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.

McGill study identifies most effective methods for early detection of tench, an invasive freshwater fish

As tench continue to spread through the St. Lawrence River, a study from McGill University provides fisheries managers with guidance on how to detect the invasive species, an essential first step in preventing it from reaching new waters. The findings can inform efforts to contain and manage existing populations, helping agencies determine how and where to carry out removal or control activities.

McGill researchers identify a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk

An interdisciplinary team including researchers at McGill University has found a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk samples from Canada and South Africa. The chemicals include traces of pesticides, antimicrobials and additives used in plastics and personal-care products. The findings were published across five papers.

Freshwater browning threatens growth and populations of economically important fish, McGill researchers say

Freshwater browning is stunting fish growth of some species, shrinking populations of others and changing the composition of fish communities, McGill-led research suggests. “Browning” refers to freshwater bodies turning tea-coloured, a phenomenon driven by higher levels of dissolved organic matter and/or higher levels of iron in the water. Causes include changes in land use and climate, and reduced acid precipitation.

Irradiated cannabis might still harbour toxic fungi and residues, McGill study finds 

Gamma irradiation, an industry-standard sterilization method for medicinal and recreational cannabis, does not fully eliminate toxic fungi or their chemical residues, a McGill University study has found. Current testing practices may also miss contamination, raising concerns about health risks for vulnerable users, particularly those with weakened immune systems. 

Findings suggest that certain medications for Type 2 diabetes reduce risk of dementia

A large McGill University study has found that two classes of medications commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, both incretin-based, are associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

Drawing on clinical data from more than 450,000 patients, the research adds to growing evidence that incretin-based therapies have protective benefits for the brain.

Study offers evidence that racial bias is at play in overrepresentation of Black youth in Canadian child welfare systems

Researchers who examined Canadian child welfare data found that Black children were not only investigated at a higher rate than their white peers but were also more likely to be taken from their homes, even when the only difference between cases was the child’s race.

McGill researcher unveils new model that more accurately measures greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas

McGill engineering researchers have introduced an open-source model that makes it easier for experts and non-experts alike to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. natural gas supply chains and yields more accurate results.

New light-triggered microneedle patch could make IVF hormone delivery painless and automated

A McGill University research team has developed a painless, automated way to deliver in vitro fertilization (IVF) hormones using a light-activated microneedle patch, an innovation that could ease one of the most stressful parts of fertility treatment and open new possibilities for other diseases that require frequent, time-sensitive injections.

Do supervised consumption sites bring increased crime? Study suggests that’s a myth

Overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites in Toronto are not associated with long-term increases in local crime, McGill University researchers have found.

Mosquitoes’ feeding tubes make ultrafine 3D-printing nozzles

Researchers in McGill’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and at Drexel University have developed an innovative manufacturing technique that makes female mosquito proboscides, or feeding tubes, into high-resolution 3D-printing nozzles. With its unique geometry, structure and mechanics, the proboscis en