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Childhood overeating can be a harbinger of later mental health struggles in girls, study finds

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:39:42 +0000

Girls who overeat regularly in the preschool years are more likely to experience anxiety, impulsivity and hyperactivity in adolescence, according to a new study led by researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the Douglas Research Centre.

Ancient viruses in our DNA may hold clues to what makes us human

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:41:55 +0000

Fragments of ancient viral DNA once dismissed as “junk” may play a role in controlling our genes, according to a new international study.

Using a novel method to trace the evolutionary history of viral DNA, researchers from ɬ�﷬ and Kyoto University uncovered sequences that had been overlooked in earlier genome annotations.

Expert: Suicide prevention

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:11:02 +0000

Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. A new World Health Organization report underscores the urgency of suicide prevention, estimating that 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021 alone.

Trauma and resilience: ɬ�﷬ study explores the enduring effects of sexual violence during the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi

admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:27:40 +0000

A study led by ɬ�﷬ researchers offers insights into intergenerational memory and the experiences of children born of conflict-related sexual violence and their mothers in post-genocide Rwanda.

Even post-#MeToo, news reporting on sexual violence remains problematic, ɬ�﷬ researchers say

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:10:41 +0000

Even in the post-#MeToo era, news reporting on sexual violence remains problematic and causes harms, ɬ�﷬ researchers have found.

The researchers conducted a thematic review of academic literature, analyzing 41 relevant articles published between 2013 and 2023 in the Global North to assess whether news coverage of sexual violence has evolved since the #MeToo movement of 2017 had increased awareness.

Expert: Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

admin — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:59:32 +0000

Four major space telescopes have confirmed unusual findings about a rare interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS.

Astronomers using the Hubble, SPHEREx, James Webb and TESS telescopes report that the comet’s early activity and surprising chemical makeup suggest it may have formed in a planetary system very different from our own. Some researchers believe that interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS could even play a role in planet formation when captured by young star systems.

The comet is the oldest ever recorded and one of only three known to have originated beyond our solar system.

Expert: International Court of Justice rules on climate change

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 20:03:59 +0000

The International Court of Justice ruled today that countries must act on the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change. The advisory opinion, backed by all 15 of the court’s judges, potentially opens the door to further legal action by states that seek to hold other states accountable.

This ɬ�﷬ expert is available to comment:

Expert: Efforts to reach a treaty on global plastic pollution

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:10:29 +0000

Global talks to finalize a UN treaty on plastic pollution ended in Geneva without consensus after 10 days of negotiations, highlighting sharp divisions over issues like production caps, chemicals of concern and financing. Despite the setback, countries pledged to continue negotiations, with the UN Environment Programme stressing the urgency of tackling a problem that affects ecosystems and human health worldwide.

New technique replicates microplastics in the lab with greater precision

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:04:00 +0000

ɬ�﷬ researchers have developed a novel method to replicate four types of microplastics commonly found in the environment, providing researchers with a standardized approach to study their toxic effects.

Expert: Concerns about transparency in AI models

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 18:48:54 +0000

A coalition of 40 AI researchers – including signatories from Meta, OpenAI and Montreal-based Mila – has issued a joint position paper warning that as advanced AI systems evolve, we may be losing the ability to understand or monitor how they “think.”

Experts: GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:39:42 +0000

Ozempic and Wegovy are widely used to support weight loss and manage diabetes. But could this class of drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, also help treat heart failure, liver disease and even addiction?

A new study by researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital takes a closer look at their growing list of potential uses beyond diabetes and obesity.

Study linking depression to specific altered brain cells opens door to new treatments

admin — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:03:05 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the Douglas Institute have identified two specific types of brain cells that are altered in people with depression.

The study, published in Nature Genetics, opens the door to developing new treatments that target these cells and deepens our understanding of depression, a leading cause of disability worldwide that affects more than 264 million people.

Experts: New report estimates Canada won’t meet its 2030 climate targets

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:00:06 +0000

The Canadian Climate Institute’s 2024 Early Estimate of National Emissions report warns that Canada won't meet its 2030 climate targets.

The oil and gas sector has seen an increase in emissions, offsetting progress in other sectors, according to the report.

ɬ�﷬ experts are available to comment on this topic:

New tool helps seniors reduce unnecessary medications

admin — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:09:12 +0000

ɬ�﷬ researchers have developed and are licensing a digital tool to help safely reduce patients’ use of medications that may be unnecessary or even harmful to them.

When clinicians review a patient’s file, MedSafer flags potentially inappropriate medications. In a new clinical trial, the software helped deprescribe such medications in 36 per cent of long-term care residents, nearly triple as many as when reviews were done without the tool.

ɬ�﷬ researchers develop safe, scalable vibration technique to improve lab-grown tissues

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:45:52 +0000

Researchers in ɬ�﷬’s Department of Mechanical Engineering have discovered a safe and low-cost method of engineering living materials such as tissues, organs and blood clots. By simply vibrating these materials as they form, scientists can dramatically influence how strong or, weak they become.

The findings, published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, could have a range of innovative applications, including in organ transplants, wound healing and regenerative medicine.