Alex Walls
@alexwallsubc.bsky.social
Media relations person for @news.ubc.ca supporting faculties of science, law and graduate studies. I like space and Simpsons references #AuroraBorealis #atthistimeofyear
Reposted by Alex Walls
![Comic. [Two people on shore looking at body of water] PERSON 1: Hey, where’s that big island we were looking at this morning? PERSON 2 with short hair: Oh, it’s underwater. The ocean’s depth here goes up and down by like ten feet every day. PERSON 1: What? PERSON 2: It’s because the planet has a big moon orbiting near the surface. It causes weird gravity effects. PERSON 1: *What???* [caption] People here are used to them, but tides are one of the weirdest and most sci-fi elements of life on Earth.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreidj2tdqhkgoamiqf5reqt7kvbpt26x3cgjxsp4rtwwb46qumcltdq@jpeg)
September 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Moon Man? Moon Hunter? @sciam.bsky.social interviewed UBC alumnus Edward Ashton about discovering almost 200 Saturnian moons:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/satu...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/satu...
How One Astronomer Uncovered Nearly 200 Moons—Around Just One Planet
Scientific American spoke with the astronomer who has contributed to the discovery of two thirds of Saturn’s known moons
www.scientificamerican.com
May 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Moon Man? Moon Hunter? @sciam.bsky.social interviewed UBC alumnus Edward Ashton about discovering almost 200 Saturnian moons:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/satu...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/satu...
Just came across @isaactsoon.bsky.social 's paper title 'Christ’s Cosmetic Hydrotherapy: Blemishes, Wrinkles, and Transformational Waters in Ephesians 5:26-27' and never have I wanted to read a paper more.
brill.com/view/journal...
brill.com/view/journal...
brill.com
May 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Just came across @isaactsoon.bsky.social 's paper title 'Christ’s Cosmetic Hydrotherapy: Blemishes, Wrinkles, and Transformational Waters in Ephesians 5:26-27' and never have I wanted to read a paper more.
brill.com/view/journal...
brill.com/view/journal...
Reposted by Alex Walls
A digestive ‘treasure chest’ shows promise for targeted drug treatment in the gut.
The proof-of-concept study introduced a mechanism called ‘GlycoCaging’ that releases medicine exclusively to the lower gut at doses up to 10x lower than current therapies: bit.ly/3GLvUhC
The proof-of-concept study introduced a mechanism called ‘GlycoCaging’ that releases medicine exclusively to the lower gut at doses up to 10x lower than current therapies: bit.ly/3GLvUhC
A digestive ‘treasure chest’ shows promise for targeted drug treatment in the gut - UBC News
A new approach to drug design can deliver medicine directly to the gut in mice at significantly lower doses than current inflammatory bowel disease treatments.
bit.ly
May 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A digestive ‘treasure chest’ shows promise for targeted drug treatment in the gut.
The proof-of-concept study introduced a mechanism called ‘GlycoCaging’ that releases medicine exclusively to the lower gut at doses up to 10x lower than current therapies: bit.ly/3GLvUhC
The proof-of-concept study introduced a mechanism called ‘GlycoCaging’ that releases medicine exclusively to the lower gut at doses up to 10x lower than current therapies: bit.ly/3GLvUhC
Antihistamines are wonderful, wonderful things. That is all.
April 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Antihistamines are wonderful, wonderful things. That is all.
The new season of The Last of Us has a spore-ting chance at realism
The Last of Us S2 trailers seems to show the zombies releasing air-borne spores, closer to scientific reality for fungal pathogens that infect humans. And it's not the only thing the show gets right.
news.ubc.ca/2025/04/real...
The Last of Us S2 trailers seems to show the zombies releasing air-borne spores, closer to scientific reality for fungal pathogens that infect humans. And it's not the only thing the show gets right.
news.ubc.ca/2025/04/real...
The new season of The Last of Us has a spore-ting chance at realism - UBC News
The trailer for the hit HBO series appears to show the “zombie fungus” cordyceps infecting humans by releasing air-borne spores, instead of through tentacles—closer to scientific reality.
news.ubc.ca
April 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
The new season of The Last of Us has a spore-ting chance at realism
The Last of Us S2 trailers seems to show the zombies releasing air-borne spores, closer to scientific reality for fungal pathogens that infect humans. And it's not the only thing the show gets right.
news.ubc.ca/2025/04/real...
