Experts: Quebec pulls 1,200 electric school buses from service following fire
The Quebec government has ordered 1,200 LION Electric school buses off the road after one of the vehicles caught fire earlier this week in Montreal. McGill experts are available to comment on the implications of this event, including battery safety, electric vehicle design, materials engineering and fire risk mitigation.
Expert: Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
Four major space telescopes have confirmed unusual findings about a rare interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS.
Astronomers using the Hubble, SPHEREx, James Webb and TESS telescopes report that the comet’s early activity and surprising chemical makeup suggest it may have formed in a planetary system very different from our own. Some researchers believe that interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS could even play a role in planet formation when captured by young star systems.
Experts: Health misinformation online
The Canadian Medical Association is warning that science is under attack and false health information is spreading rapidly, with serious implications for public trust and patient health.
A statement released Wednesday in collaboration with research and clinical organizations across Canada called for collective action to counter misinformation and support science.
Experts: Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported its first Ebola outbreak in three years, which has already claimed 15 lives.
McGill University experts are available to discuss concerns about the world’s ability to respond quickly, particularly as recent U.S. funding cuts put global health programs under strain.
Expert: Trial of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro
Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, has been charged with attempting to stage a coup d’état and reclaim power following his loss of the 2022 election. The verdict and sentencing phase of the trial is now beginning.
This McGill expert can talk about Bolsonaro’s trial; the legacy of dictatorships in Brazil; the effects of U.S tariffs against Brazil; and human rights and amnesty.
Expert: Low water levels
In Quebec’s Montérégie region, residents are facing a growing water crisis, particularly in Mercier and Saint-Rémi, due to the depletion of resources in underground aquifers. The water scarcity has affected agriculture, forcing some farmers to abandon vegetable crops.
Meanwhile, the level of the St. Lawrence River is notably lower than usual for this time of year, affecting fishing, boating and shipping around Montreal.
Expert: Health consequences of wildfire smoke
Canada’s 2023 wildfire season caused the country’s worst air pollution levels since 1998, according to a new report. It warns that if such pollution levels persist, Canadians could lose about two years of life expectancy.
Experts: New guidelines to help Canadians quit smoking
New national smoking cessation guidelines caution that e-cigarettes should generally not be the first choice for people trying to quit.
Experts: Rocky Mountain spotted fever
The first case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was confirmed in Quebec this week. The tick-borne illness, which can be life threatening, is typically found in the United States.
Virginie Millien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McGill University and Curator of Zoology at the Redpath Museum. She can speak to how climate change and shifting habitats are enabling ticks to spread into new regions.
Expert: Efforts to reach a treaty on global plastic pollution
Global talks to finalize a UN treaty on plastic pollution ended in Geneva without consensus after 10 days of negotiations, highlighting sharp divisions over issues like production caps, chemicals of concern and financing. Despite the setback, countries pledged to continue negotiations, with the UN Environment Programme stressing the urgency of tackling a problem that affects ecosystems and human health worldwide.
Experts: back-to-school
With the first day of school fast approaching, McGill experts are available to comment on a variety of related issues.
Mental health and well-beingMarie-Claude Geoffroy, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, is the Canada Research Chair in Youth Suicide Prevention. She can discuss youth mental health.
Experts: GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss
Ozempic and Wegovy are widely used to support weight loss and manage diabetes. But could this class of drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, also help treat heart failure, liver disease and even addiction?
Experts: Hunger crisis in Gaza
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned yesterday of a worst-case scenario famine unfolding in the Gaza strip, as access to food and other essential items and services has become highly limited due to the ongoing conflict and displacement.
These McGill experts are available to comment:
Expert: International Court of Justice rules on climate change
The International Court of Justice ruled today that countries must act on the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change. The advisory opinion, backed by all 15 of the court’s judges, potentially opens the door to further legal action by states that seek to hold other states accountable.
This McGill expert is available to comment:
