Latest from Darius Mahdavi
CBC Explains
From freak weather to our water supply to optimism and action. Here are answers to your climate questions
Over the last four months, you've sent us over 300 climate questions as part of the Great Lakes Climate Change Project. We've researched the most commonly asked questions and given you answers about extreme weather, our water supply, and how you can both take action and stay optimistic in the face of the climate crisis.
CBC Explains
Feel hopeless about our planet? Here's how you can help solve a big problem right in your own backyard
It's easy to feel hopeless about climate change and believe most solutions are out of your hands. But you can help fix one of the biggest environmental issues of our time, and it's likely growing right in your own yard: lawn grass.
CBC Explains
Researchers need help to determine which birds are most at risk from climate change. Here's what you can do
The early bird gets the worm, the old saying goes. That's truer today due to climate change, as many birds return to Ontario too late to catch their favourite meals. Fortunately, you can help by participating in citizen science programs like eBird, iNaturalist and Project Feederwatch.
CBC Explains
New study indicates chemicals from grocery stickers may be leaching into foods. Here's what you need to know
Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical primarily used in plastics, is tightly regulated in Canada. But there are concerns unregulated chemicals replacing BPA have similar negative effects on the body. According to a new study led by a McGill University team, some of those toxic compounds in food labels can leach into the products.
CBC Explains
Breathe easy. Research suggests 3 toxic pesticides are finally eliminated from air around the Great Lakes
We can breathe a little easier around the Great Lakes and likely across Canada, suggests new research, as several toxic insecticides have finally disappeared from the air around the Lakes decades after they were banned in this country and phased out in the United States. Unfortunately, pesticides like DDT still linger in cities.
CBC Explains
Hate those pesky potholes? You won't like what's coming with climate change
Potholes cost Canadians $3 billion in vehicle repairs each year, and without action, climate change will only make that worse. Fortunately, engineers have been working to develop better, longer-lasting and more sustainable materials, with innovations like self-healing asphalt and AI-backed roads.
CBC Explains
With climate change threatening Canadian vineyards, is genetically engineered wine on the horizon?
Hybrid grape varieties offer growers greater resiliency against cold and disease, but with the industry reluctant to abandon traditional varieties, researchers are exploring new options.
CBC Explains
Great Lakes water levels are in flux. New research looks at how and if that could cause local earthquakes
A recent 4.3 magnitude earthquake felt in parts of southern Ontario came as a surprise to some residents, but researchers say seismic activity around the Great Lakes is in fact not uncommon. Now, they are investigating a potential connection they may have to climate change.
CBC Explains
Frozen frogs, a butt-breather and a seasonal genius: How Ontario wildlife survive the winter
Animals have evolved in many ways to endure Canadian winters. Migration and hibernation are well-known strategies, but some species have developed even crazier ways to make it through the cold. Here, we talk about some of those strategies, and the adaptations that make them possible.
CBC Explains
Monarch butterfly numbers plummet despite recovery last winter, but 1 year never tells the whole story
The number of monarchs that have survived the migration to Mexico is estimated to have fallen to near-record lows this winter. But experts say these numbers don't mean much on their own, as reporting on year-to-year changes doesn't give an accurate representation of the health of the population.