Content warning: Anti-Black racism and discrimination Black people have long been barred from academia and entrepreneurship opportunities due to institutionalized racism and prejudice. In honour of Black History Month, The McGill Tribune highlights notable scientists and inventors who succeeded in making important scientific progress in spite of systemic anti-Black racism. Madam[Read More…]
Search Results for author "Zoe Karkossa"
When feelings don’t care about the facts
The rise of the Information Age has enabled widespread public access to scientific research, but it has also disseminated a dazzling array of misinformation. Distinguishing fact from fiction during a pandemic can be difficult, particularly for the significant number of Canadians that struggle with literacy. Dr. Christiane Northrup is one[Read More…]
Destiel sings its swan song
Over 15 unrelenting seasons, Supernatural has developed a remarkably devoted and persistent fandom. The show follows brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester, along with the angel Castiel (Misha Collins), as they protect middle-class Americans from mythical monsters while defying death at every turn. Castiel joined the Winchesters in[Read More…]
What machines cannot learn, and what they should not be taught
Artificial intelligence (AI) developers are no longer satisfied with programs that play checkers and optimize search engine results, and have moved toward loftier ambitions such as diagnosing leukemia and probing the creators’ inner emotions. Humans often perceive AI as being inherently superior to their own minds, completely free of earthly[Read More…]
Takeaways from the 20th annual Trottier Public Science Symposium
Oct. 26 marked the second day of the 20th annual Trottier Public Science Symposium, hosted by the McGill Office for Science and Society (OSS). Scientists presented talks on a variety of topics of public interest, all within the scope of this year’s theme: “In Whom Do We Trust?” How we[Read More…]
From the BrainSTEM: A COVID-19 vaccine is only as effective as it is trustworthy
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into its eighth month, developments in the search for a potential vaccine have fueled hopes of a return to relative normalcy. Over 100 potential vaccine candidates are currently in various stages of human clinical or animal preclinical trials, as private companies and university researchers compete[Read More…]
Detecting tiny cracks can reveal the potential of new technologies
The properties of materials, from the plastic in water bottles to the metal beams of skyscrapers, are determined by their microscopic structure. However, most substances are not perfectly uniform and rather contain a significant number of minuscule defects. These imperfections play a large role in determining the physical properties of[Read More…]
Sun & Science returns with stars, cells, and faults
On June 6, the Faculty of Science held their second session of Sun and Science, the online rendition of the classic Soup and Science presentation series. The McGill Tribune presents the highlights from the event: Making the largest 3D maps of the universe Adrian Liu, Assistant Professor in the Department[Read More…]
Defining the modern hacker
The hacker has gained a mythic status in modern tech-centric pop culture, simultaneously defining a righteous activist and a chaotic criminal. Despite the mystery shrouding the affairs of hackers and their collectives, Gabriella Coleman has dedicated her life’s research to uncovering and unravelling the real story behind hacker culture. A[Read More…]
A candid cannabis conversation
Over a year after the national legalization of cannabis, Quebec is raising the legal age to 21, a decision poised to directly impact students. On Nov. 20, Voxcann, a cannabis education initiative by the nonprofit Groupe de recherche et d’intervention psychosociale (GRIP), and the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s[Read More…]
