Earth’s deep time isn’t just layered — it’s fractal, study finds

Geological time, usually seen as a complex system of eras, periods, and epochs considered through layers of rock, may actually follow a simple, unifying pattern. A new study, led by McGill University physicist Shaun Lovejoy, shows that the boundaries dividing the Earth’s most important historical events, such as mass extinctions and major climate shifts, follow a fractal pattern: self-similar and statistically consistent across scales of millions to hundreds of millions of years.

Study linking depression to specific altered brain cells opens door to new treatments

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute have identified two specific types of brain cells that are altered in people with depression.

The study, published in Nature Genetics, opens the door to developing new treatments that target these cells and deepens our understanding of depression, a leading cause of disability worldwide that affects more than 264 million people.

Call for Letters of Intent: Translational Impact Research Program | Cycle 2

D2R | DNA to RNA is launching the next round of funding for the Translational Impact Research (TIR) program. This program supports a select few large-scale translational research projects in RNA-based therapeutics which are expected to have a measurable impact on the health of Canadians. Projects must address the D2R Initiative’s strategic priorities and priority disease areas: oncology, rare diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases.

CHORD will be a huge leap forward for Canadian radio astronomy

Construction is underway of CHORD, the most ambitious radio telescope project ever built on Canadian soil. Short for the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector, CHORD will give astronomers an unprecedented opportunity to explore some of the most exciting and mysterious questions in astrophysics and cosmology, from Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and dark energy to the measurements of fundamental particles, and beyond.

Study raises red flags about BPA replacements

Chemicals used to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging can trigger potentially harmful effects in human ovarian cells, according to McGill University researchers.

A new study examined several chemicals commonly used in price stickers on packaged meat, fish, cheese and produce found early signs of potential toxicity.

McGill researchers develop safe, scalable vibration technique to improve lab-grown tissues

Researchers in McGill’s Department of Mechanical Engineering have discovered a safe and low-cost method of engineering living materials such as tissues, organs and blood clots. By simply vibrating these materials as they form, scientists can dramatically influence how strong or, weak they become.

Even post-#MeToo, news reporting on sexual violence remains problematic, McGill researchers say

Even in the post-#MeToo era, news reporting on sexual violence remains problematic and causes harms, McGill researchers have found.

The researchers conducted a thematic review of academic literature, analyzing 41 relevant articles published between 2013 and 2023 in the Global North to assess whether news coverage of sexual violence has evolved since the #MeToo movement of 2017 had increased awareness.

Brightest fast radio burst seen so far allows researchers to zoom in on the location of origin  

A team of international astronomers, including McGill researchers, have pinpointed one of the brightest fast radio bursts (FRBs) ever detected to a location in a nearby galaxy. The finding and the location surprised the team and offered new insight into FRBs, which are one of astrophysics’ biggest mysteries. 

Tinnitus severity linked to mood, sleep and personality traits

How severely a person experiences tinnitus is shaped by their mood, sleep quality and even personality traits, a new study has found.

Tinnitus is a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears that affects roughly 14 per cent of adults worldwide. It is known to be linked to hearing loss and to affect people differently.

High-salt diet inflames the brain and raises blood pressure, study finds

A new study finds that a high-salt diet triggers brain inflammation that drives up blood pressure.

Celebrating Research, Connections and Culture at IMPRESS Research Day

That's a wrap for the 2025 edition of IMPRESS—the Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students, presented by Branches, McGill's Community Outreach Program at Enrolment Services!

Study finds Montreal cycling infrastructure doesn’t match demand

Bike lanes, BIXI stations and other micromobility infrastructure make up just two per cent of Montreal’s street space – even in neighbourhoods where cycling demand would justify more – according to a new study by McGill University researchers. They think that the measure they developed to arrive at their findings can also help assess the situation in other cities.

Call for Applications: International Partnerships Program

D2R | DNA to RNA is launching the International Partnerships Program (IPP) to strengthen large-scale, multi-institutional collaborations with leading global organizations. This strategic funding program supports partnerships that align with D2R’s mission, offer complementary expertise, and provide enriched, multidisciplinary training environments.

Call for Applications: D2R Award in Genomic Medicine and Indigenous Health

To mark the 25th anniversary of Génome Québec, McGill University’s DNA to RNA (D2R) Initiative is launching a special call for applications for the D2R Award in Genomic Medicine and Indigenous Health. This one-time $25,000 award recognizes excellence and supports inclusive, high-impact research in these fields.

Research | Viral DNA sequences in the human genome may help control gene activity, new study shows

Long dismissed as “junk,” viral fragments buried in human DNA may help regulate our genes, according to a new international study co-led by Guillaume Bourque, professor in McGill’s Department of Human Genetics, D2R-funded researcher and member of the D2R Research Steering Committee and Executive (RSC). The findings offer new insights into what makes us human, 25 years after the human genome was first mapped.