Latest News

Below is a selection of the most recent U of T News stories. For all the latest news please visit www.utoronto.ca/news.

If you are a member of the media and looking for more information about any of these stories, please contact media.relations@utoronto.ca or call the media line: 416–978-0100.

Self-driving startup Waabi makes global headlines after raising as much as US$1 billion January 29, 2026
An autonomous trucking company founded by University of Toronto researcher Raquel Urtasun has raised US$750 million to accelerate the commercialization of its self-driving technology, as well as another US$250 million in milestone-based funding from Uber to expand into robotaxi deployment,
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PhD candidate's space startup prepares to launch first Canadian commercial rocket January 28, 2026
Excitement is ramping up as NordSpace prepares to launch the first suborbital flight of its Taiga rocket – an achievement that would make history as the first Canadian commercial rocket to launch from a Canadian commercial spaceport.
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U of T ranked 1st in Canada, among top 30 globally, in all subjects: Times Higher Education January 27, 2026
The University of Toronto ranked first in Canada – and among the top 30 universities worldwide – in all 11 major subject areas tracked in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
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Researchers identify potential biomarker linked to MS progression January 22, 2026
Researchers at the University Health Network and University of Toronto led the discovery of a possible biomarker linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression that could help identify patients most likely to benefit from new drugs.
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The hidden costs of 'free' time: U of T course examines why leisure hours can feel more like work  January 21, 2026
Nothing comes for free. And these days, that includes our time. It’s one of many ideas explored in “The Sociology of Free Time,” a University of Toronto course taught by Brent Berry, an associate professor in the department of sociology in the Faculty of Arts & Science.
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U of T researchers say their lightweight sensor tech could eliminate need for toxic aircraft de-icing fluid January 20, 2026
Ice detection technology developed by researchers at the University of Toronto could speed up the de-icing process for aircraft and other aerospace vehicles, helping to prevent costly flight delays.
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Long day at work? Go ahead and watch some TV, research suggests January 19, 2026
Hard day at work? It’s perfectly fine to park yourself in front of the TV. It might even make recovery – an essential part of burnout prevention – easier.
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What happens when AI is smarter than us? Gift supports Geoffrey Hinton's global AI safety mission January 16, 2026
University Professor Emeritus and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton will continue advancing his AI safety work through the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, thanks to a generous, US$700,000 gift from the
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U of T space company launches largest Canadian satellite fleet: Globe and Mail January 15, 2026
Kepler Communications Inc., a Toronto-based space company founded in 2015 by four University of Toronto graduate students, has cemented its position as the operator of the largest fleet of Canadian-built spacecraft after recently launching 10 satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,
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Christopher Essert named dean of the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law January 14, 2026
Christopher Essert – a professor, legal scholar and theorist – has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto’s Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law.
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Will self-driving cars slash traffic injuries? Researchers examine promising data January 13, 2026
Driverless vehicles haven’t yet taken to Canadian roads, but they’ve already rolled out in some other countries. Proponents say the technology will mean fewer accidents, while others have raised concerns about safety, liability and public acceptance, among other issues.
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U of T atmospheric physicists find error in widely cited Arctic snow cover observations January 12, 2026
For decades, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has offered a snapshot of the planet’s changing climate – but University of Toronto researchers have found that some of the underlying data underrepresents a key driver of Arctic warming.
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‘If we in academia don’t go after the hardest challenges, nobody else will’: U of T researcher aims to do it all January 9, 2026
Molly Shoichet always wanted to be a doctor – until she made her first polymer.
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Did that lamp just fold the laundry? U of T alumni rethink home robotics January 7, 2026
When Aaron Tan began his PhD in mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Toronto in 2019, leading a robotics startup in Silicon Valley was the furthest thing from his mind.
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Study examines how TikTok can be used to recruit young stem cell donors January 5, 2026
A new study by Canadian and U.S. researchers is shedding light on how the social media platform TikTok can be used to recruit young stem cell donors. For the study, researchers shared an array of TikTok videos, all of which encouraged stem cell donation, with people between the ages of 17 and 35. They found […]
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U of T research reveals overlooked source of microplastic pollution December 22, 2025
Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have observed that handwashing synthetic fabrics in water with higher total dissolved solids (TDS) leads to more microplastic fibres (MPF) being released.
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Decoding our memories: U of T researcher explores brain chemistry with new Connaught mid-career funding December 18, 2025
Katherine Duncan doesn’t experience memory the way most people do. She can’t vividly relive the past or picture it in her mind.
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Startup Xanadu among four quantum computing companies to receive federal support December 17, 2025
Xanadu Quantum Technologies, a startup founded by former University of Toronto post-doctoral researcher Christian Weedbrook, is among four companies selected for federal funding under a new program aimed at strengthening Canada’s quantum computing sector.
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U of T and Moderna partner to advance vaccine science, cancer treatment and AI-driven therapeutics December 16, 2025
From COVID-19 to the seasonal flu and RSV, vaccinations for respiratory viruses are typically delivered via intramuscular injection, which generates antibodies in the bloodstream. But the first line of defence against these viruses is actually the upper airway, where mucosal antibodies known as immunoglobin A (IgA) can stop pathogens before they even enter the body.
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From study permits to finding community: How international students thrive at U of T December 15, 2025
When Nathan Alston toured the University of Toronto’s St. George campus in May 2024, the diversity of the student body stood out immediately.
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