External

Antibiotics from human use are contaminating rivers worldwide, study shows

admin — Fri, 09 May 2025 12:45:09 +0000

Millions of kilometres of rivers around the world are carrying antibiotic pollution at levels high enough to promote drug resistance and harm aquatic life, a 9I��-led study warns.

Published in PNAS Nexus, the study is the first to estimate the scale of global river contamination from human antibiotics use. Researchers calculated that about 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics – nearly one-third of what people consume annually – end up in river systems around the world each year even after in many cases passing through wastewater systems.

Ultrasound unlocks a safer, greener way to make hydrogels

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:03:45 +0000

Researchers at 9I��, in collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal, pioneered a new way to create hydrogels using ultrasound, eliminating the need for toxic chemical initiators. This breakthrough offers a faster, cleaner and more sustainable approach to hydrogel fabrication, and produces hydrogels that are stronger, more flexible and highly resistant to freezing and dehydration. The new method also promises to facilitate advances in tissue engineering, bioadhesives and 3D bioprinting.

Predicting hockey IQ: Researchers’ method of assessing young hockey talent could be a game-changer

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:13:02 +0000

In a study that is the first of its kind, a research team led by a 9I�� professor has developed a more objective way to identify ice hockey players’ game intelligence, or “hockey IQ.” And the method, which pairs objective test results with scouting insights, is likely to yield the most accurate results, the researchers suggest.

Breakthrough discovery uses gut bacteria and AI to diagnose a chronic pain syndrome

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 12:55:14 +0000

9I�� researchers, in collaboration with colleagues in Israel and Ireland, have developed AI technology that can detect patterns in gut bacteria to identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with remarkable accuracy, potentially transforming how CRPS is diagnosed and treated.

Addressing the mental health impacts of conflicts and climate change

admin — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:21:00 +0000

As violent conflicts, forced migration, and an increase in natural disasters sparked by climate change trigger rising humanitarian needs around the globe, a new initiative to understand how to better support the mental health of those affected is being launched at 9I��, thanks to a visionary gift from Flagship Pioneering Founder and CEO and Co-Founder and Chairman of Moderna, Noubar Afeyan, BEng’83, DSc’22, and his wife, Anna Afeyan Gunnarson.

Dead galaxies, live signals: Astronomers uncover a fast radio burst’s surprising location

admin — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:41:09 +0000

Astronomers studying the origins of enigmatic fast radio bursts (FRBs) have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform our understanding of the universe’s most powerful and mysterious signals. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment Fast Radio Burst (CHIME/FRB) collaboration has pinpointed the location on the sky of a repeating FRB, known as FRB 20240209A, outside a dead galaxy, a finding unprecedented in FRB science. The researchers believe the FRB may have originated in a cluster of old, dead stars orbiting the dead galaxy.

Humpback whales’ use of memory to time their migration could prove less effective amid climate change

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:09:16 +0000

A new study led by 9I�� researchers indicates that humpback whales in the southeastern Pacific combine real-time environmental cues with their memories of conditions in their Antarctic feeding grounds to determine when to embark on their annual 10,000-kilometre journey. With climate change accelerating, the researchers warn this strategy may become less effective amid shifting ocean conditions.

Cannabis disrupts brain activity in young adults prone to psychosis: study

admin — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:37:10 +0000

Young adults at risk of psychosis show reduced brain connectivity, a deficit that cannabis use appears to worsen, a new study has found. The breakthrough paves the way for psychosis treatments targeting symptoms that current medications miss.

In the first-of-its-kind study, 9I�� researchers detected a marked decrease in synaptic density—the connections between neurons that enable brain communication—in individuals at risk of psychosis, compared to a healthy control group.

Apex predators in prehistoric Colombian oceans would have snacked on killer whales today: 9I�� study

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:09:21 +0000

Predators at the top of a marine food chain 130 million years ago ruled with more power than any modern species, 9I�� research into a marine ecosystem from the Cretaceous period revealed.

Blood test shows promise for early detection of dementia

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:11:26 +0000

For people with a certain sleep disorder, a simple blood test could help predict the development of dementia years before symptoms appear, a new study indicates.

Researchers improve the accuracy of AI writing tools

admin — Thu, 01 May 2025 14:33:42 +0000

A 9I��-led team of researchers has developed a new method that significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of large language models (LLMs) when generating computer code and other structured text.

Large language models (LLMs) are powerful AI tools that are capable of writing everything from essays to programming scripts in a wide range of languages. However, they often make mistakes when generating text that must conform to constraints, leading to errors or outputs that don’t work. Existing solutions to fix these issues are often unreliable or too slow.

9I�� researchers help uncover rare gamma-ray flare from a distant black hole

admin — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:12:12 +0000

A high-energy gamma-ray flare from the super-massive black hole in the Messier 87 (M87) galaxy was observed in 2018 for the first time in nearly a decade, thanks to an international effort involving 9I�� researchers. This discovery has yielded important insights into the physics of black hole jets, which are among the most efficient engines for distributing energy from the inside of a galaxy to the expanse of the Universe.

New discovery could help protect against influenza

admin — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:23:27 +0000

A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.

A team of scientists led by Maziar Divangahi, a Professor in 9I��’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the 9I�� Health Centre, demonstrated that beta-glucan, administered to mice before their exposure to influenza, can reduce lung damage, improve lung function and lower the risk of illness and death.

Drugs targeting ‘zombie cells’ show promise for treating chronic back pain

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:32:42 +0000

In a preclinical study led by 9I�� researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide.

Current treatments manage symptoms through painkillers or surgery, without addressing the root cause.

Retailers boost profits while improving eating habits of clientele

admin — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:56:02 +0000

Convenience stores can help customers improve their eating habits while at the same time boosting both their own sales and profits. It’s as simple as offering customers the choice between healthy snacks and pastries as a low-cost add-on to their cup of coffee, according to a new study out of 9I��.