Tai Asks Why

The climate is changing. So are we. On What On Earth, you'll explore a world of solutions with host Laura Lynch and our team of journalists. In 1970, 20 million people showed up to fight for the environment on the first Earth Day. More than five decades later, is it time for this much tamer global event to return to its radical roots? OG organizer Denis Hayes recounts how – amidst other counterculture movements at the time – his team persuaded roughly one in ten Americans to take to the streets. As he approaches 80, Denis offers his singular piece of advice to the next generation of climate leaders. Then, environmental warriors Maria Blancas and Axcelle Campana share ideas on what a reinspired Earth Day could look like – including making it a public holiday.More episodes of What On Earth are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/YX9QBtvDWe love to hear from our listeners and regularly feature them on the show. Have a question or idea? Email Earth@cbc.ca

Our brains aren't wired to save the world. But if you're ready to make changes that actually stick, 10 Minutes to Save the Planet will show you the way. Co-hosts meteorologist and climate reporter Johanna Wagstaffe and broadcaster Rohit Joseph work through the UN's 10 actions for a healthy planet, but in a way that won't shame, overwhelm or bore you. Think of each episode as a bite-size guide to fight climate change, rooted in behavioural therapy. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/aiF1m9QH

Tumble is a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the whole family. With over 100 episodes over 7 seasons, Lindsay and Marshall have explored science topics ranging from poop, to space, to animals, and literally everything in between. In their 8th season, coming up this September, they'll be covering even more topics, always in a fun, accessible way for the whole family to enjoy. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or at sciencepodcastforkids.com

Tai tries to do his part by recycling whenever he can. But it turns out just tossing stuff into the blue bin doesn't do a whole lot: less than 10 percent of our plastic waste actually gets recycled, with the rest either ending up in landfill, burned or shipped overseas! How did we get here? Tai turns to people looking for creative ways to tackle trash around the world, and learns how we can all be more mindful of what we decide to throw away. In this episode Tai talks to: - Calvin Lakhan, research scientist at York University - Olivia Kwok, supervisor of Waste and Diversion Programs with the city of St. Albert - Nate Maynard, Taiwan-based sustainability consultant and environmental researcher - Andrea McKenzie, zero waste project engineer for the city of Vancouver

Laughing makes us feel real good, whether you're in on the joke or not. But does it serve a specific purpose? Why do we find some jokes hilarious and others to be total groaners? In this episode, Tai peels the science and sociology of laughter down to its evolutionary roots. In this episode Tai talks to: - Sophie Scott, professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and stand-up comedian - Andrew Phung, actor, improv comedian and creator of the sitcom Run the Burbs

So far, the only intelligent life we know of is right here on Earth — us! But could there be life on other planets just waiting to be discovered? In this episode, Tai goes deep in the cosmos to explore how scientists are searching for signs of life beyond our little blue dot, and what their work can tell us about our place in the universe. In this episode Tai talks to: - Nathalie Cabrol, astrobiologist and director of research at the SETI Institute - Jacob Haqq-Misra, senior research investigator at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science - Heidi White, astrophysicist at the University of Toronto

We know birds can travel large distances day or night, rain or shine, even if they've never migrated before. If you confuse a spiny lobster and drop it far from home, it can still find its way back. How do they do that? In this episode, Tai discovers the mysterious and mind-boggling ways animals navigate. In this episode Tai talks to: - David Barrie, researcher and author of Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way - Ken Lohmann, biology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Samantha Patrick, senior lecturer in marine biology at the University of Liverpool

To listeners of this podcast, it's no secret that Tai loves math. But he knows that a lot of people, including his friends, definitely don't feel the same way. In this episode, Tai uncovers why math gets such a bad rap, and if there's any truth to the well-worn phrase: “I'm just not a math person!” In this episode Tai talks to: - Sian Beilock, cognitive scientist and president of Barnard College at Columbia University - Daniel Ansari, Canada Research Chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience & Learning at Western University - Mariam Hazhir, math teacher in Surrey, B.C.

Pizza, chips, gummy worms and wings — these are a few of Tai's favourite things! He just can't get enough of their sugary, fatty, salty goodness, even though he knows they're not exactly good *for* you. But why does he find those foods so irresistible in the first place? In this episode, Tai unravels the science behind our food cravings and how companies use it to formulate products that hook us in. In this episode Tai talks to: - Yanina Pepino, associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Marion Nestle, Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies & Public Health at New York University - Malek Batal, professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Montreal

Whether they're happy, sad or the embarrassing kind we'd rather forget, memories play a big part in our lives. They shape our identities, help us connect with others and allow us to learn from our past. But can we trust that our memories are accurate? In this episode, Tai digs deep into how memory works in the brain, and enlists the help of experts to interpret a particularly scary childhood memory. In this episode Tai talks to: - Ayanna Thomas, professor of psychology at Tufts University - Steve Ramirez, professor of neuroscience at Boston University

Tai's recently been experiencing a new, unsettling feeling that he just can't always shake. His parents suggest it's anxiety, and according to his friends, he's not alone. But why does it have to feel so awful? In this episode, Tai looks for ways to manage his anxiety and where he can turn to for help. In this episode Tai talks to: - Adiaha I.A. Spinks-Franklin, developmental behavioral pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics for Baylor College of Medicine - Phoebe Chin, registered psychotherapist and art therapist

Tai loves paying for stuff with his mobile wallet. It's quick, convenient and his pockets have never been lighter! Technology has made it easier than ever to interact with money, which has Tai wondering: will physical cash eventually be a thing of the past? From cows to cryptocurrency, Tai traces the evolution of money to see if its history can offer clues to where it's headed next. In this episode Tai talks to: - Stephen McKeon, associate professor of finance at the University of Oregon - Gina Pieters, assistant instructional professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago - Nikhil Raghuveera, nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center

To Tai, nothing beats cutting into a perfectly cooked steak or wolfing down a big, juicy cheeseburger. But lately he's been paying more attention to the buzz around going meatless in the fight against climate change. “Plant-based” foods like beefless burgers and chickenless nuggets have made their way into grocery aisles and fast food chains. But are those actually better for the environment? What exactly is our appetite for meat doing to the planet? Tai investigates. In this episode Tai talks to: - Brent Kim, researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future - Jody Puglisi, professor of structural biology at Stanford University

Ever wondered why nothing feels better than a deep belly laugh? Or why it's impossible to not inhale a bag of chips in one sitting? You're not alone — and you bet Tai's got you covered. Season 4 of Tai Asks Why starts April 20, but you can hear episodes two weeks early on CBC Listen with a free account (web browser only). See ya soon!

So, there's a MAJOR event happening in space science. NASA is set to launch the enormous James Webb Space Telescope. Why is this such a big deal? Tai's here to tell you why. Here's a hint: the JWST is SO powerful, it should be able to capture the faint light of the universe in its infancy. Guiding Tai on this starlit path of discovery is Dr. Naomi Rowe-Gurney, a James Webb Space Telescope postdoctoral researcher with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Howard University.

We're working away on Season 4 right now. In the meantime, here's something you might like. What if there were a pill that could add decades to your life? Would you take it? For thousands of years, people have searched for elixirs that could delay death and extend human life. Could new advances in medicine finally make this a reality? From madcap medicine to cutting-edge science, the quest to unlock the fountain of youth is teeming with dreamers, skeptics and charlatans alike. More episodes are available at: hyperurl.co/unlocking

These are anxious times, and Tai just wants to know… what’s going to happen? He can’t look into a crystal ball, but there are actually people who spend their lives predicting the future. With their help, he looks towards the great unknown. In this episode Tai speaks to: Rose Eveleth, the creator of Flash Forward Presents, a podcast network that demystifies the future, with shows like Flash Forward and Advice For And From The Future Tim Chartier, Professor of Mathematics at Davidson College. He often uses data analytics to predict outcomes in sports Satyan Devadoss, Fletcher Jones Chair of Applied Mathematics at the University of San Diego and author of Mage Merlin's Unsolved Mathematical Mysteries. This is the last episode of Season 3, thanks so much tuning in!

Not to be a downer, but the universe could end any minute. Or it could take a hundred million years… give or take. So we don’t know *when* it will happen, but we can be a bit more certain about *how* the universe will end. In this episode, Tai unpacks the science of the end times. He meets astrophysicist Katie Mack, author of The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking), to talk about theories like the Big Crunch, the Big Rip, or the Heat Death of the universe. Tai also chats with Chris Kochanek, a scientist who studies massive world-ending explosions out in the cosmos, and learns about how the universe is a violent, cutthroat place.

For Tai, the internet has always been there, and it’s hard to imagine life without it. It seems almost like it’s everywhere, all at once, like magical little clouds filled with information above us. But there’s a very real, physical system that allows him to send cat memes to friends or submit his homework. He calls up Nicole Starosielski, and she explains how the internet isn’t in the clouds—it’s in hose-sized tubes stretching across the ocean and server rooms. Tai goes to Lake Ontario to look at some of these internet cables, and checks out the fragile and expensive system that keeps his life running. Janice Gates and Tai talk about community internet networks and how they can bring high speed connections to low income residents.

Nothing on our planet could function without pooower! Even though energy is all around us, harnessing that energy and turning it into power is a massive challenge. Powering our day-to-day lives makes up almost half of fossil fuel emissions, which is causing climate change! Tai tries to find out if there’s a better way to power the planet.

Tai and all of his friends are in a constant war with their parents over one big thing — screen time. For years, their parents have been telling them that screen time is bad and needs to be limited. But is it really? Tai finds out. In this episode Tai talks to: Kara Bagot, child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Icahn School of Medicine Madeleine George, psychologist and analyst at RTI International Jenny Odell, writer and artist, author of How to Do Nothing

The ocean covers over 70% of our planet, and yet, we’ve only mapped about a tenth of it. We know more about the far side of the moon than we know about our own ocean! In this episode, Tai explores the deep ocean to learn about its mysteries and what survives in its darkest corners. This week Tai spoke with: Verena Tunnicliffe, a marine biologist who has spent 30 years studying all the weird and wacky animals that thrive on the bottom of the ocean Melissa Omand, Assistant Professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. She’s an explorer who uses robots to explore the ocean depths Bob Dziak, NOAA’s acoustic engineer, who has dropped sound recorders into places like the Mariana Trench.

