The Current

Margaret Atwood is donating 1 million dollars to Western University. The money will establish a new chair in avian biology and honour her late partner and fellow novelist Graeme Gibson who loved birds. We speak with Chris Guglielmo Professor of Biology and Director at the Centre for Animals on the Move at Western University about what this donation could mean for the research of birds and why humans are still so fascinated by them.

Mosquitos, cockroaches, venomous snakes, and adults who steal candy from children, just some of the winning scientific discoveries at this year's Ig Nobel Prize. The award highlights research so bizarre and improbable you can't help but laugh at it. We speak with winner Chonghong Cao, a Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University about how his team worked with dead mosquitos and 3D printers to win the technology prize.

On this Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we speak with award-winning CBC reporter Jackie McKay who travelled to the village of Kispiox, BC, to learn about the man at the centre of a historic battle to hold the government and the church accountable for sexual abuse at the Alberni Indian Residential School. Willie Blackwater's class action lawsuit was one of the first in Canada, setting the stage for many others who came forward and the TRC. McKay's reporting and the rest of Willie's story is featured in Season 2 of the CBC news podcast, See You In Court.

Statistics Canada numbers show the economy stalled in July. The trade war is hitting some harder than others, like the Stelco workers in Hamilton, Ontario who got news that part of their steel plant is closing indefinitely. We hear from Ron Wells, one of their union leaders, plus Deloitte Canada's Dawn Desjardins tells us why she sees the country's growth continuing to slow down.

Almost 30 years after the death of Princess Diana, her brother Charles Spencer has written a new memoir about her life, her struggles, and the royal institutions that played a role in both. He sits down with Matt Galloway to discuss the book Swan Song: Diana, my sister, and her legacy.

Netflix's new reality show based on the infamous Stanford prison experiment is being met with controversy. The original psychological experiment had to be abandoned prematurely because of the harm it was causing participants. So why is Netflix releasing a reality series based on a troubling psychological experiment? And what could it tell us about what makes people abuse authority? We speak with Jay Van Bavel, Professor of Psychology at New York University and the author of The Power of Us, plus Andy Dehnart, a TV critic, and founder of Reality Blurred.

Diesel gas prices have spiked, hitting truckers and farmers especially hard. That means prices for things we buy are going up too. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on the federal government to take action. But energy expert Richard Masson is skeptical about the Conservative proposals. He says prices won't come down until the wars in Iran and Ukraine end, but Ottawa could still offer some relief.

A new poll done for CBC news shows separatist support is dropping in Alberta, so is the popularity of Premier Danielle Smith and her party. We speak with the independent pollster Janet Brown who conducted the survey about what these findings mean. Plus, Dozie Anyaegbunam, host of The Newcomers Podcast, says he fears the fractures created by all 10 questions, including five about immigration, will linger long after the Oct. 19 results are in.

We speak with the creators of the series North of North as they launch Season 2 after the show became an international hit. Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril tell us about what it's like to film a comedy in Iqaluit, about the good things, and the challenges faced by those living in Canada's North.

Jordan Kawchuk has struggled with alcohol use disorder for years. When he's drinking, he says nothing else matters. He's just finished his fifth attempt at treatment, but some doctors and advocates say people like him aren't getting the science-based treatment they need.

Dr. Subodh Verma is a cardiac surgeon who has operated on more than 6,000 hearts. We speak with the surgeon-scientist and University of Toronto Professor of Surgery about what it's like to hold the human heart in his hands, and why breakthroughs in medicine and science can only happen through acts of interdependence.

Donald Trump ruled out using military force to annex Canada. The head of US Pacific Command called the idea of attacking Canada "preposterous." But Mark Carney called it an "extreme tail risk" that would be "irresponsible" not to prepare. We unpack the Canadian Prime Minister's eye-catching interview with the New York Times, with Stephen Saideman, a professor of political science at Carleton University's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and Wendy Gilmour, Vice-Chair of the Board of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.

Have you heard that same story over and over again from your aging parents? Mary Ann McColl certainly did. But instead of just complaining, like the rest of us, she decided to study the stories to see if there was something more there. Mary Ann is a professor emerita of occupational therapy at Queens University. Her new book is The Ten Stories: What Aging Parents Want Us to Hear. Mary Ann's research might help you find patience with your older loved ones and their stories.

