Chronic pain is not unique to adults; it affects millions of children and teenagers worldwide. In fact, about one in four children will experience a period of chronic pain—pain which lasts three months or more—at least once in their lives. This often-invisible burden can interfere with school, friendships, physical activity,[Read More…]
Articles by K. Coco Zhang
Rethinking environmental risk assessment for Indigenous communities
Across Canada, Indigenous communities are grappling with a severe environmental crisis. Approximately 4,500 sites on reserve lands are listed as contaminated in the Canadian Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory, representing 29 per cent of all such sites nationwide. This disproportionate concentration of contaminated sites has resulted in significantly higher exposure to[Read More…]
Rethinking environmental risk assessment for Indigenous communities
How elite coaches navigate adversity and sustain success
What does it take to win consistently at the highest level of Olympic and professional sports? While a growing body of research is examining serial winning coaches—those who have led teams and athletes to gold medals and championships over extended periods—most studies have focused exclusively on their triumphs, leaving a[Read More…]
SSMU Legislative Council discusses updates on Black Student Inclusion policy, MoA renegotiation, and First Year Council election
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its fourth Legislative Council meeting of the year on Thursday, Feb. 27, discussing a Black Student Inclusion policy, Coucillor updates, and the granting of full status to several McGill clubs. The meeting began with an announcement from a representative of Agence Voltaic,[Read More…]
Understanding Canada’s Record-breaking Wildfires in 2023
What were the causes and consequences of our worst wildfire season to date? Author: K. Coco Zhang The 2023 wildfire season in Canada shattered records in both scale and intensity. Starting in Alberta during late spring, wildfires rapidly spread across Quebec, Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia over[Read More…]
Black Women’s Entrepreneurship event discusses the road to an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem
On Feb. 4, McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management organized a panel discussion titled Black Women’s Entrepreneurship: Research vs. Reality. The event’s discussion tackled a striking statistic: Only two per cent of Canadian businesses are Black-owned, and fewer than 30 per cent of these are led by women. Bringing together prominent[Read More…]
Unveiling the adaptive roles of autistic behaviours
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, affects approximately one in 100 children worldwide. It constitutes a diverse group of brain development conditions that impact how individuals perceive and socialize with others, often leading to differences in social interaction and communication in comparison to their neurotypical peers. One of the[Read More…]
The flaws in educational software selection: A McGill perspective
Over 400,000 educational apps are currently available in app stores, with some of the most popular being Kahoot, Duolingo, and Quizlet—all instantly recognizable to anyone who attended high school after 2010. While these apps can be useful tools for teachers, they vary widely in quality and effectiveness. In a recent[Read More…]
Are you feeling burned out with your STEM degree?
University students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) tend to lose motivation over time, largely due to daunting coursework and competitive environments. This loss of motivation can be detrimental to students’ pursuit of careers and further studies in STEM fields, not to mention their mental health. A detailed understanding[Read More…]
Mindfulness: A potential solution for depression and anxiety in seniors
In Canada, up to 20 per cent of older adults experience symptoms of depression, and these rates increase to up to 40 per cent for those in hospitals and long-term care homes. Depression and anxiety disproportionately affect older adults and are associated with adverse health outcomes, reduced quality of life,[Read More…]
McGill research explores how an arthrogryposis diagnosis affects families
In Canada, over 30,000 children with disabilities are being cared for at home. Caregiving for children with disabilities requires providing support in various activities of daily life, such as bathing, dressing, managing finances, shopping, and providing transportation. While care can be rewarding, caregivers are at higher risk of experiencing negative[Read More…]
Telemedicine: A path to modernize healthcare for seniors
