To watch the entire interview, please follow the link to CTV Winnipeg.

University of Manitoba astrophysicist Samar Safi-Harb, the Canada Research Chair in Extreme Astrophysics, and her team are collaborators on the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA program, which on Monday published evidence of what Safi-Harb says is “the most massive binary black hole detected to date.”

Another surprise from the detection, originally made in November 2023, was the breakneck speed at which each black hole was spinning at the time they crashed together — “close to the maximum possible [speed] allowed by theory,” said Safi-Harb, who is also a professor of physics and astronomy at the Winnipeg-based U of M.

To read the entire story, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba.

CTV also covered this story and you can listen/watch it by following the link to CTV Winnipeg.

The award recognizes Pistorius’s contributions to strengthening the Canadian physics community, enhancing the profession of physical scientists, communicating physics to the public and making physics more attractive as a career. All of which Pistorius has accomplished through over 30 years of service in various roles.

“Stephen Pistorius is, first and foremost, a dedicated and inspirational leader, a creative and efficient administrator, and simultaneously, an excellent and innovative researcher”, says Dr. Robert Stamps, the head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manitoba.

When asked what drives him to serve his community through leadership, Pistorius says, “That’s sort of come naturally. People ask people for help, and I tend to have a difficulty in saying no,” he continues, “But while it’s a lot of work, I enjoy it. And I enjoy making a difference.”

To learn more about Pistorius’s contributions and service to Canadian physics and medical physics, please watch the full interview on the Faculty of Science’s YouTube channel.

Due to a lunar standstill, it will appear low in the sky, something that only happens every 18.6 years. This will be the lowest since 2006 — and won’t happen again until 2043.

While not actually strawberry pink, the Strawberry Moon may glow amber or orange near the horizon.

The next full moon will be the Buck Moon, which occurs on July 10, 2025.

Danielle Pahud, director of the Lockheart Planetarium, tells host Faith Fundal all about this month’s full moon – the Strawberry Moon.

To listen to the entire conversation, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba Up to Speed.

Jerry Lu, PhD Student; Jiguang Yao, PhD Student; both from the Department of Physics and Astronomy

You might think controlling the speed of light directionally is a far-fetched idea. But what seems like science fiction is very much the reality of two PhD students’ work. Jiguang Yao and Jerry Lu are PhD students at the UM Faculty of Science. They are both members of Dr. Can-Ming Hu’s lab at the Department of Physics and Astronomy. They also collaborate with Dr. Greg E. Bridges from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

The Physical Review Letters recently published their work as an Editor’s Suggestion. Their work was also Featured in Physics via a Viewpoint article. In their paper, the team advances the pursuit of controlling the speed of light by achieving both slow and fast light within a single system. 

They precisely control the group velocity of a microwave pulse through the power of magnetism to realise nonreciprocal propagation. This is one of the oldest disciplines in physics. This means, while the pulse is delayed in one direction, it advances in the other direction. It creates the possibility of one side seeing the pulse in slow motion, while the other sees it in fast motion. 

“It’s mainly important for information technology that uses light as the medium. In these kinds of technologies, the information is carried by the light pulse. So, our technology allows you to control the pulse speed to regulate the information. It also has the potential to enable a completely new type of logical devices”, says Yao. 

Watch the full video on the Faculty of Science’s YouTube channel to learn more.

Longo is the 2024 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Natural Sciences category, in recognition of his internationally collaborative work on the Belle II and TUCAN experiments. These projects explore the building blocks of matter, antimatter and the origins of the universe. 

UM Today caught up with Longo to learn more about him and the research he is undertaking. 

Tell us a bit about yourself and your research. 

I joined UM in 2022 as an assistant professor. My research focus involves two independent international subatomic physics projects called Belle II and TUCAN. 

At Belle II, we are colliding high-energy beams of electrons and positrons (the antimatter partner of the electron) to produce very rare forms of matter and test leading theories for the interactions of subatomic particles.  My group is also searching for the production of new forms of matter, such as dark matter.   

The TUCAN experiment takes place at Canada’s particle accelerator centre TRIUMF.  At TUCAN, we are working to understand why antimatter is so rare in our universe.  My group is focused on building specialized particle detectors for this experiment. 

Why is this research important? 

