
Under 30 and sexually active? It’s a good idea to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends routine screening
Source: CMAJ
Anyone sexually active under age 30 should be offered testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to a new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Fast radio bursts shown to include lower frequency radio waves than previously detected
Since fast radio bursts (FRBs) were first discovered over a decade ago, scientists have puzzled over what could be generating these intense flashes of radio waves from outside of our galaxy. In a gradual process of elimination, the field of possible explanations has narrowed as new pieces of information are gathered about FRBs – how long they last, the frequencies of the radio waves detected, and so on.

Telescopes unite in unprecedented observations of famous black hole
In April 2019, scientists released the first image of a black hole in the galaxy M87 using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). However, that remarkable achievement was just the beginning of the science story to be told. McGill University astronomers were part of this global effort.

Surgical sutures inspired by human tendons
Sutures are used to close wounds and speed up the natural healing process, but they can also complicate matters by causing damage to soft tissues with their stiff fibers. To remedy the problem, researchers from Montreal have developed innovative tough gel sheathed (TGS) sutures inspired by the human tendon.

Good oral health reduces risk of fatal outcomes from COVID-19
Infected and inflamed gums may result in higher rates of complications and more fatal outcomes for individuals diagnosed with the SARS-COV-2 virus, according to a new international study led by McGill researchers recently published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. The study suggests that gum disease may be associated with higher risks of complications from COVID-19, including ICU admission and death.

Meet the inaugural class of McCall MacBain Scholars
Twenty aspiring innovators, community-builders, and leaders will join the first class of McCall MacBain Scholars at McGill, recipients of Canada’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship for master’s and professional studies.

Americans are super-spreaders of COVID-19 misinformation
Misinformation about COVID-19 is spreading from the United States into Canada, undermining efforts to mitigate the pandemic. A study led by McGill University shows that Canadians who use social media are more likely to consume this misinformation, embrace false beliefs about COVID-19, and subsequently spread them.

McGill University receives $5 million in funding from Quebec government to bolster retail sector
McGill University’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management will receive $5 million in funding to drive retail innovation and research, and support the province’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Launching our third century: McGill University celebrates 200 years
Today marks McGill University’s 200th anniversary. As one of Canada’s first universities to reach this significant milestone, McGill will commemorate this historic occasion with a special broadcast Celebrate 200: Launching Our 3rd Century, along with a series of signature 200th anniversary events and activities planned for this bicentennial year.
Government of Canada funds McGill research on contaminants in aquatic ecosystems
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are microscopic and up to 5 millimetres in size. McGill research project aims to provide an understanding of how these contaminants end up in Canadian aquatic environments and what impacts they have.

Narwhal tusks reveal mercury exposure related to climate change
In the Arctic, climate change and pollution are the biggest threats to top predators like narwhals. Studying the animals’ tusks reveals that diet and exposure to pollution have shifted over the past half century in response to sea-ice decline. Human emissions have also led to a sharp rise in the presence of mercury in recent years, according to an international team of researchers.
McGill leads in urgent virus variant research network
Experts across Canada, including researchers at McGill, are working to understand the impact of COVID-19 virus variants of concern on the health of Canadians and our public health measures.

Study links genes with function across the human brain
Comparing two neural maps reveals the roles of genes in cognition, perception and feeling
Many psychiatric disorders have genetic causes, but the exact mechanism of how genes influence higher brain function remains a mystery. A new study provides a map linking the genetic signature of functions across the human brain, a tool that may provide new targets for future treatments.

First images of magnetic fields at the edge of black hole in M87 Galaxy
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, which includes researchers from McGill University, who produced the first ever image of a black hole, has revealed this week a new view of the massive object at the centre of the M87 galaxy: how it looks in polarized light. This is the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarization, a signature of magnetic fields, this close to the edge of a black hole.

Rural Alaskans struggle to access and afford water
Water scarcity in rural Alaska is not a new problem, but the situation is getting worse with climate change. Lasting solutions must encourage the use of alternative water supplies like rainwater catchment and grey water recycling. They must also address the affordability of water related to household income, say researchers from McGill University.