https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from McGill University 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 McGill University researchers. "Origins of Subsurface Methane Leaking from Nonproducing Oil and Gas Wells in Canada," by Gianni Micucci and Mary Kang, is published in Environmental Science and Technology. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oil-gas-wells-emit-microbial.html Environment Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:40:03 EDT news694970761 Taking inspiration from how mussels and mistletoe plants build natural fibers and adhesives, researchers at McGill University have developed a new way to manufacture complex materials that could offer a more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and glues. The findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mussels-mistletoe-sustainable-materials.html Biochemistry Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:20:05 EDT news694873142 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. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-posed-contaminants-emerging-crops-agricultural.html Agriculture Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:30:02 EDT news694258398 A team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute), led by Jean-Jacques Lebrun, Ph.D., has identified a protein that pancreatic cancer cells rely on to survive and grow. This discovery opens a promising avenue for the research and development of more effective and targeted therapies to treat one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-discovery-pancreatic-tumor-vulnerability-pave.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:20:01 EDT news694168485 A new discovery by McGill 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. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-stability-brain-internal-compass-memories.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:03 EDT news693225421 Injections of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, could be an effective and well-tolerated option for treating debilitating complications caused by reduced blood flow to the fingers, such as acute digital ischemia (which makes the fingers very painful, cold and sometimes white or bluish), digital ulcers (open wounds that heal poorly), and gangrene, according to a study recently published in JAMA Dermatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-botox-therapeutic-approach-finger-ulcers.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:20:01 EDT news693221281 Researchers at McGill University 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. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ancient-stone-jars-tree-freshwater.html Ecology Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:20:03 EDT news692360701 Non-pharmacological interventions, such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, tai chi and breathing practices, have shown promise in helping to reduce some mental health symptoms of patients living with cognitive decline or dementia, but it has been unclear which types work best, for whom and under what conditions. Researchers who undertook a scoping review of literature found that such strategies as keeping sessions under an hour, recruiting family or staff to reinforce program participation, having flexible scheduling and clear routines, as well as holding group sessions, can be particularly helpful. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-guidance-therapeutic-mindfulness-yoga-boost.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:20:01 EST news691848122 Pre-teens who struggle to control their video gaming habits are more likely to have psychotic-like experiences a year later, a new study has found. McGill University researchers and colleagues at Maastricht University found that 12-year-olds who showed signs of problematic gaming were more likely to experience mild paranoia, unusual beliefs, or disturbed perceptions at age 13. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-young-gamers-higher-mental-health.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:20:01 EST news691759081 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 McGill University 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. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-nature-affects-brain.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:10 EST news691321861 As solar energy is rapidly becoming the world's largest renewable power source, new research from McGill University offers a clearer picture of how much land that growth could require and how smarter choices could mitigate solar energy's land footprint. "Solar photovoltaics are poised to become the largest renewable energy source globally by 2029, but both data and methods are lacking to understand the consequences of large-scale growth to land," said Sarah Marie Jordaan, Associate Professor in McGill's Department of Civil Engineering jointly appointed at the Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED) and the Department of Civil Engineering, and Director of the Energy Technology and Policy Assessment (ETAPA) research group. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-ai-analysis-sunnier-sites-compact.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:20:02 EST news691252984 A new McGill University study has found a direct link between age-related declines in neuron activity in the cerebellum and worsening motor skills, including gait, balance and agility. While it is well known that these abilities diminish with age, this is the first research to pinpoint how changes in Purkinje cells—a key type of cerebellar neuron—drive this decline and translate into measurable changes in behavior and physical function. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-falls-age-cerebellar-neuron.html Neuroscience Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:00:01 EST news691086961 Scientists at McGill University 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. The work is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nanoparticles-cancer-treatment-lymph-nodes.html Bio & Medicine Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:00:01 EST news690653327 A study of Black Americans is among the first to show how the internalization of negative messages about dark skin tones could be linked to harms to health. Researchers found that Black Americans who are, or perceive themselves to be, dark-skinned show clear markers of cellular aging associated with immune-system damage and also score lower on a measurement of self-worth. Cellular aging and low self-worth are both associated with relatively poor health outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-health-inequities-dark-skinned-black.html Medical economics Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:34:45 EST news690737641 A new study on aortic stenosis, the most common form of heart valve disease, has identified more than 200 new genes that predispose individuals to this condition, for which no treatment currently exists. The discovery of these genes, some of which are also associated with faster disease progression, could make it possible to identify individuals at high risk of developing the disease, with a view to offering them earlier intervention. It also opens new avenues into treatments aiming to slow or stop the progression of the disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-aortic-stenosis-newly-genes-future.html Genetics Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:24:47 EST news690639842 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. The research team reviewed the scientific and popular literature in the field covering close to 200 cognitive biases, or logical fallacies that result in decisions being less than fully rational. They then identified 38 biases with a high likelihood of affecting talent identification and selection in sports and created a framework that grouped them into clusters. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-cognitive-biases-talent-scouts-undermine.html Social Sciences Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:30:02 EST news690546617 Researchers at McGill University have improved the efficiency of a method for converting human urine into clean energy. The method employs microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use bacteria to turn organic waste into electricity, providing a sustainable and low-cost means of treating wastewater while generating energy from an abundant source. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-human-urine-energy-optimize.html Energy & Green Tech Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:20:05 EST news690550340 Researchers investigating how to increase participation in physical activity by autistic children and teens say key strategies include creating predictable routines, involving family members and ensuring safe and sensory-friendly spaces. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-ways-autistic-youth-physical.html Autism spectrum disorders Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:04 EST news690543648 A new study co-authored by McGill University researchers suggests people can be taught to reject unfair advantages. "We often benefit personally from an unequal distribution of resources, a phenomenon known as advantageous inequity—for example, receiving a higher salary than a colleague with the identical role," said senior author Ross Otto, a psychology professor. "Here we ask whether people can learn to punish advantageous inequity merely by observing the inequity-averse preferences of another person." https://phys.org/news/2026-02-bigger-people.html Social Sciences Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:00:01 EST news690045539 Scientists have identified a pattern of gene activity present in some female survivors of childhood abuse that is associated with an elevated risk of depression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-childhood-abuse-survivors-elevated-depression.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:20:05 EST news690134291 Researchers at McGill University and the United States Forest Service have found that plants living in areas where human activity has caused population crashes carry long-lasting genetic traces of that history, such as reduced genetic diversity. Because genetic diversity helps species adapt to climate change, disease, and other stresses, the study suggests it is vital to consider a population's history-influenced genetics alongside its size and habitat in conservation planning. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-retain-genetic-memory-population.html Plants & Animals Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:06:42 EST news690113041 A new McGill study suggests that problematic social media use among teens is in part related to broader social inequalities. Zékai Lu, a Ph.D. student in McGill's Department of Sociology and author of the study, had set out to determine whether problematic social media use is driven mainly by individual traits or whether the social environment of the country a teen lives in also plays a significant role. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-economic-gender-inequities-contribute-problematic.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:15:36 EST news690106501 A McGill-led study on the role played by shame in the continuing trauma suffered by survivors of childhood sexual abuse indicates that addressing shame should be a focal point of treatment. Clinicians should use strategies that normalize disclosure, validate survivors' feelings and integrate shame-resolution techniques into their therapy plans, the researchers suggested. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-shame-focal-treatment-childhood-sexual.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:39:34 EST news689949542 New research suggests the liver plays a previously unrecognized role in bone health, but only in males. A McGill University-led study published in Matrix Biology found that a protein made in the liver helps regulate bone growth in male mice, but not in females. The findings may help explain why men with liver disease are more likely to experience bone loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-protein-liver-key-factor-men.html Endocrinology & Metabolism Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:00:03 EST news689512047 McGill researchers have developed a diagnostic system capable of identifying bacteria—and determining which antibiotics can stop them—in just 36 minutes, a major advance in the global effort to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Current clinical testing methods typically take 48 to 72 hours, leaving physicians without timely guidance. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-quick-curb-antimicrobial-resistance-bacteria.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:20:06 EST news689432516 Teenagers who are pathological liars also tend to struggle with executive function deficits, such as poor memory or impulse control, researchers have found. This means practitioners may be able to consider treatments centered around executive functioning (such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Habit-Reversal Training) for patients who present such patterns, said Victoria Talwar, professor in the McGill Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology. Talwar conducted the study along with colleagues at two institutions in Texas. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-pathological-teens-function-deficits.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:28:27 EST news689336882 The familiar labels "night owl" and "early bird," long used in sleep research, don't fully capture the diversity of human internal clocks, a new study has found. The McGill University-led study published in Nature Communications found the two sleep-wake patterns, called chronotypes, contain a total of five distinct biological subtypes, each associated with different patterns of behavior and health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-night-owl-early-bird-categories.html Neuroscience Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:50:04 EST news689258233 Hydrocephalus is a life-threatening condition that occurs in about 1 in 1,000 newborns and is often treated with invasive surgery. Now, a new study offers hope of preventing hydrocephalus before it even occurs. The paper is published in the journal Molecular Therapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-rna-therapy-solution-infant-hydrocephalus.html Neuroscience Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:30:01 EST news689001988 A preclinical study published in Nature has found evidence that the hippocampus, the brain region that stores memory, also reorganizes memories to anticipate future outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-hippocampus-memories-rewards.html Neuroscience Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:04:55 EST news688921441 Research by an interdisciplinary team from McGill University and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-rich-social-environment-cognitive-health.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:01:44 EST news688730402