McGill Podcasts » Mini-Science

In this episode, Professor Joaquin (Quim) Madrenas discusses how certain diseases impacted the way compsers created music, and how these diseases influenced the way societies experienced this music.

Professor Robert L. Zattore discusses the reason why people have continued to love music throughout history and proposes that affinity for music is inherently human (and undoubtedly neurological).

Prof. David M. Green enlightens us about various types of frog calls, followed by a lesson on bird songs by Prof. Jon Sakata.

Is it true that natural and sexual selection oppose each other? For instance, why should male peacocks have such large tails? Even Darwin noted this evolutionary puzzle: there are some traits of organisms that would seem to decrease their survival. This lecture will explore this situation using examples from Dr. Hendry’s research from a variety [...]

This lecture discusses ongoing work in Dr. Dirks’ lab that examines how children respond to different types of peer aggression, how those responses are perceived by important people in their social worlds, and how the effectiveness of a given response may vary depending upon who is enacting it and when they do it. Implications for [...]

This lecture will show how sexual conflict or sexually antagonistic behaviour in insects can influence the evolution and elaboration of novel sexually dimorphic traits in distinct and potentially opposing ways.

This presentation features a lighthearted but scientific look at a topic of interest to all. The chemistry of the brain “in love” is examined, as well as the possible existence of aphrodisiacs and love potions. Chemical sex attractants in insects constitute the background to a discussion of possible analogues to these compounds in humans. This [...]

Leading McGill scientists cover many major aspects of pain science, from molecular and neural pathways to the psychological modulation of pain. The series bridges our understanding of how factors such as environment, genetics, gender, age and lifestyle are related to pain. Pain and reward are two motivational processes that oppose each other. This talk will [...]

Leading McGill scientists cover many major aspects of pain science, from molecular and neural pathways to the psychological modulation of pain. The series bridges our understanding of how factors such as environment, genetics, gender, age and lifestyle are related to pain. This presentation explores the science behind the extraordinary claims that are made around marijuana [...]

Leading McGill scientists cover many major aspects of pain science, from molecular and neural pathways to the psychological modulation of pain. The series bridges our understanding of how factors such as environment, genetics, gender, age and lifestyle are related to pain. This presentation will highlight some of the psychosocial factors that have been shown to [...]

Leading McGill scientists cover many major aspects of pain science, from molecular and neural pathways to the psychological modulation of pain. The series bridges our understanding of how factors such as environment, genetics, gender, age and lifestyle are related to pain. This lecture will discuss the mechanisms by which psychological state alters pain and how [...]

Leading McGill scientists cover many major aspects of pain science, from molecular and neural pathways to the psychological modulation of pain. The series bridges our understanding of how factors such as environment, genetics, gender, age and lifestyle are related to pain.  When you are in pain, nothing else matters. ou just want relief. And the [...]

Mini-Science 2011, episode 1: In the public mind, “chemicals” equate to “toxins”. The truth is that chemicals are just the building blocks of all matter; they are not good or bad, safe or dangerous. There are safe ways and dangerous ways to use chemicals. The decision is ours.

Mini-Science 2011, episode 2: With its underlying chemistry and physiology, the brain is the organ of behaviour. It is fascinating to explore some highlights from neurochemistry and see how these shape our theoretical and practical understanding of behavioural science.

Mini-Science 2011, episode 3: Malaria and its consequences have shaped human history. Science’s attempts to control and understand this disease have also evolved. Tracing how successive generations have grappled with, conquered, and ultimately lost the malaria challenge makes for a fascinating scientific adventure.

Mini-Science 2011, episode 4: Three of the great challenges for the 21st century are energy supply, climate change and global food security; these come together in biofuels. Biofuels can play an important role as a source of renewable and sustainable energy over the long term.

Mini-Science 2011, episode 5: Cells are the basis of life. However, their function is entirely regulated by the interactions and actions of macromolecules inside the cell as well as in their environment. Modern biophysical chemistry explores the complex choreography of the dance of molecules in cells.

