On Nov. 19, the Comparative Health Systems Program (CHSP), a non-profit organization within McGill, hosted a lecture on medical information privacy and its implications in the workplace. The evening’s lecture began with an image of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 1976 year-end report. Among the many issues the WHO addressed,[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Give the flu shot a shot
Vaccinations are very much in the public consciousness right now as a small, but vocal, section of people make this medical issue into a political one. They claim regular vaccinations lead to adverse health effects such as autism and rare muscular disorders. Although the flu shot is now in their[Read More…]
Making it through final exams: ‘Stressing-out’ can make or break you
A sense of urgency begins to loom on campus as finals approach. Libraries get more crowded, lines at Tim Hortons get longer, and all-nighters become more frequent. With all the pressure to do well, finals tends to generate a great deal of stress among students. But what exactly is stress? [Read More…]
How does Google work?
Since its launch in 1998, Google has become known for its glasses, mail server, and cars. At its core, however, the multibillion-dollar company is still defined by its original purpose: Acting as a search engine. In one single day, more than three billion searches are made through Google, and it[Read More…]
McGill researchers identify racial preterm birth disparity
Today, the inequalities faced by different racial groups are far-reaching. So much so, researchers have found, that individuals can be affected before they’re even born. In the U.S., data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics from 2004 to 2006 has shown that black women experience preterm births 4.7[Read More…]
Toying with our brains: How are optical illusions interpreted?
The human brain is an extremely complex organ that is the integrating and processing centre of the body. It helps people recognize faces, remember complex formulae, and produce emotions. Many of these reactions rely on the brain’s ability to correctly process information through its visual system. As intelligent as the[Read More…]
Identifying emotions through head movements: A descent into the uncanny valley
Human interactions are made up of complex exchanges of movements, sounds, and smells. In fact, researchers from the Sequence Production Lab at McGill University have shown that people are able to detect emotions simply by watching how people move their head. The work was conducted by Professor Caroline Palmer from[Read More…]
Going back to the elements
On Nov. 4, as part of Redpath Museum’s Mini-Science series, McGill Assistant Professor Audrey Moores from the Department of Chemistry discussed her research on nanoparticles in the context of green chemistry. Moores began by posing a fundamental question to the audience: “What is sustainability?” From a pure materials science perspective,[Read More…]
McGill Space Institute takes off with a ‘big bang’
McGill is home to many renowned astrophysicists, cosmologists, and planetary scientists. Until recently, however, space researchers at McGill lacked a place to share their work. Scientists were scattered between different departments, with offices ranging from Rutherford Physics Building to Burnside Hall. But all of this is changing with the creation[Read More…]
McGill researchers expand possibilities for future cancer treatment
Researchers from McGill University, in cooperation with the University of Bristol, Washington University in St. Louis, and ITMO University, have revealed an important alternative metabolic pathway used by cancer cells. The study, published in the journal Molecular Cell on Oct. 15, outlined the process by which cancer cells attempt to[Read More…]