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…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
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…]
Ask Scitech
With cold and flu season upon us, we all remember the saying, “Don’t go out in the cold or you’ll catch your death.” However, this phrase is a widespread misconception. According to Thomas Tallman, doctor of osteopathic medicine and emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic in an interview with WebMD,[Read More…]
Research briefs
FDA joins fight against trans fat High levels of artificial trans-fat in processed foods have been known to cause 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths related to heart disease every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In an effort to reduce such diseases, the Food and Drug[Read More…]
Breaking down barriers in osteoarthritis
Known for its excellence in research, McGill University is home to a host of professors and scientists whose work contribute to scientific innovation. In tribute to the amazing research conducted within McGill’s walls, each month Science & Technology will feature student researchers who have helped contribute to the cutting edge[Read More…]
Moving beyond the classroom as a budding entrepreneur
Throughout his years at McGill, Jeff Kelisky never forgot his father’s advice, “Leave the world better than when you arrived.” Now, as a global business builder, Kelisky continues to strive to make his mark in the world of business and computer science. Kelisky graduated from McGill in 1988 with a[Read More…]
Research briefs
Safety questioned in hands-free texting apps An article in the November issue of Scientific American revealed a surprising twist to the popularity concerning hands-free texting apps, such as Voice Text Pro and DriveSafe.ly. Developers assumed that, since drivers would not need to take their eyes off the road to use[Read More…]
BBM for smartphones receives unexpected hype
After firing 4,500 employees due to sales losses and signing an agreement to sell the company to FairFax Financial for $4.7 billion USD, what could BlackBerry Ltd. possibly do to regain its momentum in the smartphone industry? Perhaps releasing its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service for free to Android and iPhone users[Read More…]