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Artwork for Quirks and Quarks

Quirks and Quarks

CBC
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Covid-19
Artificial Intelligence
Dark Matter
NASA
Artemis II
Trees
Plastic Pollution
Paleontology
Carbon Sequestration
Urban Heat Islands
Dog Science
Moon
Canada
Chimpanzees
Microplastics
Dark Energy
Boreal Forest
Carbon Emissions

CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks covers the quirks of the expanding universe to the quarks within a single atom... and everything in between.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes46Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Earth SciencesScience

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Artwork for Quirks and Quarks

Latest Episodes

It’s long been a mystery why one particular avian dinosaur was the only kind to survive mass extinction, but the recent discovery of a perfectly preserved fossilized feather, found in a cherry-sized piece of dinosaur poop, offers new clues.

Also tod... more

Summer is fieldwork time for many scientists. We talk to researchers who have been busy hiking on fresh lava, capturing thousands of ticks, shooing away moose from their study sites, and even spelunking for Neanderthals — all in the ever-important qu... more

From doubting our doubts to sleuthing out scientific fraud, this week we revisit some of our favourite stories about humans.

For our 50th anniversary celebration last October, we spoke with some of Canada's top scientists about their predictions for the future. We revisit our conversations with:

* Evan Fraser, director of Arrell Food Institute and professor of geography ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jingmei O'Connor
Paleontologist, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago
Field Museum of Natural History
Episode: A feather found in dino poop and more...
Natasha Barlow
Programs biologist with Birds Canada
Birds Canada
Episode: A feather found in dino poop and more...
Dan Sugar
Geomorphologist, University of Calgary
University of Calgary
Episode: A feather found in dino poop and more...
Franz Bender
Swiss soil scientist, Agroscope
Agroscope, University of Zurich (Swiss Federal Research Institute)
Episode: A feather found in dino poop and more...
Lucas Brouhaux
wildfire research scientist
Canadian Forest Service, Atlantic Forestry Research Center
Episode: Summertime and the science isn’t always easy
Nicoletta Ferroni
biochemist
Acadia University
Episode: Summertime and the science isn’t always easy
Katherine Nish
planetary geologist
Western University
Episode: Summertime and the science isn’t always easy
Sashank Banga
PhD student in LIDAR/radar remote sensing
Western University
Episode: Summertime and the science isn’t always easy
Francesco Berna
geo-archaeologist
Simon Fraser University & University of Siena
Episode: Summertime and the science isn’t always easy

Host

Bob McDonald
Host known for guiding conversations on space, biology, and earth science with accessible explanations.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • Great for beginners /and/ experts

    The first science radio program/podcast I listened to and after all these years still the best. A great magazine of the newest science news, presented by an interviewer who is both knowledgeable and able to draw out explanations that anyone can understand. Even my young kids love it.

    Bob Macdonald is a treasure.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    prolepessa
    Canada5 months ago
  • Long time listener

    I’ve been listening for years. When the news bums me out, I enlist this podcast as my main source of “cool science news that doesn’t actually bum you out and actually helps promote feelings of excitement for the future”. Also, fun story. It’s podcasts like these that got me interested in science in the first place. I’m now in research, and I think about how impactful science communicators are; the ones that make learning accessible and fun. I hope they continue inspiring young people for years t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    britt_diane
    Germany6 months ago
  • Bob is great

    Bob does a really good job of helping the story along and expanding on some of the more complex material. Interesting topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kevint6221
    Canada7 months ago
  • Sciency Fun for Nerds

    Long time listener and still can’t get enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Speaking Truth to the Internet
    United States7 months ago
  • The GOLD STANDARD for Science Communicators

    No one does it better than Bob McDonald! I look forward to each episode and always learn something.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    YGlen
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the show's breadth and approachable science storytelling.
Listeners praise clear explanations and engaging questions from the host.
High-quality science content that stays accessible to non-experts.
Consistently cited as a top science podcast for general audiences.
Guests shine under thoughtful, well-prepared interview style.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pumas vs. penguins, and other clever carnivores
Q: First of all, how common is it these days to get two apex predators in a landscape like Yellowstone?
It's increasingly common due to reintroductions and recolonization; however, the two species occupy different niches and interactions vary with prey availability and habitat features that offer escape terrain.
Sweat, comets and dino milk. It’s our summer question show!
Q: What would happen to our earth if we no longer had a moon?
The moon stabilizes Earth's rotation and tides; without it, days would be shorter, weather would be more extreme, and life-supporting coastal ecosystems would face dramatic disruption.
Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Q: What happens if the oceans keep warming—what options do these animals have?
Different species may either redirect blood flow to lose heat, dive deeper to cooler waters, or move to higher latitudes, and some populations are already shifting ranges.
Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Q: Is there a threshold as we're hearing about the oceans getting warmer?
The study suggests that as fish get bigger, particularly warm-bodied ones, it becomes harder to shed heat, increasing the risk of overheating in warmer waters.
Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Q: Tell me about that. What does this warmer temperature do to their bodies and their metabolic rate?
Warmer body temperatures increase metabolic rate, making these mesothermic fish hungrier and requiring more energy and food, which could strain individuals and populations as waters warm.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Quirks and Quarks

What is Quirks and Quarks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program consistently explores a broad spectrum of science, from deep-space phenomena and planetary defense to cutting-edge biology, climate science, and technology. Episodes frequently blend in-depth interviews with researchers from top universities and labs with accessible explanations, delivering tangible takeaways on topics like tracking space debris with seismic sensors, imaging black holes, and evolving understanding of mammalian and marine biology. A standout aspect is the ability to connect complex research to real-world questions and public interest, often featuring cross-disciplinary methods and fieldwork that illuminate how science informs everyday life and future innovations.

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How many listeners does Quirks and Quarks get?

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How many subscribers and views does Quirks and Quarks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Quirks and Quarks has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Quirks and Quarks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Quirks and Quarks:

1. Ideas
2. Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
3. White Coat, Black Art
4. The Debaters
5. As It Happens

How many episodes of Quirks and Quarks are there?

Quirks and Quarks launched 20 years ago and published 46 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Quirks and Quarks?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Quirks and Quarks?

Recent guests on Quirks and Quarks include:

1. Jingmei O'Connor
2. Natasha Barlow
3. Dan Sugar
4. Franz Bender
5. Lucas Brouhaux
6. Nicoletta Ferroni
7. Katherine Nish
8. Sashank Banga

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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