In 2007, 20-year-old Vienna Luke was sexually assaulted by her brother-in-law. Decades later with the support of her older sister Shawnessy Luke, Vienna went undercover to elicit a confession from her abuser. Their story is the subject of a new CBC podcast “Personally: Agent Layla.”

Paul Workman was a foreign correspondent for more than 35 years, covering conflict and catastrophes around the world for CTV and CBC News. But when he was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare type of blood cancer, he chose not to tell his employer and to keep on working. We speak with Paul Workman about why he decided to keep his disease secret, and where one draws the line about what your employer needs to know about your health.

It's been a big week for new species. First, a new cat species was announced and then a new penguin made headlines. But scientists say this is just the tip of a rather huge iceberg. Dirk Steinke is amongst the scientists who believe there are literally millions of species in the world yet to be revealed. Most are insects, spiders, and arthropods but there are some bigger animals to find too. Steinke is a research scientist at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph and a member of the team working on the International of Life Barcode. He weighs in on what needs to be done to protect the species before they're gone.

Emilie Nicolas, columnist for Le Devoir, and Michel C. Auger, columnist for La Presse break down the state of play in Quebec's provincial election, as five party leaders make their case to voters in the final debate of the campaign.

With artificial intelligence on the rise, teaching staff at many universities are taking a hard look at how they teach and assess their students. Carleton University Religion Professor Shawna Dolansky talks about why she's banned all technology from her classrooms. McMaster University Physical Engineering Professor Mike Welland discusses how he's integrating AI into his teaching. And Samuel Madden, the co-chair of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning and Research Training, talks about their report into AI leading to "cognitive surrender" among students.

The White House press pool is banding together to suspend its video coverage of U.S. President Donald Trump. It comes after Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. The Atlantic staff writer David A. Graham talks about why Trump is taking this step now and what it means for press freedom in the U.S.

The American author argues in her The Atlantic cover story "Empire of Grift" that Donald Trump and his circle have revolutionized U.S. foreign policy for private gain. Some of it is ideological. Much of it is driven by self-interest. Anne Applebaum says Canada is right to adapt. And she wonders if America understands what it has become.

New Brunswick is considering banning fishing and hunting licences for American citizens, as part of their government's response to the latest round of U.S. tariffs. But Americans make up the majority of clients for most outfitters in the province — and they pay thousands of dollars to hunt moose, Atlantic salmon, black bears, and other local wildlife in the province. Canadian outfitters say a ban on Americans would put many local hunting and fishing guides out of business.

A police constable was injured in a shootout by the Sons of Jacob synagogue as Yom Kippur services began. Synagogue President Norm Weddum believes that the officer saved the lives of everyone huddled inside. The alleged shooter is in hospital in life threatening condition. Weddum wants to know why he went on the attack.

Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, joins us to weigh in on freshly introduced government legislation that aims to increase speed and certainty around major infrastructure projects — which labour leaders worry could infringe on workers' right to strike.

Bestselling author Ben Macintyre has told many compelling spy stories — but Vladimir Kuzichkin's may be the most unusual yet. In his new book, Redwood, Macintyre explains how Kuzichkin's obsessive desire to find a solution to his own sexual problems drove him to defect from the Soviet KGB and start spying for British Intelligence in Tehran in the 1980s, and why the intelligence he gathered altered the course of Iranian history, changed the balance of power in the Middle East, and played a pivotal role in one of the most important conflicts of the Cold War

Across the country, schools are grappling with how to use artificial intelligence in the classroom and it's sparking a debate over how to balance the risks of AI in education against the benefits. Ben Humphreys is a member of the group Parents for AI Caution in Educational Spaces Vancouver and is calling for a two year pause on the technology in schools. Simon Worley is a high school teacher in North Vancouver who's incorporating AI in his classroom. Dr Dana Suskind is the Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago and the author of "Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity & Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI."

As people try to spend less time on social media apps, devices like a Brick are surging in popularity. The device forces users to tap their phones in order to access the platforms, creating physical space between the user and the apps. But is relying on more technology to curb our bad phone habits the right approach?

Edward Burtynsky is world famous for his monumental photographs that reveal in overwhelming detail the impact that human beings have had on planet earth. He has travelled all over the world documenting mines, quarries, recycling yards, tailings pods, refineries and factories — places that are essential to the modern world but few of us get to see. We talk about how his working class upbringing in St. Catharines, Ontario, working at General Motors, and in gold mines of northern Ontario shapes his art and how he wants Canadians to weigh the cost of industrial development at a time when major projects are under consideration.