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the economy, society, and healthcare system. While this crisis has presented the healthcare delivery system with unprecedented challenges, it has catalyzed the rapid adoption of telemedicine—remote clinical services. Telemedicine allows patients to chat with healthcare professionals about their physical and mental health or receive a[Read More…]
Cortical thickness: A promising predictor of eating disorders
Content Warning: Mentions of eating disorders Global eating disorder prevalence nearly doubled between 2000 and 2018. According to data reported by mothers in the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, around a third of all children born in Quebec had exhibited overeating behaviours by the age of five. Furthermore, roughly[Read More…]
How green is cannabis? Expert unpacks sustainability issues in the cannabis industry
The past two decades have witnessed significant increases in worldwide legalization of medical and recreational cannabis use. The global cannabis market size is projected to grow from USD $57 billion in 2023 to USD $444 billion by 2030. This expansion raises an alarming concern: A substantial rise in greenhouse gas[Read More…]
McGill’s Undergraduate Poster Showcase celebrates star students’ scientific research
On March 19, McGill’s Office of Science Education hosted its fifth annual Undergraduate Poster Showcase in the University Centre Ballroom, providing students with an opportunity to share their research, passion projects, and in-class work. This year, the event featured 150 colourful posters rich with information, images, and creative interpretations of[Read More…]
How Augmented Reality technology could transform food quality assessment
Rapid technological advancements have transformed numerous industries, including the field of food quality assessment. Augmented Reality (AR)—a technology that allows digital images and information to be projected onto the real-world environment—has emerged as a powerful tool to enhance food inspections and evaluations. In a recent paper, Jacob Liberty, PhD student[Read More…]
Black joy: A key to Black maternal health and well-being
On Feb. 21, McGill’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Standing Committee (EDIAR-SC) and the Department of Global and Public Health co-organized an engaging Black History Month event titled “Joy, Liberation, and Vitality in Black Maternal Health.” This event was led by Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, a prominent Detroit-based physician and global[Read More…]
Black History Month Blood Drive calls attention to a more diverse blood supply
Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada. “It is important to acknowledge the experiences and contributions of Black people, especially considering the reality of anti-Blackness in society. So having this small opportunity in[Read More…]
Heavy metal exposure: A hidden cause of heart disease
Around the world, millions of people come in contact directly or indirectly with heavy metals, particularly cadmium and arsenic, thereby increasing their risk of heart disease. Past studies have investigated the respective effects of these two metals on heart health at concentrations well beyond the levels that people are typically[Read More…]
Public health experts propose strategies to tackle misinformation at McGill event
On Nov. 23, McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences hosted an event titled “How do we handle disinformation agents in public health? Understanding the challenges and tackling mis and disinformation in public health.” The faculty invited public health experts from universities across Canada to discuss the rise in health[Read More…]
Indulgent coffee drinks for the holiday season
From peppermint mochas to gingerbread lattes, there are endless possibilities for creating delicious holiday coffee drinks. The Tribune has compiled several scrumptious coffee drinks that are sure to delight your taste buds, add a touch of festivity to your day, and, most importantly, brighten up your mood this exam season.[Read More…]
Inaugural Business Ethics Conference discusses a more inclusive health system
On Nov. 10, McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management organized the Inaugural Business Ethics Conference. This full-day conference featured three insightful panel discussions centred around ethical management in the context of systemic challenges, with a focus on the healthcare industry. In the panel titled “Promoting Inclusion and Equity in Healthcare,” global[Read More…]
Sweet and savoury apple recipes to spice up your fall
Granny Smith, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, Gala, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, Cortland—there are countless apple varieties waiting to be found at the orchard each fall. After some apple picking and a little time in the kitchen, make the most of fall’s favourite fruit with these scrumptious apple recipes. For those[Read More…]
Micronutrients: Friend or foe?
