Oil sands tailings ponds are toxic. Canadian-made nanotech could help fix that. Male baboons make friends with females for just one reason: a longer life. Less than a teaspoon of dirt could hold the history of an entire landscape. Tickling rats to improve animal - and scientists’ - welfare. Five ways the universe might die - including one that could happen at any time

Quirks & Quarks is on hiatus for the summer. Our podcast will resume with new programs in September. In the meantime, you can dig deep into the feed for programs you missed, or visit our website to listen to our archives online. Have a great summer

Another episode of the always fascinating, always fabulous, Quirks & Quarks listener Question Show. We're answering questions like: do viruses have predators? What do animals taste? How do you weigh the earth, and how do bacteria eat plastic?

Oumuamua could be a relic from giant clouds where stars are born (1:33). Female genetic superiority: when it comes to survival, two X chromosomes beat an X and a Y (9:55). Megadrought: will the southwest part of North America be parched for decades? (24:56) How scientists in Quebec are stepping up to fight a climate-related rise in Lyme disease (32:44). Web extras: A snake with a toxic surprise (54:17), the secrets of ambergris (1:01:59), and adapting coral to climate change (1:10:02).

What if we hadn’t locked down? Studies show we saved many millions of lives. (1:36) The return of race science — the quest to fortify racism with bad biology. (9:31) A dinosaur’s s last meal of fresh ferns fossilized in incredible detail. (30:13) Pathway to Mars — is it ethical to go to the Red Planet? (38:07)

The key to early detection of COVID-19 outbreaks might be in sewage. (1:42) SpaceX takes humans to orbit, but who loses in the new landscape of space launch? (9:05) Experiment shows dogs might be willing to help you in a crisis, but they probably aren’t able. (17:55) Machine learning helps archaeologists identify the source of ancient poop. (25:33) Can we avoid an insect apocalypse with a new appreciation for creepy-crawlies? (32:16)

The science of why bad words feel so good during painful moments (1:40). 40 years ago Mount St. Helens blew its top, here's how it got green again (10:05). Recycling spare genes was how some plants turned into carnivores (27:48). COVID reopening: hoping it goes right — watching carefully how it might go wrong (35:53).

Turning COVID-related drop in CO2 emissions into a plan to fight climate change. A stand-up robot understands that timing is the secret to comedy. Fish fingers and bilateral symmetry — new fossils shed light critical stages of evolution. ‘Pretty much gambling:’ Canadian Prairie farmers are struggling with unstable conditions which will be worse with climate change.

COVID-19 and scientific confusion — What we don’t know and why we don’t know it. Vast boreal peatlands may dry up and burn in a warming climate. A giant sloth graveyard shows how these enormous animals died - and lived. Your brain on terror - a writer faces the science behind her fears

What the ice storm can teach us about the pre-natal impacts of pandemic stress, An unseen black hole has been lurking in our galactic neighbourhood. Now we know how koalas drink (we didn't before). Pathway to Mars - How astronauts will survive and thrive on Mars