McGill physicists manoeuvre DNA molecules using electrical fields

Researchers in McGill’s Department of Physics have developed a new device that can trap and study DNA molecules without touching or damaging them. The device, which uses carefully tuned electric fields, offers scientists unprecedented control over how DNA behaves in real time, creating the opportunity for faster, more precise molecular analysis that could improve diagnostics, genome mapping and the study of disease-related molecules.

Expert: Ocean floor temperature increases

The 2025 Ocean State Report from the Copernicus Marine Service, a European Union ocean monitoring organization, has found that sea floor temperatures off the coast of Nova Scotia have risen at twice the rate of surface temperatures over 30 years.

Schulich Leaders pursue passion for STEM

As a CEGEP student, Daniel Wei captained his college robotics team to victories with a dodgeball-throwing robot and a biodegradable soil sensor for farmers. 

He and a peer also earned a bronze medal at a science and technology fair for their research on biomechanical processes involved in developing artificial intestines.

The Science of Studying: How Understanding Your Brain Can Boost Academic Success

What if the key to studying smarter wasn’t about what you learned, but how you learned it? At McGill, the Office of Science Education’s (OSE) neuroscience-based program SciLearn is helping students in the Faculty of Science do just that. 

CHORD will be a huge leap forward for Canadian radio astronomy

Construction is underway of CHORD, the most ambitious radio telescope project ever built on Canadian soil. Short for the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector, CHORD will give astronomers an unprecedented opportunity to explore some of the most exciting and mysterious questions in astrophysics and cosmology, from Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and dark energy to the measurements of fundamental particles, and beyond.

Study finds Montreal cycling infrastructure doesn’t match demand

Bike lanes, BIXI stations and other micromobility infrastructure make up just two per cent of Montreal’s street space – even in neighbourhoods where cycling demand would justify more – according to a new study by McGill University researchers. They think that the measure they developed to arrive at their findings can also help assess the situation in other cities.

McGill team discovers Canada’s first dinosaur-era dragonfly fossil 

In a first for Canadian paleontology, a Cretaceous fossilized dragonfly wing, uncovered in Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park, has been identified as a new species. It’s also the first known dragonfly fossil from Canada’s dinosaur aged rocks. The find, led by McGill University researchers, sheds light on a 30-million-year gap in the evolutionary history of dragonflies. 

McGill scientists turn marine waste into a sustainable solution for wound care, wearable devices and more  

An interdisciplinary team of McGill researchers has developed an ultra-strong, environmentally friendly medical glue, or bioadhesive, made from marine waste. The discovery has promising applications for wound care, surgeries, improved drug delivery, wearable devices and medical implants. 

Climate change driving major algae surge in Canada’s lakes, study finds

Algal growth is accelerating in lakes across Canada, including those far from human development, and a new study shows that climate change is the primary driver. 

Researchers’ novel lab technique reveals how ice crystals form in clouds

Researchers have developed a novel method to detect and study how ice forms in mixed-phase clouds, significantly boosting scientists’ ability to forecast weather and model climate change. 

Appointment of Alanna Watt as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science

Dear community members, 

I am pleased to announce that Professor Alanna Watt, of the Department of Biology, has graciously agreed to take on the role of Interim Dean of Science, effective July 1, 2025. She will oversee the Faculty while we continue the search for a new Dean of Science. In accordance with the University Statutes, an Advisory Committee will be established to support this process. 

Experience and expertise 

Dragonfly study challenges traditional ideas about biodiversity conservation

A study has found that the impact of climate change on an animal’s traits can begin much earlier than scientists previously thought – a discovery that could reshape how researchers and policymakers approach biodiversity conservation.