Dare to Know

Bird evolution has helped scientists understand how natural selection works since the time of Darwin. Find out how a species of birds in Indonesia demonstrated how rapidly evolution can take place. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/07/22/bird-evolution-can-be-surprisingly-fast/

The Mars Helicopter  Ingenuity  made the first powered, controlled flight on another planet today. Discover the challenges the flight overcame and the next steps for the mission. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/04/19/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-takes-flight/

Brain cells have both excitatory and inhibitory roles in transmitting neural signals. Discover how they can adapt within those roles and what that could mean for treating brain disorders. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/04/06/brain-cells-have-mysterious-self-organizing-ability/

Lightning strikes have played a part in theories on the origin of life since Darwin. Discover how a new study sheds more light on the role of lightning in bringing life to our planet. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/04/03/lightning-strikes-vital-to-origin-of-life/

Dark energy is a hypothetical force that scientists rely on to explain why the Universe expands at an accelerating rate. Discover how a new theory challenges dark matter’s existence based on magnetism. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/04/01/dark-energy-dark-matter-magnetism/

'Origins: Cosmos, Earth and Mankind’ is a classic work in the Big History movement. Discover how it outlines the evolution of the Universe and its meaning for our lives together. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/27/origins-cosmos-earth-and-mankind-a-review/

The “copper culture” lived near the Great Lakes and was among the world’s first peoples to forge metals. Discover why their culture moved on and how its discovery debunks racial stereotypes. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/25/copper-culture-in-north-america-is-older-than-we-thought/

Lifeless matter could only have evolved into self-replicating molecules by growing more complex. Discover how destruction might make this counterintuitive process conceivable. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/22/lifeless-matter-needs-destruction-to-evolve/

The Big Bang Afterglow is known as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Discover how combining CMB data with galactic observations is unlocking the secret of galaxy formation. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/19/big-bang-afterglow-showing-how-galaxies-form/

Subjective memories are those vivid, emotional impressions we relive when recalling a past experience. Find out how they affect our decision-making and why they may not be in our best interest. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/15/subjective-memories-drive-our-decision-making/

Air pollution has a cooling effect on the atmosphere, while greenhouse gases cause global warming. Find out why both emission types must be cut in combination to preserve our environment. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/13/air-pollution-and-greenhouse-gas-reductions-go-together/

The Universe’s expansion rate, the Hubble constant, is vital to understanding the Cosmos’ origin and fate. Find out how the latest technique for measuring the Hubble constant sheds new light on the past and future. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/10/universes-expansion-rate-still-hard-to-pin-down/

The Canon is a playful book aimed at teaching adults basic science. Find out why the author felt readers needed this book and how it makes science fun again. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/09/the-canon-a-whirligig-tour-of-the-beautiful-basics-of-science-a-review/

Carbon taxes aren’t terribly popular in some circles, but they work. Find out what a new study found about the results of putting a price on carbon compared to other measures to combat the climate crisis. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/06/carbon-taxes-are-the-best-way-to-fight-climate-change/

The bow and arrow is an ancient technology, and it takes great skill to make a bow. Find out what researchers discovered from interviews with expert bow makers from the hunter-gatherer Hadza people. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/06/bow-and-arrow-technology-and-culture/

Gravitomagnetism is the energy created by spinning objects in the fabric of spacetime. Find out why it may explain away the mysterious Dark Matter for which scientists have been searching unsuccessfully. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/03/05/gravitomagnetism-does-it-explain-away-dark-matter/

'The Sacred and the Profane' is a classic book on the history of religion. Find out how it reveals the Universe, Nature and Humanity as our connections to the sacred. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/28/the-sacred-and-the-profane-a-review/

Indigenous rights were the subject of new legislation in Canada’s parliament. Find out why practical steps to provide safe drinking water mean more to Canada’s First Nations communities. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/25/indigenous-rights-debated-while-first-nations-lack-safe-water/

‘Making Peace with Nature’ is the title of a new report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Find out how it lays out a blueprint for solving our climate, biodiversity and pollution challenges. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/24/making-peace-with-nature-report-offers-sustainable-blueprint/

The View From the Centre of the Universe is part of a sub-genre of interpretations of Thomas Berry’s essay, The New Story. Find out why the authors believe our current thinking needs a drastic change. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/20/the-view-from-the-centre-of-the-universe-the-new-story-retold/

Mars was made the news three times this week as three countries arrived there within days of each other. Find out the objectives of each mission and their plans to learn about the Red Planet. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/20/mars-makes-news-three-times-this-week/

Alcoholism is a widespread yet poorly understood disease. Find out how a new study locates its roots in the brain and may lead to better treatment. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/16/alcoholisms-brain-pathway-located-by-mri-scans/

Food waste is getting out of hand as consumers reject items with minor imperfections. Find out what’s behind our food choices and how we can improve our decision making. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/15/food-waste-results-from-picky-consumers/

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory has received international approval. Find out why this megaproject signals an inspiring new era in global astronomy. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/08/square-kilometre-array-will-be-worlds-largest-radio-telescope/

Human tolerance sets us apart from other animals. Find out how a computer simulation shows that harsh conditions drove our ancestors’ self-domestication process. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://daretoknow.ca/2021/02/06/human-tolerance-evolved-from-living-in-harsh-conditions/