McGill researchers optimize process for converting human urine into clean energy
Researchers at McGill University have improved the efficiency of a method for converting human urine into clean energy.
The method employs microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use bacteria to turn organic waste into electricity, providing a sustainable and low-cost means of treating wastewater while generating energy from an abundant source. The McGill research provides insights into which urine concentrations are optimal for this process.
McGill researchers build the best light-powered, room-temperature computer yet
McGill and Queen’s University researchers have built an improved version of a computer that uses light to solve extremely hard problems more quickly and at larger scale than existing systems, without the need for cryogenic cooling.
Which childhood abuse survivors are at elevated risk of depression? New study provides important clues
Scientists have identified a pattern of gene activity present in some female survivors of childhood abuse that is associated with an elevated risk of depression.
Plants retain a ‘genetic memory’ of past population crashes, study shows
Researchers at McGill University and the United States Forest Service have found that plants living in areas where human activity has caused population crashes carry long-lasting genetic traces of that history, such as reduced genetic diversity.
Economic, educational and gender inequities can contribute to problematic social media use among teens, findings suggest
A new McGill study suggests that problematic social media use among teens is in part related to broader social inequalities.
Zékai Lu, a PhD student in McGill’s Department of Sociology and author of the study, had set out to determine whether problematic social media use is driven mainly by individual traits or whether the social environment of the country a teen lives in also plays a significant role.
People can learn to reject unfair advantages, even when it costs them
A new study co-authored by McGill University researchers suggests people can be taught to reject unfair advantages.
Addressing shame should be a focal point of treatment of childhood sexual abuse survivors, researchers suggest
A McGill-led study on the role played by shame in the continuing trauma suffered by survivors of childhood sexual abuse indicates that addressing shame should be a focal point of treatment. Clinicians should use strategies that normalize disclosure, validate survivors’ feelings and integrate shame-resolution techniques into their therapy plans, the researchers suggested.
McGill University to partner with United Arab Emirates and Indonesia to train next generation of professionals and drive societal change
For over 50 years, McGill University has been collaborating with Indonesia’s education sector. Now a planned donation of US$12.8 million from the UAE via the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to McGill will establish the UAE-Indonesia Future Leaders Program to support Indonesia’s national and global development objectives.
Pan-Canadian Genome Library Achieves Major National Milestone with Agreement to Integrate >15,000 genomes from HostSeq and BQC19
The Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL), hosted at McGill University, today announced a major milestone in the implementation of Canada’s national genomics infrastructure with the planned integration of data from CGEn’s HostSeq Initiative and the Biobanque Québécoise de la COVID-19 (BQC19). This achievement marks a significant step in transforming Canada’s world-class genomic data assets into a coordinated, accessible, and impactful national resource.
Study suggests protein made in the liver is a key factor in men’s bone health
New research suggests the liver plays a previously unrecognized role in bone health, but only in males.
A McGill University-led study published in Matrix Biology found that a protein made in the liver helps regulate bone growth in male mice, but not in females. The findings may help explain why men with liver disease are more likely to experience bone loss.
McGill researchers develop quick test that stands to curb antimicrobial resistance
McGill researchers have developed a diagnostic system capable of identifying bacteria –and determining which antibiotics can stop them – in just 36 minutes, a major advance in the global effort to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Current clinical testing methods typically take 48 to 72 hours, leaving physicians without timely guidance.
Pathological lying in teens is associated with executive function deficits, study indicates
Teenagers who are pathological liars also tend to struggle with executive function deficits, such as poor memory or impulse control, researchers have found.
Night owl or early bird? Study finds sleep categories aren’t that simple
The familiar labels “night owl” and “early bird,” long used in sleep research, don’t fully capture the diversity of human internal clocks, a new study has found.
The McGill University-led study published in Nature Communications found the two sleep-wake patterns, called chronotypes, contain a total of five distinct biological subtypes, each associated with different patterns of behaviour and health.
Hippocampus does more than store memories: it predicts rewards, study finds
A preclinical study published in Nature has found evidence that the hippocampus, the brain region that stores memory, also reorganizes memories to anticipate future outcomes.
A rich social environment is associated with better cognitive health outcomes for older adults, study finds
Research by an interdisciplinary team from McGill University and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults.