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Taylor Owen on Regulating Social Media for Kids | CBC Radio

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:06:59 +0000

January 29, 2026 | Speaking with CBC's The Current, Taylor Owen argued that banning social media for children under 14 is neither feasible or effective, despite growing concerns about the harms young people face online. While acknowledging serious risks, such as mental health impacts and exposure to age-inappropriate content, Owen emphasized that social media also provides real benefits for youth, much as it does for adults.

��Թ� researchers create shapeshifting materials that could power the next generation of soft robots

claire.loewen@mcgill.ca — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:59:17 +0000

��Թ� engineers have developed new ultra-thin materials that can be programmed to move, fold and reshape themselves, much like animated origami. They open the door to softer, safer and more adaptable robots that could be used in medical tools that gently move inside the body, wearable devices that change shape on the skin or smart packaging that reacts to its environment.

RNA therapy may be a solution for infant hydrocephalus

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:57:57 +0000

For the first time, drug targeting genetic mutation shown to have positive impact in mice models

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.

27th Annual Neuropsychology Day and Brenda Milner Lecture

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:22:49 +0000

The 27th Annual Neuropsychology Day and Brenda Milner Lecture honours the career and achievements of Professor Brenda Milner, an eminent cognitive neuroscientist and pioneer of the discipline of neuropsychology.

Hippocampus does more than store memories: it predicts rewards, study finds

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:46:45 +0000

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.

Vincent Rigby on NATO and Canada’s National Security | CGAI

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:00:25 +0000

January 17, 2026 | Vincent Rigby was featured on the Canadian Global Affairs Institute's The Global Exchange podcast to discuss NATO and Canada's global security challenges. Rigby emphasized that strengthening Canada's capabilities, including NORAD modernization and Arctic operations, opens opportunities for collaboration with the United States. He noted the urgency of a former national security strategy, arguing that it has been 22 years since Canada last had one and that current global uncertainties make it more pressing than ever.

Vincent Rigby on NORAD and Canada's F-35 Decision | CBC News

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:24:31 +0000

January 26, 2026 | Vincent Rigby joined CBC News to discuss the implications of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra's recent remarks on Canada's fighter jet procurement and the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD). Rigby described the remarks as "another off-the-cuff," noting that while they cannot be ignored, they should not be taken as a definitive statement on Canada-U.S. defence policy. NORAD remains a shared defence partnership, but political and operational decisions, such as whether to pursue Swedish Gripen or F-35s, can affect Canada's sovereignty.

Vincent Rigby on Trump's Threats to the Arctic | CBC News

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:59:08 +0000

January 27, 2026 | Vincent Rigby spoke on CBC News to analyze Canada's Arctic sovereignty amid growing concerns of U.S. intentions in the region. Rigby weighed in on the implications of the ICE (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort) Pact, noting its potential to affect control over the Northwest Passage and surrounding Arctic territories. He called for a two-track approach: continue cooperation where possible, while urgently strengthening its own Arctic military and surveillance capabilities.

Experts: Digital sovereignty

kay.pettigrew@mcgill.ca — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:50:26 +0000

The French government announced on Jan. 27 the rollout of its new videoconferencing platform, Visio. The domestically developed platform was created to replace U.S. tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams across all state services by 2027 as part of the French government’s broader push for digital sovereignty. Officials say the shift will also cut software licensing costs and strengthen security and confidentiality.

��Թ� experts are available to comment on this topic:

Experts: Extreme cold

aurelie.boucher@mcgill.ca — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:21:03 +0000

Extremely cold temperatures are expected to hit most of Canada this weekend due to an Arctic air mass. As well, a severe winter storm is forecast for large parts of the United States.

��Թ� experts are available to comment on various aspects of the situation:

A rich social environment is associated with better cognitive health outcomes for older adults, study finds

aurelie.boucher@mcgill.ca — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:49:35 +0000

Research by an interdisciplinary team from ��Թ� and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults.

While previous research had found positive correlations between specific measures of social connectedness and a variety of health outcomes, this study appears to have been the first to create profiles aggregating multiple social factors and to see how those correlated with cognitive health in older adults, the researchers said.

In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, ��Թ� review finds

kay.pettigrew@mcgill.ca — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:16:25 +0000

Microbes across Earth’s coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from ��Թ�.

Expert: New Montreal policies on housing development

katherine.gombay@mcgill.ca — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:32:17 +0000

In a bid to encourage housing construction, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has announced the city plans to loosen obligations for developers that were enacted by the previous administration. Her team has also identified 80 plots of land owned by the municipality that are available for mixed use and non-profit projects.

This ��Թ� expert is available to comment Saturday, Jan 24 in the afternoon, or thereafter:

Re-programming innate immune cells to fight tuberculosis

mona.noonoo@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 15:59:57 +0000

Vincent Rigby on Canada's Response to Trump's Aggresive Pursuit of Greenland | KPFA

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:02:05 +0000

January 22, 2026 | Vincent Rigby spoke on KPFA to discuss the implications of U.S. interest in Greenland for Canada. Rigby noted that while the U.S. has a longstanding military presence in Greenland and could, in theory, seize it, such a move would raise serious questions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).