The Last of Us S2 trailers seems to show the zombies releasing air-borne spores, closer to scientific reality for fungal pathogens that infect humans. And it's not the only thing the show gets right.
news.ubc.ca/2025/04/real...
Here’s your friendly spring PSA: sometimes it’s not allergies and actually a head cold. 🌸🌱❌🦠🤧
April 4, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Here’s your friendly spring PSA: sometimes it’s not allergies and actually a head cold. 🌸🌱❌🦠🤧
Reposted by Alex Walls
As nations eye Pacific seabed minerals, deep-sea mining might lead to short-term profits but the long-term costs are significant, @ubcoceans.bsky.social @ubcsppga.bsky.social Dr. Rashid Sumaila tells @nationalobserver.com:
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/02/n...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/02/n...
Digging for minerals in the Pacific’s graveyard: The $20 trillion fight over who controls the seabed
“The soul of our ancestors, when they leave this world, they go into the deep.”
www.nationalobserver.com
April 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
As nations eye Pacific seabed minerals, deep-sea mining might lead to short-term profits but the long-term costs are significant, @ubcoceans.bsky.social @ubcsppga.bsky.social Dr. Rashid Sumaila tells @nationalobserver.com:
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/02/n...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/02/n...
Also nobody - NOBODY! - has used the term 'smithereens' when talking about moons colliding. What is this world coming to.
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
Saturn still reigns supreme as moon king with 128 new moons - UBC News
The International Astronomical Union has recognized the discovery of Saturn's 128 new moons.
news.ubc.ca
March 12, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Also nobody - NOBODY! - has used the term 'smithereens' when talking about moons colliding. What is this world coming to.
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
Reposted by Alex Walls
Saturn has 128 newly-discovered moons. Here they are color-coded by their MPEC release. Orange: MPEC 2025 E153, Purple: MPEC 2025-E154, Green: MPEC 2025-E155.
March 12, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Saturn has 128 newly-discovered moons. Here they are color-coded by their MPEC release. Orange: MPEC 2025 E153, Purple: MPEC 2025-E154, Green: MPEC 2025-E155.
Reposted by Alex Walls
I spent almost 2 hours painstakingly copying the orbits of all 128 Saturnian moons from the announcement MPEC and reformatting them for visualization...
Behold, here are the orbits of ALL 128 MOONS OF SATURN. This isn't just a moon system—it's a literal asteroid belt around Saturn! 🧪🔭☄️
Behold, here are the orbits of ALL 128 MOONS OF SATURN. This isn't just a moon system—it's a literal asteroid belt around Saturn! 🧪🔭☄️
March 12, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I spent almost 2 hours painstakingly copying the orbits of all 128 Saturnian moons from the announcement MPEC and reformatting them for visualization...
Behold, here are the orbits of ALL 128 MOONS OF SATURN. This isn't just a moon system—it's a literal asteroid belt around Saturn! 🧪🔭☄️
Behold, here are the orbits of ALL 128 MOONS OF SATURN. This isn't just a moon system—it's a literal asteroid belt around Saturn! 🧪🔭☄️
Reposted by Alex Walls
Not so big now, huh, Jupiter?
Saturn LAUGHS in the face of your measly 95 moons!
And by "laughs" we mean "continues in an state of impassive cosmic existence that still shatters our conceptions of time, grandeur, and what it means to bear witness to the universe."
www.popsci.com/science/satu...
Saturn LAUGHS in the face of your measly 95 moons!
And by "laughs" we mean "continues in an state of impassive cosmic existence that still shatters our conceptions of time, grandeur, and what it means to bear witness to the universe."
www.popsci.com/science/satu...
Which planet has the most moons? Saturn dethrones Jupiter.
The International Astronomical Union recognized 128 newly discovered moons orbiting the ringed planet.
www.popsci.com
March 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Not so big now, huh, Jupiter?
Saturn LAUGHS in the face of your measly 95 moons!
And by "laughs" we mean "continues in an state of impassive cosmic existence that still shatters our conceptions of time, grandeur, and what it means to bear witness to the universe."
www.popsci.com/science/satu...
Saturn LAUGHS in the face of your measly 95 moons!