Fundamental research is paramount to achieving the great leaps in innovation needed for long-term solutions to global challenges. Vital elements of our society nuclear energy, medical imaging and nuclear medicine were unimaginable prior to uncovering the subatomic physics that drives them. 

Immediate-term societal benefits of subatomic physics research frequently emerge from spin-off applications of the cutting-edge technological development that occurs while building the experiments.  For example, the powerful magnets originally developed for particle colliders are now the underpinning for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. The new particle detector technologies that we are developing at UM for subatomic physics experiments can have extended applications in areas such as medical imaging and space exploration. 

What does the Rh Award mean to you? 

I am honoured to receive the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher award and would like to thank my colleagues who have supported me throughout my career.  The award provides important support for UM students who are engaged in internationally collaborative research projects, such as Belle II and TUCAN. It also allows us to expand Canada’s role in these projects as the experiments enter very exciting phases. 

Hu is the recipient of the 2024 Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award in recognition of his advancements in quantum material interactions, helping shape the next generation of communication technology. Hu is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a Lead Member of the UM Dynamic Spintronics Group.

UM Today caught up with him recently to learn more about his research.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your research.

I began my studies as a physicist in China, then trained in Germany and worked in Japan before coming to the University of Manitoba 20 years ago. This was during the honeymoon period of globalization and at that time governments were working together to support scientific exchange and collaboration.

My research in condensed matter physics studies how light and matter interact. More precisely, I look at how energy and information pass between materials and electrical magnetic fields.

Throughout my career I’ve been lucky to have great mentors and now I work to pay that forward here at UM.

Why is this research important?

We use electromagnetic waves to communicate, such as with a video call, where we are not actually seeing each other but a visualization of the information exchanged between our devices. When we store videos on our devices, the physics of light matter interaction sets the limit for storage amounts and loading speed.

In this way, all communication technologies are developed based on our understanding of physics interactions between different materials. We physicists have the job of pushing these physical limits so that engineers can make better devices.

Where I did my PhD studies at the University of Würzburg, Germany, x-rays had been discovered by professor Wilham Roentgen in 1895, for which he received the first physics Nobel Prize.

I was recruited to Würzburg in 1992 by the late professor Gottfried Landwehr. He was a pioneer working on developing semiconductors that emitted blue light for use with compact discs. At that time, CDs used red light which has relatively large wavelengths which limited capacity and resolution.

Blue light has a shorter wavelength allowing us to make a higher density DVD and in fact a few years later that frontier of fundamental research led to the invention of the blue LED by a Japanese scientist, Shuji Nakamura, who also received a Nobel prize.

Now today, CDs are out and nobody uses DVDs anymore, but the LED that Nakamura invented is still used everywhere in low energy light bulbs.

I train my students to push the limits of physics so that engineers can have more powerful tools to build useful devices. That process normally takes a long time, but fundamentally the frontier of this knowledge is explored by chemists, computer scientists and physicists like me.

What does the Rh Award mean to you?

I’m tremendously grateful and humbled by this award. It means a lot, particularly because fundamental research and basic sciences don’t always have immediate impacts and can often be difficult to explain.

I hope this award will bring greater public awareness to the importance of fundamental sciences. It’s also an opportunity for me to acknowledge my team members, collaborators, and the many colleagues in the Faculty of Science who are doing important basic research that will someday have important and long-lasting impacts.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

I plan to explore the so-called quantum physics of light matter interaction with the goal of inventing a device that can emit microwaves at room temperature in a quantum mechanical way. I’ll explain what that means using an example.

Today anyone can easily buy a quantum mechanical light source, called a laser diode or laser pointer like you might have at home to play with your cat. But even though anyone can buy a laser, nobody can buy a microwave laser, which we call a maser.

A maser operating at room temperature would function something like the laser but the emitted microwaves can pass through walls. Cell phone calls use microwaves for transmitting information, but classical physics still sets the limit because we have not yet discovered some quantum physics principles explaining how microwaves interact with materials.

That is what I want to do. In fact, since 2015 my group has been working on that question, and we have recently published some of our preliminary results.

This future breakthrough would allow us to produce a better kind of wi-fi network that would be more reliable over a much larger area with fewer towers. This could be especially important for the many rural and isolated communities across Northern Canada who can’t access wi-fi today.

What about you people would find surprising?

