News and announcements

Advances in supercomputing have made solving a long-standing astronomical conundrum possible: How can we explain the changes in the chemical composition at the surface of red giant stars as they evolve?   For decades, researchers have been unsure exactly how the changing chemical composition at the centre of a red giant star, caused by nuclear burning, connects to changes in composition at the surface. A stable layer acts as a barrier between the star’s interior and the outer connective envelope, and how elements cross that layer remained a mystery.   In a recent Nature Astronomy paper, researchers at the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Astronomy Research Centre (ARC) and the University of Minnesota solved the problem. 

NASA’s Artemis II mission, a key step toward returning humans to the Moon, has been delayed until at least March 6 due to a hydrogen leak discovered during pre-launch testing. UVic physics and astronomy professor Geoff Steeves says the delay is not unusual and reflects careful safety checks during a critical “wet dress rehearsal.” The mission, which includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will test new spacecraft systems and marks a major milestone in deep-space exploration since humans last traveled beyond low Earth orbit more than 50 years ago.

As detectors and sensors and instruments of all kinds become increasingly sensitive, research generates orders of magnitude more data than ever. Scientists have developed methods and infrastructure to transfer those vast quantities of data more quickly, says Randall Sobie, research scientist at the Institute of Particle Physics, of which the University of Victoria (UVic) is a key member. Now, UVic researchers have labelled the data and—critically—proved that the labels did not slow down the process. 

Thomas Baker, physicist, chemist and Canada Research Chair in Quantum Computing for Modelling of Molecules and Materials, is building Canada’s quantum expertise. Although quantum theory is a century old, quantum applications are still fledgling. So, Baker is developing algorithms for materials and technologies that can simulate the benefits that scientists are aiming for in quantum computers — the incomparable speed, the exceptional data capacity, the relatively modest physical size.

According to popular media, the search for alien life involves advanced technology, space exploration and sometimes even government conspiracies and secret programs. But according to University of Victoria (UVic) astronomer Jon Willis, author of "The Pale Blue Data Point: An Earth-Based Perspective on the Search for Alien Life", the search for alien life actually begins right in our own backyard.

University of Victoria (UVic) physicist Dominique Trischuk studies some of the tiniest pieces of the universe, particles so small they’re invisible to even the most powerful microscopes. But while her focus is on the minuscule, her questions, and the tools she’s using to answer them, are anything but small.

A team of researchers at the University of Victoria (UVic) have achieved a major breakthrough in electron microscopy that will allow scientists to visualize atomic-scale structures with unprecedented clarity using lower-cost and lower-energy microscopes than ever before.

Dr. Ruobing Dong has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in recognition of his pioneering research on exoplanets and planetary origins. This honour is one of the highest recognitions for early- to mid-career scholars in Canada.

The excavation of the colossal underground cavern that will house Hyper-Kamiokande, a next-generation neutrino detector in Japan was completed on July 31, 2025.

Congratulations to Akshara Viswanathan, who was 1 of 3 outstanding candidates to be awarded the Gruber Fellowship Award for 2025, an award which supports the research of early career researchers.

UVic researchers among Global CERN Teams Awarded 2025 Breakthrough Prize for Expanding Frontiers of Particle Physics.

Congratulations to Jess Speedie, who was announced today as one of the 8 outstanding post-doctoral scientists to be honoured the '51 Pegasi b Fellow Award' for 2025!

Dr. William Thompson of ARC & NRC-Herzberg was named as the recipient of the 2025 CASCA Plaskett Medal & NRC Plaskett Fellowship for the most outstanding doctoral thesis in astronomy or astrophysics.

Dr. Alan McConnachie of ARC & NRC-Herzberg was named as the recipient of the 2025 Peter G. Martin award for mid-career achievement.

A team of Astronomy Research Centre researchers, led by University of Victoria PhD candidate Dori Blakely, have used the James Webb Space Telescope to capture an unprecedented look at planet formation.