Simply Science

In this episode, we’re going to explore the world of urban forests and hear about how they can transform concrete jungles into vibrant livable spaces. We reached out to a couple of experts from the Canadian Forest Service to talk about the ins and outs of urban forest management. This episode is also a double feature, with our friends from the Statistics Canada podcast “Eh-sayers” talking about th...

There seems to be a lot of excitement about natural hydrogen lately. But why is the level of interest peaking now? Could it be part of the solution to the climate crisis? Is it the environmentally friendly game changer everyone is looking for? Or not? To answer those questions and more, we reached out to one of our hydrogen experts, as well as a scientist from the University of Toronto. Recommende...

We, as human beings, find ourselves in a challenging situation when it comes to carbon emissions. Almost everything we do in our modern lives produces carbon emissions, which impact the very environment we live in. Is it possible to maintain our quality of life AND reduce our carbon emissions? Our scientists are working hard to address that issue. Listen to find out how. Recommended Links: • Carbo...

We all know metals like gold, copper and nickel are essential to our way of life. Metals are used in just about everything. So how do we make sure that we have a continuous supply of these metals? How do you find new ore deposits to make sure we meet future demand? Our scientists are working hard to specifically address that issue. Listen to find out how. Recommended Links: • Geological Survey of...

There’s nothing quite like a Canadian winter. Majestic scenery, fun outdoor activities, and brutally cold days that cause your heating bill to skyrocket. Scientists and engineers at Natural Resources Canada believe a promising technology can help reduce your energy consumption, the heat pump. On this episode: What are heat pumps? How do they work? Why is everyone talking about them? Are they right...

In Cape Bathurst, where Canada's mainland meets the Arctic Ocean, an entire coastline is burning. Aptly named the Smoking Hills, it's home to a really unique geological feature: a deposit of sedimentary rock that's been burning and smouldering continuously for thousands of years. On this episode, we'll be speaking with a research scientist who visited the hellish landscape to study it first-hand....

There are, on average, over 4,000 earthquakes in Canada each year. Many of those earthquakes occur in Western Canada, but Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces also see their fair share of seismic events. On this episode, we’ll be speaking with a seismologist who has spent over 30 years studying earthquakes in Eastern Canada. Recommended Links: Earthquakes Canada — https://earthquakescanada.n...

On this episode, we’re going to look at a real-life bug battle that rivals Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III! We have with us an entomologist — or bug expert — who’s going to break down this iconic matchup. Make sure to listen to find out which bug is brave enough to take on the spruce budworm. Recommended Links: • Bug fight: the emerald ash borer vs. parasitic wasps (Inspect and...

We use methane every day to heat our homes, grow our food, create fertilizers and produce things like hydrogen that we use in clean fuel cells. But methane is a really potent greenhouse gas and a significant contributor to global warming. On this episode, we discuss what is methane, how we use it, and how we can reduce the amount we release in the atmosphere. Recommended Links: Emissions Reduction...

Southeast of mainland Nova Scotia sits "Sable Island", a small crescent shaped island home to magnificent wild horses and one-of-a-kind wildlife. But with the potential impacts of climate change on sensitive coastal areas, can a small island made entirely of sand survive the forces of nature in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? On this episode, we talk to scientists with new research examining the...

Scientists make discoveries by building on previous discoveries made by scientists before them. But what happens when the next generation of scientists is not an accurate representation of the population? What happens when we fail to bring in fresh perspectives? On this episode, we talk about the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the world of science. Recommended Links: Inspiring minds, 1...

When it comes to nuclear energy, Canada has always been an innovator. This goes all the way back to 1952 with the development of the world-renowned CANDU reactor. Seventy years later, Canada is leading the charge once again. On this episode, we talk about the future of nuclear energy — small modular reactors. Photo Credit: Third Way (https://www.thirdway.org/blog/nuclear-reimagined) Recommended Li...

