Malignant melanoma, a cancer that originates in melanin-producing cells, is the deadliest variety of skin cancer. In the past 11 years, immunotherapy has increased the median survival rate of advanced melanoma from nine months to six years. However, it is still a developing treatment. Farida Zakariya, a masters student in[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Demystifying the mysterious fast radio bursts
On Feb. 7, 2024, the Trottier Space Institute hosted a public lecture on the mystery of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), fleeting blasts of cosmic energy that can outshine an entire galaxy, but only for a few milliseconds. They invited Duncan Lorimer, professor of Physics and Astronomy and Associate Dean for[Read More…]
Melting permafrost in arctic ponds: An unfolding factor for climate change
Climate change is a concept that we perceive as both intimately close and somewhat distant. We notice its effect through warmer winters and the sweltering heat of summer, but we easily get lost when trying to find tangible actions we can take to slow it down. Peter Douglas, an assistant[Read More…]
What’s the matter with antimatter?
Since the mid-1970s, the Standard Model of particle physics has, as the name suggests, served as the standard theory for what fundamental particles exist in the universe, and how they interact with each other. While a mountain of experimental evidence from the last 50 years supports the model, there are[Read More…]
Swimming upstream: The case of U.S.-Canada collaboration in fishery management
While “transboundary fishery governance” may not immediately evoke images of glamorous public servants heroically striving toward healthy ecological practices, it turns out to be a critical, yet often overlooked aspect of our food supply. Fishery management is the practice of regulating the extent of fishing, specifying permitted and restricted areas,[Read More…]
Annual hackathon abounds with creativity, camaraderie, and caffeine
There are many ways to get an adrenaline rush. For some, skydiving, horror movie jump-scares, or kickboxing does the trick. For others, it’s McHacks. McHacks is an annual hackathon that a team of McGill students organizes, where teams of hackers have just 24 hours—from Saturday noon until Sunday noon—to design[Read More…]
Cracking into the mysteries of avian eggshells
Bird eggs, with their delicate embryos encased in protective shells, have been fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution. In a fertilized egg, each component is optimized to help the chicken embryo grow, protect it from bacterial invasion and predators, and ultimately allow it to break out of the shell[Read More…]
SciTech Reviews: ‘Emperor of All Maladies’
Although the risk of cancer-related death is declining in Canada, cancer remains the leading cause of death in this country. Given this reality, scientists have dramatically ramped up their research in the past several decades. However, cancer is not a new disease—humanity has made note of its presence for millennia,[Read More…]
Endometriosis and mental health: A novel study on the silent battle
Commonly underdiagnosed, endometriosis affects one in 10 people assigned female at birth. Sufferers can experience difficult periods, excessive bleeding, painful sex, and infertility. Regulation of physical symptoms and surgical intervention may help, but a group of McGill researchers want clinicians to advocate for mental health support as an additional part[Read More…]
Urban greenery: The surprising common thread between sustainable cities and healthy children
To the environmentalist, urban vegetation, such as rows of trees, shrubs, or flower beds, might symbolize a small act of rebellion—a patch of nature amid a concrete jungle. Beyond enhancing a city’s aesthetics and supporting mental well-being, city greenery contributes significantly to urban biodiversity and climate resilience. However, urban vegetation’s[Read More…]
