Quirks and Quarks

We talk to two of this year’s newest Nobel Laureates, Dr. Karl Deisseroth and Peter Hegemann, about their discoveries in optogenetics, a technique that has transformed what we know about the brain — all thanks to a light-detecting algal protein. Also today: Gut microbes can encourage fever after vaccination Weather forecasters are less confident in their predictions these days. Here’s why What raccoons and other wild brains can teach us about ourselves Quirks & Quarks has been nominated for a Signal Award! You can vote for us here. For more information about today’s episode, visit cbc.ca/quirks.

This episode of Quirks and Quarks explores diverse scientific frontiers, from the predictable timing of black hole jets to the reconstruction of Jurassic insect soundscapes using fossilized wing anatomy. The discussion also covers the impact of human activity on Canadian wolverine populations and new evidence suggesting the invasive spiny water flea has been present in North American lakes much longer than previously believed. Furthermore, the episode examines shifting ecological perspectives, with Dr. Eric Lundgren arguing that a species' functional role is more significant than its native or introduced status. Finally, structural engineer George Ballard presents geophysical evidence of potential hidden chambers and corridors beyond King Tut's tomb, highlighting the urgent need for investigation before seasonal flooding occurs.

This episode of Quirks and Quarks explores diverse biological and environmental phenomena, beginning with Dr. Burton Lim's discussion on the BAT1K project's mission to sequence bat genomes to understand unique adaptations. The program also examines how climate change is intensifying El Niño events, utilizing coral reef data from the Galapagos Islands to reconstruct historical temperature patterns. Further segments delve into the specialized sensory abilities of the Suriname toad and the flattened frog, alongside new research using tooth enamel chemistry to suggest that T. rex was warm-blooded. Finally, Dr. Neil Hammerschlag discusses tracking great white shark migrations off the coast of Nova Scotia to identify marine biodiversity hotspots for conservation.

This episode explores diverse scientific breakthroughs and environmental challenges, beginning with paleontologist Dr. Jing Mei O'Connor's discussion on how fossilized feathers found in dinosaur coprolite offer insights into avian survival during the Cretaceous extinction. The conversation then shifts to the controversy surrounding OpenAI's use of AI agents to solve the Navier-Stokes problem and the resulting concerns regarding data ethics within the mathematics community. In later segments, we examine biological tracking of chimney swifts using Bluetooth technology and the devastating impact of recent floods in Nepal driven by climate change. Finally, the episode covers the 'Soil Your Undies' citizen science project, highlighting how measuring soil decomposition can reveal critical information about soil health, carbon storage, and the global threats of land degradation.

Este episódio do Quirks and Quarks explora diversos desafios da natureza e avanços científicos. Abordamos desde os impactos de animais selvagens em pesquisas sobre incêndios florestais e o estudo da população de carrapatos no Canadá, até a investigação de doenças fúngicas em árvores no Yukon e os efeitos do calor extremo na saúde de idosos. A programação também percorre a geologia planetária através do uso de análogos no Havaí para estudar a Lua, e encerra com uma jornada arqueológica sobre as causas da extinção dos Neandertais na Ásia Central, utilizando ferramentas de DNA antigo e análise de sedimentos.

This episode of Quirks and Quarks features scientific explanations for a wide range of biological and astronomical curiosities. Experts explore topics ranging from the orbital relationship between our sun and the galactic center to the physiological effects of saunas and UV radiation on living tissue. The discussion further delves into evolutionary phenomena, including the purpose of blue robin eggs, the functional differences in animal tongues, and the drivers behind animal body size. The episode also covers atmospheric physics, the importance of the moon for Earth's stability, and the preservation of interstellar comets in extreme cold.

This episode explores diverse scientific frontiers, ranging from the psychology of self-doubt and climate perception to the integrity of modern research. We examine how 'doubting your doubt' can boost goal commitment and why humans struggle to perceive the gradual escalation of the climate crisis. Additionally, the discussion delves into the neurological similarities in color perception across human brains and the alarming rise of 'paper mills'—organized entities producing fraudulent scientific papers. Finally, we look at recent archaeological discoveries in the Kitsisut Islands, revealing how ancient Paleo-Inuit communities navigated and impacted their Arctic environment.

