On May 31, a research team at the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) became the first in Canada to implant a new cutting-edge biological prosthesis into a patient’s heart. The main purpose of the device is to substitute a faulty aortic valve—a valve that regulates blood flow between the heart’s main[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
From benchtop to bedside: How tendon-inspired sutures can help heal wounds
Sutures, the threads designed to close wounds and promote healing, have been used for thousands of years, having originated in ancient Egypt. Since their invention, physicians and scientists have experimented with a wide array of materials, from hemp and cotton to more modern synthetic fibres. New techniques have been developed[Read More…]
Macdonald campus pollinator project gives native bees what they need
The Native Pollinator Habitat Project, launching in summer 2021, is McGill’s Macdonald Campus Sustainability Working Group’s latest initiative that aims to make the campus more hospitable to native species. Led by Frieda Beauregard, professor in the Department of Plant Science at McGill and curator of the McGill University Herbarium, the[Read More…]
Demystifying social anxiety and its impacts on student life
A timid McGill student observes a group of classmates talking and laughing, and wishes to join them. As she contemplates whether to approach them, she remembers words of encouragement from a therapist: “You will make friends, you are kind and fun. People like you more than you think.” After recalling[Read More…]
Dr. Lucy Gilbert honoured among Top 25 Women of Influence
Women’s achievements and contributions to medical science have long been overlooked. To combat this prejudice and recognize their accomplishments across all disciplines, the annual Top 25 Women of Influence awards highlight Canadian women who have inspired positive change in their field of work. This year, Dr. Lucy Gilbert, a professor[Read More…]
Deadly pollutant PM2.5 is lacking regulations worldwide
Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 is a group of airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres found in ash, dust, vehicle exhaust, smoke, and sometimes the air we breathe. A micrometre is roughly one-millionth of a metre—about 30 times smaller than the average diameter of a human hair—and is only visible with[Read More…]
Rat community ravaged by Oreo epidemic
This article was originally published in The Razette but The McGill Tribune was able to translate and report on this very important issue. To many rodents, Oreo cookies filled with processed sugar and a satisfying ratio of cookie to creme have long been a sweet treat to nibble on. The Aristorat Academy[Read More…]
Shrimp do not see a kaleidoscope of colours, they are just really stupid
This article was taken from The Seahorse Report, an undersea publication run by seahorses. The Seahorse Report Mantis shrimp have long claimed that their visual processing capabilities outshine those of all other sea creatures. They have had us sea dwellers and our human overlords wrapped around their claws for a[Read More…]
Interstellar travel: Sending tiny spacecrafts to the stars
Exploring what lies in the expanse of our universe has always been a topic of interest for scientists and engineers. This curiosity has shaped the field of space exploration and propelled nations to send astronauts to explore the cosmos. Experiments enacted beyond the confines of our planet have yielded a[Read More…]
Exploring the microbiota of human breast milk
Until recently, scientists presumed that breast milk—the primary source of infant nutrition— was microbe-free. However, recent studies have found that breast milk contains a healthy dose of good bacteria. These microbes originate from the mother’s gut microbiota—the harmless micro-organisms that colonize the human digestive system. The microbiome performs diverse functions[Read More…]
