myĢƵ - ĢƵ News Releases /mymcgill/channels_item/1 en Predicting hockey IQ: Researchers’ method of assessing young hockey talent could be a game-changer /mymcgill/node/47521 <p>In a study that is the first of its kind, a research team led by a ĢƵ professor has developed a more objective way to identify ice hockey players’ game intelligence, or “hockey IQ.” And the method, which pairs objective test results with scouting insights, is likely to yield the most accurate results, the researchers suggest.</p> Wed, 07 May 2025 13:13:02 +0000 ĢƵ Breakthrough discovery uses gut bacteria and AI to diagnose a chronic pain syndrome /mymcgill/node/47519 <p>ĢƵ researchers, in collaboration with colleagues in Israel and Ireland, have developed AI technology that can detect patterns in gut bacteria to identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with remarkable accuracy, potentially transforming how CRPS is diagnosed and treated.</p> Tue, 06 May 2025 12:55:14 +0000 ĢƵ New insights into how cancer spreads prompt rethink of metastasis care /mymcgill/node/47406 <p>A ĢƵ-led research collaboration has achieved a breakthrough in understanding how cancer spreads.</p> <p>A clinical study of ovarian and colorectal cancer patients<i> </i>found cancer cells move in the bloodstream in clusters more commonly than was previously thought. The discovery could help doctors more quickly identify which cancer patients are at high risk of having their cancer spread to other organs, knowledge that could guide treatment decisions. The findings also potentially open new avenues for treatment.</p> Mon, 05 May 2025 13:56:29 +0000 ĢƵ Sun safety declining in Canada amid rise in skin cancer cases /mymcgill/node/47408 <p>Despite decades of public health messaging, Canadians are spending more time in the sun and using less sun protection – raising alarms among researchers as melanoma cases continue to climb.</p> <p>That trend is highlighted in a ĢƵ-led study that analyzed national survey data collected between 2011 and 2018 from over 77,000 people, representing a weighted sample of 21 million Canadians.</p> Fri, 02 May 2025 14:44:48 +0000 ĢƵ Researchers improve the accuracy of AI writing tools /mymcgill/node/47410 <p>A ĢƵ-led team of researchers has developed a new method that significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of large language models (LLMs) when generating computer code and other structured text.</p> <p>Large language models (LLMs) are powerful AI tools that are capable of writing everything from essays to programming scripts in a wide range of languages. However, they often make mistakes when generating text that must conform to constraints, leading to errors or outputs that don’t work. Existing solutions to fix these issues are often unreliable or too slow.</p> Thu, 01 May 2025 14:33:42 +0000 ĢƵ ĢƵ researchers develop practical new tool for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment /mymcgill/node/47412 <p>A team of ĢƵ researchers has developed a cost-effective, high-throughput technology for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment.</p> Thu, 01 May 2025 12:59:27 +0000 ĢƵ Study suggests we don’t just hear music, but ‘become it’  /mymcgill/node/47414 <p>An international study co-authored by ĢƵ psychologist Caroline Palmer suggests our brains and bodies don’t just understand music, they physically resonate with it. These discoveries, based on findings in neuroscience, music, and psychology, support Neural Resonance Theory (NRT). </p> <p>NRT maintains that rather than relying on learned expectations or prediction, musical experiences arise from the brain’s natural oscillations that sync with rhythm, melody and harmony. This resonance shapes our sense of timing, musical pleasure and the instinct to move with the beat. </p> Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:56:55 +0000 ĢƵ Researchers identify two new crocodile species /mymcgill/node/47416 <p>ĢƵ researchers, in collaboration with Mexican scientists, have discovered two previously unknown species of crocodiles, one living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both off the Yucatán Peninsula. The <a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108341">findings</a> challenge long-held assumptions about the American crocodile (<i>Crocodylus acutus</i>) and highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts, the researchers say.</p> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:59:51 +0000 ĢƵ Our brains can communicate wordlessly, through our eyes /mymcgill/node/47418 <p>ĢƵ researchers have demonstrated something long assumed: that glances can transmit information about one’s mental state to others without a single word being exchanged. They speculate that this primal ability may have played a role in assuring survival of human society at times when making a sound could have attracted predators.</p> Wed, 23 Apr 2025 18:07:35 +0000 ĢƵ Drugs targeting ‘zombie cells’ show promise for treating chronic back pain /mymcgill/node/47420 <p>In <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr1719" target="_blank">a preclinical study</a> led by ĢƵ researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide.</p> <p>Current treatments manage symptoms through painkillers or surgery, without addressing the root cause.