This episode celebrates the 50th anniversary of CBC's Quirks & Quarks, reflecting on its origins with producer Diana Feiler. The discussion explores the future of food security through technological innovations like precision fermentation and vertical farming, alongside investigations into the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. The program also examines the evolution and ethics of artificial intelligence, the social impacts of large language models, and the necessity of transitioning to renewable energy systems. Finally, the episode covers advancements in robotics, wearable mechatronics, and the rapid progress of genomic sequencing in clinical practice.

This episode explores recent breakthroughs in space science, ranging from planetary defense to the mysteries of the deep cosmos. We examine how earthquake sensors can track orbital debris and discuss new evidence suggesting the impactor Theia originated within our inner solar system. The discussion also covers the discovery of superionic water in ice giants Uranus and Neptune, alongside the global efforts of the Event Horizon Telescope to capture video footage of the M87 black hole's dynamics. Finally, we look at the success of the DART mission in demonstrating asteroid deflection capabilities.

In this episode of Quirks and Quarks, host Bob McDonald explores a wide range of scientific phenomena through listener questions. The discussion covers the physiological effects of spaceflight on vision, the unique growth histories that make every snowflake different, and the biological evolution of fruit shapes and honeybee anatomy. The episode also delves into the composition of household dust and its link to chemical exposure, the impact of the dinosaur extinction on mammalian evolution, and the mechanics of water level fluctuations in Lake Superior. Finally, the show examines the astronomical mysteries surrounding the tilted axis of Uranus and its planetary rings.

This episode explores diverse scientific breakthroughs, ranging from the microscale physics of human sweating and skin hydration to the cognitive abilities of 'gifted' dogs that learn object names by eavesdropping. The discussion also covers geophagy in Gibraltar macaques as a response to human junk food consumption. Additionally, the episode investigates the mechanics behind 'lip outs' in golf putting and the discovery of a blue jay-green jay hybrid through citizen science. Finally, it details new Bluetooth technology being used to track the incredible 4,500-kilometer migration of monarch butterflies via smartphone detection.

This episode explores diverse scientific discoveries, beginning with a 307-million-year-old fossil in Nova Scotia that suggests early animals transitioned to herbivory much sooner than previously thought. The discussion also covers the mechanics of elephant trunk whiskers and the use of ants to ferment yogurt in Bulgaria. Additionally, the episode examines the discovery of an ancient, hornless rhinoceros skeleton in the Canadian Arctic, which provides evidence for a North Atlantic land bridge. Finally, we look at Philip Heron's 'Think Like a Scientist' program, which teaches critical thinking and the scientific method to incarcerated individuals to help them process their experiences.

We revisit our conversations with authors of some of the year’s most fascinating science books in our annual holiday book show. Featuring: Questioning the purpose of whale song — for love or echolocation? Journeying through deep geological time to better tackle problems of the future Biological sex is complicated, but that's what helps animals like humans thrive Plus, science journalist and BookLab podcast co-host Dan Falk reviews The Martians by David Baron, Dinner With King Tut by Sam Kean and The Mind Electric by Pria Anand.

From tiny T. rexes to a car-sized sea monster, we revisit some of our favourite stories about predators in their prime, like: Smaller tyrannosaur solves decades-long debate about the T. rex Among Yellowstone’s top predators, wolves beat out cougars as the top dog Bears with us. Tracking grizzlies in B.C. Cleveland’s ancient car-sized sea monster had bony fangs made out of its skull Wild wolves run for their lives when they hear Big Bad Humans nearby Why penguin-eating pumas live closer together in Patagonia

