Astronomers Detect Short, Intense Radio Burst From Relatively Nearby in the Milky Way
Close proximity of high energy pulse suggests magnetars may be at the origin of some fast radio bursts. New data from a Canadian-led team of…
McGill University
Fiery Hot Lava Planet Weather Forecast: Supersonic Winds and Rocky Rains
‘Rocky’ weather could change the surface and atmosphere over time on exoplanet K2-141b. Among the most extreme planets discovered beyond the edges of our solar…
Experts Say COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Unlikely Before Fall 2021
But many experts surveyed also believe vaccine development will take place at an accelerated rate. Experts working in the field of vaccine development tend to…
Increasingly Mobile Sea Ice Risks Polluting Arctic Neighbors With Oil and Microplastics
The movement of sea ice between Arctic countries is expected to significantly increase this century. The movement of sea ice between Arctic countries is expected…
Widely Used Weed Killer – Roundup – Contaminates Ecosystems, Harms Biodiversity
Study examines the resilience of freshwater ecosystems contaminated by Roundup herbicide. One of the world’s most widely used glyphosate-based herbicides, Roundup, can trigger loss of…
Low Dose Lithium May Stop Alzheimer’s Disease in Its Tracks
McGill researchers’ findings show that lithium may halt progression of Alzheimer’s disease. There remains a controversy in scientific circles today regarding the value of lithium…
Unraveling the Mystery of How Early Animals Survived Most Severe Ice Age
New findings further our understanding of extreme climate change and evolution. How did life survive the most severe ice age? A McGill University-led research team…
Puffins Large Beak Helps Them Stay Cool
Seabirds with large bills may be capable of longer flights. Tufted puffins regulate their body temperature thanks to their large bills, an evolutionary trait that…
Perovskite Nanocrystal Breakthrough Could Lead to a Better, Cheaper Solar Cells
Scientific instrument made at McGill reveals liquid-like properties of a solid substance. McGill University researchers have gained tantalizing new insights into the properties of perovskites,…
In Search of Habitable Worlds Beyond Our Solar System, Astronomers Determine Earth’s Fingerprint
Two McGill University astronomers have assembled a “fingerprint” for Earth, which could be used to identify a planet beyond our Solar System capable of supporting…
The Hardest Known Substance in the Universe – Nuclear Pasta
A team of scientists has calculated the strength of the material deep inside the crust of neutron stars and found it to be the strongest…
Newly Discovered Molecular Mechanism May Be Key to Fighting Chronic Infections
How do viruses that cause chronic infections, such as HIV or hepatitis c virus, manage to outsmart their hosts’ immune systems? The answer to that…
Afterglow from Neutron-Star Merger Continues to Puzzle Astrophysicists
The afterglow from the distant neutron-star merger detected last August has continued to brighten – much to the surprise of astrophysicists studying the aftermath of…
Unexpected Discovery Challenges Scientists’ Understanding of Exoplanets
The hottest point on a gaseous planet near a distant star isn’t where astrophysicists expected it to be – a discovery that challenges scientists’ understanding…
New Techniques to Detect Microorganisms in Extreme Environments Like Mars
Researchers demonstrate for the first time the potential of existing technology to directly detect and characterize life on Mars and other planets. The study, published…
Researchers Date the Origins of Photosynthesis to 1.25 Billion Years Ago
The world’s oldest algae fossils are a billion years old, according to a new analysis by earth scientists at McGill University. Based on this finding,…
Mild Winters Have Led to Physical Alterations in Two Species of Mice
New research by McGill University biologists shows that milder winters have led to physical alterations in two species of mice in southern Quebec in the…
Astronomers Detect Repeat ‘Fast Radio Bursts’ for the First Time
For the first time, a team of astronomers has detected repeating short bursts of radio waves from an enigmatic source that is likely located well…