As the add/drop period comes to an end, students seem frantic to get those last spots in their desired classes. These 13 days of testing the waters provide a good sense of what the classes are like, but the pool can only hold so much. Instead of refreshing Minerva every[Read More…]
Science & Technology
The latest in science and technology.
Translating the human instruction manual
Humans are a complicated bunch. We all have different hopes and aspirations, likes and dislikes, dreams and realities. We like to think of ourselves as the most complicated and advanced species on this earth. Given this presumed complexity, the results of the Human Genome Project—a massive effort to record every[Read More…]
Open source urban planning
Last Saturday, over 100 hackers gathered in the Shatner Ballroom for Hack Ta Ville. They were drawn by the chance to comb through freshly released data—everything from the location and age of Montreal trees to the legal parking times in spots all over the city—to use as building blocks for[Read More…]
McGill research briefs
A new disorder in metabolism of vitamin B12 This week, researchers at McGill’s Department of Human Genetics and Genome Quebec—in collaboration with others from the United States, Switzerland, and Germany—published the discovery of a new genetic defect that causes an inability to break down vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 plays an[Read More…]
SciTech Weekly Calendar
Stones and Beer Bike Tour Fossil, rock, and architecture bike tour with beer and snacks included. Sunday, September 16th from 16:00 to 20:00. Meet at the Redpath Museum. Admission is $15 for students, call 514-398-4094 to reserve a spot. TranspoCamp Montreal Transportation-focused hack-a-thon. Friday, September 21st from 8:30 to 17:00[Read More…]
Upcoming Fall 2012 Science Events
If you could eat science and technology, fall at McGill would be one big free lunch. Here are some upcoming events on and off campus. Check out the Tribune website for more SciTech events throughout the year! DOWNTOWN CAMPUS Soup and Science — come for the soup, stay for the[Read More…]
A guide to cell phone plans in Montreal
Purchasing a cell phone plan in Montreal can be a complicated undertaking. Browsing through the many contracts offered by over half a dozen companies (some of which are actually the same company) is enough to make any student swear off phones and opt for email and Skype. Before resorting to[Read More…]
Uncovering the universe’s deep, dark secrets
Imagine if you were to throw your keys up in the air, and instead of slowing and falling back down, they sped up towards the ceiling. As counterintuitive as it might seem, this is one appropriate analogy for the way our universe behaves. According to fundamental laws of physics, since[Read More…]
Research finds key mutation in recessive ataxia
The discovery of a mutation which causes neurodegenerative disorders in fruit flies and a set of conditions known as recessive ataxia in humans was recently published by researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute, in collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine. The normal form of the gene encodes a vital part of[Read More…]
Why invasive species matter
In a study published last month, a team of South African scientists found that invasive species are thriving in Antarctica. The finding is yet another that points to the growing impact of invasive species. Last week, the Tribune sat down with Anthony Ricciardi, associate professor of invasive species biology at[Read More…]