Over a century ago, Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, spotted strange plaques and tangles in the brain slides of a patient with dementia. Ever since, scientists have been trying to better understand the mechanisms behind what is now known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain disorder that[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
McGill researchers find link between chronotype and sleep behaviour
Irregular sleep schedules are common among university students: From late night exam cramming to binge-watching favourite TV shows, most students have first-hand experience with sleep deprivation. Since proper rest is essential for optimal functioning and health, disrupted sleep is associated with many health-adverse effects including cardiovascular diseases. As such, studying[Read More…]
Leveraging gene editing technology to treat brain cancer
In 2020, the Jahani-Asl Lab in the Division of Experimental Medicine at McGill discovered that gene therapy techniques could make certain brain tumours more receptive to radiation treatment. Since then, the team has made yet another groundbreaking advancement—identifying a protein pathway that, when suppressed, could lead to reduced tumour growth.[Read More…]
Science Rewind: Eight scientific advances discovered at McGill
Since 1821, McGill University has climbed the ranks and established itself among Canada’s high-performing research institutions. It is no understatement that McGill professors and alumni went on to excel in their respective fields, particularly in scientific domains. Ernest Rutherford, who was a professor of experimental physics at McGill, conducted world-renowned[Read More…]
The social and environmental toll of concrete production
Names like McCall MacBain Arts, Redpath Museum, or Stewart Biology may bring to mind lecture halls and study spots, but all these McGill landmarks have at least one more thing in common: They all use concrete in their construction. Just about every infrastructure project in Montreal, and across the world,[Read More…]
Five science myths perpetuated by your favourite movies and TV shows
Movies and TV shows are notorious for sacrificing sound science in favour of cinematics that capture audiences’ attention. While this provides good entertainment, viewers may be shocked when scientific reality does not match up with fantasy. The McGill Tribune busts five incorrect portrayals of science in the popular media. Myth[Read More…]
Nature-based solutions are the future of climate change mitigation
Global biodiversity has been increasingly imperilled since the beginning of the Holocene, or the human age, but many scientists agree that biodiversity decline in the 21st century is akin to a sixth mass extinction. Without the transformation of many facets of society, species abundance will continue to decline, causing a[Read More…]
Feathered flirtations: Studying courtship song among zebra finches
Although studying the delicate rhythms of seduction among humans is deeply fascinating to many, some biologists prefer to devote their attention to the courtship rituals of birds. Being highly social animals, numerous species of birds display sophisticated forms of socialization, even “romance”—their bird song being an essential seduction technique. Avian[Read More…]
Proposed hydro dams put free-flowing rivers at risk
Many hydropower dam projects have been proposed around the world as countries shift toward renewable energy sources, in line with United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. However, a recent study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that these proposed dam projects threaten the free-flowing status of 260,000[Read More…]
Using AI to save lives
Content warning: Mention of suicide and suicidal ideation. Young people aged 18-29 reported some of the highest rates of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the social isolation wrought by the pandemic, rates of suicidal ideation among college-aged individuals were troubling: In a 2019 sample survey of[Read More…]