From invisibility cloaks to light sabres, many recent scientific advancements have made it possible for researchers to get a little bit closer to reproducing some of our favourite technologies portrayed in films. However, while science inches towards science fiction, science fiction can still take a lesson in recreating science. One[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Defining a new pathway to the study of mucosal immunity
At first sight, Irah King looks like your average yoga teacher: long hair, cool bracelets, and a warm smile. However, you’d be surprised at the story behind this new member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. King has a diverse background—a bachelor in psychology, a master’s in physical therapy[Read More…]
This month in science @ McGill
Seashells inspire shatterproof glass: The intricate patterns of waves on the surface of seashells serve more than a decorative purpose. These tiny cracks are actually the secret behind the incredible strength of the shell. Thanks to a technique developed by Francois Barthelat—a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at[Read More…]
Sloths hold untapped resource for novel antibodies
Hanging from the canopy of trees in Soberania National Park, Panama, the coat of the world’s slowest mammal may become the medical community’s newest “bioprospect.” Fungi isolated from the hair of the Bradypus variegatus Three-toed sloths have been found to have anti-parasitic, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial activity by a study published[Read More…]
Researchers uncover metabolic fountain of youth
If aging were an orchestra, our youth would be a symphony that eventually starts to play out of tune. First the winds and brass would skip a beat, then the strings would lose their tempo and the percussion would fall behind. As time progresses, the beautiful melody unravels to a[Read More…]
Scientists create the first customized, genetically engineered monkeys
Ningning and Mingming are not ordinary monkeys. From the exterior, their pink noses and furry faces make them appear as normal macaques, but at the genomic level, these brothers carry mutated genes. Researchers at the Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University in China reported the creation of the first[Read More…]
Consumers are the new energy resource
In 1946, the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company initiated a new advertising campaign for Camels, one of the most popular cigarette brands in the United States. The slogan on the brightly coloured cases read: “More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette.” Today, Marlboro cigarette cases read: “Smoking causes mouth and[Read More…]
Research Briefs — Feb. 18
Sea slugs and sex drugs Last Friday was “Single awareness day” leaving many wondering how to find their soul mate. As it turns out, sea slugs may hold the key. For these saltwater snails, lovemaking is far from gentle and sweet: sea slugs stab their partners to procreate. The slugs[Read More…]
The puzzle of pain behaviour
Basil Kadoura, a U3 neuroscience student, has always had pets, so it comes as no surprise that he currently enjoys spending his days in the lab playing with mice. Working under the supervision of McGill professor Jeffrey Mogil, Kadoura is investigating a chemosignaling study concerning how mice respond to male[Read More…]
What is the science behind chemical attraction?
When we meet someone that we like, our heart flutters and we feel short of breath. On a first date, our stomach is full of butterflies. And when we fall in love, we feel a powerful sense of empathy towards our partner. While poets, novelists, and songwriters have described the[Read More…]
