On the week of Feb. 1, the Faculty of Science hosted the 31st edition of the beloved Soup and Science series in a five-day virtual event. Professors from various departments gave short presentations about their research and interacted with online attendees in break-out rooms. The McGill Tribune brings highlights of the[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
McGill researchers are shaping the future of arthritis treatment
Arthritis has been one of the most common health conditions in Canada for years, affecting people of all ages with symptoms including joint stiffness and painful inflammation. While there is no known cure, researchers are hoping to find more effective ways to treat and manage arthritis. The Arthritis Society of[Read More…]
When feelings don’t care about the facts
The rise of the Information Age has enabled widespread public access to scientific research, but it has also disseminated a dazzling array of misinformation. Distinguishing fact from fiction during a pandemic can be difficult, particularly for the significant number of Canadians that struggle with literacy. Dr. Christiane Northrup is one[Read More…]
McGill research study finds fisheries may save humans after nuclear war
When thinking about the aftermath of a nuclear war, fisheries are not the first things that come to mind. However, in a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), a team of McGill researchers revealed that marine fishery supplies could be vital to sustaining human life[Read More…]
How precision medicine and artificial intelligence can reshape cancer care
Cancer treatment is one of the most intricate challenges of contemporary medicine. One complication that often arises is the trial and error prescription of drugs that are often ineffective against a given type of tumour or for a particular patient. Moreover, these treatments often produce exhausting side effects. The ability[Read More…]
Disappearing giants: How warming oceans are suffocating large fish
Since 1981, the mean global ocean temperature has risen at an average rate of 0.18 degrees Celsius per decade. This has had serious impacts on the health of marine species; as oceans warm across the world, fish that are unable to cope with climatic changes, such as cardinalfish, are disappearing[Read More…]
Trained Immunity: The immunologic memory that humans have always had
Memory is invaluable when it comes to the immune system. The immune system is the body’s natural defence mechanism against infection or foreign pathogens and is made up of two key systems. The innate immunity is a rapid, non-specific first response to pathogens or tissue injury. In contrast, adaptive immunity[Read More…]
When the world of dinosaurs was rocked, so was the climate
As tropical forests are cleared for agriculture and coral reefs overheat from rising temperatures, thousands of species vanish into oblivion, unable to survive the rapid climatic and environmental changes of the Anthropocene—the age of the sixth mass extinction. The Anthropocene epoch is an unofficial unit of geological time used to[Read More…]
Factors affecting COVID-19 vulnerability
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, observations have shown that the virus does not affect everyone equally. Humans, cats, and dogs can get infected, but not cattle or swine. Additionally, some experience mild symptoms, while others must be hospitalized and can even succumb to the disease. A recent study[Read More…]
Top Quebec discoveries of 2020 feature McGill brain cancer studies
For the year 2020, Quebec Science magazine’s annual list of top 10 scientific discoveries featured two studies on brain cancer led by McGill researchers. The list was selected by a jury of scientists and journalists and the top discovery will be determined by a public vote. Votes can be cast[Read More…]
