On Saturday, Nov. 15, the gap between student and professor narrowed. A variety of biochemical experts gathered on the sixth floor of McIntyre Medical Building to explain their research. Areas of interest were widespread, and included topics such as tumour genetics, eye development, and macromolecular machinery. The students were first[Read More…]
Tag: research
Research Briefs—Nov. 18, 2014
Long-term marijuana use on the brain A study published in The Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences last week has found that chronic—defined as three times per day over 10 years—marijuana users have a lower IQ score and smaller gray matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) region of[Read More…]
This month in student research: Sanahan Vijayakumar
You can spot Sanahan Vijayakumar on campus by his stylish French apparel, ear-to-ear grin, and fast paced chatter. The U2 materials engineer is an active member of the Engineering Undergraduate Society Council, and is known for his friendly attitude, passion, and outstanding success. Vijayakumar has been conducting research at McGill[Read More…]
Research Briefs—Oct. 28, 2014
Physicists transport marbles with optical tractor beam The tractor beam—a long-distance invisible attraction beam—is a legendary staple in science fiction. In real life, moving objects using only light seems absurd, if not impossible. However, in a paper published in Nature Photonics, a team of Australian and American physicists successfully transferred[Read More…]
Research Briefs—Oct. 21, 2014
Breakthrough in nuclear fission Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC), one of the world’s largest defence contractors—in 2009 it received 7.1 per cent of the Pentagon’s total funds—has had a major breakthrough in the study on the viability of shifting to nuclear energy. Led by Tom McGuire, the team demonstrated the feasibility of[Read More…]
Money talks, researchers listen
If art is the exploration of questions, science is the pursuit of answers.
McGill chooses its newest CERC recipient
McGill announced the appointment of its newest Canadian Excellence in Research Chair (CERC), Dr. Robin Rogers, on Sept. 29.
Microbeads discovered in St. Lawrence River sediment
Professor Anthony Ricciardi’s team thought they were going to be studying the Asian Clam—an invasive species—when they dropped their sediment-collecting grabs below the surface of the St. Lawrence River last year. Instead, they found the microbead—a type of microplastic defined as any debris less than five millimetres in size. Rowshyra[Read More…]
Research Briefs — Sept. 30
Face the truth: Mites found on human skin Microscopic eight-legged creatures make their homes in the faces of all people, a study recently published in PLOS ONE has shown. The Demodex mites are a group of hair follicle and sweat gland-dwelling species. Two different species of these mites reside on[Read More…]
The struggle to cure HPV
To latch onto a human host cell, the human papillomavirus (HPV) scans the outside of its target until it reaches its receptor protein—the trapdoor through which the virus may pass into the cell.