I actually spend more time reading novels than I do reading physics papers in my daily life. In fact, I see many links between literature and fundamental science.

One of my favorites novels is Hemingway’s the Old Man and the Sea, I’ve read it many times and each time it touches me deeply how the human will struggles with the power of nature. It’s a very complex theme examined by many novelists, but Hemingway reduces that to one old man and a big fish.

As a physicist I also look at the overwhelming complexity of nature, energy and light with the goal of reducing it to the simplest, purest level. I often feel like that old man, except for me the big fish it is a tiny electron whose secrets I’m struggling to reveal.

If I couldn’t be a physicist in the next life, I would want to be a novelist.

Any advice for early-career researchers and students?

Just one word, read.

Even if you’re not studying to be a physicist you should read physics anyway. It gives us a powerful way of thinking and understanding the phenomena that surround us.

Read broadly because the sciences and arts are deeply connected, and therefore a masterpiece of one field inspires deep insight into the other.

“It is wonderful to see Dr. Hu recognized for his decades of research in fundamental science, working behind the scenes to improve the smart devices we depend on every day,” says Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President (research & International). “These awards are an important opportunity for UM to celebrate researchers across who are making frontier discoveries that lead later to transformative impacts in society. I congratulate all the recipients on this well-deserved honour.”

Awards are given in two categories: The Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, awarded to one established faculty member annually and the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Awards, awarded to seven early career faculty members.

Can-Ming Hu, distinguished professor of Physics and Astronomy at the UM Faculty of Science, is the recipient of the Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award in recognition of his advancements in quantum material interactions, helping shape the next generation of communication technology.

Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award recipients are:

Applied Sciences

Dr. Chyngyz Erkinbaev (biosystems engineering) is a scientist whose research is advancing intelligent sensing techniques in food production. Erkinbaev is internationally recognized for his leadership integrating engineering, digital and biological research in the real-time monitoring of food quality and safety using smart sensing technologies.

Dr. Xihui (Larry) Liang (mechanical engineering) is a leading innovator in the predictive maintenance of machinery such as gearboxes, pumps and turbine engines. Liang’s independent research program at the Price Faculty of Engineering is driving advancements in reliability and efficiency for critical energy infrastructure.

Creative Activities

Ms. Anna Binta Diallo (School of Art) is an interdisciplinary visual artist who blends collaged images, vinyl adhesives and sculptural forms to create dynamic gallery and public space installations. Diallo’s research is focused on re-framing and re-mixing stories as a means of de-centering dominant Eurocentric narratives in contemporary art.

Health Sciences

Dr. Heather Armstrong (internal medicine) conducts groundbreaking research on how diet, environment, and the gut microbiome interact to influence gastrointestinal diseases and immune health. Armstrong works with national and local patient cohorts to develop precision nutrition tools to support those with inflammatory bowel disease and other gut-related conditions. 

Dr. Christy Pylypjuk (obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences) holds multifaceted clinical roles as Assistant Director of the Obstetrical Outreach Program, Assistant Director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program and Health Sciences Centre Site Lead for the Canadian Preterm Birth Network. Her research uses fetal ultrasound to improve outcomes for pregnant patients and their babies.

Natural Sciences

Dr. Savino Longo (physics and astronomy) conducts research in experimental subatomic physics to explore the origins of the universe. Longo is a leader of international collaborations to better understand the building blocks of matter using high-energy matter-antimatter collisions as well as the development of new technologies for subatomic particle detectors.

Social Sciences

Dr. Patricia Thille (physical therapy) is a research-intensive associate professor at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences focused on issues like body size, chronic pain and self-management in community-based care. With expertise in both physiotherapy and sociology, Thille seeks to expose stigma and promote equity in health care.

To learn more about research excellence at UM, visit our Awards and Recognition webpage.

Oobleck pool!

Science Rendezvous is hosted by the UM Faculty of Science along with our campus and community partners. But the stars of the show are the more than 400 fantastic volunteers who make the event possible. We cannot wait to welcome you back for an exciting day filled with engaging science shows and booths. This is Winnipeg’s biggest and most remarkable science outreach event of the year!

Giant bubble trap!

Ready to get your hands dirty? Trap a person inside a giant bubble made of soap, water and glycerin. Run fast over our popular oobleck pool and don’t stop, or you will sink (up to your ankles)! Use plastic spoons to catch and release various critters from Oak Hammock Marsh.

Need a less messy activity? Visit us at the “Atomic Curiosities” booth to learn about radioactivity. Explore the “Math Mania” booth for brain-boosting math puzzles and games no matter how old you are. Or join us for a calm space to look at jaw-dropping rocks and fossils!

Look at the sun through the telescope!

This year’s theme is Wonder! We invite you to fuel your curiosity and look through our telescopes to view the sun. Learn more about polar bears at the “Polar Bears on Thin Ice” booth. Challenge yourself to code and move a pre-built robot arm. Or use small solar panels to light up little lights and sound buzzers!

Chemistry show!

With more than 50 science booths, our volunteers are excited to show kids the magic of science. But they are also secretly hoping to see the spark of curiosity and delight on adults’ faces, too. Whether you are bringing kids or coming on your own, we have something for you, and we are excited to see you there!

This event is FREE to attend, and no sign-ups are necessary except for science shows. To learn more, visit our website.

The uCR-Chip

The device, called the uCR-Chip, is a low-cost, portable diagnostic tool that makes kidney function testing faster, easier and more accessible. It delivers results in under seven minutes and doesn’t require advanced lab equipment.

Recently published in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, the findings highlight how this technology could play a role in improving early detection and health outcomes for individuals living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

A Growing Health Concern

Nearly 1 in 10 Canadians has kidney disease. That’s 4 million people – often going undiagnosed until the disease reaches an advanced stage. It is a silent epidemic that not only degrades quality of life but also burdens health-care systems with the high cost of dialysis and transplantation. Early diagnosis, however, can drastically change a patient’s trajectory, offering better treatment options and even slowing or preventing disease progression.

Dr. Claudio Rigatto

“Early diagnosis is critical,” says Dr. Claudio Rigatto, professor of internal medicine in the Max Rady College of Medicine, who is one of the project’s lead investigators. “If we can detect kidney disease early, we can prevent progression to dialysis in many cases.”

The problem? Current testing methods for kidney function usually require lab visits, expensive equipment, trained personnel and several days for results. These barriers make routine screening inaccessible for many, especially those in Indigenous and rural communities.

A Solution for Early Detection with Powerful Potential

The uCR-Chip is designed to solve these challenges. Developed by a team led by Rigatto and Dr. Francis Lin, professor of immunology, the chip uses a color-based chemical reaction to measure creatinine – a key marker of kidney health –from a small urine sample. And because it runs without special lab equipment, the chip can be used on-site at health clinics or in mobile settings. 

Dr. Francis Lin

“Traditional lab tests can take days and may delay diagnosis,” says Lin. “Our new test method will lead to faster, more accessible and reliable diagnostic results to prevent irreversible kidney damage.”

The research team also includes Dr. Paul Komenda, Dr. Navdeep Tangri, Dr. Abdulrazaq Sokoro, Dr. Rene Zahedi, graduate student Dumitru Tomsa, research associate Dr. Yang Liu and former postdoctoral fellows Dr. Amanda Stefanson and  Dr. Xiaoou Ren. Working alongside industry partners, the team is partnering with a Manitoba-based biotechnology company, AssureCKD Inc., on further development of CDK diagnostic test methods and commercialization.

Improving Access to Care, Easing Burden on the Health-care System

The uCR-Chip, the researchers say, has the potential to ease pressure on health-care systems by identifying kidney issues earlier, reducing the number of people who progress to late-stage disease. That means fewer people many require costly treatments like dialysis or transplants, and more can manage their health effectively with early interventions.

Dumitru Tomsa, Dr. Amanda Stefanson and Dr. Yang Liu

In many rural, remote and Indigenous communities, access to advanced lab equipment is limited, posing a barrier to accessing kidney function tests. uCR-Chip offers a portable, low-cost option that could be used in rural settings and dramatically improve access to essential testing.

“This innovation opens the door to more personalized care,” says Rigatto. “With faster results, medical providers can adjust treatments in real time, ensuring patients get the right care at the right time.”

As health-care systems across Canada search for cost-effective ways to manage chronic illnesses, the UM scientists say, innovations like the uCR-Chip offer not just hope, but solutions that put life-saving diagnostics in the hands of those who need them most.