</p> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:32:42 +0000 ĢƵ Fighting honey fraud with AI technology /mymcgill/node/47421 <p>ĢƵ researchers have developed an AI-powered method to verify the origin of honey, ensuring that what’s on the label matches what’s in the jar. The breakthrough offers a potential solution to a long-standing problem.</p> <p>“Honey is one of the most fraud-prone commodities in global trade. It often involves mislabelling where it was produced or the types of flowers that bees collected nectar from,” said lead author Stéphane Bayen, Associate Professor and Chair of ĢƵ’s Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry.</p> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:10:40 +0000 ĢƵ New drone-assisted 3D model offers a more accurate way to date dinosaur fossils /mymcgill/node/47423 <p>A new study from ĢƵ is reshaping how scientists date dinosaur fossils in Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park (DPP). Using advanced drone-assisted 3D mapping, researchers have uncovered significant variations in a key geological marker, challenging long-standing methods of determining the ages of dinosaur fossils.</p> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:09:29 +0000 ĢƵ What links cannabis use and psychosis? Researchers point to the brain’s dopamine system /mymcgill/node/47424 <p>A ĢƵ-led study found that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) had elevated dopamine levels in a brain region associated with psychosis.</p> <p>“This could help explain why cannabis use increases the risk of hallucinations and delusions, key symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders,” said first author Jessica Ahrens, a PhD student in ĢƵ’s Integrated Program in Neuroscience.</p> Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:18:25 +0000 ĢƵ ĢƵ discovery sheds new light on autism, intellectual disabilities /mymcgill/node/47425 <p>A new study by ĢƵ researchers yields insights into how the disruption of calcium transport in the brain is linked to autism and intellectual disability. The findings, published in the journal <i>Nature,</i> not only upend a long-held belief among neuroscientists, but could pave the way for treatments.</p> Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:39:13 +0000 ĢƵ COVID-19 boosters help avoid breakthrough infections in immunocompromised people, ĢƵ-led study finds /mymcgill/node/47426 <p>New research findings provide solid evidence that annual COVID-19 vaccine booster doses continue to be advisable for certain immunocompromised people, researchers at ĢƵ say.</p> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:26:36 +0000 ĢƵ Humpback whales’ use of memory to time their migration could prove less effective amid climate change /mymcgill/node/47428 <p>A new study led by ĢƵ researchers indicates that humpback whales in the southeastern Pacific combine real-time environmental cues with their memories of conditions in their Antarctic feeding grounds to determine when to embark on their annual 10,000-kilometre journey. With climate change accelerating, the researchers warn this strategy may become less effective amid shifting ocean conditions. </p> Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:09:16 +0000 ĢƵ AI analysis challenges autism diagnosis criteria /mymcgill/node/47429 <p>An analysis of digital health records using large language models (LLMs) is challenging a long-held belief about the clinical identifiers of autism.</p> <p>A new study led by researchers at <a href="/neuro/" target="_blank">The Neuro</a> (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of ĢƵ and<a href="https://mila.quebec/en" target="_blank"> Mila</a> Quebec AI Institute found that social communication factors may not be as important in identifying the condition as previously believed.</p> Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:11:03 +0000 ĢƵ Study of velvet worm slime could revolutionize sustainable material design /mymcgill/node/47431 <p>A new discovery about the slime ejected by velvet worms could revolutionize sustainable material design, according to a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2416282122">study</a> by ĢƵ researchers. Their findings outline how a naturally occurring protein structure, conserved across species from Australia, Singapore and Barbados over nearly 400 million years of evolution, enables the slime’s transformation from liquid to fibre and back again. It’s a discovery that could inspire next-generation recyclable bioplastics.</p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:02:30 +0000 ĢƵ Tracking contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine mammals   /mymcgill/node/47433 <p>A new method of tracking the dietary habits and contaminant exposure of animals in Arctic marine ecosystems is providing critical insights as climate change reshapes the region's food web. </p> Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:49:32 +0000 ĢƵ AI has untapped potential to advance biodiversity conservation, study finds   /mymcgill/node/47435 <p>A <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00022-3">new study</a> from ĢƵ researchers suggests the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to rapidly analyze vast amounts of biodiversity data could revolutionize conservation efforts by enabling scientists and policymakers to make better-informed decisions. </p> Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:11:59 +0000 ĢƵ Blood test shows promise for early detection of dementia /mymcgill/node/47436 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>For people with a certain sleep disorder, a simple blood test could help predict the development of dementia years before symptoms appear, a new study indicates. </p> Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:11:26 +0000 ĢƵ Ultra-thin bismuth holds unexpected promise for green electronics: researcher /mymcgill/node/47438 <p>Electronic devices rely on materials whose electrical properties change with temperature, making them less stable in extreme conditions. A discovery by ĢƵ researchers that challenges conventional wisdom in physics suggests that bismuth, a metal, could serve as the foundation for highly stable electronic components.</p> <p>The researchers observed a mysterious electrical effect in ultra-thin bismuth that remains unchanged across a wide temperature range, from near absolute zero (-273°C) to room temperature.</p> Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:03:12 +0000 ĢƵ In preparing children for a racially unequal society, families of colour can benefit from more support, study finds /mymcgill/node/47440 <p>A ĢƵ-led team of researchers has gained insight into how parents of colour in the United States approach discussions with their children aimed at teaching them the skills they need to survive and thrive in a racially unequal society.</p> <p>A key finding of the recent paper in <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2025-40109-001.html"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></a> is that parents are especially in need of information, support and guidance when it comes to preparing their children to face discrimination and bias.</p> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:49:44 +0000 ĢƵ Proactively exposing ecosystems to mild environmental stressors appears to offer protection, study finds /mymcgill/node/47442 <p>Mild, proactive exposure to environmental stress can help biological communities resist severe disturbances and maintain genetic diversity, a <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00067-3">recent study</a> from ĢƵ has found.</p> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:05:32 +0000 ĢƵ Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states /mymcgill/node/47443 <p>Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices – Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues – have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests.</p> <p>While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.</p> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:11:10 +0000 ĢƵ New discovery could help protect against influenza /mymcgill/node/47444 <p>A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.</p> <p>A team of scientists led by Maziar Divangahi, a Professor in ĢƵ’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the ĢƵ Health Centre, demonstrated that beta-glucan, administered to mice before their exposure to influenza, can reduce lung damage, improve lung function and lower the risk of illness and death.</p> Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:23:27 +0000 ĢƵ Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility, study finds /mymcgill/node/47445 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>A newly discovered line of communication between body muscle and the pituitary gland may play an unexpected role in female fertility, according to a new study.</p> <p>ĢƵ researchers found that a protein produced in the muscles helps manage the release of a hormone made in the pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain.</p> <p>The findings, published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi4736"><em>Science</em></a>, could lead to new treatment options for infertility, the researchers said.</p> Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:53:33 +0000 ĢƵ When using music to alleviate pain, tempo matters /mymcgill/node/47447 <p>Music has the best chance of providing pain relief when it is played at our natural rhythm, a ĢƵ research team has discovered.</p> <p>This suggests it may be possible to reduce a patient’s level of pain by using technology to take a piece of music someone likes and adjust the tempo to match their internal rhythm, the researchers said.</p> <p>The discovery was the subject of a paper published this week in <i>Pain</i>, the top journal in the field of pain medicine and research.</p> Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:32:01 +0000 ĢƵ Remote sensing tools yield insights into abandoned pre-Columbian Mexican city /mymcgill/node/47449 <p>A ĢƵ researcher has discovered that Guiengola, a 15<sup>th</sup> century Zapotec site in southern Oaxaca, Mexico, which had been thought to be simply a fortress where soldiers were garrisoned, was in fact a sprawling, fortified city. It covered 360 hectares, with over 1,100 buildings, four kilometres of walls, a network of internal roads and a clearly organized urban layout with temples and communal spaces such as ballcourts, and the elites and commoners lived in separate neighbourhoods.