When dinosaurs disappeared, forests thrived
It’s known that the primary cause of the mass extinction of dinosaurs, about 66 million years ago, was a meteorite impact. But the exact mechanisms that linked the meteorite impact to mass extinction remain unclear, though climactic changes are thought to have played a part.
John McCall MacBain named 20th Chancellor of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
The Board of Governors of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ approved the nomination of John McCall MacBain, as the 20th Chancellor of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. Mr. McCall MacBain has been appointed for a three-year term, beginning July 1, 2021. He will succeed Chancellor Michael A. Meighen, whose current term will end on June 30, 2021.
Big data offers promise of better groundwater management in California
To ensure that California’s groundwater is sustainably managed in the future and over the long-term, current state definitions of what constitutes groundwater may need to be revised, according to research published this week in PNAS.
McGill’s Faculty of Education receives $7.3 million in philanthropic support to aid student teachers and launch Canada’s first teaching and learning lab
At a time when school teachers everywhere are being challenged by the second wave of the pandemic and by technological advances that are changing where, when and how students learn, McGill’s Faculty of Education is pleased to announce over $7 million in new philanthropic support through a pair of generous gifts from longstanding donors.
Myriam Denov receives award for her research on children and families affected by war.
By Meaghan Thurston, Office of Research and Innovation
Strong social support decreases mental health problems in young adults
Early adulthood, a transitional life stage marked by major changes in social roles and responsibilities, can bring with it an increase of mental health problems. A team of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ researchers has found that young adults who perceived higher levels of social support reported fewer mental health problems.
Sustainably managed fisheries provide a safeguard against global food insecurity
Thanks to the pandemic, we know just how quickly food can disappear from supermarket shelves. But it is hard to gauge the vulnerability of our food production system as a whole to abrupt changes, such as those that could be caused by extreme events such as a nuclear war or massive volcanic eruptions.
"Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs" wins Cundill History Prize
The winner of the 2020 Cundill History Prize is Camilla Townsend, Distinguished Professor of History at Rutgers University, for Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs (Oxford University Press USA). The announcement was made during the virtual Winner Ceremony of the leading international history prize, administered by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. Prof. Townsend receives US$75,000 – the largest reward for a work of non-fiction in English.
Scientists warn of the social and environmental risks tied to the energy transition
To meet the most ambitious 1.5º C climate goal requires a rapid phaseout of fossil fuels and mass use of renewables. However, new international research by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) warns that green energy projects can be as socially and environmentally conflictive as fossil fuel projects.
What makes certain groups more vulnerable to COVID-19?
What makes the elderly and people with underlying conditions more vulnerable to COVID-19? According to a new study led by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ researchers, clues can be found in the proteins involved in initiating infection, as the virus binds to host cells of different animals. Greater cellular oxidation with aging and sickness may explain why seniors and people with chronic illness get infected more often and more severely.
Parents shouldn’t worry about their baby’s inconsistent sleep patterns
New parents often expect their baby to start sleeping through the night around the time they reach six months of age. But according to a new study led by Professor Marie-Hélène Pennestri, parents should view sleep consolidation as a process, instead of a milestone to be achieved at a specific age.
Lottery tickets aren’t child’s play
Research shows that early childhood gambling experiences, including those with lottery products, can be a risk factor for gambling problems later in life.
Ice sheets on the move: how north and south poles connect
Over the past 40,000 years, ice sheets thousands of kilometres apart have influenced one another through sea level changes, according to research published today in Nature. New modelling of ice sheet changes during the most recent glacial cycle by a McGill-led team offers a clearer idea of the mechanisms that drive change than had previously existed and explains newly available geological records.
Vertebrate biodiversity- a glimmer of hope
Vertebrate populations - from birds and fish to antelope - are not, in general, declining. Despite what has previously been thought and said.