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Quirks and Quarks

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes35Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceEarth Sciences

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Artwork for Quirks and Quarks

Latest Episodes

From camping out on 'bird poop island,' chasing down wild dogs in Madagascar, or even looking for bombs in a bog in Ottawa –– no one quite does summer like scientists. This week, we revisit some of the hijinks that Canadian researchers got up to last... more

Quirks & Quarks has been taking your burning science questions for half a century. And while we thought we might have answered every question there is to answer over the years, our listeners proved there are always more fascinating head-scratchers fo... more

Some of the oceans biggest, most powerful predators, like certain sharks and tuna, are “mesothermic” or warm-bodied. Running hot allows them to rapidly convert their food to energy and heat, helping them swim faster and hunt in cold waters. But that ... more

Gold miners working in the Yukon regularly find ancient ground squirrel burrows throughout the permafrost, many containing fossilized feces. Researchers analyzing these well-preserved poop piles found they contain some of the oldest DNA ever recovere... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nicholas Payne
Zoologist, Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Izumi Shimada
Anthropologist, Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Episode: Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Valentina Elche
Cognitive Neuroscientist, University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
Episode: Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Karen Conkley
Cognitive Neuroscientist, Cambridge University
Cambridge University
Episode: Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Sarah Jobson
PhD candidate in Marine Biology
Memorial University
Episode: Great white sharks in hot water, and more…
Isaac Asimov
Archive interview on robotics and the future
CBC Archive
Episode: Fossilized squirrel poop full of ancient animals, and more…
Logan James
Post-doctoral researcher in Biology
McGill University / University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Humans and animals love the same sounds, and more...
Samuel Mayer
Cognitive scientist
Yale Child Study Center / University of Auckland
Episode: Humans and animals love the same sounds, and more...
Clinton Harlem
Neuroscientist
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Humans and animals love the same sounds, and more...

Host

Bob McDonald
Host of the science program with CBC; long-time science communicator known for simplifying complex topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.8k 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
    Canada2 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
    Germany4 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • Sciency Fun for Nerds

    Long time listener and still can’t get enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Speaking Truth to the Internet
    United States4 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality production and a strong emphasis on curiosity and education.
Guests are consistently expert and engaging, with clear takeaways for listeners.
The host is an excellent explainer who makes science accessible and exciting.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Humans and animals love the same sounds, and more...
Q: What are the limits of human multitasking and how does training change brain function?
Training reduces prefrontal bottlenecks and shifts processing to sensory and motor areas, allowing people to perform two tasks with the brain re-routing information for efficiency.
Cocaine in waterways makes salmon roam further, and more…
Q: How close would you say AI scientist systems are to matching human scientists in capability?
The line of work is moving rapidly, and current AI can perform the entire arc from idea generation to experimental design and even writing papers, but it is presently comparable to a first or second-year graduate student in depth and rigor, with the trend line pointing toward rapid improvement and potential near-term breakthroughs.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Quirks and Quarks

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

The show blends accessible explanations of current science with lively conversations that span biology, physics, space, climate, and the history of science. Episodes frequently pair host-led storytelling with expert guests—from university researchers to science journalists—to explore unusual phenomena, big questions about the cosmos, and practical implications for everyday life. Notable strengths include a wide topic range, a talent for making complex ideas relatable, and a track record of featuring archival material and archival science history to provide context. This approach helps listeners feel informed and inspired, whether they're casual science fans or professionals seeking clear, engaging explanations of cutting-edge research and i... more

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How many listeners does Quirks and Quarks get?

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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 35 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Quirks and Quarks?

Recent guests on Quirks and Quarks include:

1. Nicholas Payne
2. Izumi Shimada
3. Valentina Elche
4. Karen Conkley
5. Sarah Jobson
6. Isaac Asimov
7. Logan James
8. Samuel Mayer

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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