Recently, dozens of opinion articles have appeared in the media—and even in scientific journals—that deny the risks that invasive species pose to the environment. These arguments claim that the field of invasion biology is biased and unscientific. Anthony Ricciardi, professor in McGill’s School of Environment, is addressing this issue. Invasion[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
A difficult transition into the adult care of chronic conditions
Anyone who has ever been a first year in university can remember how overwhelming it can be at times: Navigating campus, taking on large course loads, making new friends, and perhaps even living away from home. Eighteen-year-old freshmen who live with a chronic illness, like type 1 diabetes, face the[Read More…]
Daylight savings affects industry and human health
On Nov. 5, Daylight Saving Time (DST) ended, and we were gifted with an extra hour of sleep. 2 a.m. reverted back to 1 a.m., and clocks were changed. Benjamin Franklin first suggested the idea of implementing DST in 1784, joking that extended daylight would save candles. He also found[Read More…]
Printing in 3D: Easy as 1-2-3
For many, 3D printing seems futuristic and inaccessible. However, in reality 3D printing is easy, available, and relatively cheap. Those looking to get involved need look no further than right here at McGill. Christophe Paganon is one of four board members of the McGill 3D Printing Design Team (M3DP) and[Read More…]
Just keep swimming… or not: The story of male contraceptives
Men and women are both responsible for pregnancy; yet, the burden of preventing it often falls on women. The fact that most types of birth control are made for women creates this discrepancy, as men don’t have the same selection of methods: Female birth control includes hormone injections, morning after[Read More…]
Five spooky animals to keep you up at night
Halloween and creepy creatures go hand in hand, but there’s more to the animal kingdom than the generic vampire bat or black cat. Here are five spooky animals to get you in the Halloween spirit: Tufted deer Found in the mountainous forests of China, Tibet, and Myanmar, the tufted[Read More…]
Sordid tales of quantum physics
More haunting than any ghoul is the occurrence of entanglement, or nonlocality. Entanglement occurs when particles, also known as various small ‘fields,’ are linked. These fields include electrons, photons, atoms, and even molecules, which share a common history that intertwines their futures. Measuring or changing the state of an entangled[Read More…]
Gravitational waves when neutron stars collide
A global effort, with contributions by McGill astrophysicists including Assistant Professor of Physics in the McGill Space Institute (MSI), Daryl Haggard, and postdoctoral researcher Melania Nynka, has detected gravitational waves coming from the collision of two neutron stars in orbit. Among the many implications of this discovery, the origin of[Read More…]
What sparks wildfires?
Every passing summer brings forth the recurring and growing problem of forest fires in British Columbia, as well as in neighbouring provinces and states south of the border. Provincial governments have been tasked with preparing and dealing with fires that seem to be affecting larger and larger areas of land,[Read More…]
Designer babies in the age of CRISPR
A powerful gene-editing tool, known as CRISPR, has been developing, promising new approaches to treating various illnesses and even modification of children by their parents. Yet, it seems society still hasn’t addressed fears about the possible misuse of such technology—technology that research labs around the world have already started using. CRISPR[Read More…]