New book club aims to advance civic dialogue in Quebec

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Trois-Rivières, Aug.17, 2026

At a time of polarization, disinformation and growing distrust of institutions, a new French-language book club open to the public aims to create spaces for civic discussion across Quebec.

Scientists discover immune cells have a ‘sense of touch’

A McGill University-led study has uncovered a previously unknown ability of T cells that could change our understanding of how long-term immunity develops.

Scientists have long believed that tissue resident memory T cells – which remain in tissues after an infection has cleared and respond rapidly if the threat returns – are shaped primarily by biochemical signals.

Online conflict may strengthen, not weaken, social movements, McGill researchers find

Online conflict tends to advance social movements rather than undermine them, according to new research from McGill's Desautels Faculty of Management.

McGill study demonstrates that restricting short-term rentals improves housing affordability

Municipal regulation of short-term rentals “is low-hanging fruit” that helps improve housing affordability, a new study by McGill researchers suggests. 

The study found that rents were relatively lower in Canadian municipalities that imposed restrictions on when and how principal residences can be offered as short-term rentals.  

The benefits also extended to neighbouring municipalities that did not adopt restrictions. 

Electric buses in cold climates: Optimizing operations is key, researchers say

A McGill University study recommends cold-climate cities increase their electric bus fleets and expand charging capacity so vehicles can be charged slowly, a process that draws less power from the grid than fast charging. 

Efficient energy use is particularly important in cold weather, when electric batteries drain more quickly and use more energy than in milder conditions, they noted. 

Youth mental health program saves nearly $10 for every dollar invested

An innovative youth mental health service model can improve care and ease pressure on Canada's health-care system, a new study led by researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre demonstrates.

Posture can influence your mood and behaviour, McGill study suggests

A person's posture appears to affect their emotions and decision-making ability more than they realize, according to new research from McGill University. In a recent study, participants sitting upright performed better at a risk-taking task and reported more positive feelings than did their peers in the slouching or control groups.

Pregnancy complications can signal heart disease risk years before traditional screening, study finds

McGill University researchers have developed a new tool to identify heart disease risk in women earlier in life.

Findings from a study published in JACC: Advances highlight gaps in existing approaches.

Restored wetlands aren’t clear-cut wins against climate change, McGill study suggests

Wetland restoration is often promoted as a definitive way to support wildlife, improve water quality and help store carbon. However, new research from McGill University suggests the overall climate picture is more complicated.

Supporters of losing political parties express less trust in fellow citizens, study says

Supporters of losing parties express more distrust of their fellow citizens after elections than do supporters of winning parties, a new study has found, with voters who more strongly disliked rival parties showing even greater distrust.

Study offers new insights into why ex-smokers remain at elevated risk of lung disease

A new study by a team of McGill researchers could help explain why people who have quit smoking remain at elevated risk of lung disease long after their last cigarette.

Their paper, published in Translational Research, provides one of the most detailed pictures to date of how quitting smoking affects the human lung at the cellular level.

Green LED light could help keep leafy greens fresher longer, McGill study suggests

Low-intensity green lighting in refrigerated storage can slow spoilage in leafy greens, helping maintain their appearance and nutritional value, according to a new study from McGill University.

CHIME collaboration helps identify location of "missing" matter in the universe

Estimates of ordinary matter in the universe exceed the amount observed in stars and galaxies, leaving much of it unaccounted for. Researchers from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)/Fast Radio Bursts Collaboration, including McGill University and MIT, have developed a new method to seek out this “missing” matter by combining galaxy locations with fast radio burst detections.

The “forgotten children” of sexual abuse in family settings

When a child has been sexually abused by a family member, post-disclosure interventions prioritize the child who was victimized. Siblings who were not directly abused can also be deeply affected by the abuse. New research from McGill University finds siblings are nevertheless routinely unable to access available supports.

McGill-led study could help event organizers prevent crowd crushes and stampedes

McGill researchers have found that dangerous crowd conditions leading to surges and stampedes may not emerge suddenly, but instead develop gradually, as repeated physical contact and pushing may accumulate and become synchronized among nearby individuals. 

Recognizing how these conditions arise could help organizers strengthen security, site management and evacuation planning, reducing the likelihood of injuries during large-scale public events.