<br /> <br /></p> Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:57:34 +0000 ĢƵ ‘Last Ice Area’ in the Arctic could disappear much sooner than previously thought  /mymcgill/node/47450 <p>The Arctic’s “Last Ice Area” (LIA) — a vital habitat for ice-dependent species — might disappear within a decade after the central Arctic Ocean becomes ice-free in summer, which is expected to occur sometime around mid-century, a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02034-5">new study</a> by ĢƵ researchers using a high-resolution model has found.  </p> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:17:23 +0000 ĢƵ What drives mood swings in bipolar disorder? Study points to a second brain clock /mymcgill/node/47452 <p>A brain rhythm working in tandem with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle may explain why bipolar patients alternate between mania and depression, according to new research.</p> <p>The ĢƵ-led study published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ado9965"><i>Science Advances</i></a> marks a breakthrough in understanding what drives shifts between the two states, something that, according to lead author <a href="https://douglas.research.mcgill.ca/kai-florian-storch/">Kai-Florian Storch</a>, is considered the “holy grail” of bipolar-disorder research.</p> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:08:29 +0000 ĢƵ Dead galaxies, live signals: Astronomers uncover a fast radio burst’s surprising location /mymcgill/node/47453 <p>Astronomers studying the origins of enigmatic fast radio<a> </a>bursts (FRBs) have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform our understanding of the universe’s most powerful and mysterious signals. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment Fast Radio Burst (CHIME/FRB) collaboration has pinpointed the location on the sky of a repeating FRB, known as FRB 20240209A, outside a dead galaxy, a finding unprecedented in FRB science. The researchers believe the FRB may have originated in a cluster of old, dead stars orbiting the dead galaxy.</p> Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:41:09 +0000 ĢƵ Shape-shifting materials are made more versatile /mymcgill/node/47455 <p>Finding new angles on an old artform, ĢƵ researchers have increased the number of stable shapes that kirigami-based engineered materials can take, opening the way to a range of new applications.</p> <p>What makes these metamaterials special is not what they are made of – they can be plastic, cardboard or anything else – but how, thanks to shapes cut into them, they are able to morph from one form to another. To begin to understand the concept, think of pop-up illustrations of cut paper in books or greeting cards.</p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 19:27:12 +0000 ĢƵ Child undernutrition may be contributing to global measles outbreaks, researchers find /mymcgill/node/47457 <p>Amid a global surge in measles cases, new research suggests that undernutrition may be exacerbating outbreaks in areas suffering from food insecurity.</p> <p>A study involving over 600 fully vaccinated children in South Africa found those who were undernourished had substantially lower levels of antibodies against measles.</p> Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:54:05 +0000 ĢƵ Clouds have a surprising effect on surface warming, ĢƵ climate researchers find /mymcgill/node/47459 <p>ĢƵ researchers have <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41586-024-08323-x&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cclaire.loewen%40mcgill.ca%7C1aa187b701b5492b8a2a08dd30d48d35%7Ccd31967152e74a68afa9fcf8f89f09ea%7C0%7C0%7C638720411653005201%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hAbOefehlKHoVxQELBFhl2SbManK7P767BMN7dbn5tw%3D&amp;reserved=0">discovered</a> that changes in clouds are slightly mitigating global warming.</p> Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:07:07 +0000 ĢƵ AI innovation unlocks non-surgical way to detect brain cancer spread /mymcgill/node/47460 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect the spread of metastatic brain cancer using MRI scans, offering insights into patients’ cancer without aggressive surgery.</p> Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:11:48 +0000 ĢƵ Apex predators in prehistoric Colombian oceans would have snacked on killer whales today: ĢƵ study   /mymcgill/node/47462 <p>Predators at the top of a marine food chain 130 million years ago ruled with more power than any modern species, ĢƵ research into a marine ecosystem from the Cretaceous period revealed. </p> Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:09:21 +0000 ĢƵ Integrating historic data stands to improve climate models in the Global South /mymcgill/node/47464 <p>An international team led by ĢƵ researchers has devised a way to improve the accuracy of climate change models for the Global South by integrating historical records kept by missionaries and other visitors.</p> Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:21:42 +0000 ĢƵ Researchers link mysterious cosmic signals to collapsed stars  /mymcgill/node/47467 <p>An international team of scientists led by ĢƵ researchers has provided the clearest evidence yet that some fast radio bursts (FRBs) — enigmatic, millisecond-long flashes of radio waves from space — originate from neutron stars, the ultra-dense remnants of massive stars that have exploded in a supernova. This finding, based on an analysis of the radio signal of a single FRB, advances our understanding of one of the universe’s most perplexing phenomena. </p> Thu, 02 Jan 2025 13:05:40 +0000 ĢƵ Study links alcohol consumption to more severe nut allergy reaction /mymcgill/node/47469 <table> <tr></tr> </table> <p>Findings of a new study into severe allergic reactions offer a sobering warning to people allergic to tree nuts and, more broadly, could lead to quicker diagnoses in emergency care for people with all anaphylactic allergies.