Tracking contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine mammals
A new method of tracking the dietary habits and contaminant exposure of animals in Arctic marine ecosystems is providing critical insights as climate change reshapes the region's food web.
AI has untapped potential to advance biodiversity conservation, study finds
A new study from McGill University researchers suggests the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to rapidly analyze vast amounts of biodiversity data could revolutionize conservation efforts by enabling scientists and policymakers to make better-informed decisions.
Blood test shows promise for early detection of dementia
For people with a certain sleep disorder, a simple blood test could help predict the development of dementia years before symptoms appear, a new study indicates.
Ultra-thin bismuth holds unexpected promise for green electronics: researcher
Electronic devices rely on materials whose electrical properties change with temperature, making them less stable in extreme conditions. A discovery by McGill University researchers that challenges conventional wisdom in physics suggests that bismuth, a metal, could serve as the foundation for highly stable electronic components.
In preparing children for a racially unequal society, families of colour can benefit from more support, study finds
A McGill-led team of researchers has gained insight into how parents of colour in the United States approach discussions with their children aimed at teaching them the skills they need to survive and thrive in a racially unequal society.
Proactively exposing ecosystems to mild environmental stressors appears to offer protection, study finds
Mild, proactive exposure to environmental stress can help biological communities resist severe disturbances and maintain genetic diversity, a recent study from McGill University has found.
Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states
Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices – Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues – have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests.
While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.
New discovery could help protect against influenza
A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.
A team of scientists led by Maziar Divangahi, a Professor in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, demonstrated that beta-glucan, administered to mice before their exposure to influenza, can reduce lung damage, improve lung function and lower the risk of illness and death.
McGill awards $500,000 to accelerate Mpox research and vaccine development
Montreal, February 13, 2025 – McGill University’s DNA to RNA Initiative (D2R) and McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) have awarded $500,000 to fund five high-impact research projects aimed at advancing the understanding of Mpox through its Rapid Response for Mpox Research funding program.
First Neurogenesis talk of 2025 highlights learning and spatial coding
Yesterday, HBHL hosted the first Neurogenesis Speaker Series talk of 2025 at The Neuro, featuring Paul Masset and Pouya Bashivan.
D2R awards over $6 million to support Core Platforms
The D2R (DNA to RNA) Initiative has awarded more than $6 million to support eight Core Platforms at McGill University and one at the University of British Columbia through its Core Platform Sustainability funding program. This program supports state-of-the-art Core Platforms that are essential for advancing research and development and facilitating technology uptake and transfer in fields relevant to RNA therapeutics.
Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility, study finds
A newly discovered line of communication between body muscle and the pituitary gland may play an unexpected role in female fertility, according to a new study.
McGill University researchers found that a protein produced in the muscles helps manage the release of a hormone made in the pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain.
When using music to alleviate pain, tempo matters
Music has the best chance of providing pain relief when it is played at our natural rhythm, a McGill University research team has discovered.
This suggests it may be possible to reduce a patient’s level of pain by using technology to take a piece of music someone likes and adjust the tempo to match their internal rhythm, the researchers said.
Remote sensing tools yield insights into abandoned pre-Columbian Mexican city
A McGill University researcher has discovered that Guiengola, a 15th century Zapotec site in southern Oaxaca, Mexico, which had been thought to be simply a fortress where soldiers were garrisoned, was in fact a sprawling, fortified city.
‘Last Ice Area’ in the Arctic could disappear much sooner than previously thought
The Arctic’s “Last Ice Area” (LIA) — a vital habitat for ice-dependent species — might disappear within a decade after the central Arctic Ocean becomes ice-free in summer, which is expected to occur sometime around mid-century, a new study by McGill University researchers using a high-resolution model has found.