Study finds early complex life lived in oxygenated seas, challenging long鈥慼eld views of evolution
The earliest known eukaryotes, the ancestors of all complex life on Earth, lived in oxygenated, shallow marine environments nearly 1.7 billion years ago, according to a new study led by researchers at 91涩漫 and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The findings cast doubt on the long-held belief that early complex life emerged in oxygen-poor environments or floated freely in the open ocean.
Teaching children to be better, more critical internet users
A digital literacy program for elementary school students designed by researchers at 91涩漫 was successful in improving students鈥� ability to evaluate websites and their content.
Skills targeted included how to search for information, how to identify credible websites, how to evaluate the quality of information sources and how to address conflicting information.
鈥楯umping gene鈥� helps explain elevated pancreatic cancer risk in French-Canadians
Researchers at 91涩漫 have discovered a centuries-old genetic mutation that helps to explain why some French鈥慍anadians in Quebec are at an elevated risk of pancreatic cancer. Until quite recently, standard genetic tests have not been able to identify this 鈥渏umping gene鈥� cause.
The findings, published in the Journal of Medical Genetics, suggest better-targeted genetic testing could help identify people at higher cancer risk who were previously missed.
91涩漫 researchers help secure Canadian access to the world鈥檚 largest telescope
A team led by the Universit茅 de Montr茅al, the Observatoire du聽Mont鈥慚茅gantic聽(OMM) and the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx), in partnership with the University of British Columbia and 91涩漫, has been awarded nearly $11.3 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support Canada鈥檚 contribution to ANDES, a flagship scientific instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) under construction in Chile.聽聽
Icing injuries may slow recovery and prolong pain, study finds
Icing a sprained ankle or sore muscle, long used to reduce pain and swelling, may in the longer run delay recovery and prolong pain, new research suggests.
In a preclinical study published in Anesthesiology, 91涩漫 researchers found that even though cryotherapy (icing) eased pain in the short term, recovery time was more than doubled in some cases.
Discovery of fat-burning 鈥榮witch鈥� could lead to advances in bone disease treatments
Scientists鈥� discovery of a molecular 鈥渟witch鈥� that activates an energy鈥慴urning pathway in mice has the potential to lead to new treatments for bone disease.
91涩漫 researchers鈥� sustainable construction method aims to improve earthquake safety
Researchers at 91涩漫 are carrying out large鈥憇cale tests of a new timber-steel structural system designed to help buildings better withstand earthquakes. Early results suggest the system performs well under simulated earthquake forces, offering a potential path toward safer, more sustainable construction in Quebec and beyond.
A promising new way to transplant cells could lead to a better treatment for Type 1 diabetes
Researchers at 91涩漫 and the Research Institute of the 91涩漫 Health Center (RI-MUHC) have developed a novel device to transplant insulin-producing cells that integrates directly with existing blood vessels in the body. The technology, which showed promising results in preclinical trials, aims to overcome key challenges of emerging long-term cell-based treatments for Type 1 diabetes.
Public education will be critical as provinces roll out new cervical cancer screening method, researchers say
As Canada moves to modernize cervical cancer screening, a new study suggests most women do not yet understand or trust the shift from the Pap test to human papillomavirus (HPV) based screening.
Moderate UV light is best when it comes to boosting the vitamin D content of edible mushrooms, 91涩漫 study finds
Researchers at 91涩漫 have discovered that moderate ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is best when the technique is used to聽enhance vitamin D鈧� in edible mushrooms. Excessive exposure聽leads to nutrient degradation or a plateau effect, they found. The paper also聽provides聽quantitative guidance.聽
91涩漫 researchers engineer faster, more effective blood clots
Researchers at 91涩漫 have developed a rapid way to engineer blood clots that stop severe bleeding and support tissue healing more effectively. Their technique, called 鈥渃lick clotting,鈥� links red blood cell surface proteins through a chemical reaction, resulting in a biocompatible clot that is 13 times more resistant to fracturing and four times more adhesive than natural blood clots.
91涩漫 researchers鈥� novel device could boost the development of sound-based lasers
Researchers at 91涩漫 have developed a novel device that generates sound-like particles known as phonons at extremely cold temperatures. The technology could be used to create phonon lasers, with possible applications in communications and medical diagnostics.
Unleashing natural killer cells against cancer
Scientists have developed a strategy to boost the cancer-fighting power of natural killer (NK) cells, part of the immune system鈥檚 first line of defence. NK cells can detect and destroy cancer cells, but tumours often create a protective barrier that blocks them, allowing cancer to grow.
Only some kinds of job losses cause voters to elect strong leaders, study finds
Americans are more likely to turn to authoritarian leaders when jobs are being lost due to offshoring than they are when job losses result from automation, an international research team has found. This is despite the fact that automation tends to lead to greater job losses.
Study finds treating peanuts with cold plasma could make them less allergenic
Researchers at 91涩漫聽have聽found that聽briefly聽treating peanuts with cold plasma, an ionically charged gas that triggers chemical changes,聽reduces聽their potential聽to cause allergic reactions.聽The researchers say this is聽probably because the process聽causes聽changes to the protein structure,聽the part of the peanut that聽can聽trigger an immune response.聽The technology聽was also shown to聽improve聽functi