</p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:55:20 +0000 ĢƵ New drug shows promise against Duchenne muscular dystrophy /mymcgill/node/47470 <p>A novel drug holds promise for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder that causes severe muscle degeneration.</p> <p>ĢƵ researchers have discovered that an experimental compound called K884 can boost the natural repair abilities of muscle stem cells. Current treatments can slow muscle damage, but don’t address the root problem.</p> <p>DMD affects about one in 5,000 boys worldwide, often leading to wheelchair dependence by the teenage years and life-threatening complications in early adulthood.</p> Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:11:47 +0000 ĢƵ ĢƵ researchers help uncover rare gamma-ray flare from a distant black hole /mymcgill/node/47472 <p>A high-energy gamma-ray flare from the super-massive black hole in the Messier 87 (M87) galaxy was observed in 2018 for the first time in nearly a decade, thanks to an international effort involving ĢƵ researchers. This discovery has yielded important insights into the physics of black hole jets, which are among the most efficient engines for distributing energy from the inside of a galaxy to the expanse of the Universe.</p> Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:12:12 +0000 ĢƵ ĢƵ researchers reveal how life-saving molecules are created /mymcgill/node/47474 <p>ĢƵ researchers have discovered how certain microbes create potent drugs like antibiotics and anti-cancer therapies.</p> <p>Their surprising findings could change the way scientists approach drug discovery and pave the way to the designing of next-generation medications, explained Martin Schmeing, principal investigator and professor in ĢƵ’s Department of Biochemistry and Centre for Structural Biology.</p> Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:11:01 +0000 ĢƵ Understanding when and why people give bribes /mymcgill/node/47475 <p>ĢƵ-led researchers developed a model of the factors that go into citizens’ calculations about whether to bribe officials, information that can help authorities fight corruption.</p> Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:05:07 +0000 ĢƵ Universal genetic testing of breast cancer patients could help many /mymcgill/node/47476 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>A new study demonstrates how universal genetic testing for breast cancer can ensure no patient is missed for advanced therapies.</p> Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:48:35 +0000 ĢƵ ĢƵ, the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), and the U.S. State Department Commemorate 70 Years of ĢƵ’s Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados with a Full Day of STEAM Programming /mymcgill/node/47478 <p><span style="text-align:left">ĢƵ, the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), and the U.S. State Department today teamed up to host a full day of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities and presentations to honour the 70th anniversary of ĢƵ’s acclaimed Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados and promote STEAM education to students in Barbados.</span></p> Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:05:39 +0000 ĢƵ Retailers boost profits while improving eating habits of clientele /mymcgill/node/47480 <p>Convenience stores can help customers improve their eating habits while at the same time boosting both their own sales and profits. It’s as simple as offering customers the choice between healthy snacks and pastries as a low-cost add-on to their cup of coffee, according to a new study out of ĢƵ.</p> Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:56:02 +0000 ĢƵ Addressing the mental health impacts of conflicts and climate change /mymcgill/node/47482 <p>As violent conflicts, forced migration, and an increase in natural disasters sparked by climate change trigger rising humanitarian needs around the globe, a new initiative to understand how to better support the mental health of those affected is being launched at ĢƵ, thanks to a visionary gift from Flagship Pioneering Founder and CEO and Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, Noubar Afeyan, BEng’83, DSc’22, and his wife, Anna Afeyan Gunnarson.</p> Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:21:00 +0000 ĢƵ Pregnancy enhances natural immunity to block severe flu /mymcgill/node/47484 <p>ĢƵ scientists have discovered that pregnancy may trigger a natural immunity to boost protection against severe flu infection.</p> <p>Contrary to the common belief that pregnancy increases vulnerability to infections, researchers found that it strengthened an immune defense in mice, blocking the Influenza A virus from spreading to the lungs, where it can cause severe infection.