myɬ�﷬ - ɬ�﷬ News Releases

Study offers new insights into why ex-smokers remain at elevated risk of lung disease

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:53:24 +0000

A new study by a team of ɬ�﷬ researchers could help explain why people who have quit smoking remain at elevated risk of lung disease long after their last cigarette.

Their paper, published in Translational Research, provides one of the most detailed pictures to date of how quitting smoking affects the human lung at the cellular level.

Green LED light could help keep leafy greens fresher longer, ɬ�﷬ study suggests

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:44:04 +0000

Low-intensity green lighting in refrigerated storage can slow spoilage in leafy greens, helping maintain their appearance and nutritional value, according to a new study from ɬ�﷬.

“We found that something as simple as changing the light in refrigerated storage may help fresh produce stay fresher for longer,” said Shafieh Salehinia, lead researcher and affiliate member in the Biomass Production Lab, headed by Prof. Mark Lefsrud.

CHIME collaboration helps identify location of "missing" matter in the universe

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:06:14 +0000

Estimates of ordinary matter in the universe exceed the amount observed in stars and galaxies, leaving much of it unaccounted for. Researchers from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)/Fast Radio Bursts Collaboration, including ɬ�﷬ and MIT, have developed a new method to seek out this “missing” matter by combining galaxy locations with fast radio burst detections. A fast radio burst, or FRB, is an ultrabright, millisecond flash of radio waves emitted by extremely energetic phenomena in the distant universe.

The “forgotten children” of sexual abuse in family settings

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:46:52 +0000

When a child has been sexually abused by a family member, post-disclosure interventions prioritize the child who was victimized. Siblings who were not directly abused can also be deeply affected by the abuse. New research from ɬ�﷬ finds siblings are nevertheless routinely unable to access available supports.

ɬ�﷬-led study could help event organizers prevent crowd crushes and stampedes

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:57:53 +0000

ɬ�﷬ researchers have found that dangerous crowd conditions leading to surges and stampedes may not emerge suddenly, but instead develop gradually, as repeated physical contact and pushing may accumulate and become synchronized among nearby individuals.

Recognizing how these conditions arise could help organizers strengthen security, site management and evacuation planning, reducing the likelihood of injuries during large-scale public events.

Novel marine monitoring network could help improve environmental protections, shipping regulations in the Lower St. Lawrence

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:54:43 +0000

A single monitoring network developed by ɬ�﷬, Natural Resources Canada, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Dalhousie University researchers can simultaneously track earthquakes, water behaviour, human activity and whales, providing a comprehensive picture of what’s happening in, under, and at far distances from the water.

The researchers’ experimental network, installed in the Lower St. Lawrence, detected twice as many earthquakes as the National Earthquake Monitoring System, while also capturing whale calls, ship noise, tidal activity and mining blasts.

Reducing vehicle emissions could prevent thousands of deaths in Canada

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:25:55 +0000

A shift to cleaner transportation could prevent more than 3,600 premature deaths in Montreal and Toronto by reducing ultrafine particle pollution, finds a new study led by ɬ�﷬ researchers.

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are microscopic pollutants produced in large quantities by vehicle exhaust. Because of their small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and may contribute to serious health problems such as heart and lung disease.

ɬ�﷬ study provides further evidence that aspen patches can mitigate wildfires

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:15:43 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ have confirmed that aspen play a key role in forest fire prevention and mitigation across Canada. Planting these trees near communities can reduce both the likelihood and severity of fires and limit how far they spread, the researchers said.

“Aspen is not a 100 per cent effective fire deterrent, but compared with other species, it is a better choice to plant around communities or critical infrastructure,” said Flavie Pelletier, lead author and recent PhD graduate in Natural Resource Sciences.

Long hours, lack of social support undermine caregivers’ well-being, study finds

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:54:34 +0000

While caregiving can be meaningful and rewarding at manageable levels, those who spend more than 20 hours a week delivering unpaid care to others have poorer mental health outcomes, a ɬ�﷬ study has found.

However, the researchers also found that the provision of social support to high-intensity caregivers mitigates negative impacts.

Gambling addiction treatment underused in Quebec, study finds

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:08:40 +0000

A new study finds public specialized gambling addiction treatment services are underused in Quebec, pointing to a need to better reach people with gambling disorder.

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the Douglas Research Centre followed more than 2,300 people with a gambling disorder over 13 years. Despite free access, patients averaged fewer than two treatments during that period.

Bike infrastructure is expanding in Canada, but access remains uneven

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:57:39 +0000

Children and older adults are consistently less likely to live near bike lanes, finds a new study that mapped cycling infrastructure in three Canadian cities over a decade.

The ɬ�﷬-led research analyzed census data for Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria. Across all three cities, neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of children (under 15) and older adults (65+) were located farther from cycling infrastructure.

ɬ�﷬ researchers create a device that behaves like a single neuron

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:17:52 +0000

ɬ�﷬ researchers have developed a light-detecting nanoscale structure that mimics how a neuron processes information. The neuron-like behaviour emerges from the materials themselves, reducing the energy demand associated with similar devices that rely on circuits or software.

