Top Stories

Archaeologists unearth extraordinary human sculpture in Turkey

Sub-title: 
A "vivid glimpse" into Iron Age, says U of T's Tim Harrison
Author: 
Kim Luke
Picture: 
photo of statue

A beautiful and colossal human sculpture is one of the latest cultural treasures unearthed by an international team at the Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP) excavation site in southeastern Turkey.

The discovery also includes a large semi-circular column base, ornately decorated on one side. Both pieces are from a monumental gate complex that provided access to the upper citadel of Kunulua, capital of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina (ca. 1000-738 BC).

Posted Monday, July 30, 2012

New solar cell sets world record for efficiency

Sub-title: 
Colloidal quantum dot cell is tops in its class
Author: 
Liam Mitchell
Picture: 
photo of sunshine

It’s a research breakthrough that moves the world closer to reliable, low-cost solar energy.

An international group of researchers led by U of T Engineering Professor Ted Sargent has created the most efficient CQD solar cell the world has ever seen – with a record-breaking 7.0% efficiency.

CQD stands for colloidal quantum dot – a type of semiconductor only a few nanometres in size which is used to harvest electricity from the entire solar spectrum, including both visible and invisible wavelengths.

Posted Monday, July 30, 2012

U of T's Josh Binstock at the Olympics

Author: 
Gavin Au-Yeung
Picture: 
photo of Josh Binstock and his partner

Alumnus Josh Binstock and partner Martin Reader defeated John Garcia-Thompson and Steve Grotowski of Great Britain July 28 in the first preliminary-round match for both men's beach volleyball teams. Binstock, a former Varsity Blues athlete, was a University All Canadian first team all-star. He won his ticket to London after winning at the Olympic Trials on his home turf at Ashbridges Bay.

Posted Friday, July 27, 2012

Treating brain cancer in children

Sub-title: 
Study finds important differences between tumours
Author: 
Caitlin McNamee-Lamb
Picture: 
A child playing

An international collaboration led by a team from the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Kids (SickKids) may spark a major shift in treating children with certain brain cancers.

“This is exciting but also daunting,” says Dr. Eric Bouffet, professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. “What we found suggests a huge shift in the way clinicians work and think about medulloblastoma.”

Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2012

U of T's Elodie Li Yuk Lo at the Olympics

Sub-title: 
Alumna digs in with beach volleyball
Author: 
Gavin Au-Yeung
Picture: 
photo of Elodie Li Yuk Lo

As a former Varsity Blues captain and assistant coach, Elodie Li Yuk Lo has found much success in volleyball. The U of T alumna and two-time OUA second team all-star recently secured a berth to represent Mauritius in beach volleyball at the 2012 London Olympic Games – the first-ever appearance for the small island nation.

Now living in France and preparing for the Games, Li Yuk Lo spoke with writer Gavin Au-Yeung about her experiences by phone.

Posted Tuesday, July 24, 2012

How ocean chemistry affects climate change

Sub-title: 
New research suggests "paradigm shift" in understanding
Author: 
Sean Bettam
Picture: 
istock photo of ocean

The words “climate change” may evoke images of humans and fossil fuels but scientists at the University of Toronto and the University of California Santa Cruz are pointing to another cause: the chemistry of the world’s oceans.

The cooling trend of the past 45 million years may have been caused by an event 50 million years ago that altered the world’s seawater, says U of T’s Professor Ulrich Wortmann in the Department of Earth Sciences.

Posted Thursday, July 19, 2012

Astronomers discover "astounding" spiral galaxy

Sub-title: 
Formed a billion years before other spiral galaxies
Author: 
Chris Sasaki
Picture: 
photo of U of T researcher David Law

A team led by an astronomer at the University of Toronto's Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, has discovered a spiral galaxy that appears to have formed a billion years before other spirals.

The galaxy is 10.5 billion light-years from Earth, putting it at a time when the Universe was only three billion years old and spirals were extremely rare.

Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2012

How sleep paralysis works

Sub-title: 
Study may lead to new treatments for sleep disorders
Picture: 
photo of man in bed reaching for alarm clock

New University of Toronto research shows that two powerful brain chemical systems work together to paralyze skeletal muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

The findings, published in the July 18 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, may help scientists better understand the causes of sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, tooth grinding, and REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2012

U of T at the Olympics: Rosie MacLennan

Author: 
Gavin Au-Yeung
Picture: 
photo of Rosie MacLennan performing her sport

Already an established name as a trampoline gymnast, Rosannagh (Rosie) MacLennan began international competition at the age of 11. Her recent successes include a first place finish at the 2011 Pan American Games, just before her fall convocation and two Trampoline World Cup gold medals.

Before heading to London for her second straight summer Olympics, MacLennan spoke with writer Gavin Au-Yeung about trampolines and international competition.

Posted Monday, July 16, 2012

Celebrating Northrop Frye

Author: 
Alec Scott, with files from U of T News
Picture: 
watercolour painting of Northrop Frye

July 14 marks the 100th birthday of the late Northrop Frye - and across Canada, scholars, writers, alumni and fans are remembering and celebrating the legendary professor who transformed literary criticism.

Posted Friday, July 13, 2012
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