my51Թ- 51ԹNews Releases /mymcgill/channels_item/1 en Perceived social status tied to cardiovascular risks in women but not in men /mymcgill/node/48648 <p>Women who see themselves as having lower social status are more likely than other people to show early signs of heart stress linked to future disease risk, according to a new study led by researchers at 51Թand Concordia universities.</p> Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:38:56 +0000 51Թ New discovery remarkably improves immunotherapy in bladder cancer and beyond /mymcgill/node/48549 <p>BCG therapy—the gold standard treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), where the cancer has not penetrated the muscle layer—is one of the earliest forms of cancer immunotherapy.</p> Thu, 26 Jun 2025 18:28:40 +0000 51Թ How tapping into nurses’ full potential could ease health system strain /mymcgill/node/48550 <p>As health care systems across Canada and beyond struggle with staff shortages, international experts are backing a promising strategy: expanding the role of advanced practice nurses.</p> Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:09:35 +0000 51Թ The ‘Montreal Model’ of ketamine therapy yields more sustained depression relief /mymcgill/node/48551 <p>A first-of-its-kind clinical trial found that ketamine’s benefits for treating severe depression can be improved when combined with psychotherapy and supportive treatment environments.</p> <p>Led by researchers at 51Թ, the study suggests this approach can yield valuable therapeutic experiences that lead to longer-lasting relief than standard treatment.</p> <p>The study enrolled patients with chronic, treatment-resistant depression, most of which were experiencing suicidal thoughts and struggling with other mental health conditions.</p> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:14:58 +0000 51Թ How disrupted daily rhythms can affect adolescent brain development /mymcgill/node/48552 <p>A new 51Թ-led study suggests that disrupting the body’s internal clock during adolescence can alter how the brain responds to an in-utero risk factor linked to certain brain disorders.</p> <p>Previous research has shown that a mother’s infection during pregnancy, such as the flu, can increase a child’s risk of developing conditions like schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders later in life. Irregular sleep patterns – often a sign of circadian rhythm disruption – are also associated with these conditions.</p> Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:15:44 +0000 51Թ Airbus and 51Թ are driving innovation in aerospace with an agreement for experiential learning and research  /mymcgill/node/48554 <p>51Թ and Airbus, a world leader in aviation and aerospace, are pleased to announce the signing of a strategic collaborative agreement to foster innovation, training and research in this key sector. This partnership will increase synergies between industry and academia while offering new perspectives to members of the McGill community.</p> <p><b>A gateway to research and innovation</b></p> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:55:35 +0000 51Թ Couples who co-create a shared worldview find greater meaning in life /mymcgill/node/48556 <p>Fostering shared understanding between romantic partners may be a powerful way for people to navigate uncertainty and build a more meaningful life, a study by 51Թresearchers suggests.</p> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:34:48 +0000 51Թ Why some coral reefs resist bleaching /mymcgill/node/48558 <p>A new study led by researchers at 51Թ and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama reveals why some corals resist bleaching while others don’t: the answer lies in a complex partnership between corals and their microbial allies, shaped by the history of the waters they inhabit.</p> Thu, 12 Jun 2025 20:20:47 +0000 51Թ Dragonfly study challenges traditional ideas about biodiversity conservation /mymcgill/node/48560 <p>A study has found that the impact of climate change on an animal’s traits can begin much earlier than scientists previously thought – a discovery that could reshape how researchers and policymakers approach biodiversity conservation.</p> Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:49:30 +0000 51Թ Program helps cancer survivors return to work with confidence /mymcgill/node/48561 <p>A new pilot project led by 51Թ researchers is showing early success in helping cancer survivors return to work, addressing an aspect of recovery they say is often overlooked.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerandwork.ca/icanwork-steps-to-return-to-work-for-cancer-survivors/" target="_blank"><i>iCanWor</i>k</a> is an online support program being developed by <a href="/nursing/about/faculty/faculty-directory/christine-maheu" target="_blank">Christine Maheu</a>, Associate Professor at McGill’s Ingram School of Nursing, in collaboration with BC Cancer.