Landing a human on Mars remains the holy grail of the exciting 21st-century space science arena, with agencies such as the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) investigating longer human-piloted space voyages. During the McGill Bicentennial Space Week last May, Julie Payette, former astronaut,[Read More…]
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Tick Talk: Fighting the spread of tick-borne pathogens
The prevalence of several tick-borne pathogens, which are living organisms or viruses that spread disease, are on the rise in Canada, including the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Evidence has also shown that these tick-borne pathogens have spread beyond the defined “risk areas” identified by professor Virginie Millien, an associate[Read More…]
Flying cars must make way for the real future of transportation
Elon Musk and other Silicon Valley–style futurists would like you to believe that the future of transportation holds flying cars, conveyor-belt tunnels for high-speed vehicles, and completely self-driving cars. All of these innovations are designed to free drivers from driving and the annoyance of getting stuck in traffic. While those[Read More…]
Copy–pasted nucleotides found to cause neurodegenerative disease
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ataxia are caused—as their categorization would suggest—by the degradation of nervous system cells. One to three individuals per 100,000 are affected by late-onset cerebellar ataxias (LOCA), a disease characterized by impaired muscle control that worsens over time. While most types of ataxia set[Read More…]
Should AI chatbots display emotions?
If you’ve visited an online retail store, you’ve likely encountered a chatbot before. It’s the small message that pops up in your screen’s bottom corner, saying something along the lines of, “Hi there! Thanks for visiting our site. Can we help you look for something?” Elizabeth Han, a Desautels Information[Read More…]
Photogrammetry: A new approach to detailed, accessible flower imaging
There are hundreds of thousands of flower species in the world, each with their own shapes, colour patterns, and natural habitats. Scientists aim to accurately preserve and document every single species, but the complexity and delicateness of these natural decorations make this a challenging endeavour. Researchers from McGill and the[Read More…]
On a mission to remission: How researchers are trying to combat type 2 diabetes
What we call insulin today was first manufactured in 1921 by Charles Best and Frederick Banting. The hormone, originally called pancreatic extract, gives those with diabetes a chance at a healthy life, especially the six million people in Canada who live with some form of the disease. There are three[Read More…]
Hold your breath, make a wish and count to 2.5
Air pollution from industrial processes, cars, and even forest fires means that the air we breathe contains numerous harmful particles and debris. Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, are tiny particles in the air released by both natural sources and human activities. Since The McGill Tribune last reported on this fine[Read More…]
McGill librarians say students regulate volume levels, but not food consumption in libraries
Finals season is fast approaching, and with them comes extended library hours to accommodate students. Libraries are a popular study spot and as foot traffic increases, more students have to confront library policies like silent zones and bans on eating. Anjolie Levêque, U2 Arts, is one of these students. On[Read More…]
Fated fortunes and falterings: Mid-term horoscopes
Aries You will soon have a sighting of an iconic figure at McGill, such as Suzanne Fortier or Chris Buddle. Do not take this lightly: This is a sign. Taurus Beware of campus seagulls. The stars are revealing that they feel particularly aggressive this week. Their next target may just[Read More…]
