Science is outpacing policies for responsible resource extraction in space.
Western Space
Year in review: Western Space looking for life in all the right places
In its first full year, Western Space explored, discovered, dreamed – and became recognized as one of the leading authorities for all things terrestrial and extra-.
Western student first to spot asteroid speeding past Earth
Western astronomy student Cole Gregg spotted a previously undiscovered asteroid flashing through the night sky.
‘Conscientiousness’ key to team success during space missions
A Western team has helped identify personality traits astronaut crews need to get along during a long mission to Mars.
Recipe is different, but Saturn’s moon Titan has ingredients for life
Impact craters on Saturn’s largest moon have exposed ‘water ice’ from Titan’s crust – ingredients for life – a study co-led at Western reveals.
New international partnership launches Western into space
A landmark partnership announced Wednesday by Western Space presents engineering professor Jayshri Sabarinathan with the launch of an out-of-this-world project.
Did meteorite impacts help create life on Earth and beyond?
What if impact craters, long seen as harbingers of death, turned out to be the cradle of life? A new study co-authored at Western suggests we rethink the origins of life on Earth.
Feds fund innovative Western research
Researchers looking to develop green technologies, understand consumer decision-making and improve learning outcomes for children with autism are among those benefiting from new federal funding.
Early Mars was covered in ice sheets, not flowing rivers
A large number of the valley networks scarring Mars’ surface were carved by water melting beneath glacial ice -not by free-flowing rivers as previously thought – a new Western-led study shows.
Western Space team theorizes rare exomoon discovery
Western astronomers may have spotted six new moons orbiting planets in solar systems far from our own – an otherworldly discovery so rare it must wait on future technologies to confirm.
Expanding young minds at heart of supported projects
Two Western Space initiatives designed to encourage young minds to cast their eyes to the stars will expand thanks to backing from PromoScience grants.
Book takes Earth-bound look at Moon landing
Written by Tanya Harrison, PhD’16, and Danny Bednar, PhD’19, For all Humankind tells the story of the Apollo 11 Moon landing through the eyes of eight ‘regular’ observers from around the globe.
CSA grant backs Western Space rover tech
Western will play a key role in humanity’s return to the Moon, thanks to a major investment by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in a university-led advancement that could represent a flagship Canadian contribution to international missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Conference highlights diversity in STEM
Inspiring Diversity in STEM will host its third biennial conference on March 21-22. The event is supported by BrainsCAN.
Student trio lauded by Lunar and Planetary Institute
A trio of Western students were among only 20 worldwide to receive the Career Development Award from the Lunar and Planetary Institute. The award is given to graduate students who have submitted a first-author abstract for presentation at the 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
Event encourages final frontier as first choice
On Feb. 11, Western will host Girls and Women in Space, an event focused on inspiring women and girls about their potential success in the sciences.
Image sets off monster galaxy quest
An image of UGC 2885 – a majestic spiral galaxy 2.5 times wider than our Milky Way with 10 times as many stars – sparked widespread interest last week when released at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Newsmakers 2019: High Altitude Balloon team
Supported by Western’s Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, the High Altitude Balloon (HAB) team brings together students from a dozen departments in five faculties across campus – not related to any coursework, simply for the love of science.
Takes of long ago, far away
Although World Space Week has come and gone, we’re still celebrating by seeking out picks from our brightest minds with feet firmly planted on Earth but eyes boldly cast towards the stars. Today, Earth Sciences PhD candidate Gavin Tolometti, a member of the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, takes a turn on Read. Watch. Listen.
Scientists explore origins of interstellar visitors
Since 2017, not one but two interstellar asteroids have been detected entering our solar system – each one offering more clues as to their origins and unlocking further secrets of the universe.