</p> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:13:37 +0000 51Թ Scientists edit oat DNA for the first time, paving the way for healthier, more climate-resilient crops /mymcgill/node/48563 <p>For the first time, scientists have successfully edited oat DNA, a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of oats with more fibre, higher yields, and greater resilience to climate change.</p> <p>Oats, a key crop both for human consumption and animal feed, are a major agricultural product in Canada, contributing to a global market work $8 billion. The Canadian oat crop is estimated to be worth approximately $900 million. But a short growing season and unpredictable late-season frost mean Canadian oat farmers face significant challenges.</p> Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:10:29 +0000 51Թ Methane leaks from dormant oil and gas wells in Canada are seven times worse than thought, 51Թstudy suggests /mymcgill/node/48565 <p>Methane emissions from Canada’s non-producing oil and gas wells appear to be seven times higher than government estimates, according to a new study led by researchers at 51Թ. The findings spotlight a major gap in the country’s official greenhouse gas inventory and raise urgent questions about how methane leaks are monitored, reported and managed.</p> Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:03:12 +0000 51Թ Clinical research on psychedelics gets a boost from new study /mymcgill/node/48566 <p>As psychedelics gain traction as potential treatments for mental health disorders, an <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03685-9">international study</a> led by researchers at 51Թ, Imperial College London, and the University of Exeter stands to improve the rigour and reliability of clinical research.</p> Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:07:50 +0000 51Թ Citizen science project aims to map biodiversity across Canada /mymcgill/node/48567 <p><!-- x-tinymce/html --></p> <p>A nationwide initiative is inviting Canadians to help map the country’s biodiversity, one photo at a time. From June 1 to Oct.1, <a href="https://blitzthegap.org/">Blitz the Gap</a> is mobilizing citizen scientists, researchers and nature enthusiasts to document species from coast to coast to coast,</p> Fri, 30 May 2025 13:08:58 +0000 51Թ Meeting the public transit needs of aging Canadians /mymcgill/node/48569 <p>For older Canadians, having transportation options that allow them to maintain their independence is key to being able to remain in their own homes, or “age in place.” While many continue to drive, public transit – when available – can offer a low-cost, flexible alternative that helps older adults stay active and connected to their communities.</p> Thu, 29 May 2025 13:03:54 +0000 51Թ Biological markers for teen depression /mymcgill/node/48571 <p>Using a novel lab method they developed, 51Թ researchers have identified nine molecules in the blood that were elevated in teens diagnosed with depression. These molecules also predicted how symptoms might progress over time.</p> <p>The findings of the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266717432500059X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">clinical study</a> could pave the way for earlier detection, before symptoms worsen and become hard to treat.</p> Thu, 22 May 2025 15:17:17 +0000 51Թ Family Medicine Residency: New doctors headed to the Outaouais /mymcgill/node/48572 <p>In 2025, 923 future medical residents were matched to positions in Quebec through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), including 484 in family medicine – the largest single cohort of future family physicians ever to be trained in the province. In the Outaouais region all 15 available places have been filled, all in family medicine.</p> Wed, 21 May 2025 13:18:54 +0000 51Թ Study links dementia care gaps in Quebec to socio-economic status /mymcgill/node/48573 <p>A <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bsa3.70006" target="_blank">new study</a> has found stark differences in the dementia care received by people in richer and poorer neighbourhoods in Quebec, despite the universal health-care system.</p> Tue, 20 May 2025 13:17:01 +0000 51Թ Forests thrive where values run deep  /mymcgill/node/48575 <p>Forests on Indigenous lands in Panama have remained remarkably stable over the past two decades – more so than in protected areas – thanks in no small part to deeply rooted cultural values, a <a href="https://ecologyandsociety.org/vol30/iss1/art24/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">McGill-led study</a> suggests.  </p> Tue, 20 May 2025 11:32:25 +0000 51Թ Members of marginalized groups are at disproportionate risk in earthquakes, study finds /mymcgill/node/48577 <p>Members of socially and economically marginalized groups in Montreal and Ottawa-Gatineau are at disproportionate risk in earthquakes, a new study has found.</p> <p>Co-authored by 51Թcivil engineering professor Daniele Malomo, the study is the first in Canada to examine earthquake vulnerability through the lens of equity.