CHIME collaboration helps identify location of "missing" matter in the universe
Estimates of ordinary matter in the universe exceed the amount observed in stars and galaxies, leaving much of it unaccounted for. Researchers from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)/Fast Radio Bursts Collaboration, including McGill University and MIT, have developed a new method to seek out this “missing” matter by combining galaxy locations with fast radio burst detections.
Novel marine monitoring network could help improve environmental protections, shipping regulations in the Lower St. Lawrence
A single monitoring network developed by McGill, Natural Resources Canada, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Dalhousie University researchers can simultaneously track earthquakes, water behaviour, human activity and whales, providing a comprehensive picture of what’s happening in, under, and at far distances from the water.
NASA should build a biocontainment facility on the moon to protect Earth, researchers advise
A biocontainment facility designed to protect Earth from potentially hazardous biotic contaminants from space should be part of a planned NASA base on the moon, a policy paper maintains.
What an illusion involving a fake hand can tell us about our mind-body connection
People who have a weaker sense of self are also more likely to have less bodily awareness, McGill researchers have found. The study supports the idea that people’s perceptions of themselves and how they experience their own bodies are deeply connected.
Historic plant collections offer a window into genetic change
Pressed plant specimens collected centuries ago and stored in herbaria around the world could play a key role in facilitating the tracking of genetic change and extinction risk in plants, a McGill University-led study indicates.
McGill researchers’ novel device could boost the development of sound-based lasers
Researchers at McGill University have developed a novel device that generates sound-like particles known as phonons at extremely cold temperatures. The technology could be used to create phonon lasers, with possible applications in communications and medical diagnostics.
Researchers identify new jellyfish species in fossils near Quebec City
Researchers studying 450-million-year-old fossils discovered about 50 kilometres northeast of Quebec City have identified a new species of basal medusozoan: Paleocanna tentaculum, a soft-bodied, tube-shaped polyp with a ring of tentacles. Closely related to modern jellyfish, it is a rare discovery. Only a few other species in its subphylum have ever been described in the fossil record.
Researchers turn to mussels and mistletoe to design sustainable materials
Taking inspiration from how mussels and mistletoe plants build natural fibres and adhesives, researchers at McGill University have developed a new way to manufacture complex materials that could offer a more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and glues.
Researchers warn of risks posed by ‘contaminants of emerging concern’ found in crops, agricultural soil
A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops’ absorption of “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) and flags knowledge gaps the authors say must be addressed.
Humans share acoustic preferences with other animals, study shows
A McGill University-led study has found that humans share acoustic preferences with other species, at least when it comes to animal calls. The results provide experimental evidence that shared sensory processing mechanisms may shape aesthetic judgments of sound.
Study shows how tree cover shapes freshwater ecosystems over millennia
Researchers at McGill University used 2,000-year-old stone jars in Laos to observe long-term ecological processes, enhancing understanding of how strongly tree cover shapes small freshwater ecosystems. Their findings stand to help scientists predict how freshwater habitats will respond to environmental change, the researchers said.
Findings of McGill study could lead to new longevity therapies and improved fall prevention
A new McGill University study has found a direct link between age‑related declines in neuron activity in the cerebellum and worsening motor skills, including gait, balance and agility. While it is well known that these abilities diminish with age, this is the first research to pinpoint how changes in Purkinje cells – a key type of cerebellar neuron – drive this decline and translate into measurable changes in behaviour and physical function.
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.
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.
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.