As the famous scientist Neils Bohr (and, supposedly, baseball manager Yogi Berra) once said, "Predictions are difficult, especially about the future." Well, this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had some predictions about the future of climate change, with the release of its 5th Assessment Report.

Last week on Quirks, we reported on how NASA has given up trying to repair the planet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope, which failed less than halfway through its expected lifetime. As it turns out, the telescope is far from dead and many scientists think they can put it to good use - even though it doesn't steer very well.

Once again, scientists and supporters across the country will rally on Monday, Sept. 16, to "Stand Up For Science." It is a call on the federal government to support science in the public interest, not just the interest of corporations.

The international space community of 14 nations, including Canada, released a vision of the future for space exploration recently, which includes returning humans to the Moon and eventually travelling on to Mars.

If you are planning to journey this summer, whether a local day trip, across the country or internationally, it's a great opportunity to get a perspective on nature, up close and personal.

News this week that one in eight species of birds is in serious decline worldwide might mean the end of the line for some of the most successful animals that ever lived on the planet.

Canada's singing astronaut announced his retirement this week, leaving Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques to fill his space boots. But there is no date set for when the next Canadian will fly in space.

Cities around the world are celebrating our blue planet with World Oceans Day on June 8. Beach cleanups, festivals, lectures, art shows and many other activities will focus on the need to take better care of our most valuable resource. And the oceans desperately need our attention.

Seniors and young people often have warped perceptions of each other. Kids think old people are slow and scary; seniors see youth as noisy and troublesome. But it is amazing what happens when you put the two groups together in meaningful and respectful ways.

In a dramatic scene in the current Star Trek movie, the laws of gravity are seriously violated as the starship falls out of the sky. It shows how creators of science fiction find it just as hard to deal with the universal force as physicists do.