Mini-Science 2011, episode 6: Three Mile Island and Chernobyl clouded the future for nuclear power. However now, with concerns about our dependence on foreign sources of energy and the evidence of climate change, the nuclear option is gaining some new respectability.

Mini-Science 2011, episode 7: Combining science, humour, music and magic, you’ve never seen a stage show quite like it! Mini-Science 2011 closes with a blend of entertainment and meaningful science.

There is growing public alarm about the possible harmful health effects caused by cell phones, microwaves, WiFi, etc. This concern has been fed by a wide array of misleading information on the Internet as well as various reports in the media. What does the real scientific evidence show?

The basis of homeopathy is that substances, diluted to such an extent that there is essentially nothing left in solution, can be used to treat a variety of medical problems. This lecture critically examines the principles, the history, and the reasons for the enduring popularity of homeopathy.

Vaccines are among the crowning achievements of medical science yet many are convinced that vaccination can cause autism and autoimmune diseases — even death. The most virulent opponents believe that vaccines are the sharp end of a global conspiracy. How did we get to this polarized state?

While the scientific understanding of climate change is firm, public opinion concerning the impact of human activities on the observed changes is much less certain. This lecture focuses on the necessity of curbing the damage of climate change, as opposed to simply exposing the facts and letting people form their own conclusions.

History is peppered with accounts of psychics predicting the future, mediums conversing with the dead, and aliens abducting earthlings. Today, “psychic surgeons” claim to remove tumours without making incisions and “paranormalists” bend spoons with the power of their minds. What does science say about these claims?

Prof. Rutledge helps you understand our place in the universe, and how the physics of stars, and the evolution of the universe, plays out.

Prof. Pollard describes the enigmatic nature of Martian landscapes and the overriding geological and environmental forces that drive the evolution of Martian landforms.

Professor Tracy Webb describes the basic characteristics of galaxies, outline the methods we use to study them, and highlights some of the main results and open questions in the field of galaxy formation and evolution.

Professor Matt Dobbs outlines the field of cosmology – the quest to understand the birth, evolution, and fate of the universe as a whole.

Professor Vicky Kaspi describes the astonishing properties of pulsars, as well as how observations of these amazing objects help to constrain several interesting aspects of the physics of extreme environments.

Andrew Gonzalez, Professor in the Department of Biology, discusses how our understanding of extinction can be used to make estimates of future rates of extinction under various scenarios of environmental change.

What is the impact of the decline of tropical rainforests on primates and what current and future actions might advance primate conservation? Dr. Colin Chapman, who holds appointments in McGill’s Departments of Anthropology and Biology and School of Environment, is also Honorary Lecturer, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

McGill Biology professor Lauren J. Chapman looks at key lessons from Lake Victoria in East Africa, the world’s largest tropical lake. Her research reveals both the vulnerability and the resilience of native and introduced species in the face of environmental change.

Garry Peterson, a professor in McGill’s Department of Geography and School of Environment, looks at what the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reveals about the state of the world and what ecological futures are possible.

McGill Biology professor Graham Bell describes examples of rapid evolution as well as situations where adaptation hasn’t happened. He further explains how organisms are likely to evolve in the coming period of rapid environmental change.

Dr. Alan Evans is a Professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute and the Principal Investigator of the Data Coordinating Centre for the MRI Study of Normal Brain Development.

Dr. Karim Nader is a professor of Psychology, William Dawson Scholar, Alfred P. Sloan Fellow and CIHR New Investigator. His work on memory manipulation could revolutionize treatment of disorders from post traumatic stress syndrome to drug addiction.

Dr. Paul Wiseman is an Associate Professor in both Physics & Chemistry and holds the Fessenden Professorship in Science Innovation.

Dr. Joe Schwarcz is a Professor of Chemistry and Director of McGill’s Office for Science and Society.