A third of the world is currently infected with tuberculosis (TB). Last year, over a million people died as a result of AIDS-related illnesses and half a million from malaria. Mortalities from these epidemics are staggering, despite improved knowledge of effective prevention and treatment methods. The solutions for eradicating the[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Event spotlight: McGill’s 22nd edition of Soup and Science
At the 22nd edition of Soup and Science, hosted by the Office for Undergraduate Research, professors took the stage to explain their research. The event, held last week at the Redpath Museum, offered students a chance to hear about professors’ research and meet with them to find out how to[Read More…]
McGill University Health Centre Finds Cures for Life-Threatening Dairy Allergies
For children with severe food allergies, mealtime can be the most challenging part of the day. Families with young children who have allergies are especially affected, as parents must constantly worry about what their children are eating. Recent results out of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) offer newfound hope[Read More…]
McGill wins $84 million grant for neuroscience program
McGill University reaffirmed itself as one of the top neuroscience research centres in the world when it won an $84 million federal grant to fund the innovative Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives (HBFHL) program for the next seven years. Canada First Excellence Research Fund (CFERF) provided the grant as part[Read More…]
Standing Desks: Working While Standing Shown to Improve Cognitive Functioning
Standing desks are the latest employee wellness innovation to sweep through workplaces. While student life is typically more active than that of the nine to five grind, the majority of McGill students are familiar with the pains—mental and physical—of sitting down to study for hours at a time, seldom standing[Read More…]
Fact or Fiction: Is flossing beneficial for oral health?
Over the summer, the Associated Press (AP) sunk their teeth into a widely-held public health claim: Daily flossing is good for dental hygiene. Their investigative report revealed that there is very little evidence to back up the advice one often hears at the dentist’s office. Growing up in Europe, not[Read More…]
Art meets science: McGill researchers program drone to paint
A group of McGill researchers have developed a technique to create large-scale drawings with a small drone called Crazyflie. The Computer Animation and Interaction Capture Lab, led by Computer Science Associate Professor Paul Kry, published their results in the most recent issue of Expressive. Their research outlines a breakthrough method[Read More…]
Ask a Scientist: What Is “Ask a Scientist”?
Since this is the first instalment of this column, there are not yet questions to answer. But, not to worry! The first question we’ll answer will be: “What is Ask a Scientist about?” In answering it, SciTech hope to drum up enough interest and enthusiasm from you, the readers, to[Read More…]
McGill labs find new ways to target resistant bacteria
In 1945, Alexander Fleming, made famous for his discovery of penicillin, warned that excessive antibiotic use would likely result in bacteria developing resistance. The term is often in the headlines, but what exactly is antibiotic resistance? It is generally defined as microorganisms developing the ability to somehow prevent the intended[Read More…]
The new kids on the block
The universe is expanding—and so is the periodic table. Four new elements have recently been added to complete the seventh row. Though the elements were discovered over the last year, it’s only now that the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has released the element names for public[Read More…]