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Study shows how tree cover shapes freshwater ecosystems over millennia

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:07:15 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ used 2,000-year-old stone jars in Laos to observe long-term ecological processes, enhancing understanding of how strongly tree cover shapes small freshwater ecosystems. Their findings stand to help scientists predict how freshwater habitats will respond to environmental change, the researchers said.

Researchers identify new jellyfish species in fossils near Quebec City

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:37:27 +0000

Researchers studying 450-million-year-old fossils discovered about 50 kilometres northeast of Quebec City have identified a new species of basal medusozoan: Paleocanna tentaculum, a soft-bodied, tube-shaped polyp with a ring of tentacles. Closely related to modern jellyfish, it is a rare discovery. Only a few other species in its subphylum have ever been described in the fossil record.

Making solar power’s land use more efficient

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:24:28 +0000

As solar energy rapidly is becoming the world’s largest renewable power source, new research from ɬ�﷬ offers a clearer picture of how much land that growth could require and how smarter choices could mitigate solar energy’s land footprint.

ɬ�﷬ inaugurates new facilities at Macdonald Campus to advance teaching and research on climate‑resilient agriculture

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:32:51 +0000

ɬ�﷬ today inaugurated state‑of‑the‑art teaching greenhouse and plant phenotyping research facilities at its Macdonald Campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. These represent major investments in teaching and research focused on food security, crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.

Researchers warn of risks posed by ‘contaminants of emerging concern’ found in crops, agricultural soil

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:16:17 +0000

A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops’ absorption of “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) and flags knowledge gaps the authors say must be addressed.

CECs include pharmaceuticals, microplastics, engineered nanomaterials and PFAS (commonly known as “forever chemicals”). The researchers warn that even when present at very low concentrations, these chemicals can subtly alter plant physiology, disrupt soil health and pose wider environmental and human health risks.

How stepping into nature affects the brain

admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:02:16 +0000

Spending time in nature, even briefly, triggers changes in the brain that calm stress, restore attention and quiet mental clutter, a new study has found.

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ and colleagues at Adolfo Ibáñez University in Chile have examined more than 100 brain-imaging studies from various disciplines. The result is one of the most comprehensive reviews to date of how the brain responds to nature.

Non-producing oil and gas wells emit microbial methane at rates 1,000 times higher than previously estimated

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:52:18 +0000

Microbial methane leaking from non-producing oil and gas wells is being emitted at rates about 1,000 times higher than previously estimated, according to a new study led by ɬ�﷬ researchers.

Cognitive biases of talent scouts can undermine sports teams’ success

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:58:25 +0000

Sports talent scouts’ decisions are influenced by various common cognitive biases that can affect their work and undermine team success, a paper published in the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology has suggested.

ɬ�﷬ launches initiative to strengthen Canada’s healthcare system

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:38:22 +0000

ɬ�﷬ has launched the Initiative for Transforming Healthcare (ITH) to apply a systems-based approach and advance technology-enabled solutions to drive change in Canadian healthcare.

Mounting pressures – from limited access to family doctors to surgical backlogs and emergency room crowding – are straining Canada’s health system. The Initiative will explore ways to resolve these growing challenges through cross-sector partnerships.

New injectable gel could help repair damaged swallowing muscles

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:15:32 +0000

A new injectable gel developed by researchers at ɬ�﷬ and Kyoto University could enable stem cell-based treatments for swallowing disorders.

While stem cells have the potential to repair damaged swallowing muscles, ensuring their survival after injection has been a major challenge. In a preclinical study published in Biomaterials, the new approach improved stem-cell survival by more than five times compared with traditional methods.

Study finds treating peanuts with cold plasma could make them less allergenic

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:16:33 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ have found that briefly treating peanuts with cold plasma, an ionically charged gas that triggers chemical changes, reduces their potential to cause allergic reactions. The researchers say this is probably because the process causes changes to the protein structure, the part of the peanut that can trigger an immune response. The technology was also shown to improve functional properties important for food manufacturing.

Internalization of homophobia and transphobia may undermine mental health benefits of religiosity or spirituality for LGBTQIA+ people, study finds

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:47:58 +0000

Non-affirming religious doctrine may engender internalized homophobia or transphobia among LGBTQIA+ people of faith, undermining the positive mental health outcomes otherwise associated with religiosity and spirituality, a ɬ�﷬ study has found.

Engineered nanoparticles could deliver better targeted cancer treatment

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:42:37 +0000

Scientists at ɬ�﷬ and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute have developed a new way to deliver cancer immunotherapy that caused fewer side effects compared to standard treatment in a preclinical study.

Stability of brain’s internal compass may help explain how memories last

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:29:09 +0000

A new discovery by ɬ�﷬ researchers sheds light on how we retain memories over time, even though brain activity is constantly changing.

Published in Nature, the preclinical study found the brain’s internal compass remains remarkably stable over time. The findings suggest this steady sense of direction may act as an anchor for memory.

Only some kinds of job losses cause voters to elect strong leaders, study finds

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:57:47 +0000

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.