news 2026

Researchers identify a gene network linked to higher depression risk in women, a step toward finding biological markers for the disorder Scientists have identified a pattern of gene activity present in some female survivors of childhood abuse that is associated with an elevated risk of depression.

Breakthrough could accelerate drug discovery, improve vaccine development and reduce costs and emissions in logistics and transportation, researchers say McGill and Queen's researchers have built an improved version of a computer that uses light to solve extremely hard problems more quickly and at larger scale than existing systems, without the need for cryogenic cooling.

The nasally-administered vaccine currently under development could protect children aged 6 months to 5 years against bronchiolitis and pneumonia Human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause numerous cases of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children aged 6 months to 5 years every year.

As Canada experiences record snowfall, new research from the University of Waterloo suggests that tiny amounts of industrial pollution trapped in snow can change how sunlight reaches the ground below and significantly alter fragile environments. The culprit is black carbon, a sooty form of pollution produced when fossil fuels burn incompletely.

Examining genetic makeup can help conservationists understand which populations are better equipped to survive environmental change,Öland-use change and disease Researchers at McGill University and the United States Forest Service have found that plants living in areas where human activity has caused population crashes carry long-lasting genetic traces of that history, such as reduced genetic diversity.

Data reveals widespread practice in 26 southern countries, calls attention to hazardous-chemical exposure Burning plastic to cook food, heat homes and dispose of trash is more common than many people realize, according to a recent international study led by University of Calgary researchers. The study, among the first of its kind and published in Nature Communications , surveyed more than 1,000 people who work closely with lowand middle-income communities in 26 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Researchers used strontium isotope mapping to identify these long-distance trades A University of Calgary archaeologist has found evidence that the Classic Period Maya were trading live dogs over long distances between the northern Yucatan peninsula and central Chiapas regions. Dr. Elizabeth Paris , PhD, an associate professor of Anthropology and Archaeology in the Faculty of Arts , studied the bones and enamel of deer and dogs found in the Maya archaeological sites of Moxviquil and Tenam Puente in highland Chiapas, Mexico.

Findings indicate vitamin B3 looks promising to help rearm a compromised immune system Edward (Ed) Waldner had no idea why he didn't feel well, but he knew he didn't feel like himself. At 55 years of age, he felt exhausted all the time. It didn't seem to matter how hard he had worked that day. He wondered if he had sleep apnea.

McGill study finds that persistent feelings of shame are not just a symptom, but may drive other negative outcomes A McGill-led study on the role played by shame in the continuing trauma suffered by survivors of childhood sexual abuse indicates that addressing shame should be a focal point of treatment.

Study reveals that shame is more than a symptom, and can lead to other consequences A study by a McGill University research team into the role shame plays in persistent childhood sexual abuse trauma suggests that shame management should be an important part of treatment. According to the team, clinicians should use strategies to normalize disclosure, validate victims' feelings and incorporate resolution techniques into their therapeutic plans.

UCalgary-led study reveals a genetic factor behind who may and may not benefit from opioids prescribed for pain Findings from international and cross-faculty collaboration provide insight on responses, including why some people may be at higher risk of dependency A University of Calgary-led international research team has identified a genetic factor that may explain why people respond so differently to opioid pain medications, and why some individuals face greater risk of side-effects including dependency.

Teenagers who are pathological liars also tend to struggle with executive function deficits, such as poor memory or impulse control, researchers have found. This means practitioners may be able to consider treatments centred around executive functioning (such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Habit-Reversal Training) for patients who present such patterns, said Victoria Talwar , professor in the McGill Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology.

Scientists identify five biological sleep-wake profiles linked to different health and behaviour patterns, helping explain why sleep schedules affect people differently The familiar labels "night owl" and "early bird," long used in sleep research, don't fully capture the diversity of human internal clocks, a new study has found.

Two new studies reveal structural complexity in the galaxy For centuries, astronomers have been observing celestial bodies and trying to understand the mysteries of the night sky. Dr. Jo-Anne Brown , PhD'02, wants to map an invisible force of the Milky Way galaxy: its magnetic field. "Without a magnetic field, the galaxy would collapse in on itself due to gravity," says Brown, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary.

A new Simon Fraser University study has found that Canada's cycling network is growing, but not everyone is benefitting. Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 3,600 kilometres of high-quality cycling infrastructure was added across the country, with the largest proportional increases seen in smallto medium-sized cities.

A rich social environment is associated with better cognitive health outcomes for older adults, study finds With awareness growing that lack of social connection may be a health hazard, researchers say it's important for the public to better understand the connections Research by an interdisciplinary team from McGill University and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults.

UCalgary's Healthy City Lab develops "route complexity metric" to track subtle changes in older adults' everyday navigation behind the wheel As drivers steering our way through each day, we make hundreds of tiny navigational decisions.

A global synthesis shows microbial activity is accelerating carbon release and mobilizing toxins, complicating climate projections  Microbes across Earth's coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from McGill University.

McGill researchers create shapeshifting materials that could power the next generation of soft robots New graphene-based architected materials can be turned into tiny devices that walk, twist, flip and sense their own motion McGill University engineers have developed new ultra-thin materials that can be programmed to move, fold and reshape themselves, much like animated origami.