McGill’s Department of Global and Public Health hosted a seminar on Oct. 18 with Dr. Brian Ward, former director of the J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases and professor in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Ward gave an eye-opening talk titled “Micronutrients and microbes: Some things we[Read More…]
How exoenzymes changed the fate of organic matter
The very first life on Earth appeared 3.8 billion years ago as individual cells called heterotrophs, which were dependent on external food sources. Over the years, these simple heterotrophic cells underwent countless evolutionary changes, transforming into the planet’s diverse range of present-day animals. Despite the critical importance of evolution for[Read More…]
Savoury pumpkin recipes to keep you cozy this fall
Autumn brings about gorgeous golden-orange colours, crisp air, crunching leaves underfoot, and the smell of woodsmoke. It also means the arrival of pumpkins: Pumpkin soup, stew, pies, cookies, bread, pancakes, drinks, and candies. As pumpkin has become a flavour nearly synonymous with fall, The Tribune has compiled hearty and mouthwatering[Read More…]
McGill experts discuss cell biology at 36th Soup and Science event
McGill’s Faculty of Science organized the 36th edition of Soup and Science from Sept. 25 to 29 in the Redpath Museum. The event offered the McGill community and beyond the opportunity to discover research from multiple fields, such as geography, physics, and computer science, in a relaxed and interactive environment.[Read More…]
Is vitamin B12 supplementation always good for you?
The global vitamin B12 supplement market is poised for significant growth in the upcoming years. Although daily oral vitamin B12 supplements typically contain doses far exceeding the recommended amount, the impact of such high levels of vitamin B12 on gut health remains unclear. In a recent paper, Samantha Gruenheid, Chair[Read More…]
McGill nutritionist shares sports nutrition tips at Trottier Symposium
McGill hosted the 2023 Trottier Public Science Symposium, “Ready, Set, Go! Use and Abuse of Science in Sport,” on Sept. 13-14 in Moyse Hall. The symposium featured talks by renowned experts who offered their perspectives on nutrition and the broader role of science in sports. One of the talks was[Read More…]
Cyanobacterial growth: An underlying cause for unsafe drinking water
Cyanobacterial toxins are amongst the most hazardous substances for humans. Their presence in drinking water due to cyanobacterial growth can result in undesirable health effects such as hay fever-like symptoms, skin rashes, respiratory and gastrointestinal distress, and even liver and kidney damage upon exposure. Therefore, there is an urgent need[Read More…]
P. aeruginosa: The culprit of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients
Approximately 70 000 people worldwide live with cystic fibrosis (CF). Around 80 to 95 per cent of them fail to recover from lung infections, which can lead to rapid lung function decline and even death. Disturbingly, the standard treatment for lung infections fails in around one third of patients. In[Read More…]
Health misinformation: A hidden obstacle to better patient outcomes
The internet has become a widely used source of health information by the public, including cancer patients. However, the quality and reliability of online information vary greatly, leading to misunderstandings of treatments and, ultimately, reduced quality of care for those living with cancer. In a recent paper, Marrah Nicolas-Joseph, U3[Read More…]
Glycans: The key to better gut health
The gut microbiome has attracted a slew of research interest, leading to the discovery that a poor gut microbiome can cause various diseases, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. More recent research has delved further into the negative health outcomes associated with a poor gut microbiome while proposing strategies to[Read More…]
Stiffer DNA hydrogels open new paths for biomedical applications
Besides acting as the backbone of genetic material, DNA is getting significant attention for being a versatile building block of nanomaterials—particles one-thousandth of the diameter of a hair strand—including a type of nanomaterial called DNA hydrogels. As a rising star in the field of nanoengineering, which is the study of[Read More…]
Alveolar macrophages, the lungs’ safeguard
Pulmonary infections—such as COVID-19 and the flu—in which bacteria or viruses enter and damage the lungs, are among the leading causes of death in older adults. Elderly people’s increased susceptibility to pulmonary infections is attributed mostly to immune systems that weaken over time. The initiation of immune responses to protect[Read More…]
Flatworm-inspired bioadhesives allow pressure-free hemorrhage treatment
Hemorrhages account for about two million potentially avoidable deaths around the world every year. With a 30 to 40 per cent rate of trauma mortality, the impact of hemorrhages worldwide cannot be understated. Yet, a group of researchers at McGill made a remarkable improvement in its treatment by developing bioadhesives[Read More…]