Apart from the usual suspects on your phone, such as Instagram and Snapchat, many other apps exist that can help you keep up with your schedule and manage your social life. Check out these lesser-known apps to ring in the New Year. Evernote Advertised as a suite of programs that[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
McGill joins ranks of universities teaching MOOCs
This semester, McGill joined the ranks of MIT, Harvard, and other leading universities with the opening of registration for its first ever Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Chem181x. The course, known as “Food for Thought,” will be offered by professors David Harpp, Joe Schwarcz, and Ariel Fenster starting this January[Read More…]
Delving into the laser lab
Enclosed within the Wong building is a laser lab—and in between homework and classes, this is where Luke Matus spends the majority of his time. “I’m in chemical engineering, so I had no experience in lasers or surface engineering,” said Matus, a U2 engineering student. “I was just interested in[Read More…]
2013 Technology: a year in review
1. Wearable computing Between Google Glass and the smart watch—including the models Galaxy Gear and Pebble, wearable computing is a rising trend. Pebble was founded by Eric Migicovsky and released in 2013. Originally, Migicovsky wanted a device that would allow him to use his smartphone without crashing his bicycle; from[Read More…]
First malaria vaccine en route for 2015
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…]
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…]
