Plants retain a ‘genetic memory’ of past population crashes, study shows

Researchers at McGill University and the United States Forest Service have found that plants living in areas where human activity has caused population crashes carry long-lasting genetic traces of that history, such as reduced genetic diversity.

Economic, educational and gender inequities can contribute to problematic social media use among teens, findings suggest

A new McGill study suggests that problematic social media use among teens is in part related to broader social inequalities.

Zékai Lu, a PhD student in McGill’s Department of Sociology and author of the study, had set out to determine whether problematic social media use is driven mainly by individual traits or whether the social environment of the country a teen lives in also plays a significant role.

People can learn to reject unfair advantages, even when it costs them

A new study co-authored by McGill University researchers suggests people can be taught to reject unfair advantages.

Addressing shame should be a focal point of treatment of childhood sexual abuse survivors, researchers suggest

A McGill-led study on the role played by shame in the continuing trauma suffered by survivors of childhood sexual abuse indicates that addressing shame should be a focal point of treatment. Clinicians should use strategies that normalize disclosure, validate survivors’ feelings and integrate shame-resolution techniques into their therapy plans, the researchers suggested.

McGill University to partner with United Arab Emirates and Indonesia to train next generation of professionals and drive societal change

For over 50 years, McGill University has been collaborating with Indonesia’s education sector. Now a planned donation of US$12.8 million from the UAE via the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to McGill will establish the UAE-Indonesia Future Leaders Program to support Indonesia’s national and global development objectives.

Study suggests protein made in the liver is a key factor in men’s bone health

New research suggests the liver plays a previously unrecognized role in bone health, but only in males.

A McGill University-led study published in Matrix Biology found that a protein made in the liver helps regulate bone growth in male mice, but not in females. The findings may help explain why men with liver disease are more likely to experience bone loss.

McGill researchers develop quick test that stands to curb antimicrobial resistance

McGill researchers have developed a diagnostic system capable of identifying bacteria –and determining which antibiotics can stop them – in just 36 minutes, a major advance in the global effort to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Current clinical testing methods typically take 48 to 72 hours, leaving physicians without timely guidance.

Pathological lying in teens is associated with executive function deficits, study indicates

Teenagers who are pathological liars also tend to struggle with executive function deficits, such as poor memory or impulse control, researchers have found.

Night owl or early bird? Study finds sleep categories aren’t that simple

The familiar labels “night owl” and “early bird,” long used in sleep research, don’t fully capture the diversity of human internal clocks, a new study has found.

The McGill University-led study published in Nature Communications found the two sleep-wake patterns, called chronotypes, contain a total of five distinct biological subtypes, each associated with different patterns of behaviour and health.

Hippocampus does more than store memories: it predicts rewards, study finds

A preclinical study published in Nature has found evidence that the hippocampus, the brain region that stores memory, also reorganizes memories to anticipate future outcomes.

A rich social environment is associated with better cognitive health outcomes for older adults, study finds

Research by an interdisciplinary team from McGill University and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults.

In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, McGill review finds 

Microbes across Earth’s coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from McGill University. 

McGill researchers create shapeshifting materials that could power the next generation of soft robots

McGill University engineers have developed new ultra-thin materials that can be programmed to move, fold and reshape themselves, much like animated origami. They open the door to softer, safer and more adaptable robots that could be used in medical tools that gently move inside the body, wearable devices that change shape on the skin or smart packaging that reacts to its environment.

Lithium study yields insights in the fight against HIV

Lithium, a widely used treatment for bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, has shown early promise in suppressing HIV, McGill University researchers report.

A new study published in iScience found lithium can prevent infected cells from reactivating, and that it does so through an unexpected biological mechanism.

The findings point toward future treatments designed to mimic lithium’s beneficial effects while avoiding its broader impacts on the body.