</p> Mon, 02 Dec 2024 21:04:20 +0000 ĢƵ Lab-grown brain cells help uncover new targets for Parkinson’s treatments /mymcgill/node/47485 <p>Scientists have uncovered a new link between the immune system and the development of Parkinson’s disease.</p> <p>Researchers at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) at ĢƵ have discovered that an immune response plays a key role in how toxic protein clumps, known as Lewy bodies, form in brain cells and contribute to disease.</p> <p>This suggests factors that trigger the immune system, such as chronic inflammation, exposure to toxins, or prolonged stress may not only correlate with Parkinson’s, as previous research has found, but drive its development.</p> Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:09:57 +0000 ĢƵ ĢƵ-linked AXIS mission is one of two finalists in NASA selection process /mymcgill/node/47487 <p>NASA has selected the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) mission, co-investigated by ĢƵ Professor Daryl Haggard, to advance to the next stage of its $1 billion <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-establishes-new-class-of-astrophysics-missions-selects-studies/">space probe competition</a>.</p> Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:15:15 +0000 ĢƵ Satisfaction among REM users is up after one year of operation, ĢƵ study finds  /mymcgill/node/47489 <p>User satisfaction with the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) has increased since its first line opened in the summer of 2023, preliminary results from a survey by Transportation Research at ĢƵ (TRAM) indicate.  </p> <p>Since 2019, TRAM has been conducting a longitudinal study on the REM. Preliminary results indicate that among the close to 1,700 REM users who participated in the survey this fall: </p> <ul> <li> <p>Satisfaction with the service increased to 79 per cent from 75 per cent in 2023; </p></li></ul> Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:46:30 +0000 ĢƵ Cannabis disrupts brain activity in young adults prone to psychosis: study /mymcgill/node/47491 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>Young adults at risk of psychosis show reduced brain connectivity, a deficit that cannabis use appears to worsen, a new study has found. The breakthrough paves the way for psychosis treatments targeting symptoms that current medications miss.</p> <p>In the first-of-its-kind study, ĢƵ researchers detected a marked decrease in synaptic density—the connections between neurons that enable brain communication—in individuals at risk of psychosis, compared to a healthy control group.</p> Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:37:10 +0000 ĢƵ Saskatchewan’s first Centrosaurus and Citipes elegans fossils discovered by ĢƵ researchers /mymcgill/node/47493 <p>Paleontologists and students from ĢƵ have documented Saskatchewan's first confirmed fossil specimens of <i>Centrosaurus</i>, a horned dinosaur species closely related to <i>Triceratops</i>.</p> <p>The search, conducted in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park along the South Saskatchewan River, also unearthed a rare mix of dinosaur and marine fossils, shedding light on a dinosaur fauna which existed on the edge of an ancient sea at a time of rising sea levels long before humans roamed the earth.</p> Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:36:54 +0000 ĢƵ New technology rapidly measures antioxidants in maple syrup /mymcgill/node/47495 <p>Researchers at ĢƵ have developed an eco-efficient, user-friendly technology that quickly measures the antioxidant content of maple syrup. The innovative method contributes to increasing transparency about a health-related aspect of the syrup's nutritional value and allows for on-site quality testing without the need for costly lab assessments.</p> Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:23:09 +0000 ĢƵ Time in nature benefits children with mental health difficulties: study /mymcgill/node/47496 <p>A team of researchers from ĢƵ and Université de Montréal’s Observatoire pour l’éducation et la santé des enfants (OPES, or observatory on children’s health and eduation), led by Sylvana Côté, spending two hours a week of class time in a natural environment can reduce emotional distress among 10- to 12-year-olds who had the most significant mental health problems before the program began.</p> Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:30:59 +0000 ĢƵ Better education can mitigate post-harvest food losses, increase global food security /mymcgill/node/47499 <p>Better educating farmers and food processors about how to avoid post-harvest food losses – which amount to one-third of global food production, worth US$1 trillion annually – would reduce global food insecurity, according to researchers at ĢƵ. </p> Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:54:54 +0000 ĢƵ Temporary sound installations could help reduce noise pollution: study /mymcgill/node/47501 <p>Temporary sound installations can be a low-cost way of dealing with noise pollution in areas of high urban density, ĢƵ researchers have found.</p> <p>Dubbed the “new second hand smoke,” noise pollution can have consequences ranging from simple annoyance to such serious health problems as hearing loss and high blood pressure and can exacerbate various mental health conditions.</p> Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:58:47 +0000 ĢƵ