Hiding behind numerous disguises, HIV has been evading researchers for years, leaving the search for a vaccine as elusive as the virus itself. Once believed to exist as pure strains or subtypes, new research shows the virus evolves constantly, combining dangerous elements that complicate treatment. As part of its evasive techniques, the virus can lie dormant in cells, avoiding treatments and the body's own immune system.

Western and LHSCRI researchers hope to inform environmental, health policy in high-pollution areas A new study reveals air pollution may contribute to the development of epilepsy, a brain condition that causes seizures. Published in Epilepsia, researchers at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) and Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry found an association between long-term exposure to air pollution with new cases of epilepsy in adults in Ontario.

Almost all babies who contract the human papillomavirus perinatally eliminate it within the first six months of life - yet even so, women still benefit from protection, a study finds. Nearly all newborns who contract human papillomavirus in the perinatal stage will eliminate the virus in the first six months of life, with very little persistence or recurrence, according to a new Canadian study published today in the Journal of Infectious Disease.

McGill researchers' analysis of online forum conversations finds that some incels offer an ideological rationale for not working or studying, one reinforced by peer pressure The critically acclaimed Netflix drama Adolescence has put a spotlight on the culture and ideas of incels (involuntary celibates), an online subculture of people (mostly male and heterosexual), who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner, largely due to their perceived unattractiveness.

Study delved into the social factors that influence whether older adults are able to remain in their homes and communities  While health status is an important factor in whether a person is able to grow old in their home and community (age in place), researchers at McGill University have shed new light on the social factors that can also have an impact, both directly and through their impact on health over a lifetime.

Researchers estimated about 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics end up in river systems each year after passing through the human body and wastewater systems Millions of kilometres of rivers around the world are carrying antibiotic pollution at levels high enough to promote drug resistance and harm aquatic life, a McGill University-led study warns.

Almost all adults consult a medium at least once in the hour before bedtime, according to a study by a UdeM doctoral student. What impact does this have on their sleep? "I wanted to explore media use by a diverse population and its association with sleep variables," sums up Ajar Diushekeeva, a doctoral student in Research and Intervention, Clinical Psychology option, at the Université de Montréal, under the supervision of Antonio Zadra (Department of Psychology) and Santiago Hidalgo (Department of Art History, Cinema and Audiovisual Media).

McGill researchers develop a method that could revolutionize biomedical and environmental applications  Researchers at McGill University, in collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal, pioneered a new way to create hydrogels using ultrasound, eliminating the need for toxic chemical initiators.

Western researchers uncover a ancient polar ecosystem - and surprising birthplace for familiar fish Most people picture the time of dinosaurs as a steamy, tropical world. But during the Late Cretaceous period, northern Alaska was a different kind of wild. Located far above the Arctic Circle, it endured months of winter darkness and freezing temperatures - even as much of the planet remained warm.

Study suggests that combining hockey scouts' judgements with objective testing could help identify the players with the best 'game sense' In a study that is the first of its kind, a research team led by a McGill professor has developed a more objective way to identify ice hockey players' game intelligence, or "hockey IQ.

A new website offers video capsules and popular texts to inform the general public about the scientifically recognized benefits of playing and listening to music You don't have to be a violin virtuoso or a guitarist of the calibre of Jimi Hendrix to enjoy the benefits of music. Every amateur musician benefits from playing an instrument, even if it's just a few notes or a wooden spoon.

McGill researchers develop practical new tool for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment A team of McGill researchers has developed a cost-effective, high-throughput technology for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment. These particles are pervasive, posing health and environmental risks, yet detecting them at the nanoscale has been difficult.

Researchers use moss in new method capable of restoring peatlands damaged by oil and gas exploration   In what could represent a milestone in ecological restoration, researchers have implemented a method capable of restoring peatlands at tens of thousands of oil and gas exploration sites in western Canada.

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.

A study carried out at UdeM by Craig Turner and his doctoral supervisor Felipe Verdugo shows how pianists' "expressive intentions" may heighten their risk of long-term injury. Playing the piano involves much more than striking the keyboard. The pianist's entire body is in movement, from the torso to the fingers.

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.

Although autism can be diagnosed very early, it remains difficult to plot a child's developmental trajectory. Now a team of UdeM-affiliated researchers is working to remedy this, via AI and genomics. Will a child who's evaluated for autism later develop an intellectual disability? Can this be accurately predicted? Early-childhood experts in Quebec say they've have come up with a way to better find out.

In a preclinical study led by McGill researchers, two drugs targeting "zombie cells" have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments manage symptoms through painkillers or surgery, without addressing the root cause.

Local authorities must do more to prepare communities in British Columbia for the dangers of extreme heat, according to a new research paper from Simon Fraser University. Four years after the infamous 2021 heat dome, which killed more than 600 people in B.C. alone, the ground-breaking study found significant differences in how municipalities within the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts are preparing for heat events.