And by "laughs" we mean "continues in an state of impassive cosmic existence that still shatters our conceptions of time, grandeur, and what it means to bear witness to the universe."
www.popsci.com/science/satu...
Also I have not watched Star Trek enough to justify the subhead but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Boo sucks to you Jupiter: Saturn still reigns supreme as moon king with 128 new moons
"Based on our projections, I don’t think Jupiter will ever catch up."
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
"Based on our projections, I don’t think Jupiter will ever catch up."
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
Saturn still reigns supreme as moon king with 128 new moons - UBC News
The International Astronomical Union has recognized the discovery of Saturn's 128 new moons.
news.ubc.ca
March 11, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Also I have not watched Star Trek enough to justify the subhead but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Boo sucks to you Jupiter: Saturn still reigns supreme as moon king with 128 new moons
"Based on our projections, I don’t think Jupiter will ever catch up."
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
"Based on our projections, I don’t think Jupiter will ever catch up."
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
Saturn still reigns supreme as moon king with 128 new moons - UBC News
The International Astronomical Union has recognized the discovery of Saturn's 128 new moons.
news.ubc.ca
March 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Boo sucks to you Jupiter: Saturn still reigns supreme as moon king with 128 new moons
"Based on our projections, I don’t think Jupiter will ever catch up."
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
"Based on our projections, I don’t think Jupiter will ever catch up."
news.ubc.ca/2025/03/satu...
Just bringing this delight to your attention again...:
Eaten as cysts by insects, hairworms emerge in the stomach and punch through into the body, where they absorb the host's blood. Adult worms manipulate their hosts to enter water, often resulting in the host drowning
news.ubc.ca/2023/10/cree...
Eaten as cysts by insects, hairworms emerge in the stomach and punch through into the body, where they absorb the host's blood. Adult worms manipulate their hosts to enter water, often resulting in the host drowning
news.ubc.ca/2023/10/cree...
Real-life horror from nature: Mind-control worms and eye-bulging fungus
UBC researchers share some gruesome parasites of nature, like worms that fill the entire gut of an insect to a fungus that grows from your nose to your brain.
news.ubc.ca
March 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Just bringing this delight to your attention again...:
Eaten as cysts by insects, hairworms emerge in the stomach and punch through into the body, where they absorb the host's blood. Adult worms manipulate their hosts to enter water, often resulting in the host drowning
news.ubc.ca/2023/10/cree...
Eaten as cysts by insects, hairworms emerge in the stomach and punch through into the body, where they absorb the host's blood. Adult worms manipulate their hosts to enter water, often resulting in the host drowning
news.ubc.ca/2023/10/cree...
Reposted by Alex Walls
This is so upsetting. This child’s death was preventable. This outbreak was preventable. “A child in Texas has died from measles, officials said Wednesday, the first known death in the current large outbreak in West Texas and the first death from measles in the country since 2015.”
Texas measles outbreak marks first fatality as more cases reported
A child in Texas has died from measles, the AP reported, the first death from measles in the United States since 2015.
www.statnews.com
February 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This is so upsetting. This child’s death was preventable. This outbreak was preventable. “A child in Texas has died from measles, officials said Wednesday, the first known death in the current large outbreak in West Texas and the first death from measles in the country since 2015.”
How very dare you.
The dumbest bird is actually the North Island Brown Kiwi.
We will not be taking questions at this time.
www.popsci.com/environment/...
We will not be taking questions at this time.
www.popsci.com/environment/...
Emus might not be the ‘world’s dumbest bird’ after all
Studying big birds might shed light on dinosaur behavior.
www.popsci.com
February 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
How very dare you.
Reposted by Alex Walls
UBC DSI and collaborators at Provincial Health Services Authority are using AI to "expedite the process, ensuring critical cases are fast-tracked to treatment, saving time and potentially lives" for cancer patients. Learn more about how philanthropy can scale up research give.ubc.ca/impact-stori...
Saving time and saving lives with artificial intelligence - give UBC
For Dr. Raymond Ng, AI and donor support can revolutionize patient care.
give.ubc.ca
February 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
UBC DSI and collaborators at Provincial Health Services Authority are using AI to "expedite the process, ensuring critical cases are fast-tracked to treatment, saving time and potentially lives" for cancer patients. Learn more about how philanthropy can scale up research give.ubc.ca/impact-stori...
