CANADIAN RESEARCH NEWS ✦ JUNE 15-19
Self-repairing potholes, whales ahoy!, blocking cancer, and more.
RESEARCH HEADLINES · JUNE 15-19
Self-healing potholes. Orcas come back to feast. Brain cancer drugs. And much more.
As we grumble about potholes (while the brave among us share their DIY solutions on social media), researchers at the University of Waterloo are developing a self-healing solution. Meanwhile, research out of UBC shows that orca and whale conservation efforts are going… swimmingly.
Let’s dig in ↴
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Self-repairing asphalt: Fewer potholes up around the bend
Researchers at the University of Waterloo are developing self-healing asphalt to address Canada’s pothole scourge. More testing is planned, but smoother rides could be around the corner.
“We cannot eliminate cracking; it’s a natural process that happens in asphalt, concrete, in different materials. We’re trying to mitigate it, we’re trying to control it.” — Hassan Baaj / City News
UBC RESEARCH
A whale of a summer: BC orca and whale surge marks a win for conservation
UBC research confirms that killer whales (which are really large dolphins) are now being spotted more than two-thirds of the year in the Salish Sea. They’re joined by Humpback whales as well, which have moved into ancestral feeding grounds.
“For transient killer whales, the recovery of seal and sea lion populations has created what amounts to a year-round buffet. Seals and sea lions were heavily culled until the 1970s, but protections allowed their numbers to recover — and the killer whales followed.” — Taryn Scarff
U OF T RESEARCH
Fat benefits: Full-fat dairy may not be that bad
A University of Toronto study has found evidence that three daily servings of full-fat dairy may not adversely affect body weight, energy metabolism, or blood lipid levels (markers of high cholesterol and increased cardiovascular disease risk).
“Those that had three servings of dairy didn’t have adverse levels of blood cholesterol or lipids or evidence of insulin resistance.” — Dr. Harvey Anderson
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
Blocking brain cancer: New drugs to stop cancer from spreading to the brain
A research team at McMaster University is testing a new drug therapy that can prevent cancer from spreading by stopping the rogue cancer cells right at the primary tumour.
“By identifying patients who are at high risk of developing this type of brain cancer and trying to intercept the metastasizing cells before they can even form a brain tumour, we can transform this fatal disease into one that is entirely preventable.” — Dr. Sheila Singh
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Money worries on the mind: Life satisfaction tied to money perceptions
McGill University researchers found that those who feel poorer than their peers were more likely to report worse well-being, even when income levels were similar. The effect was especially strong among young people.
“No matter how much you have, if you feel worse off than the people you compare yourself to, you are less likely to flourish.” — Dr. Frank Elgar
STOKES ECONOMICS
A million workers: Which sectors need the most workers and skills training?
A new study by Stokes Economics for the Council of Ontario Universities estimates that finance, health care, science and technology will require the most workers over the next 10 years. The report claims Ontario will need more than a million students.
“The professor cautions there is a danger in predicting what the labour market will look like over the next decade and the educational needs to meet those demands. Jones points to three wildcards: dwindling immigration, the disruptive potential of AI, and economic instability.” — CP24
SUNNYBROOK HOSPITAL
Head trauma treatment gap: Women less likely to receive brain trauma care
Recent research from Ontario, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, revealed that women with traumatic brain injuries are 26% less likely than men to receive specialized trauma care.
“It goes from as mild as a concussion, to something so severe that it can cause death in the moment.” — Dr. Natalia Angeloni / CBC
SINAI HEALTH
Hall of Famer: Dr. Bernie Zinman changed the medical world in 2015
Dr. Zinman found that a common diabetes drug could reduce cardiovascular deaths in type 2 diabetes patients. He’s now been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
“His work has not only transformed the treatment of diabetes around the world but has shaped generations of scientists and clinicians here at LTRI and Sinai Health.” — Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras / Sinai Health