For many undergraduates, it can be challenging to find opportunities to learn the applied skills of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in a classroom setting. Being trapped memorizing facts only to regurgitate them during midterms and finals can quickly stifle the enthusiasm that students would have otherwise brought[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Household energy efficiency segregated along racial lines in the U.S., study finds
As the climate crisis worsens, reducing carbon emissions has become one of the most pressing priorities to mitigate its effects. In the United States in 2020, the residential sector was responsible for approximately 20 per cent of total carbon emissions from energy consumption. Targeted housing policies that increase residential energy[Read More…]
CRISPR-Cas9, the unwitting revolutionary
Bacteria get a bad rap, and often deservedly so: Different strains cause a range of infections and diseases, including pneumonia, strep throat, and tuberculosis. However, any well-researched health food advocate can list the many benefits of the bacteria present in yogurt, and your local pub would be doomed without the[Read More…]
Seeing double: An overview of cloning, past and present
The scientific tool of cloning, which allows humans to duplicate organisms, has soared since the birth of first-ever mammalian clone Dolly the sheep. But how has this now commonplace discipline evolved, and where might it head in the future? Scientists must continue to grapple with the ethics of such a[Read More…]
Cloudberry 101: The ecology of the urban squirrel
Although the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is native to eastern North American regions such as Montreal, their adaptive traits allow them to thrive elsewhere, like British Columbia or Europe, where they are categorized as an invasive species. Despite their name, some have dark brown or black coats. But common[Read More…]
No such thing as empty land: Agricultural expansion and displacement in South America’s Gran Chaco region
The destruction of the world’s rainforests has long been framed as an environmental problem. Extractive logging, mining, and agricultural practices have led to the loss of millions of acres of wildlife and have emitted massive quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. But for years, activists have argued that[Read More…]
CHIME telescope maps the expanding universe
On Apr. 28, 2020, an unusually intense fast radio burst (FRB) was detected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope located near Penticton, British Columbia. Although it was only partially captured by the telescope, the radio burst was intense enough in magnitude that, according to scientists working on[Read More…]
The changing landscape of industrial mining
From the diamonds in Nunavut to the gold in British Columbia to the iron ores in Labrador, Canada has a multitude of resources spanning from coast to coast to coast. Producing over 30 different minerals and metals, it is no surprise that Canada plays a substantial role in the global[Read More…]
Biology symposium investigates modes of language learning
How language plays a role in the evolution of human societies remains a fascinating question for language researchers, given the diversity of language learning techniques and abilities. Some McGill researchers, however, are one step closer to finding the answer. On Nov. 15, a symposium on the “Cultural Evolution of Communication”[Read More…]
Computational witness stand: A new way to prevent credit card fraud
In 2018 alone, reported fraud cases increased by 18.4 percent from the previous year and over 20 billion dollars were lost. Although not the only source of card fraud, one major concern is the security of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). With the spread of ATMs throughout the world, personal banking[Read More…]
