2020 was a year characterized by uncertainty, despair, and drastic change. However, several scientific and technological achievements provide hope for the future. Google stakes its claim on quantum supremacy Google’s quantum computer, Sycamore, is the first instance of such a device outcompeting a classical computer. While a classical computer reads[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
A long road ahead: The obstacles facing COVID-19 vaccine distribution
As the second wave of COVID-19 intensifies and many countries around the world enter another lockdown, scientists and pharmaceutical companies have raced to produce the most effective vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer have emerged as clear winners, with many countries already beginning to administer their products. With the successful development of[Read More…]
Methods of quantitative modeling revolutionize drug development
Mathematics and computer science are revolutionizing the way new drugs and treatments are tested and implemented. A new paper published in Chaos and written by U4 McGill Physiology and Math major Sofia Alfonso, postdoctoral researcher Adrianne L. Jenner, and Dr. Morgan Craig from the University of Montreal’s department of Math and[Read More…]
New research on ketamine may lead to novel treatments for depression
Ketamine, a schedule III drug, is often used recreationally for its hallucinogenic effects. Its approved purpose, however, is as an anesthetic in medical settings for animals and humans. Recently, it has also been approved by the FDA to treat major depressive disorder in patients who are resistant to other treatments. [Read More…]
Science education cannot exist in a vacuum
Picture this: In the middle of an auditorium filled with students, a professor describes the process of chromosomal segregation. This professor teaches the students about the stages of cell division, the proteins involved, and what happens when chromosomes do not separate properly; a person can have either XX or XY[Read More…]
McGill Space Institute hosts talk on the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory
On Nov. 17, the McGill Space Institute (MSI) hosted a special public lecture titled “Surveying the Universe,” given by Steven Kahn, the director of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and a professor of physics at Stanford University. Khan discussed the goals of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) which is[Read More…]
Building pathways toward a greener future
Nov. 17 marked the end of the “Food for Thought” lecture series’ 21st season. Hosted by the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, this year’s theme was centred on sustainable use and conservation of resources that are otherwise taken for granted. Michael Jemtrud, an associate professor at McGill’s School of[Read More…]
Plastic planet: Challenges in creating a greener world
With every passing day, the Earth takes another step towards becoming a plastic planet. Plastic has infiltrated every habitat across the globe, from the high seas to the soil beneath cities. In an effort to address the gargantuan problem of plastic pollution, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party[Read More…]
Tracking devices are revolutionizing the study of remote wildlife
The movement patterns of migratory birds, especially those that travel vast distances, are often hard to track. This makes these species difficult to locate in the wild and even harder to study. Biologging, which involves attaching tiny tracking instruments onto animals to observe their location and behaviour, has emerged at[Read More…]
Picture this: The illustrious world of medical illustration
Before writing was used as a means for communication, ancient civilizations relied on pictorial representations of objects, which included visual representations of medical concepts. Medical illustrations date back to 15,000 BCE, and have continued to evolve over time. Over the course of many millennia, advancements in art and technology have[Read More…]