</p> Wed, 14 May 2025 14:28:13 +0000 51Թ 51Թresearchers lead project to reform youth mental health care in Canada /mymcgill/node/48578 <p>New data from a national project led by 51Թ researchers shows that redesigning youth mental health services can significantly cut wait times and connect more young people to care.</p> Wed, 14 May 2025 13:17:47 +0000 51Թ Researchers delve into incels’ rejection of work and study /mymcgill/node/48580 <p>The critically acclaimed Netflix drama Adolescence has put a spotlight on the culture and ideas of incels (involuntary celibates), an online subculture of people (mostly male and heterosexual), who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner, largely due to their perceived unattractiveness.</p> Tue, 13 May 2025 18:08:46 +0000 51Թ 51Թresearchers highlight disparities in ‘aging in place’  /mymcgill/node/48581 <p>While health status is an important factor in whether a person is able to grow old in their home and community (age in place), researchers at 51Թ have shed new light on the social factors that can also have an impact, both directly and through their impact on health over a lifetime. </p> Mon, 12 May 2025 13:52:56 +0000 51Թ Antibiotics from human use are contaminating rivers worldwide, study shows /mymcgill/node/48584 <p>Millions of kilometres of rivers around the world are carrying antibiotic pollution at levels high enough to promote drug resistance and harm aquatic life, a 51Թ-led study warns.</p> <p>Published in <i>PNAS Nexus</i>, the study is the first to estimate the scale of global river contamination from human antibiotics use. Researchers calculated that about 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics – nearly one-third of what people consume annually – end up in river systems around the world each year even after in many cases passing through wastewater systems.</p> Fri, 09 May 2025 12:45:09 +0000 51Թ Ultrasound unlocks a safer, greener way to make hydrogels  /mymcgill/node/48586 <p>Researchers at 51Թ, in collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal, pioneered a new way to create hydrogels using ultrasound, eliminating the need for toxic chemical initiators. This breakthrough offers a faster, cleaner and more sustainable approach to hydrogel fabrication, and produces hydrogels that are stronger, more flexible and highly resistant to freezing and dehydration. The new method also promises to facilitate advances in tissue engineering, bioadhesives and 3D bioprinting. </p> Thu, 08 May 2025 13:03:45 +0000 51Թ Predicting hockey IQ: Researchers’ method of assessing young hockey talent could be a game-changer /mymcgill/node/48588 <p>In a study that is the first of its kind, a research team led by a 51Թprofessor 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 51Թ Breakthrough discovery uses gut bacteria and AI to diagnose a chronic pain syndrome /mymcgill/node/48589 <p>51Թ 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 51Թ New insights into how cancer spreads prompt rethink of metastasis care /mymcgill/node/48590 <p>A 51Թ-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 51Թ Sun safety declining in Canada amid rise in skin cancer cases /mymcgill/node/48592 <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 51Թ-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 51Թ Researchers improve the accuracy of AI writing tools /mymcgill/node/48594 <p>A 51Թ-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 51Թ 51Թresearchers develop practical new tool for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment /mymcgill/node/48596 <p>A team of 51Թ 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 51Թ Study suggests we don’t just hear music, but ‘become it’  /mymcgill/node/48598 <p>An international study co-authored by 51Թpsychologist 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 51Թ Researchers identify two new crocodile species /mymcgill/node/48600 <p>51Թ 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 51Թ Our brains can communicate wordlessly, through our eyes /mymcgill/node/48602 <p>51Թresearchers 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 51Թ Drugs targeting ‘zombie cells’ show promise for treating chronic back pain /mymcgill/node/48604 <p>In <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr1719" target="_blank">a preclinical study</a> led by 51Թ 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 51Թ Fighting honey fraud with AI technology /mymcgill/node/48605 <p>51Թ 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 McGill’s Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry.</p> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:10:40 +0000 51Թ New drone-assisted 3D model offers a more accurate way to date dinosaur fossils /mymcgill/node/48607 <p>A new study from 51Թ 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 51Թ What links cannabis use and psychosis? Researchers point to the brain’s dopamine system /mymcgill/node/48608 <p>A 51Թ-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 McGill’s Integrated Program in Neuroscience.