news 2026

McGill study identifies most effective methods for early detection of tench, an invasive freshwater fish As the Eurasian invader moves up the St. Lawrence River toward the Great Lakes, researchers offer practical tools to improve detection and contain spread As tench continue to spread through the St. Lawrence River, a study from McGill University provides fisheries managers with guidance on how to detect the invasive species, an essential first step in preventing it from reaching new waters.

Study in human cells finds low-cost drug keeps virus dormant through an unexpected pathway, pointing the way to new treatments Lithium, a widely used treatment for bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, has shown early promise in suppressing HIV, McGill researchers report. A new study published in iScience found lithium can prevent infected cells from reactivating, and that it does so through an unexpected biological mechanism.

An interdisciplinary team including researchers at McGill University has found a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk samples from Canada and South Africa. The chemicals include traces of pesticides, antimicrobials and additives used in plastics and personal-care products. The findings were published across five papers.

Study takes a holistic approach and looks at the phenomenon's broad impacts on biodiversity in North America, Europe Freshwater browning is stunting fish growth of some species, shrinking populations of others and changing the composition of fish communities, McGill-led research suggests. "Browning" refers to freshwater bodies turning tea-coloured, a phenomenon driven by higher levels of dissolved organic matter and/or higher levels of iron in the water.

There is growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors have protective benefits for the brain A large McGill University study has found that two classes of medications commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, both incretin-based, are associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Drawing on clinical data from more than 450,000 patients, the research adds to growing evidence that incretin-based therapies have protective benefits for the brain.

Researchers raise concerns about possible health risks for vulnerable users, point to a need for better methods and safeguards   Gamma irradiation, an industry-standard sterilization method for medicinal and recreational cannabis, does not fully eliminate toxic fungi or their chemical residues, a McGill University study has found. Current testing practices may also miss contamination, raising concerns about health risks for vulnerable users, particularly those with weakened immune systems.

A new study led by researchers at the University of Waterloo found that members of many Indigenous communities who eat certain types of locally harvested waterfowl, especially ducks with mixed or fish-based diets, may have higher levels of both mercury and healthy omega-3 fatty acids in their blood.

Research team develops new drug to block antibodies involved in multiple sclerosis-like disease A study published today in the journal PNAS shows that it may be possible to slow the progression of certain autoimmune diseases using drugs that interfere with the antibodies responsible for these pathologies.

As runners set their New Year's resolutions, Simon Fraser researchers have dug thousands of Strava posts to map the emotional highs and lows of running and see what makes people stick with it. The first-of-its-kind study has unearthed what makes a run feel joyful-or miserable-by analysing more than 3,200 Strava posts from Metro Vancouver runners between 2010 and 2021.

Analysis of national data reveals Black children are more likely to be placed out-of-home than white children, including when case characteristics are otherwise similar Researchers who examined Canadian child welfare data found that Black children were not only investigated at a higher rate than their white peers but were also more likely to be taken from their homes, even when the only difference between cases was the child's race.

Discovery could lead to advances in quantum science, laser, optical switch and modulator technology A group of University of Calgary quantum scientists have discovered a unique property of diamond that was once thought impossible. Dr. Sigurd Flågan, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the Quantum Nanophotonics Lab , and team work in the field of nonlinear optics, which studies how intense light interacts with matter when the material's response is not directly proportional to the light's intensity.

Scientists discover first method to safely back up quantum information. A team of researchers at the University of Waterloo have made a breakthrough in quantum computing that elegantly bypasses the fundamental "no cloning" problem. Quantum computing is an exciting technological frontier, where information is stored and processed in tiny units - called qubits.

An international team discovers three markers that can be used at diagnosis to determine the risk of systemic lupus progressing to a severe form of the disease An international team, led by Paul R. Fortin of Laval University, has identified three markers that can be used to determine, at the time of diagnosis, the risk of lupus developing into a severe form of the disease.