Instead of capturing data first and processing it elsewhere, the device senses and interprets light in the same place, similarly to how the eye processes visual information.

Crop diversity and perennial grains could strengthen soil health under climate stress, ɬ�﷬ study finds

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:06:32 +0000

A ɬ�﷬ study suggests that diversifying crops and replacing annual wheat with a perennial grain could help protect soil health as climate change brings more variable rainfall.

NASA should build a biocontainment facility on the moon to protect Earth, researchers advise

ɬ�﷬ — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:24:52 +0000

A biocontainment facility designed to protect Earth from potentially hazardous biotic contaminants from space should be part of a planned NASA base on the moon, a policy paper maintains.

“Humanity is entering a new era of space exploration, but our planetary protection strategies have not kept pace with the risks associated with returning extraterrestrial samples to Earth,” said paper co-author Frederick I. Moxley, Director of Strategic Threat Analysis and Research Laboratories, an Idaho-based consultancy.

A ‘bridge’ to bolstering research and clinical expertise

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:52:50 +0000

ɬ�﷬’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is well known for its impact in Quebec, where its award-winning Service to the Community Program provides dental care to underserved groups throughout the Greater Montreal Area.

Though lesser known, the Faculty’s global impact is no less impressive, with a long history of training oral and maxillofacial surgical residents from the Middle East. Now, the Faculty is expanding its global footprint through a new research and clinical collaboration with Kuwaiti partners.

Digitization of centuries of Canadian weather records promises to improve climate understanding

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:07:04 +0000

Researchers have uncovered and digitized nearly two million 18^th and 19^th century weather observations from across Canada that offer new insights into how the country’s climate has changed over time.

The international project draws on handwritten records dating from 1768 to 1884. The data include temperature, precipitation, wind and detailed descriptions of such events as storms and floods.

Study yields new insights on what makes conversation engaging

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:43:01 +0000

What makes a speaker engaging? Both what is said and how it is said matter, but in different, complementary ways, a new study conducted at the ɬ�﷬ School of Communication Sciences and Disorders has found.

When people try to sound “engaging,” they tend to speak more loudly and in a higher pitch, and this can lead listeners to evaluate them more positively, the researchers said. However, the study also reveals that the listener’s desire to extend a conversation depends mainly on interest in what the speaker has to say.

Feeling poorer than peers linked to lower wellbeing, even when incomes are similar

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:22:28 +0000

New research is shedding light on how comparing ourselves to others affects happiness and life satisfaction.

Led by ɬ�﷬ researchers, the study shows that people who feel worse off financially than their peers are more likely to report signs of languishing, even when their actual income is similar.

Indoor urban agriculture isn’t necessarily low carbon, ɬ�﷬ study shows

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:10:36 +0000

Growing lettuce indoors in Canadian cities can be as climate-friendly as conventional farming, but only in regions where electricity is from renewable sources and thus low-carbon, according to a new ɬ�﷬-led study.

ɬ�﷬ named as presenting partner of team representing Canada at 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:57:17 +0000

Associate Professor

To curb overprescribing for seniors, researchers urge annual prescription checkups

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:39:22 +0000

To address the growing problem of overprescribing for seniors, a new Canadian guideline is calling for routine medication reviews.

In Canada, roughly two in three adults age 65 or older take five or more medications. While often necessary, complex drug regimens can increase the risk of side effects and affect quality of life.

What an illusion involving a fake hand can tell us about our mind-body connection

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:29:58 +0000

People who have a weaker sense of self are also more likely to have less bodily awareness, ɬ�﷬ researchers have found. The study supports the idea that people’s perceptions of themselves and how they experience their own bodies are deeply connected.

Beyond deepening psychologists’ understanding of “embodied cognition,” the connection between our minds and our fundamental bodily awareness, the findings could have concrete applications regarding the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions, the researchers said.

Do lying children grow up to be criminals? Mostly not, study concludes

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:07:21 +0000

Most childhood lying does not lead to serious problems in adulthood, and only certain kinds of lying behaviour is associated with later psychological or legal issues, a new study has found.

“Children do not all follow the same developmental pattern of lying,” said Victoria Talwar, a professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and lead author of the study. “Most children in our study showed low or declining levels of lying over time. For most, lying is not a problem behaviour.”

Research findings challenge long-held assumptions about how we learn or regain speech

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:06:17 +0000

Learning to speak a new language, or regaining speech, depends more on areas of the brain that process sound and physical sensation than on the parts of the brain that govern motor control, according to new research findings.

The study, by researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the Yale School of Medicine, has implications for speech-learning theory and for the development of speech processing and recognition technologies.

Novel origami pattern turns flat sheets into load-bearing 3D technology

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 21 May 2026 13:58:09 +0000

ɬ�﷬ researchers have discovered a new way to fold flat sheets into smooth, curved shells that can switch from floppy and flexible to stiff and load-bearing on demand. By designing a special origami pattern and threading cable-like elements through it, they can control the material’s final three-dimensional shape and how rigid it becomes. The result, a “doubly curved lens box,” could advance the technology of such objects as temporary emergency tents, morphing robots and smart fabrics, the researchers said.