From camping out on 'bird poop island,' chasing down wild dogs in Madagascar, or even looking for bombs in a bog in Ottawa –– no one quite does summer like scientists. This week, we revisit some of the hijinks that Canadian researchers got up to last year as they left their labs to get their hands dirty in the field. FEATURING: Camping out on a remote island with thousands of screaming, pooping, barfing birds Dodging lions and mongooses to monitor what wild dogs are eating in Mozambique Saving ancient silk road graffiti from dam-inundation Prospecting for Second World War bombs in an Ottawa bog Technology allows examination of Inca mummies without disturbing them Eavesdropping on chatty snapping turtles in Algonquin Park

Quirks & Quarks has been taking your burning science questions for half a century. And while we thought we might have answered every question there is to answer over the years, our listeners proved there are always more fascinating head-scratchers for us to tackle. Like: Are comets eternal? In a sauna, what am I sweating out? Did dinosaurs produce milk? If heat rises, why is there snow on the top of mountains? What does a black hole orbit? What if we had no moon? Why are cat and dog tongues so different? Why are robin eggs so blue? Why do some animals become mega sized? How do animals deal with strong bright UV light?

Some of the oceans biggest, most powerful predators, like certain sharks and tuna, are “mesothermic” or warm-bodied. Running hot allows them to rapidly convert their food to energy and heat, helping them swim faster and hunt in cold waters. But that advantage may become a disadvantage in a warming climate, meaning these fish need to find new ways of cooling off, or face a new threat to their survival. PLUS: Ancient Peruvians traded parrots across deserts and mountains From the archive: David, Jay and Bob, and Quirks & Quarks' origin story Sea cucumber 'zombie tissue' straddles the line between life and death Dream engineering may help you solve problems in your sleep

Gold miners working in the Yukon regularly find ancient ground squirrel burrows throughout the permafrost, many containing fossilized feces. Researchers analyzing these well-preserved poop piles found they contain some of the oldest DNA ever recovered, dating from 30,000 to 700,000 years ago. Tucked inside were traces of a wide range of ancient animals, including woolly mammoths, grasshoppers, steppe bison, ancient horses, American cheetahs, as well as hundreds of plant species. PLUS: ‘Super-good, ice-making microbes’ may trigger snow and rain, or help freeze food We’re a hotbed of mutations, and scientists are leveraging that for our health Going out on a limb. Animals regrow body parts, maybe we can too From the archives: Isaac Asimov on human creativity and robots

150 years ago, Charles Darwin noticed that birds and humans were both drawn to bright plumage and elaborate display. He called this interspecies esthetic appreciation a “shared taste for the beautiful.” Now, in a recent study, an interdisciplinary team of scientists built an online game exploring the mating calls of 16 different species and discovered, to their surprise, that humans and animals agree on which sounds are more attractive. PLUS: How the brain can learn to truly multitask From the archives: The Russian space mirror that flashed across Canadian skies The Matrix is real: birds, dragonflies and dogs see the world in slow motion Could the next giant particle collider unlock the mysteries of the universe?

The newly described Tylosaurus rex was a violent bus-sized Komodo dragon-like creature with serrated teeth. Dubbed the ‘T. rex of the sea,’ it would have occupied the top of the food chain in the marine ecosystem over 80 million years ago. PLUS: Pigeons use their livers to find their way home From the archives: How Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered pulsars Scientists discover an underground network of lakes hidden under Arctic ice New book explores the million year history of how we sleep — and why we’re doing it wrong today

Scientists recorded audio and video of 8 different kinds of rockfish living in the wild near British Columbia, and were surprised they could tell the species apart through their various grunts, pops and knocks, even though the fish are closely related. PLUS: DNA identifies four Franklin Expedition sailors — and solves a 160-year-old mystery Immune cells that fight infection get a boost from food Radio waves let us see the unseeable: black holes, pulsars and volcanoes on Venus From the archives: What will the Earth look like in 2050? Quirks Question: If chicken and fish blood is red, why are they white meats?

