Experts: Planet vs. Plastics | Earth Day 2024
Every year, millions of people across the globe gather on Earth Day (April 22) to celebrate the environmental movement. The 2024 theme, "Planet vs. Plastics", aims to raise awareness of the harms of plastic pollution for human and planetary health. This year's focus comes ahead of an historic UN treaty on plastics, which is expected to be agreed by the end of 2024. (BBC News)
Ehab Abouheif named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Ehab Abouheif, James McGill Professor in the Department of Biology at McGill, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the highest distinctions in the global science community, which recognizes contributions to science and technology, scientific leadership, and extraordinary achievements across disciplines.
Divisive diagnosis raised in George Floyd case under scrutiny
A movement to discredit a controversial medical diagnosis is being bolstered by a new study out of McGill University. Excited delirium describes a state of agitation, aggression, and distress and has become a common defense to counter charges of police brutality. In the case of George Floyd, the syndrome was initially used as a legal defense for the Minneapolis police officer charged in his death.
Clearing the air: wind farms more land efficient than previously thought
Wind power is a source of energy that is both affordable and renewable.
However, decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels. Research led by McGill University and based on the assessment of the land-use of close to 320 wind farms in the U.S. (the largest study of its kind) paints a very different picture.
Experts: Canadian federal budget 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will present the next budget in the House of Commons on April 16, with the government facing considerable political pressure over the economy. Ms. Freeland says the economic plan will be about “building more homes, faster, making life more affordable and creating more good jobs.” (The Globe and Mail)
Millions of gamers advance biomedical research
Leveraging gamers and video game technology can dramatically boost scientific research according to a new study published today in Nature Biotechnology.
Expert: Instagram cracks down on teen sextortion
Instagram is aiming to make it harder for potential scammers and criminals to coerce teens into sending nude photos and extort them for money. The company announced on Thursday it is testing new features to curb an alarming trend called financial sextortion, which often targets kids and teenagers. (CNN)
Campus garden initiatives can help grow the next generation of environmental change-makers
For many Canadians, one of the most visible climate impacts is on the availability and cost of the food we eat as climate change, global crises and profit-driven food companies have combined to drive food insecurity. Amid this crisis, students are sowing seeds of change on university campuses across the country, including at McGill.
Study finds weak link between adolescent media use and psychotic experiences in adulthood
As digital media becomes an increasing part of daily life for teens, the question of how heightened screen time will impact their brains in the future is becoming more pressing.
A group of researchers at McGill University has set out to determine whether the use of video games, computers and other media during adolescence was associated with psychotic experiences in adulthood.
Safer, more efficient drug discovery
McGill researchers have discovered a safer and more efficient technique for testing new drugs while they are in development.
Experts: Green hydrogen
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, says it has been awarded the engineering contract for the Projet Mauricie green hydrogen hub in Quebec. The development is the latest milestone for the $4-billion Mauricie project, which is being developed by TESCanada H2 Inc. The company is proposing to build a "green hydrogen" production plant in the Mauricie region of Quebec, between Montreal and Quebec City, that will be powered exclusively by renewable electricity.
Expert: The ‘sandwiched' generation of caregivers in Canada
Who provides unpaid care in Canada's care economy? In 2022, 13.4 million Canadians aged 15 years and older (42%)—over two in five people in this age group—provided unpaid care in the previous 12 months to children younger than 15 years old or to youth aged 15 years and older and adults with a long-term condition or disability.
Expert: Baltimore bridge collapse
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early on Tuesday after a container ship smashed into a pylon, sending eight people into frigid water below. Authorities stopped people from using the bridge after getting a mayday call, which Maryland's governor said saved lives. (CTV News)
Using pulp and paper waste to scrub carbon from emissions
Researchers at McGill University have come up with an innovative approach to improve the energy efficiency of carbon conversion, using waste material from pulp and paper production. The technique they’ve pioneered using the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan not only reduces the energy required to convert carbon into useful products, but also reduces overall waste in the environment.
A roadmap to improving healthcare disparities in northern Quebec
Indigenous communities in northern Quebec face significant hurdles to healthcare access. The Nunavik region is remote, with limited transportation options and extreme weather conditions. As a result, its population faces lower life expectancy and poorer health outcomes.
New findings from McGill University provide a blueprint to address Nunavik’s urgent healthcare needs by offering concrete evidence for discussions with policymakers.