Reposted by Alex Walls
“When temperatures rise, plants lose more water through cuticle than through pores,” says Dr. Sean Michaletz @ubcbotany.bsky.social. “This limits their ability to absorb CO2 & reduces their role as a carbon sink.”
@earthdotcom.bsky.social @sloanfoundation.bsky.social
www.earth.com/news/plants-...
@earthdotcom.bsky.social @sloanfoundation.bsky.social
www.earth.com/news/plants-...
Plants may stop absorbing carbon if temperatures continue to rise
Rising temperatures make plants lose more water, weakening their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and survive heat stress.
www.earth.com
February 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
“When temperatures rise, plants lose more water through cuticle than through pores,” says Dr. Sean Michaletz @ubcbotany.bsky.social. “This limits their ability to absorb CO2 & reduces their role as a carbon sink.”
@earthdotcom.bsky.social @sloanfoundation.bsky.social
www.earth.com/news/plants-...
@earthdotcom.bsky.social @sloanfoundation.bsky.social
www.earth.com/news/plants-...
❤️ This February 14th, take some lessons in love from some of the most dedicated partners in the animal world: seahorses.
These marine mates are masters of rizz – even in the face of ongoing threats from unsustainable fishing practices and habitat damage.
news.ubc.ca/2025/02/why-...
These marine mates are masters of rizz – even in the face of ongoing threats from unsustainable fishing practices and habitat damage.
news.ubc.ca/2025/02/why-...
Why a seahorse should be your dating coach this Valentine’s Day - UBC News
Even in the face of ongoing threats from habitat damage, seahorses are some of the most dedicated partners in the animal world.
news.ubc.ca
February 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
❤️ This February 14th, take some lessons in love from some of the most dedicated partners in the animal world: seahorses.
These marine mates are masters of rizz – even in the face of ongoing threats from unsustainable fishing practices and habitat damage.
news.ubc.ca/2025/02/why-...
These marine mates are masters of rizz – even in the face of ongoing threats from unsustainable fishing practices and habitat damage.
news.ubc.ca/2025/02/why-...
Reposted by Alex Walls
Walking in to NASA’s JPL today as a woman in science leadership felt almost like a protest. They can take us off the webpages and the walls, but we will still be here, absolutely crushing it, and supporting our community while we do it.
Happy International Day of Women in Science, everyone.
Happy International Day of Women in Science, everyone.
February 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Walking in to NASA’s JPL today as a woman in science leadership felt almost like a protest. They can take us off the webpages and the walls, but we will still be here, absolutely crushing it, and supporting our community while we do it.
Happy International Day of Women in Science, everyone.
Happy International Day of Women in Science, everyone.
Reposted by Alex Walls
On this #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience, statistician Dr. Katie Burak talks about her work with UBC's Girls in Data Science summer camp and teaching in the Master of Data Science program.
#WomeninScience #STEM @stat.ubc.ca @cs.ubc.ca
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYJT...
#WomeninScience #STEM @stat.ubc.ca @cs.ubc.ca
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYJT...
Dr. Katie Burak, statistician
YouTube video by ubcscience
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM
On this #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience, statistician Dr. Katie Burak talks about her work with UBC's Girls in Data Science summer camp and teaching in the Master of Data Science program.
#WomeninScience #STEM @stat.ubc.ca @cs.ubc.ca
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYJT...
#WomeninScience #STEM @stat.ubc.ca @cs.ubc.ca
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYJT...
Reposted by Alex Walls
Trump pauses NOAA collaboration with 'foreign nationals'. "[Scientists] depend on collaboration," Dr. Villy Christensen said. " We stand on the shoulders of giants, they walk with us – and cooperation is absolutely a requirement." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/02/07/n... via @nationalobserver.com
A 'body blow' for climate research: Trump pauses NOAA collaboration with 'foreign nationals'
Canadian climate and fisheries experts are reeling after the Trump administration ordered researchers with the U.S. government agency in charge of weather forecasting, climate research and fisheries t...
www.nationalobserver.com
February 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Trump pauses NOAA collaboration with 'foreign nationals'. "[Scientists] depend on collaboration," Dr. Villy Christensen said. " We stand on the shoulders of giants, they walk with us – and cooperation is absolutely a requirement." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/02/07/n... via @nationalobserver.com