In a study inspired by a field of dandelions, researchers wanted to know why, when you blow on a dandelion seed head, only the seeds closest to you take flight. They found that a dimple in the seed heads where the seed attaches is larger on one side than the other, and that the seeds consistently broke off from the smaller side of that dimple. Once they take flight, each dandelion seed uses its unique shape to catch a ride on the wind. PLUS: Infrasound, not ghosts, may be why old buildings give us the heebie-jeebies These arms are made for lovin'. How male octopuses find their mates From the archives: Donald Johanson on the discovery of 'Lucy,' our missing link Virtual hearts help doctors fix patients’ life-threatening irregular heart beats Quirks Question: What’s the benefit for trees being evergreen?

On the morning of August 10, 2025, a landslide in a fjord along the southern Alaskan coast triggered a mega tsunami. It generated the second highest wave ever recorded that reached up to 481 metres above sea level. A new study suggests that catastrophic events like this are more likely to occur as our climate warms and glaciers melt. PLUS: The hantavirus at the centre of the outbreak struck Argentina in 2018. What did we learn? Raccoons enjoy solving puzzles, just for the fun of it What animal parents and distant humans can teach us about caregiving From the archives: face to face with the man who killed Pluto Quirks Question: why do my car windows make a ‘wha wha wha’ sound?

Cocaine and many other chemicals and drugs are found in many waterways, but especially around wastewater treatment plants. Scientists exposed wild juvenile Atlantic salmon to cocaine and its byproduct to see how it impacted their behaviour in the wild. As a result, the fish swam twice as far, which could put them in more danger.

IDEAS, hosted by Nahlah Ayed is a weekday podcast that explores how ideas shape our world. “One of your tribe is enough.” That’s what Margaret Rossiter was told when she said she wanted to study female scientists in the ‘70s. Nevertheless, Rossiter persisted. She found and documented hundreds of women whose contributions to science had been overlooked, under-credited and misappropriated. Then she made history herself by coining the term “The Matilda Effect” to describe why those women failed to get the credit they deserved. Who is Matilda? Matilda Joslyn Gage was a suffragist erased from history. She was known as being too radical for Susan B. Anthony. This episode of IDEAS shares her story. You can find more episodes of IDEAS wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/IDEASxQQ

Seabird poop plays a surprising role in bringing life to barren islands, spreading nutrients throughout the ocean, and even creating wealth for an ancient human empire. PLUS: The precursors of written language go back a lot earlier than we thought Dolphins exposed to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill also more likely to be hit by boats From the archives: Canadian astronomer spots a supernova visible to the naked eye Quirks Question: How do beavers choose their trees? Mapping the universe in three dimensions

We tend to think of animals like snakes, rats and even cockroaches as pests, but in her new book, biologist Marlene Zuk says there's a lot we can learn from these less than desirable creatures, if we just give them a chance. PLUS: A case of mistaken identity: The truth about the world's 'oldest' octopus fossil From the archives: Carl Sagan on the worlds beyond our solar system The evolutionary cost of our relationship with fire We're not speaking as much as we used to — and scientists are concerned

There's been a growing movement to develop new technologies to replace at least some of the animals used in scientific research. Researchers across Canada are working to create these tools, to usher in a new animal-free era for medical science. PLUS: Harbor seals can 'talk' thanks to their parrot-like brains 'Flaming hot' water ice may explain Neptune and Uranus' strange magnetism A thigh bone that could represent the oldest evidence of our human lineage The ravens of Yellowstone remember where wolves typically kill their prey

On their mission around the moon, Jeremy Hansen and his crewmates will become the only four people on Earth to ever lay eyes on the entire far side of the moon. Since joining the space program, the Artemis astronauts have been undergoing intensive geological training to help train their eyes to look for lunar features that satellites can't pick up. PLUS: How Neanderthals skillfully hunted and butchered a giant elephant Filming fish over their lifetime reveals behaviours that lead to longevity How our food environment shapes our tastes — and health

New research confirms that dogs were the first animal to form a domestic relationship with humans, dating back to the end of the last Ice Age almost 16,000 years ago. PLUS: Constructing shelters out of Martian soil may be possible with bacterial help Male-on-male cricket 'twerking' and 'booty bumping' is not a case of mistaken identity Narrowing down potential alien signals from 12 billion to 100, thanks to SETI Researchers find a brain switch in mice to turn a deadbeat dad into a doting one