</p> Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:18:25 +0000 51Թ 51Թdiscovery sheds new light on autism, intellectual disabilities /mymcgill/node/48609 <p>A new study by 51Թ 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 51Թ COVID-19 boosters help avoid breakthrough infections in immunocompromised people, McGill-led study finds /mymcgill/node/48610 <p>New research findings provide solid evidence that annual COVID-19 vaccine booster doses continue to be advisable for certain immunocompromised people, researchers at 51Թ say.</p> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:26:36 +0000 51Թ Humpback whales’ use of memory to time their migration could prove less effective amid climate change /mymcgill/node/48612 <p>A new study led by 51Թ 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 51Թ AI analysis challenges autism diagnosis criteria /mymcgill/node/48613 <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 51Թ 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 51Թ Study of velvet worm slime could revolutionize sustainable material design /mymcgill/node/48615 <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 51Թ 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 51Թ Tracking contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine mammals   /mymcgill/node/48617 <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 51Թ AI has untapped potential to advance biodiversity conservation, study finds   /mymcgill/node/48619 <p>A <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00022-3">new study</a> from 51Թ 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 51Թ Blood test shows promise for early detection of dementia /mymcgill/node/48620 <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 51Թ Ultra-thin bismuth holds unexpected promise for green electronics: researcher /mymcgill/node/48622 <p>Electronic devices rely on materials whose electrical properties change with temperature, making them less stable in extreme conditions. A discovery by 51Թ 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 51Թ In preparing children for a racially unequal society, families of colour can benefit from more support, study finds /mymcgill/node/48624 <p>A McGill-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 51Թ Proactively exposing ecosystems to mild environmental stressors appears to offer protection, study finds /mymcgill/node/48626 <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 51Թ has found.</p> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:05:32 +0000 51Թ Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states /mymcgill/node/48627 <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 51Թ New discovery could help protect against influenza /mymcgill/node/48628 <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 McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the 51Թ 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 51Թ Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility, study finds /mymcgill/node/48629 <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>51Թ 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 51Թ When using music to alleviate pain, tempo matters /mymcgill/node/48631 <p>Music has the best chance of providing pain relief when it is played at our natural rhythm, a 51Թ 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 51Թ Remote sensing tools yield insights into abandoned pre-Columbian Mexican city /mymcgill/node/48633 <p>A 51Թ 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 51Թ ‘Last Ice Area’ in the Arctic could disappear much sooner than previously thought  /mymcgill/node/48634 <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 51Թ researchers using a high-resolution model has found.  </p> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:17:23 +0000 51Թ What drives mood swings in bipolar disorder? Study points to a second brain clock /mymcgill/node/48636 <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 51Թ-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 51Թ Dead galaxies, live signals: Astronomers uncover a fast radio burst’s surprising location /mymcgill/node/48637 <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 51Թ Shape-shifting materials are made more versatile /mymcgill/node/48639 <p>Finding new angles on an old artform, 51Թresearchers 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 51Թ Child undernutrition may be contributing to global measles outbreaks, researchers find /mymcgill/node/48641 <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 51Թ Clouds have a surprising effect on surface warming, 51Թclimate researchers find /mymcgill/node/48643 <p>51Թ 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 51Թ AI innovation unlocks non-surgical way to detect brain cancer spread /mymcgill/node/48644 <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 51Թ