According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Malaria causes an estimated 660,000 deaths each year worldwide. Presently, there is no available vaccine for this mosquito-borne disease—only preventative measures, such as bed nets, insecticides, and anti-malarial pills, which have had a limited effect. However, in a considerable step forward, the British[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Then and now: the poliovirus epidemic
By the 20th century, few diseases frightened parents more than the fever, chills, and paralysis delivered by the poliovirus. In response to the epidemic, we saw the development and distribution of two polio vaccines that drastically helped eradicate the virus. Unfortunately, this improved technology has its consequences. As vigorous vaccination[Read More…]
MCAT 101
What is the MCAT? The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is the main entrance exam for medical schools in Canada, the U.S and other countries, administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It is computer-based and currently composed of three sections: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences.[Read More…]
Universities face ‘study drug’ abuse
From papers to midterms to group projects, university life is not a breeze. In addition to academics, students are being asked to perform what may seem like an overwhelming amount of extracurricular activities. It’s not a surprise so many students have to deal with a jam-packed schedule alongside the pressure[Read More…]
Start-up Grind hopes to educate, inspire, and connect
Fifty cities; 15 countries; 15,000 entrepreneurs—this is the ground covered so far by the Start-up Grind. Founded by entrepreneurs Derek Anderson and Spencer Nielson in Feb. 2010, the event series will soon be making an appearance in Montreal. With the intention of creating a place for friends to come and[Read More…]
2011 science capsule
Living without a heart In March of 2011, two doctors from the Texas Heart Institute Billy Cohn and Bud Frazier helped Craig Lewis set a world record. They replaced their patient’s heart with a device that allowed blood to circulate throughout his body without a pulse. Essentially, the device uses[Read More…]
Science fiction: Space travel
The itch to explore has always played a key role in our culture. It has also been an important anchor upon which many works of science fiction are based; many stories feature tales about exploration. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfaall featuring a man visiting the[Read More…]
Research brief
Traffic Lights Arguably the very worst part of commuting is hitting one red light after the other, and it’s all the more frustrating when you’re hitting these reds while driving on an otherwise empty street. A University of Toronto Postdoctorate Fellow, Samah El-Tantawy, recently installed a new system in Toronto[Read More…]
When philosophy and linguistics meet neuroscience
Jeremy Cooperstock studies human-computer interactions in an effort to augment environmental awareness for the blind community, treat lazy eye syndrome, and train medical and music students, among other endeavors. As an associate professor of the department of electrical and computer engineering and director of McGill’s Shared Reality Lab, he was[Read More…]
Concrete canoe design team unsinkable
The Kraken lurked next to the Engineering Café for the first few months of the school year, unbeknownst to most students. Created by McGill’s concrete canoe design team, the Kraken competed last May at the Canadian Concrete Canoe Competition (CNCCC). The competition started in 1995 and aims to allow university[Read More…]
