91�� News - Expert alerts

Experts: Quebec pulls 1,200 electric school buses from service following fire

webfull — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:42:48 +0000

The Quebec government has ordered 1,200 LION Electric school buses off the road after one of the vehicles caught fire earlier this week in Montreal. 91�� experts are available to comment on the implications of this event, including battery safety, electric vehicle design, materials engineering and fire risk mitigation.

Published: 12 September 2025

Expert: Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

webfull — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:59:32 +0000

Four major space telescopes have confirmed unusual findings about a rare interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS.

Astronomers using the Hubble, SPHEREx, James Webb and TESS telescopes report that the comet’s early activity and surprising chemical makeup suggest it may have formed in a planetary system very different from our own. Some researchers believe that interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS could even play a role in planet formation when captured by young star systems.

The comet is the oldest ever recorded and one of only three known to have originated beyond our solar system.

Published: 11 September 2025

Experts: Health misinformation online

webfull — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:14:44 +0000

The Canadian Medical Association is warning that science is under attack and false health information is spreading rapidly, with serious implications for public trust and patient health.

A statement released Wednesday in collaboration with research and clinical organizations across Canada called for collective action to counter misinformation and support science.

The following experts from 91�� are available to comment:

Published: 11 September 2025

Expert: Suicide prevention

webfull — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:11:02 +0000

Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. A new World Health Organization report underscores the urgency of suicide prevention, estimating that 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021 alone.

Published: 9 September 2025

Experts: Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

webfull — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:36:01 +0000

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported its first Ebola outbreak in three years, which has already claimed 15 lives.

91�� experts are available to discuss concerns about the world’s ability to respond quickly, particularly as recent U.S. funding cuts put global health programs under strain.

Published: 5 September 2025

Expert: Trial of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro

webfull — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:06:52 +0000

Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, has been charged with attempting to stage a coup d’état and reclaim power following his loss of the 2022 election. The verdict and sentencing phase of the trial is now beginning.

This 91�� expert can talk about Bolsonaro’s trial; the legacy of dictatorships in Brazil; the effects of U.S tariffs against Brazil; and human rights and amnesty.

Published: 3 September 2025

Expert: Low water levels

webfull — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:09:54 +0000

In Quebec’s Montérégie region, residents are facing a growing water crisis, particularly in Mercier and Saint-Rémi, due to the depletion of resources in underground aquifers. The water scarcity has affected agriculture, forcing some farmers to abandon vegetable crops.

Meanwhile, the level of the St. Lawrence River is notably lower than usual for this time of year, affecting fishing, boating and shipping around Montreal.

A 91�� expert is available to speak on this topic.

Published: 28 August 2025

Expert: Health consequences of wildfire smoke

webfull — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:11:25 +0000

Canada’s 2023 wildfire season caused the country’s worst air pollution levels since 1998, according to a new report. It warns that if such pollution levels persist, Canadians could lose about two years of life expectancy.

Published: 28 August 2025

Experts: New guidelines to help Canadians quit smoking

webfull — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 16:19:10 +0000

New national smoking cessation guidelines caution that e-cigarettes should generally not be the first choice for people trying to quit. Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the new guidelines recommend proven supports such as counselling and nicotine replacement therapies.

Published: 25 August 2025

Experts: Rocky Mountain spotted fever

webfull — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:36:52 +0000

The first case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was confirmed in Quebec this week. The tick-borne illness, which can be life threatening, is typically found in the United States.

Virginie Millien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at 91�� and Curator of Zoology at the Redpath Museum. She can speak to how climate change and shifting habitats are enabling ticks to spread into new regions.

virginie.millien [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)

Published: 21 August 2025

91���� News - Expert alerts