bodies. Researchers say this is a global issue. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-negative-body-image-teens-global.html Psychology & Psychiatry Pediatrics Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:59:48 EDT news646581583 The skeletal remains of a senior officer of Sir John Franklin's 1845 Northwest Passage expedition have been identified by researchers from the University of Waterloo and Lakehead University using DNA and genealogical analyses. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-dna-analysis-senior-officer-franklin.html Archaeology Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:20:27 EDT news646406419 Quantum information is fragile and often difficult to protect during experiments. Protecting qubits from accidental measurements is essential for controlled quantum operations, especially during state-destroying measurements or resets on adjacent qubits in protocols like quantum error correction. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ion-qubits.html Optics & Photonics Quantum Physics Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:27:54 EDT news646306071 In a temperate montane forest in southern Québec, all is quiet. But if you dig a little deeper, you'll see the landscape has a story to tell. Waterloo plant ecologist Dr. Julie Messier, alongside her collaborators from Sherbrooke, is uncovering vital insights into the changes affecting our forests—knowledge that could be crucial in safeguarding Canada's temperate forests. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-species-survive-global.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:05:03 EDT news645883501 Researchers at the University of Waterloo have designed an energy-efficient device that produces drinking water from seawater using an evaporation process driven largely by the sun. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-09-energy-efficient-device-solar-power.html Engineering Energy & Green Tech Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:03:12 EDT news645278582 Teens who have disposable income, live in a lower-income home or are gender diverse are more likely to use e-cigarettes, according to a new study at the University of Waterloo. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-teens-disposable-income-vape.html Health Addiction Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:27:35 EDT news645103650 In a global first, University of Waterloo researchers have used 3D imaging technology to understand the fine details of microplastics, paving the way for more effective methods of plastic waste recycling. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-3d-imaging-degradation-micro-nanoplastics.html Nanomaterials Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:13:03 EDT news644753581 University of Waterloo researchers have developed a new material that can absorb more than eight times its weight in oil, offering a new solution in preventing groundwater contamination from spills or accidents. The study, "Fabrication of Triblock Elastomer Foams and Gelation Studies for Oil Spill Remediation," was published in Macro Molecular Rapid Communications. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-polymer-foam-aims-oil-cleanup.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:06:03 EDT news644594762 The increasing cost of flood damage has seen property insurance become less affordable for many Canadians. New research from the University of Waterloo shows that if insurers and local governments pooled information on investment in flood-risk management, that data could result in more affordable insurance coverage and premiums. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-canadian-municipalities-availability.html Environment Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:35:03 EDT news644074502 A research team from the University of Waterloo has developed a new material that shares many of the same traits as bone tissue. Using it in 3D printers provides a new and innovative treatment option for patients undergoing major skeletal repair and reconstructive surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-bones-3d.html Surgery Biomedical technology Mon, 26 Aug 2024 09:42:16 EDT news643884132 Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has revolutionized the field of nanoscale nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), making it possible to study a wider range of materials, biomolecules and complex dynamic processes such as how proteins fold and change shape inside a cell. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-advancing-nanoscale-imaging-capabilities-dynamic.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:07:02 EDT news643550821 What makes someone seem wise? People view wisdom through the lens of applying knowledge and thinking logically as well as considering others' feelings and perceptions, finds a new study led by University of Waterloo researchers who looked at perceptions of wisdom across 12 countries and five continents. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-people-wise-key-characteristics-global.html Social Sciences Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:04:03 EDT news643550642 Some patients who receive heart valve implants develop dangerous blood clots, and researchers from the University of Waterloo contributed to an international collaboration that reduces the risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-blood-clots-heart-surgery.html Cardiology Biomedical technology Tue, 20 Aug 2024 11:08:24 EDT news643370900 A recent study from the University of Waterloo has provided critical insights into how penalty severity and social norms influence tax compliance, particularly in the context of COVID-19 relief fraud. The work is published in the Journal of Business Ethics. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-paying-insights-tax-fraud.html Economics & Business Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:01:43 EDT news642859298 Imagine a coat that captures solar energy to keep you cozy on a chilly winter walk, or a shirt that can monitor your heart rate and temperature. Picture clothing athletes can wear to track their performance without the need for bulky battery packs. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-mxene-based-smart-fabric-potential.html Engineering Hi Tech & Innovation Wed, 14 Aug 2024 10:57:03 EDT news642851821 Do you find yourself doom-scrolling, or spending more time than you should consuming negative news on the internet and social media and want to stop? Well, there's now an app for that. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-app-users-transition-doom-scrolling.html Consumer & Gadgets Computer Sciences Mon, 12 Aug 2024 12:32:03 EDT news642684722 There have been ongoing accusations that international students are flooding university towns and taking up all the affordable housing. These narratives paint international students as the culprit, but a new study affirms that there is no basis for blaming international students for Canada's housing crisis and looks to change the narrative. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-international-students-blame-housing-crisis.html Economics & Business Political science Thu, 01 Aug 2024 10:35:20 EDT news641727314 Most self-service interactive devices—kiosks, ATMs and other digital interfaces—don't measure up to the accessibility needs of Canadians who report to have a disability, a new study has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-atms-digital-devices-accessibility.html Health Wed, 31 Jul 2024 10:20:01 EDT news641637779 Policy reform is urgently needed to assist older adults who live in southern U.S. cities and who experience higher-than-expected heat-related health issues if they don't have adequate access to air conditioning, according to a new study by University of Waterloo researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-policy-reform-urged-seniors-air.html Health Gerontology & Geriatrics Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:14:20 EDT news641556855 There's a lot that goes into an Olympic athlete's quest for gold—years of training and rigor—but also, an athlete's age. A team of University of Waterloo students used statistics to figure out when an Olympic track-and-field athletes' peak performance will be. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-age-olympic-athletes-peak.html Sports medicine & Kinesiology Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:32:03 EDT news641043122 The wildfire season of 2023 was the most destructive ever recorded in Canada and a new study suggests the impact was unprecedented. It found that four of the year's wildfires in mine-impacted areas around Yellowknife, Northwest Territories potentially contributed up to half of the arsenic that wildfires emit globally each year. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-yellowknife-unprecedented-arsenic-wildfires.html Earth Sciences Environment Tue, 23 Jul 2024 14:37:04 EDT news640964222 Strawberries could be fewer and more expensive because of higher temperatures caused by climate change, according to research from the University of Waterloo. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-pricier-strawberries-temperatures.html Agriculture Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:10:01 EDT news640451159 Those trying to alleviate back pain after long hours of sitting at work may resort to painkillers, massage, acupuncture or heat therapy—but the solution may be as simple as switching out your office chair. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-traditional-dynamic-chairs-prolonged-seated.html Health Sports medicine & Kinesiology Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:16:15 EDT news640275373 About a third of Canadians feel lonely, and a study from the University of Waterloo shows it has a greater negative impact on memory than even social isolation, though both present a significant risk to the aging population. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-loneliness-age-memory-loss.html Gerontology & Geriatrics Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:33:03 EDT news639837181 If you scroll through the average student's digital textbook or reading, you will probably see multi-colored streaks scattered everywhere. However, new research reveals that excessive highlighting may do more harm than good. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-limited-highlighting-boosts-comprehension.html Education Fri, 05 Jul 2024 12:58:45 EDT news639403122 Accurate models of real-world scenarios are important for bringing theoretical and experimental research together in meaningful ways. Creating these realistic computer models, however, is a very large undertaking. Significant amounts of data, code, and expertise across a wide range of intricate areas are needed to create useful and comprehensive software. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-07-source-software-quantum-cryptography-greater.html Software Security Wed, 03 Jul 2024 12:48:04 EDT news639229678 Two-thirds of people surveyed think that artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT have some degree of consciousness and can have subjective experiences such as feelings and memories, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-07-survey-people-llms-chatgpt-memories.html Consumer & Gadgets Machine learning & AI Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:52:01 EDT news639154319 Underrepresented populations have been historically excluded from clinical trials including women, racial and ethnic minority groups, and pregnant, lactating, pediatric and geriatric populations. While the importance of including these groups in clinical trials is slowly being recognized and remedied, there are still questions about how currently prescribed drugs affect these populations, including the safety and efficacy of the medications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-centering-underrepresented-populations-pharmacy.html Medications Health informatics Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:54:59 EDT news638636095 For the last seven decades, astrophysicists have theorized the existence of "kugelblitze," black holes caused by extremely high concentrations of light. https://phys.org/news/2024-06-quantum-effects-formation-black-holes.html General Physics Quantum Physics Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:25:06 EDT news638436304