An unusual hellscape of a planet found 34 light years from Earth has a deep ocean of molten magma surrounded by noxious, hot, rotten egg-type fumes. It just may be the most uninhabitable alien landscape we've ever come across. PLUS: Neanderthal DNA can help explain how human faces form Nearly indestructible teeny tiny tardigrades struggle to survive in Martian dirt Tiny tags on monarch butterflies allow scientists to track their exact migration route A weird fish has a big hole in its head. Scientists finally have an idea why.

We used to think that of our primate relatives, chimps were the more aggressive ape and bonobos were more peaceful. A recent study found that bonobos are just as antagonistic as chimps, but it's the females targeting males. PLUS: Mission to deflect an asteroid was a smashing success Low gravity environments can lead to stronger blood clots in astronauts From fire to galaxy formation, a celebration of friction as a fundamental force Winter spiders survive subzero temperatures with a potent antifreeze

You may have seen Black Hole, the image, but have you heard of the upcoming Black Hole, The Movie? This week, astronomers launched a new campaign to capture video footage of the supermassive black hole pulsing at the heart of the M87 galaxy. PLUS: Sunlight and fungi inspiration can help recycle plastic waste into vinegar Ancient kangaroos were hopping giants How monogamy helps termite colonies number in the millions Our infant universe's primordial soup was soupy, according to new study

Starfish don't have brains, and yet they're able to mobilize hundreds of tiny hydraulic tube feet to get around. Now scientists are getting an understanding of just how they do that. PLUS: Atmospheric pollution from an individual rocket re-entry event measured for the first time How the Earth’s greenhouse age transitioned into a world with frozen poles What is dark matter? The contenders — from WIMPs to dark matter stars Quirks Question: why doesn’t flowing water freeze at the same temperature as still water? (Correction: A previous version of the dark matter story referred to a study published last fall that mapped the distribution of dark matter, but the study was published on Jan. 26, 2026.)

From the pressurized space suits to living in underground spaces, it's clear that living on Mars would cause irreversible biological changes to any humans living there, to the point that it may be impossible for them or their descendants to return to Earth. With bigger heads and lighter bodies, might we also end up looking like Martians? PLUS: Yellowstone’s predators battle it out, and wolves remain top dog fossil of the earliest veggie-eater found in Nova Scotia Covid is disappearing in animals, which is good news for deer but not as good for humans how genes affect our lifespan more than we thought

An elephant’s trunk is incredibly strong and rugged, and yet it is one of the most sensitive touch organs in the animal kingdom. New research reveals that this sensitivity is partly powered by over 1000 whiskers. PLUS: A new 'inside out' solar system is making astronomers question planet formation Paleo-Inuit people in the high Arctic were masterful seafarers, new study shows Two-month-old babies can categorize objects in their brain How insects deal with smog or microplastics can impact them and the environment

Researchers made the surprising discovery that Alaska beluga whales have swinging sex lives — and that could be their key to survival in the warming Arctic. Plus: mission to the 'doomsday' Thwaites glacier in Antarctica ends in disappointment near-infrared light therapy offers hope to football players with brain injuries with nuclear power making a comeback, what's changed since the last Atomic Age?

Scientists spent nearly 25 years studying close to 800 polar bears in the Barents Sea region and discovered that those polar bears seem to be doing just fine, even though melting sea ice is also a major issue. PLUS: Sargassum seaweed is becoming such a problem, you can see it from space Why some people only get mild sniffles with a cold and others get sick A woolly rhino's DNA found in an ancient wolf’s stomach reveals their quick demise How to change a memory — one scientist's quest to understand memory permanence

Some dogs are more adept at learning language than others. Researchers studying these special dogs discovered that, much like toddlers, these smart furry canine companions can pick up words just by eavesdropping on their owners' conversations. PLUS Tracking space debris using seismometers Using nitrogen to boost trees How Mars shapes our climate Extracting ice age mammoth RNA and using lichens to find dino bones

