https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j_ttqoKhwA A new study from Western University identifies a specific gene in fruit flies that drives female mate acceptance and rejection – a vital discovery for understanding how all species, including humans, survive and thrive on...
Jeff Renaud
Global study examines pregnancy and stress during COVID-19 pandemic
Pregnancies, at the best of times, are stressful. When the world is experiencing a global pandemic, human response to risk -- real or perceived -- is undoubtedly heightened. A new study from Western University will investigate how mothers are dealing with stress...
New natural approach to strengthening soil against disaster developed at Western
Western University’s Abouzar Sadrekarimi doesn’t want you to feel the Earth move beneath your feet so he’s leading research that helps strengthen it. By adding urea and calcium to the soil, Sadrekarimi and his team at Western Engineering have created a bio-cement that...
C-Dem releases largest ever data collection of a Canadian federal election
The Consortium on Electoral Democracy (C-Dem) -- co-led by Western University’s Laura Stephenson -- has released the 2019 Canadian Election Study (CES). The data collection includes more than 40,000 surveys, making it the largest ever study of its kind for a Canadian...
Western University and General Dynamics join forces for medical face shield initiative
Based on an initiative, concept and design by Western University, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada is now producing approximately 500 medical face shields per day to support Canada’s fight against COVID-19. The London-based global aerospace and defence company is...
Insect experts available to discuss ‘murder hornets’ and potential Canadian impact
Asian giant hornets – AKA ‘murder hornets’ – are the latest damaging invasive insects discovered in North America. Not unlike emerald ash borer, spotted wing drosophila, Asian long-horned beetle and the brown marmorated stink bug, murder hornets likely found their way...
International study finds consensual nonmonogamy can be ‘healthy’ relationship option
A new international study has found no evidence that consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) impacts life satisfaction or relationship quality with the primary partners in a romantically involved couple. On the contrary, the study demonstrated only positive outcomes and provides...
Machine learning allows for ‘ultra-fast,’ ‘highly accurate’ classification of COVID-19 virus genomes
Using machine learning, a team of computer scientists and biologists from Western University and University of Waterloo have identified an underlying genomic signature for 29 different COVID-19 virus RNA (ribonucleic acid) sequences. This new data discovery tool will...
Dinosaur tooth chemistry provides new understanding of ancient ecosystems
An international team of scientists, including Fred Longstaffe from Western University, has revealed new insights into the inner workings of ancient dinosaur communities. Seventy-five-million years ago, North America was divided into western and eastern landmasses by...
Despite social and employment benefits, bilingualism does not make you ‘smarter’
Being bilingual does not improve general mental ability, according to a new study conducted by a team of researchers at Western University’s renowned Brain and Mind Institute. More than 11,000 participants from around the world completed 12 online cognitive tests that...
New study of football players shows concussions have long-term effects on inhibition
World renowned neuroscientist Adrian Owen and his team at Western University have developed a new strategy for predicting cognitive performance in Canadian university football players based on results from online surveys completed by the general population. The most...
Astronomers detect most energetic outflow from a distant quasar
Researchers, led by Western University's Sarah Gallagher, using the Gemini North telescope on Hawai'i's Maunakea have detected the most energetic wind from any quasar ever measured. This outflow, which is travelling at nearly 13% of the speed of light, carries enough...