Science communication today is like a game of broken telephone. Data generated in the laboratory quickly spreads from one social media site to the next until ionized alkaline water boosts energy levels and eating ginger cures cancer. “We’ve had the Stone Age, we’ve had the Bronze Age, we’ve had the[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Science capsule: miniature brains, major movements in microcephaly
For 10 months, scientists from the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) fed and cared for a tiny cluster of cells. With the correct mixture of nutrients, chemical environment, and appropriate coaxing, the researchers successfully cultured miniature brains that are still functioning today—10 months[Read More…]
Tips for applying to grad school
With summer ahead, it’s the perfect time to start planning your applications to graduate school in science and engineering. Whether or not you’ve decided that you’re ready to apply, read on to learn more about what the application process entails and what you can do to improve your chances of[Read More…]
Anti-vaccination platforms risk disease re-emergence
Over the past few years, there has been a massive cultural movement towards distrusting vaccinations. A Google search of “Vaccines are…” results in hits such as “Vaccines are bad,” “Vaccines are dangerous,” and “Vaccines are poison.” In fact, 20 per cent of Canadian websites and 70 per cent of American[Read More…]
Research Briefs — Mar. 25
Drugs and Down syndrome For the past 25 years, Roger Reeves, a professor and researcher at Johns Hopkins University, has been growing brains—in particular, the cerebellum. By targeting this area of the nervous system, Reeves hopes to develop a treatment for Down syndrome, a condition caused by inheriting a third[Read More…]
Global Engineering Week offers fresh perspectives on the field
Engineering today looks drastically different from engineering 100 years ago. In the past, designs were focused on safety, economic development, and durability. While these issues still remain important, advancements in technology and research have opened our eyes to issues that extend well beyond the strength of the physical structure. It[Read More…]
Annual McGill Biomedical Graduate Conference a hit among student researchers
The 14th Annual McGill Biomedical Graduate Conference (AMBGC) took place this past Thursday, March 13 at the Holiday Inn in Montreal. The conference aimed to provide an encouraging and stimulating environment for students to present and discuss their work in biomedical research with other like-minded individuals from around McGill. This[Read More…]
Research Briefs
Sea turtles “lost years” uncovered When sea turtles hatch, the first few hours of their lives unfold as a desperate obstacle course as they attempt to reach the ocean. Dodging sea gulls, footprints, and crabs, many of these scampering hatchlings—little over an inch in diameter—do not survive the trek from[Read More…]
This Month in Student Research: Finding the art in developmental biology
Known for its excellence in research, McGill University is home to a host of professors and scientists whose work contributes to scientific innovation. In tribute to the amazing work conducted within McGill’s walls, each month, Science and Technology features a student researcher who has helped further the cutting-edge science conducted[Read More…]
Science from Science Fiction: Gravity
From invisibility cloaks to light sabres, many recent scientific advancements have made it possible for researchers to get a little bit closer to reproducing some of our favourite technologies portrayed in films. However, while science inches towards science fiction, science fiction can still take a lesson in recreating science. One[Read More…]