Podcast
The Decibel
Episodes — page 42
- A reality check on the fertility promises of egg-freezing
Elective egg freezing is on the rise in Canada. Fertility clinics pitch it as a kind of insurance policy: put your eggs in the bank now, and you can come back for them later, when…
- Dispatch calls reveal chaos of deadly floods in Nova Scotia
In the early hours of July 22, chaos was erupting in Nova Scotia. Rain was pouring down, causing intense flooding. People were panicked about whether to stay or leave their homes.…
- The unknown health impacts of cannabis smoke
It has been five years since the legalization of cannabis in Canada but we still know very little about health impacts from cannabis smoke. Almost no research has been done, despit…
- Ford accused of playing favourites in Greenbelt plans
On Wednesday, Ontario’s Auditor-General, Bonnie Lysyk released an investigative report into the province’s decision to open up 3,000 hectares of its protected Greenbelt area for de…
- Why we need parasites
You’re never far from a parasite, no matter where you are. They’re responsible for illnesses like malaria that cause death around much of the world; the word itself is a derogatory…
- The hunt for dark matter, two kilometres under Sudbury
No one really knows what dark matter is. We just think it exists. And we believe it makes up 85 per cent of all mass in the universe. So how do you solve the mystery of something t…
- The evolutionary advantage of curly hair
Curly hair often gets a bad reputation for being too high maintenance but research has shown that it plays an important role in our evolutions – and even our brains. Dr. Tina Lasis…
- How we search for planets that could host life
The James Webb Space Telescope has been getting some of the most detailed information and images from space since it launched a year and a half ago. And soon, there’s going to be a…
- How two Canadian women were switched at birth
In September 1969, two baby girls were born in a tiny hospital in rural Newfoundland, a few hours apart. A simple accident led to both of their lives being changed forever. Over 50…
- What we get wrong about bears
Western preconceived notions about bears being deadly have led to dire consequences for bears. But the relationship and safety around bears is different with Indigenous communities…
- Sex abuse allegations at the Calgary Stampede
An ongoing class-action lawsuit against the Calgary Stampede alleges that for decades the organization did not properly protect children from a sexual predator. Carrie Tait is a re…
- Why ticks – and Lyme disease – are spreading further north
Ticks are awful. They can give you Lyme disease, brain swelling, and can make you allergic to red meat. And as the world warms, they’re steadily creeping further north. After Dr. V…
- B.C. might become a haven for movie studios using AI
The ongoing actors and writers strikes in the U.S. are having huge implications for film production – including here in Canada, as productions slow to a trickle. Film unions in B.C…
- Why we can’t air condition our way out of extreme heat
The past three weeks on Earth have been the hottest since records began, and the effects of global warming are becoming increasingly deadly as temperatures continue to climb. The 2…
- What Trudeau’s summer shakeup says about the Liberals’ health
On Wednesday, the Trudeau government unveiled a major cabinet shakeup. The reset comes at a time when the Liberals are facing criticisms over poor communication, Chinese interferen…
- ‘Sound of Freedom’ becomes a controversial blockbuster hit
While conversations about movies are being dominated by ‘Barbie’ and ‘Openheimer’, another movie currently sitting in third place has become a surprise – and controversial – summer…
- How government infighting led to a refugee crisis in Toronto
Dozens of asylum seekers have been sleeping on the streets of Downtown Toronto for weeks as a political stand-off between governments took place. While governments have been arguin…
- The people most impacted by wildfire smoke
Cities across Canada have been dealing with the impacts of wildfire smoke this year – the smoggy skies and health effects. And while we’ve been seeing more smoke in big cities, rem…
- Inside Canada Soccer’s equal pay fight
Canada’s national women’s soccer team is protesting unequal treatment by the sport’s governing body. The players say Canada Soccer is not transparent with its finances, and that th…
- Ozempic's effect on the body positivity movement
Ozempic and other medications for type-2 diabetes have shown to be effective treatments for obesity. But this discovery has led to many people, who do not medically need the drug,…