We may share a common ancestor with chimpanzees, but somewhere along the evolutionary line to us, our brains took a major detour. New research suggests that chimpanzees can rationally weigh evidence, a trait that used to be thought as uniquely human. PLUS: Why penguin-eating pumas live closer together in Patagonia Ants sacrifice the strength of individual workers for quantity Mapping the landmass beneath Antarctica's massive ice sheet How deep sea ocean environments affect fish body shape

An unassuming fossilized slab in the basement of a museum in Brazil turned out to be 110-million-year-old dinosaur vomit, and inside that vomit were the bones of two strange, seagull-sized pterosaurs. PLUS: Loss of fresh groundwater is now the leading driver of sea level rise How doubting your self-doubt makes you doubt less A huge black hole in a peculiar galaxy may date from the universe’s earliest moments Shining a light on where viruses hide out in our bodies, and how they make us sick

On this week’s episode of Quirks & Quarks, it's our ever-popular and always satisfying Holiday Listener Question Show that includes: Why did a Canadian astronaut's eyesight change when she went to space? How is the dust inside our homes changing? Why do some professional athletes stick out their tongues when they play? Why are most fruits round, but bananas and pineapple are not? What would have happened if the dino-killing asteroid never struck Earth? We'll satisfy all these scientific curiosities and many more!

In 2000, Quirks & Quarks celebrated its 25th anniversary by travelling forward in time — to 2025 — to find out how science had changed in the years since. In this fictitious future, our present, Zargon the robot, wakes up a Bob McDonald clone from the year 2000 to speak with scientists about 25 years of science. It's a mindbending audio time-capsule with predictions that were oddly prescient, sometimes unsettling or wildly wrong.

We talk to authors of some of this year’s most fascinating science books in our annual Holiday Book Show. INCLUDING: Questioning the purpose of whale song — for love or echolocation? Journeying through deep geological time to better tackle problems of the future Biological sex is complicated but that's what helps animals like humans thrive Mini reviews of: The Martians by David Baron, Dinner With King Tut by Sam Kean and The Mind Electric by Pria Anand.

Next stop - the moon! Jeremy Hansen stops by our studio to chat about how he’s prepping to be the first Canadian to go to the moon. Plus: Santa’s reindeer may be losing their antlers –– and climate change could be the culprit Reindeer are the only animal in the deer family where the females also grow antlers, and they typically have a full rack over the wintertime and drop them in June when they give birth. University of Guelph PhD student Allegra Love was monitoring reindeer on Fogo Island in Newfoundland, when she made a surprising discovery that female reindeer are losing and growing their antlers much earlier than usual. This can put more stress on the animal during a crucial part of their pregnancy, and the researchers think this could eventually lead to the reindeer losing their antlers altogether. The work was published in the journal Ecosphere. Pterosaur brains reveal clues about why these mighty fliers took to the skies Flight has only evolved among vertebrates three times — in bats, birds, and…

Scientists are shedding light on the strange, car-sized, armoured fish that lived 360 million years ago in what is now Cleveland. Plus: The cosmic collider that gave us our moon came from our own solar system, soccer fanatics' brains are wired differently than regular fans, industrial chemicals are hurting our microbiome, and scientists are using our brains to build a better computer.

On this week’s episode: a mini tyrannosaur is a new species, ants redesign to avoid illness, toxic lead gave humans the edge over Neanderthals, invasive fish are evolving to avoid eradication attempts, and how big mining projects — and attempts to hurry them along — can spell bad news for the environment.

This week: bees trained to keep track of time, eating small amounts of plastic can kill ocean animals, scientists spot winds blowing from our black hole, a "one-two punch" earthquake may be coming for the Pacific coast and what “drunken trees” can tell us about our warming climate.

On this week's episode: tracking down a stellar explosion, climate apathy, arctic foxes are key in northern food web, why golf balls lip out of holes and making snake bites less deadly.