News archive - May 2020

Thursday, May 28, 2020

How atomic physics is central to the new definition of the kilogram

Standard measurement units like the meter and the kilogram used to be defined by physical objects, such as a prototype bar and a platinum cylinder. As of May 2019, all measurement units are now defined by the cesium atom and the fundamental constants of the universe.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Seed fund backs $2.8M in new quantum ideas at the University of Waterloo

Improving thermal medical imaging of the eye with a new quantum camera and new class of semiconductor quantum materials are among the goals of six projects recently supported by the Quantum Quest Seed Fund (QQSF).

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Beyond the Bulletin interviews microbiologist Trevor Charles about COVID-19 on surfaces

Beyond the Bulletin with 2 vintage microphones on a yellow background.

Trevor Charles, a professor from the Department of Biology and Director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research, visited the Beyond the Bulletin Podcast to talk about COVID-19’s potential to persist on surfaces, ways to mitigate the risk and testing that could help officials monitor the level of infection in communities (9:22 to 27:47).

Monday, May 25, 2020

Pharmacy professor named Canadian Pharmacist of the Year

Kelly Grindrod never was your traditional neighbourhood pharmacist.

An educator and practicing pharmacist, Grindrod holds the OCP Professorship in Pharmacy Innovation for the University of Waterloo. The diversity of her roles and accomplishments led to her receiving the Pharmacist of the Year Award for 2020. This highest distinction for Canadian pharmacists is presented annually by the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the national advocacy body for pharmacy in Canada.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Getting information from nothing - using voids to make cosmological measurements

3-D map constructed by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey

A group of astronomers led by Dr Sesh Nadathur at the University of Portsmouth, and including WCA Director Will Percival, have spent the last 3 years studying large structures in the distribution of galaxies in the Universe to provide the most precise tests of dark energy and cosmic expansion yet.