Long before the arrival of Europeans, Indigenous communities enjoyed the pawpaw fruit that grew wild along rivers and streams. Now that tropical tasting fruit is having a resurgence amongst Indigenous chefs and people who prefer local treats. Chef Tawyna Brant explains what she loves about the pawpaw fruit and how she likes to cook with it.

Our national affairs panel looks ahead to a busy political season — amid a trade war, US midterms, an election in Quebec and a referendum in Alberta.

Beginning Sunday, Montreal hosts the UCI Road World Championships. Top cyclists from around the world will compete. But with racers averaging speeds of 42 kilometres an hour, it is a dangerous sport. Crashes are common, and sometimes fatal. This year alone, three competitive riders died during races, with at least six more killed on training rides. In his documentary, CBC's John Chipman investigates what some cyclists say is an urgent need to protect riders.

Many Canadian businesses are losing their US customer base after President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs. Some are now considering moving south of the border to avoid them. What relocating could mean for individual businesses, workers and the economy.

Miranda Mamakwa of Fort Severn First Nation in northern Ontario died after undergoing open-heart surgery in the spring, then missing several follow-up appointments. The mother of three applied for federal funding to pay to travel for the doctor's visits, but she was denied. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation says Miranda's death was not an isolated incident.

With the NHL back in action, what does the hockey season mean to Canadians if it's not easy to watch? As Hockey Night in Canada moves off CBC onto Sportsnet and Amazon, who will be tuning in — and what does that mean for Canada's game?

Acclaimed documentarian Barbara Kopple turns her camera on the struggles of delivery workers in her new film "Union Town." The two-time Oscar winner made her name with "Harlan County USA," a harrowing film about a bitter coal strike in rural Kentucky. She speaks to Matt Galloway about the back-breaking and dangerous work delivery workers do, and what it would take to improve conditions.

Ariel Ekblaw is a space architect looking to solve the problems of life on Earth and beyond. Hear how her designs for a new space habitat could replace the International Space Station, a reality check on data centres in space, and how low orbit manufacturing could hold the key to curing blindness. This is not science fiction, but is the next step in the space race.

EU leader Ursula von der Leyen wants Canada to become the European Union's first associate member, but what Canada wants is a “unique relationship” instead. Is Europe ready for an expansion? And what's in it for Canada? Jeremy Kinsman, former Canadian ambassador to the EU, and Berlin-based EU expert Nicolai von Ondarza weigh in.

A forest fire northwest of Summerland, British Columbia started around dinnertime on August 7th. It's not unusual for the Okanagan to see fires spark in the summer. But what was unusual was how aggressively it spread, causing more than 20-thousand people to flee. Fires are getting bigger and faster. And they're causing more devastation. So, residents and politicians are now trying to figure out how to better prepare. CBC's Sarah Penton explores all that in her documentary, With Speed and Violence.

After years of decline, the monarch butterfly population is bouncing back. We speak to The Atlantic's Vann R. Newkirk II, who travelled to Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and tracked the migration journeys of three monarchs: Cinderella, Eric and Carle. He explains what's behind this butterfly's remarkable comeback and whether it can last.

AI insiders have increasingly been sounding the alarm on the risks of out-of-control superintelligence, with some claiming a non-zero chance that AI could kill all humans before the end of the decade. Author and investigative journalist Stephen Witt lays out the potential scenarios and the corporate interests at play.

Just 4 months after electing Kerry-Lynne Finlay as the new leader of the BC Conservatives, the party is in disarray. So far, 9 MLAs have left the party. Of those, a faction of 7 MLAs has joined together to create another, yet unnamed, right wing party. Rob Shaw of Check News explains what's been happening and tries to give a sense of why.

We hear from Canadian Geographic's 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, David Sturge, about a rare encounter with a seal pup on a melting ice sheet in a Newfoundland Bay, and the stories of environmental stewardship he tells through his pictures.

Doug Kitchen was depressed and lonely after his wife left him. He says using a chatbot was key to his recovery. He's one of a growing number of Canadians turning to AI-powered tools for mental health support. Montreal psychiatrist Vincent Paquin says chatbots can help, but says we still need guardrails for this powerful tech.