Historic plant collections offer a window into genetic change

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:10:22 +0000

Pressed plant specimens collected centuries ago and stored in herbaria around the world could play a key role in facilitating the tracking of genetic change and extinction risk in plants, a ɬ�﷬-led study indicates.

Study finds early complex life lived in oxygenated seas, challenging long‑held views of evolution

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 20 May 2026 15:00:53 +0000

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 ɬ�﷬ 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

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:40:21 +0000

A digital literacy program for elementary school students designed by researchers at ɬ�﷬ was successful in improving students’ 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.

Students’ global performance increased across all skill categories, in most cases by significant margins.

‘Jumping gene’ helps explain elevated pancreatic cancer risk in French-Canadians

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:13:42 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ have discovered a centuries-old genetic mutation that helps to explain why some French‑Canadians in Quebec are at an elevated risk of pancreatic cancer. Until quite recently, standard genetic tests have not been able to identify this “jumping gene” 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.

ɬ�﷬ researchers help secure Canadian access to the world’s largest telescope

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:19:47 +0000

A team led by the Université de Montréal, the Observatoire du Mont‑Mégantic (OMM) and the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx), in partnership with the University of British Columbia and ɬ�﷬, has been awarded nearly $11.3 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support Canada’s contribution to ANDES, a flagship scientific instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) under construction in Chile.

Icing injuries may slow recovery and prolong pain, study finds

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 13 May 2026 13:42:56 +0000

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, ɬ�﷬ 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 ‘switch’ could lead to advances in bone disease treatments

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:38:51 +0000

Scientists’ discovery of a molecular “switch” that activates an energy‑burning pathway in mice has the potential to lead to new treatments for bone disease.

The study, published in Nature, sheds new light on brown fat. Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat cells burn calories, producing heat as a byproduct. For years, it was believed this process relied on a single pathway. More recently, researchers discovered a parallel pathway, but how it became activated remained a mystery.

ɬ�﷬ researchers’ sustainable construction method aims to improve earthquake safety

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:49:54 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ are carrying out large‑scale 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

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:04:12 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the Research Institute of the ɬ�﷬ 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. As well as serving as an artificial pancreas, it potentially could be used to replace or support the function of other organs.

Public education will be critical as provinces roll out new cervical cancer screening method, researchers say

ɬ�﷬ — Thu, 07 May 2026 13:37:38 +0000

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.

The national survey, published in Current Oncology, examined women’s preferences for cervical screening – including how they want to be screened and how they want information communicated – as Canada transitions from Pap tests to HPV testing.

Moderate UV light is best when it comes to boosting the vitamin D content of edible mushrooms, ɬ�﷬ study finds

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:59 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ have discovered that moderate ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is best when the technique is used to enhance vitamin D₂ in edible mushrooms. Excessive exposure leads to nutrient degradation or a plateau effect, they found. The paper also provides quantitative guidance.

The researchers’ work supports efforts to address vitamin D deficiency, which affects between 30 and 50 per cent of the world’s population, as well as enhance the nutritional value of mushrooms more broadly.

ɬ�﷬ researchers engineer faster, more effective blood clots

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:32:13 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ have developed a rapid way to engineer blood clots that stop severe bleeding and support tissue healing more effectively. Their technique, called “click clotting,” 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. The team said the method could be used to develop life-saving biomaterials to help control severe bleeding, as well as benefit people with clotting disorders.

ɬ�﷬ researchers’ novel device could boost the development of sound-based lasers

ɬ�﷬ — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:52:16 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ 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

ɬ�﷬ — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:50:22 +0000

Scientists have developed a strategy to boost the cancer-fighting power of natural killer (NK) cells, part of the immune system’s 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.

Researchers at ɬ�﷬’s Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the Research Institute of the ɬ�﷬ Health Centre, found that suppressing two specific proteins helps NK cells overcome this blockage, turning them into more potent cancer killers.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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.

Researchers identify new jellyfish species in fossils near Quebec City

ɬ�﷬ — 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.

AI tool pinpoints cells driving aggressive cancers

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:47:49 +0000

ɬ�﷬ researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can identify small groups of cells most responsible for driving aggressive cancers.

The tool, called SIDISH, offers scientists a clearer path to designing targeted therapies by showing which cells inside a tumour are most strongly linked with poor patient outcomes, rather than treating all cancer cells as if they behave the same way.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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 turn to mussels and mistletoe to design sustainable materials

ɬ�﷬ — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:58:15 +0000

Taking inspiration from how mussels and mistletoe plants build natural fibres and adhesives, researchers at ɬ�﷬ have developed a new way to manufacture complex materials that could offer a more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and glues.

Largest-ever study of psychedelics could help advance their use in treating mental health disorders

ɬ�﷬ — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:39:31 +0000

Scientists have demonstrated, for the first time, that several psychedelic drugs – including psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, DMT and ayahuasca – produce a common pattern of brain activity despite their distinct chemistries.

An international consortium led by a ɬ�﷬ researcher pooled brain imaging data from labs across five countries, creating the largest study of its kind to date.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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.

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

ɬ�﷬ — 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.