Some McGill students count themselves lucky for bearing the harsh Montreal winters. Despite what may feel like another long and harsh winter coming to an end, a recent CBC data analysis shows that winters in Canada are only getting milder. Over the last two decades, they have consistently been characterized by[Read More…]
Search Results for author "Ronny Litvack-Katzman"
Measles resurgence spells trouble for Canadians
In the first two months of 2019, Canada has seen an increase in the number of active measles cases compared to the same period last year. There are currently ten confirmed cases in British Columbia, enough for the Provincial Health Services Authority to declare an outbreak, and one in Quebec[Read More…]
Removing the barriers for genetic data sharing
The emerging field of computational genomics, which uses statistical analysis to unpack the plethora of information harboured inside the human genome, is complicated. The sheer amount of data that comprises the human genome is massive. Meanwhile, the pressure is high: With more people turning to their genes for answers to[Read More…]
Ebrahim Noroozi recognized for sustainable lab initiatives
The only thing that makes Ebrahim Noroozi salivate more than food is its sustainable practices. As lab supervisor, he clearly takes pride in making his experiments more environmentally friendly. He carries with him a seemingly endless list of the many innovations he has implemented in the Department of Food Science[Read More…]
Eyes on the skies: Upcoming innovations in 2019
2018 proved to be breakthrough year for the scientific community. From finding the first traces of liquid water on Mars to unearthing the largest land animal to have ever lived, humanity continued on its quest to better understand the universe around us. Now, as scientists turn their attention to 2019,[Read More…]
Protecting the powerless
Whales, dolphins, and other members of the cetacean family are now one fin-stroke closer to freedom thanks to the new Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, Bill S-203. The act, which passed in the Senate on Oct 23 and is currently undergoing its second reading in the House[Read More…]
Cannabis as a key for chronic illness
Since the legalization of cannabinoids—chemical compounds found in cannabis—for medical purposes in 2001, a growing number of Canadian physicians have turned to medicinal marijuana for patients suffering from cancer and other chronic disorders such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis. Cannabinoid receptors, which bind cannabinoids, influence cognitive and physiological processes and[Read More…]
United Nations stresses climate conundrum
It was a mild morning in London, England when the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its groundbreaking report in May 1990. By proclaiming that the Earth’s gradual warming is unquestionably man-made, it became the first international body to state so. The report was concise: “Unless emissions[Read More…]
Which came first: The chicken or the dinosaur?
At first glance, a chicken and a dinosaur may seem as distantly related as any two species could be. For Hans Larsson, McGill associate professor of paleontology and biology and director of the Redpath Museum, the correlation between the two could not be clearer. In his presentation on Sept. 14,[Read More…]
Eager volunteers take to the web in search of spiders
A recent McGill study following the distribution patterns of the northern black widow and black purse-web spider populations hints at what the future of biodiversity research may look like in the digital age. Using previously collected observations from public online databases, McGill researchers have joined the increasing number of academics[Read More…]