Researchers discovered that despite cultural differences, listeners from various groups responded similarly to the excitement and calmness of music. The study used emoticons and physiological measurements to compare reactions to Western and Pygmy music.
Researchers found that potato extract reduced weight gain in mice fed an obesity-inducing diet by 9 grams. The extract's high polyphenol content is responsible for its benefits. This study suggests that potato extracts could be a low-cost solution for preventing both obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at McGill University found that tramadol use is associated with a two-fold increased risk of hospitalization for severe hypoglycemia. The study also suggests that this risk is particularly high in the first 30 days of tramadol use.
Researchers discovered that punishing children for lying can have the opposite effect, making them less likely to tell the truth. Children are more likely to lie if they're afraid of punishment than if they believe it's the right thing to do.
A new study examines how parasites impact primate culture, finding that socially transmitted pathogens increase with learning from others and environmentally transmitted pathogens with exploratory behavior. This research sheds light on the evolutionary pressures driving primate cultural development.
Academic researchers are mining social media data to learn about online and offline human behavior, but flaws in studies point to need for more aware analysis methods. The study highlights issues such as user demographics, data filtering, platform design, spam bots, and biased results.
Researchers at McGill University found that infant experiences shape the unconscious brain, influencing adult development even after years of disuse. The study used functional MRI scans to compare brain activation patterns in girls with unilingual French-speaking families versus those adopted from Chinese-speaking families.
A new study by McGill University and UCL finds that Mars experiences a transitional 'macroweather' regime between weather and climate. The sun plays a major role in determining macroweather on Mars, with temperature and wind fluctuations occurring over 1.8 Martian days.
A McGill University study found that men who had female partners with oral and/or genital HPV infections were more likely to have oral HPV themselves. The prevalence of oral HPV was higher among male smokers, non-monogamous individuals, and those with a partner having oral or genital HPV infection.
Researchers discovered that beat-deafness is a problem of synchronizing with sounds, not just motor skills. Beat-deaf individuals can perceive rhythms but struggle when moving to the beat, indicating deficits in biological rhythms.
A new genetic study reveals a link between exposure to aristolochic acid and incidence of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer. The research, conducted on 94 patients from Europe, suggests that this plant compound may be a significant risk factor for kidney cancer, particularly in Central Europe.
Researchers have successfully observed atomic positions and electron distribution during the transformation of vanadium dioxide from a semiconductor to a metal. This achievement marks the first time that experiments can distinguish between atomic-lattice structure changes and electron relocation at ultrafast speeds.
A recent study at McGill University found that people tend to choose high-calorie foods despite being poor at accurately judging calorie content. The study linked brain activity to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which encodes value and predicts immediate consumption.
Researchers found microplastics in nearly every sediment sample from the St. Lawrence River, with concentrations rivaling those in the world's most contaminated ocean sediments. The discovery raises concerns about the potential impact of microplastics on freshwater ecosystems.
A McGill study found that family meals can reduce the negative impacts of online bullying on adolescent mental health. Cyberbullying victimization was linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use among adolescents with fewer family dinners.
Researchers from McGill and Utrecht University outline six strategies to reduce water stress, including improving irrigation techniques, increasing water-recycling facilities, and limiting population growth. By applying these strategies simultaneously, significant reductions in water-stressed populations are possible by 2050.
Researchers at McGill University studied a living fish, Polypterus, to understand the evolution of tetrapods. The fish showed significant anatomical changes, including modified fins and increased support during walking.
A new study finds that black carbon pollutants from wood smoke may increase women's risk of cardiovascular disease, with the health effects exacerbated by co-exposure to motor vehicle emissions. Women living closer to highways were found to have three times higher blood pressure than those away from highways.
A new technique called Convex Lens-Induced Confinement (CLIC) enables researchers to rapidly map large genomes while clearly identifying specific gene sequences from single cells. This breakthrough could lead to faster diagnosis of diseases like cancer and pre-natal conditions.
A new study finds that US life expectancy gap between blacks and whites has declined nationally, but still varies across states. Northeastern states have made greater progress in reducing the gap, while western states have seen less improvement.
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that the slowdown in global warming between 1998 and 2013 was due to a natural cooling fluctuation, rather than human-induced emissions. The study uses statistical analysis to identify patterns consistent with pre-industrial temperature swings.
Scientists detect a split-second burst of radio waves from the Arecibo telescope, marking the first time such an event has been recorded using an instrument other than the Parkes radio telescope. The finding suggests that these mysterious pulses are truly of cosmic origin and may be caused by exotic astrophysical objects.
Researchers at McGill University have identified SUMO1 as a key player in the proliferation of glioblastoma tumour cells. The study reveals that sumoylation of CDK6 protein stabilizes it, enabling cancer stem cell growth and progression. This breakthrough could lead to targeted therapies for treating brain cancer.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a catalytic system that enables direct metal-mediated reactions between aryl halides and carbonyl compounds in water. This breakthrough could streamline synthetic sequences and make chemical products safer and more efficient.
A major public health problem is emerging due to an increase in deaths from prescribed painkillers, with over 16,000 US deaths in 2010 alone. The review identifies factors such as increased opioid prescriptions, combined use of opioids and other substances, and social demographic factors as contributing causes.
