news

52 babies placed in therapeutic hypothermia were monitored by electroencephalogram combined with an optical neuromonitoring system to accurately determine the severity of their brain damage. Mathieu Dehaes and Elana Pinchefsky Credit: Mathieu Dehaes (CHU Sainte-Justine) et Elana Pinchefsky (NeoPeds Academy) Each year, some babies experience a lack of oxygen before or during birth, which can lead to brain injury - a medical condition known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

An UdeM research team has found that the rare earths used in high-tech products compete with each other in aquatic organisms, mitigating their biological effects. In an increasingly connected world, rare earth metals with odd names such as lanthanum, cerium and yttrium have become strategic assets. They are used in everything from mobile phones to wind turbines to electric vehicles.

Error loading page resources Please try to reload the page to display it correctly. McGill-led study shows that environmental history and microbiome stability shape how corals withstand extreme heat, offering insights for reef conservation in a warming world A new study led by researchers at McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama reveals why some corals resist bleaching while others don't: the answer lies in a complex partnership between corals and their microbial allies, shaped by the history of the waters they inhabit.

UCalgary research team discovers novel method for transforming limestone into a bacteria-killing nanoparticle Researchers at the University of Calgary have teamed up with an Alberta-based company to turn limestone into a long-lasting antimicrobial agent, a discovery that could help to cut the spread of harmful bacteria and fungi in food and health-care settings.

Error loading page resources Please try to reload the page to display it correctly. Breakthrough could help oat farmers boost yields, reducing reliance on chemicals used to speed up harvests For the first time, scientists have successfully edited oat DNA, a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of oats with more fibre, higher yields, and greater resilience to climate change.

What's happening inside the brain of a passionate hockey fan during a big game? A new study from the University of Waterloo gives us a closer look at how the brain functions when watching sports, with data showing how different a die-hard fan's experience is from that of a casual viewer. The researchers found that during offensive faceoff opportunities, fans deeply invested in hockey showed more activity in a part of the brain called the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex.

Can clinicians predict how Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia will progress in the brain? UdeM medical professor Shady Rahayel looks into the question. At the Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine (CARSM), at Montreal's Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Université de Montréal medical professor Shady Rahayel sees many patients with REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD).

In a world first, CRCHUM researcher Martine Tétreault and her team identify a set of biomarkers that could someday make it easy to spot the disease in a patient's blood sample. Parkinson's disease is best known for its effects on the central nervous system. In addition, recent scientific advances generally emphasize the role of the immune system in the presence and development of the disease.

A new study by Marc Therrien's team at the IRIC unravels the mystery of the cancer-causing power of BRAF mutations and identifies novel ways of counteracting them. Researchers led by Université de Montréal pathology and cell-biology professor Marc Therrien have identified major structural changes that enable the BRAF protein to escape control and mimic its activation, giving it strong potential to cause cancer.

Coffee can help you stay awake. But what does caffeine actually do to your brain once you're asleep? Using AI, a team of researchers has an answer: it affects the brain's "criticality". Caffeine is not only found in coffee, but also in tea, chocolate, energy drinks and many soft drinks, making it one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world.

A study led by UdeM's Sarah Lippé demonstrates that artificial intelligence can quickly and accurately assess brain maturity in babies, enabling early detection of developmental disorders. Machine-learning algorithms can now estimate the "brain age" of infants with unprecedented precision by analyzing electrical brain signals recorded using electroencephalography (EEG).

An international study co-authored by McGill psychologist Caroline Palmer suggests our brains and bodies don't just understand music, they physically resonate with it. These discoveries, based on findings in neuroscience, music, and psychology, support Neural Resonance Theory (NRT). NRT maintains that rather than relying on learned expectations or prediction, musical experiences arise from the brain's natural oscillations that sync with rhythm, melody and harmony.

The unexpected discovery on Mexican islands in the Caribbean makes it crucial to conserve the animals' habitats, Professor Hans Larsson says McGill researchers, in collaboration with Mexican scientists, have discovered two previously unknown species of crocodiles, one living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both off the Yucatán Peninsula.

McGill researchers have demonstrated something long assumed: that glances can transmit information about one's mental state to others without a single word being exchanged. They speculate that this primal ability may have played a role in assuring survival of human society at times when making a sound could have attracted predators.

A new study examines the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots and bacterial communities in the soil. Since time immemorial, plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have coexisted in a mutually beneficial relationship. The fungi colonize plant roots and help them absorb nutrients.

Research led by Dr. Li-Fang (Jack) Chu at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is uncovering how species-specific developmental timing shapes early development, using pig stem-cells. Understanding how cells grow and change can unlock new therapies for regenerative medicine and Chu's team is showing encouraging results by creating retinal tissues similar to that found in human eyes.

Researchers led by the University of Waterloo have discovered how to turn common bacteria into high-efficiency factories capable of producing tiny, powerful particles for drug delivery, cancer therapy, vaccine development and other biomedical uses. Led by Yilan Liu , a Waterloo chemical engineering professor, the international research team altered bacteria found in the human gut, or gastrointestinal tract, to dramatically increase the number of bubble-shaped nanoparticles they secrete.

Researchers from London, Ont. discover regular use linked to signs of increased dopamine in the brain, a key factor in psychosis Although it's been six years since cannabis was legalized in Canada, further research is needed to fully understand its health effects. A new study published April 9 in JAMA Psychiatry sheds light on how cannabis use disorder is linked to changes in the brain that are associated with psychosis.

CRCHUM researchers reveal that the guinea pig pre-implantation embryo is very similar to the human embryo, spurring a better understanding of infertility and early human development. The first few days of a human embryo's development, known as pre-implantation, are important. It's when the first cells are formed, and these decide if the embryo can survive, how it will implant in the womb and how the tissues of the fetus will develop.

'Our findings could help doctors and mental health professionals better educate patients about the potential risks of frequent cannabis use' A McGill University-led study found that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) had elevated dopamine levels in a brain region associated with psychosis. "This could help explain why cannabis use increases the risk of hallucinations and delusions, key symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders," said first author Jessica Ahrens, a PhD candidate in McGill's Integrated Program in Neuroscience.