McGill physicists manoeuvre DNA molecules using electrical fields
Researchers in McGill’s Department of Physics have developed a new device that can trap and study DNA molecules without touching or damaging them. The device, which uses carefully tuned electric fields, offers scientists unprecedented control over how DNA behaves in real time, creating the opportunity for faster, more precise molecular analysis that could improve diagnostics, genome mapping and the study of disease-related molecules.
Expert: Ocean floor temperature increases
The 2025 Ocean State Report from the Copernicus Marine Service, a European Union ocean monitoring organization, has found that sea floor temperatures off the coast of Nova Scotia have risen at twice the rate of surface temperatures over 30 years.
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 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.
McGill team discovers Canada’s first dinosaur-era dragonfly fossil
In a first for Canadian paleontology, a Cretaceous fossilized dragonfly wing, uncovered in Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park, has been identified as a new species. It’s also the first known dragonfly fossil from Canada’s dinosaur aged rocks. The find, led by McGill University researchers, sheds light on a 30-million-year gap in the evolutionary history of dragonflies.
McGill scientists turn marine waste into a sustainable solution for wound care, wearable devices and more
An interdisciplinary team of McGill researchers has developed an ultra-strong, environmentally friendly medical glue, or bioadhesive, made from marine waste. The discovery has promising applications for wound care, surgeries, improved drug delivery, wearable devices and medical implants.
Climate change driving major algae surge in Canada’s lakes, study finds
Algal growth is accelerating in lakes across Canada, including those far from human development, and a new study shows that climate change is the primary driver.
Researchers’ novel lab technique reveals how ice crystals form in clouds
Researchers have developed a novel method to detect and study how ice forms in mixed-phase clouds, significantly boosting scientists’ ability to forecast weather and model climate change.
Dragonfly study challenges traditional ideas about biodiversity conservation
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.
Forests thrive where values run deep
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 McGill-led study suggests.
Antibiotics from human use are contaminating rivers worldwide, study shows
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 McGill University-led study warns.
Study suggests we don’t just hear music, but ‘become it’
An international study co-authored by McGill 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).
Researchers identify two new crocodile species
McGill University 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 findings challenge long-held assumptions about the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts, the researchers say.
2024 Interdisciplinary Research Development (IRD) Award Recipients Announced
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Interdisciplinary Research Development (IRD) Award! As part of the Computational & Data Systems Initiative, these awards are presented by the McGill Collaborative for AI & Society (McCAIS) and encourage interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding and positively influencing the impact of AI on Society.
Soup & Science: McGill’s stew-pendous serving of research
Recently, McGill undergraduate students had the opportunity to savor an enriching blend of knowledge and soup at the 37th edition of Soup & Science. This week-long event, occurring once a semester, highlights research taking place on campus. This semester’s showcase included topics across disciplines, ranging from quantum meta-photonics to optogenetic stimulation in roundworms, and students were able to learn and engage with these topics in an intimate setting.