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Do supervised consumption sites bring increased crime? Study suggests that’s a myth

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:59:41 +0000

Overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites in Toronto are not associated with long-term increases in local crime, �鶹��ý��վ researchers have found.

Over 10 years, crime reports remained stable or declined in neighbourhoods where sites opened, the researchers said. Their findings land amid debates across Canada about how harm reduction services intersect with public health and safety.

Microencapsulated B-vitamins help dairy cows produce more milk with fewer emissions

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:38:40 +0000

A new international study led by �鶹��ý��վ in collaboration with Jefo Nutrition shows that supplementing dairy cow diets with microencapsulated B-vitamins can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing milk yield and quality. The use of the feed additive cut global warming potential, an internationally standardized measure of climate impact, by up to 18 per cent across seven countries.

Findings suggest that certain medications for Type 2 diabetes reduce risk of dementia

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:02:20 +0000

A large �鶹��ý��վ study has found that two classes of medications commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, both incretin-based, are associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

Drawing on clinical data from more than 450,000 patients, the research adds to growing evidence that incretin-based therapies have protective benefits for the brain.

The study examined GLP-1 receptor agonists, which include such medications as Ozempic, as well as DPP-4 inhibitors.

New light-triggered microneedle patch could make IVF hormone delivery painless and automated

admin — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:54:08 +0000

A �鶹��ý��վ research team has developed a painless, automated way to deliver in vitro fertilization (IVF) hormones using a light-activated microneedle patch, an innovation that could ease one of the most stressful parts of fertility treatment and open new possibilities for other diseases that require frequent, time-sensitive injections.

IVF patients must inject themselves with hormones daily at specific times in the weeks leading up to egg retrieval, a process that can be physically and emotionally taxing.

Fine particles in pollution are associated with early signs of autoimmune disease

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:58:39 +0000

A new study has linked air pollution exposure and immune-system changes that often precede the onset of autoimmune diseases.

�鶹��ý��վ researchers analyzing Ontario data found that fine particles in air pollution are associated with higher levels of a biomarker linked with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus.

Lithium study yields insights in the fight against HIV

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:07:00 +0000

Lithium, a widely used treatment for bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, has shown early promise in suppressing HIV, �鶹��ý��վ researchers report.

A new study published in iScience found lithium can prevent infected cells from reactivating, and that it does so through an unexpected biological mechanism.

The findings point toward future treatments designed to mimic lithium’s beneficial effects while avoiding its broader impacts on the body.

Kering Foundation, SVRI and �鶹��ý��վ launch research program on the intersection of violence against women and children

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:17:30 +0000

The Kering Foundation, in partnership with �鶹��ý��վ and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), is launching an innovative research program to tackle the often-overlooked links between violence against women and violence against children – a critical global issue with deep social impact.

This multi-year initiative will strengthen evidence-based, locally led research to understand how violence against women and children intersects and to identify effective solutions through programs, services, and interventions.

Irradiated cannabis might still harbour toxic fungi and residues, �鶹��ý��վ study finds

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:16:56 +0000

Gamma irradiation, an industry-standard sterilization method for medicinal and recreational cannabis, does not fully eliminate toxic fungi or their chemical residues, a �鶹��ý��վ study has found. Current testing practices may also miss contamination, raising concerns about health risks for vulnerable users, particularly those with weakened immune systems.

�鶹��ý��վ researcher unveils new model that more accurately measures greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:07:07 +0000

�鶹��ý��վ engineering researchers have introduced an open-source model that makes it easier for experts and non-experts alike to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. natural gas supply chains and yields more accurate results.

�鶹��ý��վ researchers develop a cheaper, safer material for use in solar panels, sensors and optical devices

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:38:33 +0000

Using proteins from a common tobacco plant virus, �鶹��ý��վ chemistry researchers have developed a simple, eco-friendly way to arrange gold nanoparticles into ultrathin sheets, strengthening the particles’ optical properties. The result: cheaper, safer materials for solar panels, sensors and advanced optical devices.

Freshwater browning threatens growth and populations of economically important fish, �鶹��ý��վ researchers say

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:30:53 +0000

Freshwater browning is stunting fish growth of some species, shrinking populations of others and changing the composition of fish communities, �鶹��ý��վ-led research suggests. “Browning” refers to freshwater bodies turning tea-coloured, a phenomenon driven by higher levels of dissolved organic matter and/or higher levels of iron in the water. Causes include changes in land use and climate, and reduced acid precipitation.

The findings indicate that changes in land use and climate are affecting biodiversity and how ecosystems function, with implications for fisheries management.

Study offers evidence that racial bias is at play in overrepresentation of Black youth in Canadian child welfare systems

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:28:33 +0000

Researchers who examined Canadian child welfare data found that Black children were not only investigated at a higher rate than their white peers but were also more likely to be taken from their homes, even when the only difference between cases was the child’s race.

New evidence challenges understanding of Parkinson’s disease

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:17:23 +0000

A �鶹��ý��վ-led study is challenging a popular theory about how dopamine drives movement, a discovery that could shift how scientists think about Parkinson’s disease treatments.

Published in Nature Neuroscience, the research found dopamine does not set the speed or force of each movement, as had been thought. Instead, it appears to act as the underlying support system that makes movement possible.

Brain discovery opens door to earlier detection of metabolic syndrome in women

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:07:07 +0000

�鶹��ý��վ researchers have identified a brain function that helps explain why childhood stress raises metabolic health risks for some women later in life.

A new study found that variations in the brain’s insulin receptor network affect how women respond to early-life adversity. This effect has a lesser impact in men, suggesting there is a sex-specific process at play.

�鶹��ý��վ researchers identify a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:45:07 +0000

An interdisciplinary team including researchers at �鶹��ý��վ has found a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk samples from Canada and South Africa. The chemicals include traces of pesticides, antimicrobials and additives used in plastics and personal-care products. The findings were published across five papers.