Dare to Know

Dark energy is the term scientists use to describe the cause of the accelerated expansion of the universe. Find out how a new analysis provides its most precise measurement yet. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/10/28/dark-energy-measured-more-precisely-than-ever/

The Israeli Occupation of Palestine is the subject of a new report issued by the United Nations this week. Find out why it concludes that the occupation is illegal and what this means for the long-term resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/10/25/israeli-occupation-of-palestine-violates-international-law-commission-o...

Urban green space improves quality of life for residents, but it can also create hot spots for criminal activity. Find out how a new study shows that overall, parks, gardens and fields lower crime risk. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/10/16/urban-green-space-reduces-property-and-violent-crime/

Ecosystem stability has three phases, a bit like ice, water and steam. Find out how a new study explains how ecologists could predict these phases by gathering only two simple pieces of information. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/10/09/ecosystem-stability-determined-by-two-simple-factors/

The DART mission successfully struck an asteroid 11 million kilometres away with a spacecraft. Find out why this achievement demonstrates how humanity could one day protect and preserve life on Earth. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/09/30/dart-mission-demonstrates-nasas-planetary-defense-strategy/

Nature walks are among the best ways to stay in shape. Find out why a new study found that strolling in natural settings also has essential mental health benefits. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/09/23/nature-walks-benefit-both-mind-and-body/

European rivers are at their lowest levels in over 500 years. Find out why this is a problem for the global economy and for ecosystems throughout Europe. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/09/16/european-rivers-drying-up-from-climate-change/

Spiraling stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud are the subject of a recent study in ‘The Astrophysical Journal.’ Find out how their spiral motions help explain the “baby boom” of star formation shortly after the Big Bang. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/09/09/spiraling-stars-help-explain-early-universe/

A beaver fossil found in western Montana is the oldest such specimen ever discovered. Find out how this 30-million-year-old missing link is helping to explain the astonishing diversity in mammal species on our planet. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/08/26/beaver-fossil-sheds-light-on-mammal-evolution/

A UN report holds China accountable for “serious human rights violations” in its Xinjiang province. Find out what the allegations entail and how China is responding to the findings. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/09/02/un-report-cites-serious-human-rights-violations-in-china/

Lunar meteorites are very rare rocks that scientists sometimes discover in Antarctica or deserts. Find out how a new study of the trace gases they contain has shed light on the origins of the moon and the Earth. Also available as a blog post at http://daretoknow.ca/2022/08/19/lunar-meteorites-help-explain-moons-formation/

James Lovelock passed away recently at the age of 103. Find out how his Gaia hypothesis led a generation to a new understanding of the world and our place in it. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/08/12/james-lovelock-remembering-the-gaia-hypothesis-founder/

Dwarf galaxies contain less than ten percent of the stars in the Milky Way. Find out how their behaviour in a region called the Fomax Cluster challenges dark matter's existence. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/08/05/dwarf-galaxies-contradict-dark-matter-paradigm/

A healthy environment is a human right and vital to the enjoyment of other rights, according to a new UN General Assembly resolution. Find out why this is both a cause for celebration and a call to action. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/07/29/healthy-environment-a-human-right-un-declares/

Monarch Butterfly populations have been devastated over the last past few decades. Find out why the IUCN had added these iconic pollinators to the endangered species list and how scientists are working to save them from extinction. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/07/24/monarch-butterfly-added-to-engangered-species-list/

The James Webb Space Telescope revealed its first four images this week. Find out what these images depict and their signifcance in understanding the universe and humanity's place within it. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/07/15/james-webb-space-telescope-photos-are-spectacular/

Planets with water are the main targets for scientists' search for life on other worlds. Find out how a new study shows that these planets can be very different from Earth. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/07/08/planets-with-water-arent-always-earth-like/

Older and Wiser is a book by Dag Sebastian Ahlander aimed at baby boomers who are planning their retirement. Find out how this lighthearted and entertaining read can help us boomers "create an inner peace and make us wiser." This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/07/01/older-and-wiser-a-book-review/

Human-wildlife conflict is becoming an increasing concern as human activity encroaches on natural habitats due to climate change. Find out how a new study involving elephants shows how we can plan for and minimize these tensions in the future. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/06/24/human-wildlife-conflict-aggravated-by-climate-crisis/

Planetary formation made the news in three different ways this week. Find out how surprising results from studies of a meteorite, a debris field and the planet Venus all shed new light on our own planet's deep history. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/06/17/planetary-formation-in-the-news/

Consumer choices are supposed to be based on rational self-interest. Find out how a new study explains why we often make sub-optimal decisions that barely meet our needs. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/06/10/consumer-choices-dont-always-make-sense/

Safeguarding biodiversity is crucial for the survival of Humanity and the entire ecosphere. Find out why new research calls for governments to increase global land conservation from 17% to 44% if we’re serious about preserving Earth’s ecosystems. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/06/04/safeguarding-biodiversity-means-conserving-44-of-earths-land/

Galaxies without dark matter are rare and were once thought impossible. Find out how a new hypothesis about their formation may explain how all galaxies form and what dark matter is. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/05/25/galaxies-without-dark-matter-might-form-from-collisions/

Healthy sleep always makes us feel better the next day. Find out how a recent discovery may lead to more effective treatments for mood disorders, PTSD and other mental illnesses. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/05/15/healthy-sleep-helps-us-process-our-emotions/

A proposed Anthropocene epoch will be reviewed this month and possibly approved by the end of this year. Find out which sites are contending to be the epoch’s “golden spike” and the prospects of its final approval. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2022/05/09/proposed-anthropocene-epoch-seeks-formal-approval/