A significant genetic component of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) has been discovered, implicating a mutation in the gene for protein cotransporter KCC2. The study found a clear association between two variants of KCC2 and severe IGE in French-Canadian patients.
Researchers discover new permafrost forming around Twelvemile Lake in Alaska, but predict it won't last beyond the end of this century. The formation is attributed to willow shrubs providing shade and cooling the surrounding soil.
Researchers at McGill University discovered a tiny molecule, miR-1202, that regulates glutamate receptors and is lower in the brains of depressed individuals. The study found that this microRNA increases with antidepressant treatment, suggesting it could be a potential target for developing new treatments.
Researchers have discovered that asynchronous firing stimulates new branch formation in nerve cells, increasing connectivity despite weakening existing connections. This finding updates Hebb's model and provides new insights into brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers at McGill University discovered that melatonin supplements increase bone volume and density in elderly rats, making them stronger. This finding suggests that melatonin may be a useful tool in combating osteoporosis.
Researchers at McGill University found that free radicals stimulate a molecular mechanism that increases cell defenses and promotes longevity. The study used the roundworm C. elegans as a model organism and found that elevating free radical generation induced a substantially longer life.
Researchers found that the magnetic field of a neutron star takes on a stable structure and evolution slows down, challenging previous theoretical models. The discovery could help scientists measure neutron star properties and gain insights into matter at extreme densities.
Researchers at McGill University discovered that the shape of a leukemia cell's genome holds a key to solving the puzzle of human diseases. The study validates a new approach for classifying human disease using 3D genomics, which may improve personalized treatment.
An international team of pain researchers found that male experimenters' scent, caused by pheromones secreted from armpits, can produce a stress response in mice and rats, making them less sensitive to pain. This discovery may contribute to the reliability of rodent research studies.
Children with FASD often exhibit difficulties with specific aspects of attention, such as shifting attention, but not others like focus. A new study suggests a need for more nuanced understanding of attention skills and to recognize that these children's attention issues may be less important than their overall problems.
Researchers found that pain from inflammation reduces sexual motivation in female mice, but has no effect on male mice. Female mice spend less time with a partner and exhibit reduced sexual behavior when in pain.
A new study by McGill University professor Shaun Lovejoy uses statistical analysis to determine the probability that global warming since 1880 is due to natural variability. The study concludes that the natural-warming hypothesis can be ruled out with confidence levels greater than 99%, and most likely greater than 99.9%.
Researchers have identified the basal ganglia as a key brain region involved in vocal learning and variability across species. By studying songbirds, they found that this area is responsible for generating variability to aid in learning and performance.
The integration of whole-genome sequencing into newborn screening programs is a topic of debate among researchers. Key considerations include what information to report, impact on healthcare systems, mandatory vs voluntary participation, educating health professionals and parents, communicating results over time, ensuring treatment and...
Two brothers propose that all complex systems fall into just three basic categories, enabling control through understanding critical control points. This framework has implications for controlling economic systems, biological processes, and social networks.
Research from McGill University reveals that performing a melody enhances recognition of the tune compared to just listening. The study found larger changes in brain waves and increased motor activity for previously performed melodies.
Researchers used digital checkout data from Montreal neighborhoods to monitor food choices and socioeconomic factors. The study found that lower-income neighborhoods consume more soft drinks, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to encourage healthier diets.
A collaborative study by McGill University researchers found that cortical thickness is linked to changes in full-scale IQ, contradicting earlier assumptions. The study discovered significant increases or decreases in IQ were associated with exaggerated or normal cortical thinning, respectively.
A study by McGill University researchers shows that climate change has led to a decrease in ocean salinity, creating a freshwater lid that prevents mixing with warm waters underneath. This has resulted in the suppression of naturally rare events like the Antarctic polynya and contributed to the shrinking of Antarctic Bottom Water.
Researcher Timothy Johns advocates for valuing environmental and health benefits of small-scale local farming to combat malnutrition and chronic diseases. Smallholder farmers can increase productivity and sustainability with access to improved technology.
Dr. Brenda Milner, a cognitive neuroscience pioneer, has received the Dan David Prize for combating memory loss. Her groundbreaking research has had a profound impact on clinical domains, including traumatic injury and degenerative diseases.
Researchers at McGill University have developed a technique to increase the toughness of glass by creating patterns of micro-cracks, mimicking the structure of nacre. This process increases glass's resistance to shattering and can be easily scaled up for larger glass sheets.
Scientists from McGill University and Sandia National Laboratories have successfully tested the 'Luttinger liquid' model, a mathematical prediction for one-dimensional quantum physics. The experiment measures the effect of electrical current on nearby wires, showing increased friction at low temperatures.
A new brain-imaging technique allows people to monitor and control their brain activity in real time, enabling the training of specific targeted brain regions. MEG is being explored as a potential therapeutic tool for various neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.
A recent study by McGill University researchers discovered a direct link between brain metabolism and signaling, which may explain why seizures in some epilepsy patients can be controlled with a specially formulated diet. The research also found that the mitochondria of brain cells play a crucial role in energy production and signaling.