Reducing vehicle emissions could prevent thousands of deaths in Canada

A shift to cleaner transportation could prevent more than 3,600 premature deaths in Montreal and Toronto by reducing ultrafine particle pollution, finds a new study led by McGill researchers.

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are microscopic pollutants produced in large quantities by vehicle exhaust. Because of their small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and may contribute to serious health problems such as heart and lung disease.

McGill study provides further evidence that aspen patches can mitigate wildfires

Researchers at McGill University have confirmed that aspen play a key role in forest fire prevention and mitigation across Canada. Planting these trees near communities can reduce both the likelihood and severity of fires and limit how far they spread, the researchers said. 

Long hours, lack of social support undermine caregivers’ well-being, study finds

While caregiving can be meaningful and rewarding at manageable levels, those who spend more than 20 hours a week delivering unpaid care to others have poorer mental health outcomes, a McGill study has found.

However, the researchers also found that the provision of social support to high-intensity caregivers mitigates negative impacts.

Gambling addiction treatment underused in Quebec, study finds

A new study finds public specialized gambling addiction treatment services are underused in Quebec, pointing to a need to better reach people with gambling disorder.

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre followed more than 2,300 people with a gambling disorder over 13 years. Despite free access, patients averaged fewer than two treatments during that period.

Bike infrastructure is expanding in Canada, but access remains uneven

Children and older adults are consistently less likely to live near bike lanes, finds a new study that mapped cycling infrastructure in three Canadian cities over a decade.

The McGill-led research analyzed census data for Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria. Across all three cities, neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of children (under 15) and older adults (65+) were located farther from cycling infrastructure.

McGill University researchers create a device that behaves like a single neuron

McGill University researchers have developed a light-detecting nanoscale structure that mimics how a neuron processes information. The neuron-like behaviour emerges from the materials themselves, reducing the energy demand associated with similar devices that rely on circuits or software.

Instead of capturing data first and processing it elsewhere, the device senses and interprets light in the same place, similarly to how the eye processes visual information.

Crop diversity and perennial grains could strengthen soil health under climate stress, McGill study finds

A McGill University study suggests that diversifying crops and replacing annual wheat with a perennial grain could help protect soil health as climate change brings more variable rainfall.

NASA should build a biocontainment facility on the moon to protect Earth, researchers advise

A biocontainment facility designed to protect Earth from potentially hazardous biotic contaminants from space should be part of a planned NASA base on the moon, a policy paper maintains.

Digitization of centuries of Canadian weather records promises to improve climate understanding

Researchers have uncovered and digitized nearly two million 18th and 19th century weather observations from across Canada that offer new insights into how the country’s climate has changed over time.

The international project draws on handwritten records dating from 1768 to 1884. The data include temperature, precipitation, wind and detailed descriptions of such events as storms and floods.

Study yields new insights on what makes conversation engaging

What makes a speaker engaging? Both what is said and how it is said matter, but in different, complementary ways, a new study conducted at the McGill School of Communication Sciences and Disorders has found.

Feeling poorer than peers linked to lower wellbeing, even when incomes are similar

New research is shedding light on how comparing ourselves to others affects happiness and life satisfaction.

Led by McGill University researchers, the study shows that people who feel worse off financially than their peers are more likely to report signs of languishing, even when their actual income is similar.

Indoor urban agriculture isn’t necessarily low carbon, McGill study shows

Growing lettuce indoors in Canadian cities can be as climate-friendly as conventional farming, but only in regions where electricity is from renewable sources and thus low-carbon, according to a new McGill-led study.

McGill University named as presenting partner of team representing Canada at 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale

Associate Professor 

To curb overprescribing for seniors, researchers urge annual prescription checkups

To address the growing problem of overprescribing for seniors, a new Canadian guideline is calling for routine medication reviews.