Cancer is a family of related diseases caused by the uncontrolled division of cells known as a tumour. The Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes, a six-year project comprising the work of more than 1,300 researchers in 37 countries, is the largest, most in-depth analysis of cancer genomes to date. It[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Medicinal cannabis: Past, present, and future
With its legalization in 2018, marijuana, or cannabis, has become more widely accessible to adult Canadians for recreational use. Most people are familiar with marijuana’s usual effects, such as feelings of euphoria and relaxation; increased sensitivity to colour, sound, and taste; clouded thinking; and hunger. Beyond recreational use, however, cannabis[Read More…]
The changing nature of sea ice
Over the last few decades, climate change has profoundly changed the shape and movement of the layer of sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean. As a result of a warming climate, melting sea ice has become more mobile. A new study conducted by McGill’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science[Read More…]
Modelling climate action on the response to COVID-19
Some scholars, politicians, and activists believe that the climate crisis merits the same kind of national and international response that COVID-19 is receiving, but others think that would be impossible. While climate change and COVID-19 are fundamentally different problems, they both pose massive threats to human well-being and require enormous[Read More…]
COVID-19 prompts rise in digital health services
The COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe is drastically changing the ways in which people approach work, play, education, and, of course, healthcare. In light of the outbreak, routine checkups have begun to shift online to relieve overcrowded hospitals and reduce opportunities for infection. This style of remote healthcare—termed telehealth or[Read More…]
Thorium could refuel the future of nuclear energy
Despite being named after the Norse god of thunder, thorium does not come from the sky; rather, it is naturally occurring in the Earth’s crust. Discovered in 1828, thorium is a slightly radioactive metal that is a promising nuclear fuel alternative to uranium. However, the use of thorium as a[Read More…]
Student-led Face-Shield Initiative seeks support and materials
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for health care workers on the front line in the fight against COVID-19. As the number of global cases continues to increase, hospitals are experiencing shortages of basic medical equipment, most notably protective face shields, plastic guards that protect doctors and nurses from infectious[Read More…]
Smoothing the road of glucose highs and lows
Though diabetes was officially discovered in 1899, records of diabetes-like symptoms, such as excessive thirst and urination, go back 3,000 years to ancient Egypt. Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar for a prolonged period of time as a result of[Read More…]
The levitating power of quantum materials
The Redpath Museum hosted Tami Pereg-Barnea, an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Physics, on March 12 as part of the Cutting Edge Lecture in Science series. An expert in nano-scale materials, Pereg-Barnea discussed her current research, in which she applies quantum mechanical properties to understand the behaviour of superconductors.[Read More…]
Learning about the brain through science podcasts and fantasy worlds
The term ‘science education’ often brings to mind stressful chemistry labs, memorizing biology facts from a textbook, or struggling to read dry, confusing research papers. Such learning methods may work for those specializing in a particular field, but do little to convey the ideas to a broader audience. Morgan Sweeney,[Read More…]
