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Quirks & Quarks

Energy-efficient homes: Small changes, big gains

Friday, November 20, 2009 | 01:07 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

Two teams from Canada finished among the top 10 in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon last month. Team Ontario/B.C. placed 4th and Team Alberta came in 6th in a challenge to build livable homes that run completely on solar energy. The competition proved that if we want to make a real dent in our carbon emissions, we can start at home.

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Silent running: A more sensible spaceship

Friday, November 13, 2009 | 04:03 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

A new type of sailing spaceship should soon be orbiting the Earth, as The Planetary Society, a public organization founded by famous astronomer Carl Sagan, makes its second attempt to send a solar sail into space. It’s an idea that’s been around for decades but never proven, and holds the promise of traveling to the Moon or other planets, using almost no fuel at all.

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Oil sands leave dirty footprints on world's environmental stage

Thursday, November 12, 2009 | 05:00 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

With climate talks in Copenhagen looking more like a pre-ordained failure - in part due to Canada’s resistance to the terms of the agreement - the optics were not good this week as Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, convinced business and political leaders in New York City that the Alberta Oils Sands are the best choice to meet a growing U.S. energy demand.

In other words, our country is resisting action on climate change while promoting the dirty technology at the root of it.

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Canada rising to NASA's space elevator challenge

Friday, November 6, 2009 | 04:10 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

Two Canadian teams are front-runners for a $2-million prize in a NASA-sponsored power-beaming contest in California. The goal is to build a device that can climb a thin ribbon, 1 kilometre high, using power from a laser beam shot up from the ground.

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Yes, the space program is worth the money

Friday, October 30, 2009 | 02:10 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

Now that NASA has successfully launched the Ares X-1 on its $450 million two-minute flight to the ocean bottom, there are rumblings (even on my own network) about whether space flight it is worth the money. While I agree there are serious issues regarding the manner in which some money is allocated in the space program, the overall achievements are a pretty good bang for the buck, especially in Canada.

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NASA re-invents itself with Ares 1-X -- sort of

Friday, October 23, 2009 | 12:49 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

The newest pride and joy of NASA’s rocket fleet, the Ares 1-X, moved to the launch pad this week in preparation for its maiden flight. Well, sort of. The $445 million US rocket will be plopped into the Atlantic Ocean after a short two-minute hop designed to prove the thing can get off the ground.

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Be a scientist for a day

Friday, October 16, 2009 | 12:29 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

October is a time for thanksgiving, both for the bounty of the harvest - but also for the fruits of our scientific minds. Oct. 16 to 25 is National Science & Technology Week, where science centres, museums, national research laboratories and university labs open their doors to students and the public, in a huge celebration of this country’s scientific accomplishments.

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He’s no clown

Friday, October 9, 2009 | 04:10 PM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

When Canadian space tourist (and circus owner) Guy Laliberté joined the crew of the International Space Station recently, he brought along a supply of red clown noses for his fellow astronauts to wear. But when the first broadcast came down, showing the entire group, only Guy wore the nose, clowning before the camera while the others floated in the background, wearing bemused smiles or none at all. Apparently, he’s just a rich tourist making fun of their very serious business. But those clown antics are providing valuable publicity and inspiration that the space agencies desperately need.

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Ardipithecus Ramidus: She looked more like us

Monday, October 5, 2009 | 08:29 AM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

If you traveled back in time 4.4 million years, to what is now Ethiopia, you might run into an ape-like creature who looks hauntingly familiar. She would stand straight before you and look you right in the eye. If your oversized head didn’t frighten her, she could walk upright beside you through her forest homeland. Shake hands with Ardipithecus Ramidus, our oldest known human ancestor, who has turned our concept of what early humans looked like on its head.

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Moon musings: No green cheese, but maybe ice cream

Friday, September 25, 2009 | 11:47 AM ET

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By Bob McDonald, host of the CBC science radio program Quirks & Quarks

An Indian spacecraft has confirmed that there is a substantial amount of water ice on the Moon. Scientists have suspected water would be hidden within the soil at the bottom of craters near the poles that never see the sun. Now their dream has come true, but who will claim the ice?

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About the program

Quirks & Quarks is heard on Saturdays on CBC Radio One from 12:06–1pm in Canada, and also by satellite. The show is hosted by Bob McDonald.

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World »

UN human rights committee votes to censure Iran: A United Nations committee has approved a Canadian-led resolution urging Iran to stop harassing political opponents in the wake of its disputed presidential elections.
Hundreds rescued from U.K. flooding: Raging floods engulfed northern England's picturesque Lake District on Friday following the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Britain. A police officer died and hundreds of people were forced to evacuate.
Suicide bomb kills 16 people in Afghanistan: A suicide bomber on motorcycle has killed 16 people and wounded 23 others in a crowded square in the city of Farah in western Afghanistan.

Canada »

Flooding forces Vancouver Island evacuations: Flood waters on the Cowichan River and Koksilah River have forced the evacuation of about 300 to 400 homes in the Cowichan Valley and Duncan area of southeast Vancouver Island, officials have confirmed.
Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Auto parts strike would affect thousands: Employees at Johnson Controls, an automotive parts plant east of Windsor, Ont., could walk off the job if they don't reach a deal by midnight Friday. A strike would affect thousands at Chrysler's Windsor assembly plant, which uses the components.

Politics »

Colvin's job safe despite Afghan torture testimony: The Conservatives will not try to remove Richard Colvin from his post in Washington, Defence Minister Peter MacKay says, even though they question the credibility of his testimony on Afghan prisoners.
Hillier didn't hear detainee torture allegations: Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier says he's never heard suggestions that Canada may have been complicit in the torture of detainees in Afghanistan.
Tories reject call for Afghan torture inquiry: The Canadian government is dismissing calls for a public inquiry into the alleged torture of prisoners handed over by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Health »

More H1N1 vaccine, ventilators to come: Ontario supplied hospitals with 200 additional ventilators on Friday in anticipation of a surge in swine flu cases.
Trade show pitches surgical passages to India: Exhibitors at a Toronto trade fair are hoping to add surgery to the list of reasons Canadians travel, but a medical ethicist questions the lack of oversight.
Weight gain in pregnancy guides updated: Health Canada is formally replacing its guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy to match new U.S. recommendations.

Arts & Entertainment»

Oprah describes tough decision to end show: An emotional Oprah Winfrey pledged to fans that she would "knock your socks off" with the 25th and final season of her eponymous talk show, set to end in 2011.
King Tut casts magic in Toronto: King Tutankhamun has returned to Toronto. A new exhibit of artifacts related to the Egyptian boy king went on display Friday at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Tom Thomson winter scene set for auction: A striking, snow-covered forest scene by Tom Thomson bearing intriguing inscriptions on the back of the canvas is set for sale in Toronto on Tuesday as Canada's fall auction season gets underway.

Technology & Science »

Bell quietly drops system access fee: The cellphone system access fee is all but extinct. Bell Canada has quietly axed the charge, joining rivals Rogers and Telus.
Beam sent around Large Hadron Collider: The operators of the Large Hadron Collider have successfully sent a beam of particles around the ring of the world's largest particle collider in Switzerland.
Asian carp close to Great Lakes: U.S. officials say the despised Asian carp may have breached an electronic barrier designed to prevent it from invading the Great Lakes.

Money »

Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Canada Post struggles to innovate: Canada's postal service is reinventing itself as it struggles to make up for dwindling demand in the face of a devastating global economic slowdown.
The 10-billion-barrel battle: Henry Lyatsky wants B.C.'s coast opened to oil drilling but environmentalists stand opposed.

Consumer Life »

Bullying is a public health issue: researcher: Bullying should be considered a public health problem and governments should adopt national strategies against it, says a Canadian professor who led a study of bullying in 40 countries.
Early Canadian stamps auction nets $3.2M US: A New York stamp collector auctioned parts of his collection in New York on Thursday, including a Canadian-issued stamp that is one of the world's rarest.
Susan Boyle album racks up record pre-orders online: Susan Boyle's transformation from dowdy church volunteer to TV singing sensation has hit a new high, with Amazon.com announcing that Boyle's forthcoming album has become its biggest global pre-order in history.

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Anderson, Avs seek vengeance in Vancouver: Craig Anderson and the Colorado Avalanche look to avenge their worst defeat of this charmed season when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Friday (10 p.m. ET).
Rochette holds Skate Canada lead: Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette achieved a personal best in the short program on Friday to take the lead at the HomeSense Skate Canada International in Kitchener, Ont.
Flames lose top scorer Bourque: Rene Bourque, who leads the Calgary Flames with 21 points in 20 games, will miss at least two contests with an undisclosed injury, coach Brent Sutter said Friday.

Diversions »

Hugs, not harassment: Facebook groups slam day of violence against redheads
Tourism website includes Toronto museum addition on ugly buildings list
Florence museum: lost Galileo relics, a tooth and 2 of astronomer's fingers, found again

Blog

Friday, November 20, 2009 | 01:07 PM ET

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Friday, November 13, 2009 | 04:03 PM ET

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Thursday, November 12, 2009 | 05:00 PM ET

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Friday, November 6, 2009 | 04:10 PM ET

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Friday, October 30, 2009 | 02:10 PM ET

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Friday, October 23, 2009 | 12:49 PM ET

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Friday, October 16, 2009 | 12:29 PM ET

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Friday, October 9, 2009 | 04:10 PM ET

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Monday, October 5, 2009 | 08:29 AM ET

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Friday, September 25, 2009 | 11:47 AM ET

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