It’s easier than ever to be bamboozled by bad information. Tai and his friends are no exception—even smarty pants like them fall for things online. In this episode, Tai tries to figure out how to spot misinformation and how to stop it from spreading. This week Tai spoke with:  Andrea Bellemare, a CBC journalist who specializes in covering disinformation  Seema Yasmin, disease expert  Jemmika Anderson, media literacy expert and creator of I Am Not the Media

Don’t tell anyone: Tai thinks he has two left feet AND he still loves to dance when no one’s watching. But why do humans like to dance at all? What’s going on in the brain when people boogie? In this episode, Tai tangos into the activity that has helped humans and communities survive for thousands of years, with the help of his whole family. This week Tai spoke with: Peter Lovatt, psychologist, author of The Dance Cure Ashley ‘Colours’ Perez, dancer and teacher @classwithcolours

If you ever feel alone, you shouldn’t, because you are actually surrounded by viruses. They’re in you, they’re on you and, in fact, there are more viruses in the world than there are stars in the sky. So why aren’t we sick all the time? In this episode Tai looks at how viruses work, how they travel, and the ways in which they shape our lives—both bad and good. 

Tai’s 14 now. As he goes through adolescence, there are all sorts of weird things happening in his brain that are literally reshaping it, getting him ready for adulthood! But what’s happening in there? Why do humans even have an adolescent phase? And how can Tai harness his mental superpowers while he has them? This week Tai spoke to: Frances Jensen, Chair of Neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Juliet Davidow, psychology professor who developed the Learning and Brain Development Lab at Northeastern University

Notice anything different about Tai? It’s 2021 and he’s in high school now. A lot has changed, but not his insatiable quest for ANSWERS! Season 3 of Tai Asks Why will be out Wednesday, January 13. Catch you then.

Whether it’s a doot doot doot of an opening riff or a random mix of words from the chorus, 99 per cent of people admit to getting songs stuck in their heads. So what is it about certain songs that make them so catchy? How does a song get stuck in your head?

In this week's bonus segment Ask Tai Why, Tai takes questions from: Penelope Cook, Toronto: Is there such a thing as complete silence? Griff, Yukon: What comes after humans? Finley, Wakefield, Quebec: Does the core of the earth glow?

Tai is fascinated by what’s in the dark spaces between the stars. Considering there are trillions of stars in the universe (and counting!), it seems a bit odd that the universe isn’t just a blinding ball of light. So then, why is space so dark?

In this week's bonus segment Ask Tai Why, Tai takes questions from: Charlotte, Toronto: What is fear, and why were we born with it? Desmond: What is Time? George, Toronto: What makes colour a colour?

Tai spends a lot of time imagining how the apocalypse might go down. So, he turns to animals that have survived past apocalypses—like the one that killed the dinosaurs—to see what traits the true survivors have in common.

In bonus segment Ask Tai Why, Tai answers some questions for a change. This week, he takes questions from: Grace, Hamilton: Why do I have freckles Henry: Why are Video Games so violent? Alex, Halifax: Are farts changing the climate?

Tai and his friends all have experiences of being bullied. And, as he learns, it’s a pretty universal thing - even trees are known to bully other trees! Why is such an unpleasant thing so widespread? What is the science behind bullying?

In a new bonus segment called Ask Tai Why, Tai answers some questions for a change. This week, he takes questions from: Von Lewis, Halifax: Why do cute animals make us smile? Hamzah, Ontario: Why is the sun hot? Rhea, Ontario: Who invented the English Language?

Tai’s brother Kien thinks he can talk to ducks. We’ve taught our animals to sit and stay, but that’s not the same as us learning their language, you know? Do animals have language? And if they do, could we learn it? Can we ever really know what animals are saying to each other?

You know that feeling when you feel like you have lived a moment already? Well that’s deja vu (French for already seen) and apparently, it happens to over 60 per cent of people! But why? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? What is Deja Vu?

Tai is freaking out about climate change. He's worried we're doomed. Tides are rising, species are dying from all of the heat. He's finding it hard to have hope...until he meets a man from NASA.

Before he fully spoke English, Tai's first language was math. He loves numbers! Now he's talking to mathematicians about the ultimate coolness of two very special numbers: zero and infinity.

After thinking through a recent terrifying nightmare, Tai starts to question the importance of dreams. Why can't our minds just do nothing when we sleep?

The death of his grandfather has Tai thinking about the afterlife. The idea that our bodies and consciousness become nothing is really weird and confusing. So Tai turns to different religions for answers.

We've all heard the saying trust your gut, but is that scientifically accurate? Tai grapples with what that really means. If our guts are making decisions does that mean there's a brain in our gut?