The elm zigzag sawfly, an exotic insect found in Asia and Europe that feeds on elm trees, has never been found in North America… that is until now. On this episode, we talk about how a photo by a nature photographer lead to the discovery of the insect on this side of the pond. Recommended Links: •Citizen scientist spots a newcomer on Canadian elm trees (Simply Science article) - https://www.nrcan....

If you introduce a foreign species to a new environment, even by accident, it can wreak havoc on the ecosystem. On this episode, we talk to a scientist who has been dealing with one of these foreign species, the Asian longhorned beetle. This insect is black and white, about the same length as your thumb, and likes to get around by hitching rides on your car! Links of interest… Asian longhorned bee...

Forests provide us with an array of social, economic and environmental benefits, which is why we need to ensure that they stay healthy. Things like natural disasters, pests and resource extractions can pose a problem. On this episode, we talk to a scientist who is working with industry, academia, Indigenous communities and various levels of government to reclaim and restore damaged forest landscap...

Look around! Apollo 11, the smallpox vaccine, the first direct evidence of dark matter in space. These are just a few of the outstanding scientific breakthroughs made possible by women working hard behind the scenes. In this episode we look at how women have helped make science, and our world, what it is today. Do you want to be an arctic explorer, a fossil hunter or a green energy guru? Then stay...

The spruce budworm is an insect that eats the needles of fir and spruce, weakening the trees an putting them at risk for disease or even death. As if that wasn't enough, researchers are now looking at the potential impact that spruce budworm outbreaks could have on climate change. On today's episode: killer insects, scientific collaboration and elaborate cheese plates… Slowing Down the Spruce Budw...

Today, we hear from someone who started his career by fighting fires on the ground. Now, he’s turned his sights to the sky. We’re about to find out how a satellite the size of a dishwasher could radically change the way we fight fires in Canada. WildFireSat: Enhancing Canada's ability to manage wildfires, Canadian Space Agency – https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/wildfiresat/default.asp Fore...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to conduct research up North? Like, way up North, in the middle of the Arctic, in the middle of nowhere up North? David Mate from the Polar Continental Shelf Program joins us to talk about how his team supports nearly 1,000 people per year to conduct scientific research in some of the most extreme conditions. Polar Continental Shelf Program – https://www.nrcan...

We received a lot of feedback from listeners who are interested in energy efficiency and curious about what they can do to make their existing home more energy-efficient. We decided to bring back Chris McLellan from the Office of Energy Efficiency to discuss getting better performance and comfort out of your home. The Future of Energy Efficiency for Homes (Ask NRCan) - https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/simp...

Marine geoscientist Calvin Campbell joins us to talk about the importance of a specific underwater landslide that caused a massive tsunami in Newfoundland back in 1929. Calvin is part of a team studying this historical landslide, and shares with us recent findings that changed our perception of the event. Recommended Links - The 1929 Magnitude 7.2 "Grand Banks" earthquake and tsunami - http://eart...

This episode is all about earthquakes. We are joined by seismologist John Cassidy who explains what causes earthquakes, where they are more likely to occur, and he answers the big question: “can we predict them?” Recommended Links: -Earthquakes Canada - http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index-en.php -BC Shakeout - https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/ John Cassidy on Twitter - https://twitter.com/earthqua...

For the past two decades, ash trees have been under attack by a tiny, yet formidable foe – the emerald ash borer. This invasive pest has already killed tens of millions of ash trees and shows no signs of letting up. On this episode, we are speaking with an expert that is conserving ash seeds for future restoration activities. Recommended Links: -National Tree Seed Centre – https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/...

Like many organizations, the Government of Canada is exploring ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into our work to make us more efficient and effective. On this episode, we’ll learn what artificial intelligence is, and we’ll see how it can be used to solve problems that the natural resource sectors are facing. CIFAR Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy: https://www.cifar.ca/ai/pa...

Have you ever wondered exactly what’s under the hood of an electric vehicle? Specifically, what kind of batteries do they use and how different are they from the ones you find in a gas-powered vehicle? Research engineer Kathleen Lombardi answers our pressing questions about electric vehicle batteries. Buying an electric vehicle (Natural Resources Canada) – https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency...