There seems to be a lot of excitement about natural hydrogen lately. But why is the level of interest peaking now? Could it be part of the solution to the climate crisis? Is it the environmentally friendly game changer everyone is looking for? Or not? To answer those questions and more, we reached out to one of our hydrogen experts, as well as a sc…

We, as human beings, find ourselves in a challenging situation when it comes to carbon emissions. Almost everything we do in our modern lives produces carbon emissions, which impact the very environment we live in. Is it possible to maintain our quality of life AND reduce our carbon emissions? Our scientists are working hard to address that issue. …

We all know metals like gold, copper and nickel are essential to our way of life. Metals are used in just about everything. So how do we make sure that we have a continuous supply of these metals? How do you find new ore deposits to make sure we meet future demand? Our scientists are working hard to specifically address that issue. Listen to find o…

There’s nothing quite like a Canadian winter. Majestic scenery, fun outdoor activities, and brutally cold days that cause your heating bill to skyrocket. Scientists and engineers at Natural Resources Canada believe a promising technology can help reduce your energy consumption, the heat pump. On this episode: What are heat pumps? How do they work? …

In Cape Bathurst, where Canada's mainland meets the Arctic Ocean, an entire coastline is burning. Aptly named the Smoking Hills, it's home to a really unique geological feature: a deposit of sedimentary rock that's been burning and smouldering continuously for thousands of years. On this episode, we'll be speaking with a research scientist who visi…

There are, on average, over 4,000 earthquakes in Canada each year. Many of those earthquakes occur in Western Canada, but Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces also see their fair share of seismic events. On this episode, we’ll be speaking with a seismologist who has spent over 30 years studying earthquakes in Eastern Canada.Recommended Links:…

On this episode, we’re going to look at a real-life bug battle that rivals Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III! We have with us an entomologist — or bug expert — who’s going to break down this iconic matchup. Make sure to listen to find out which bug is brave enough to take on the spruce budworm.Recommended Links:• Bug fight: the eme…

We use methane every day to heat our homes, grow our food, create fertilizers and produce things like hydrogen that we use in clean fuel cells. But methane is a really potent greenhouse gas and a significant contributor to global warming. On this episode, we discuss what is methane, how we use it, and how we can reduce the amount we release in the …

Southeast of mainland Nova Scotia sits "Sable Island", a small crescent shaped island home to magnificent wild horses and one-of-a-kind wildlife. But with the potential impacts of climate change on sensitive coastal areas, can a small island made entirely of sand survive the forces of nature in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? On this episode, we …

Scientists make discoveries by building on previous discoveries made by scientists before them. But what happens when the next generation of scientists is not an accurate representation of the population? What happens when we fail to bring in fresh perspectives? On this episode, we talk about the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the world…

When it comes to nuclear energy, Canada has always been an innovator. This goes all the way back to 1952 with the development of the world-renowned CANDU reactor. Seventy years later, Canada is leading the charge once again. On this episode, we talk about the future of nuclear energy — small modular reactors.Photo Credit: Third Way (https://www.thi…

The elm zigzag sawfly, an exotic insect found in Asia and Europe that feeds on elm trees, has never been found in North America… that is until now. On this episode, we talk about how a photo by a nature photographer lead to the discovery of the insect on this side of the pond.Recommended Links:•Citizen scientist spots a newcomer on Canadian elm tre…

If you introduce a foreign species to a new environment, even by accident, it can wreak havoc on the ecosystem. On this episode, we talk to a scientist who has been dealing with one of these foreign species, the Asian longhorned beetle. This insect is black and white, about the same length as your thumb, and likes to get around by hitching rides on…

Forests provide us with an array of social, economic and environmental benefits, which is why we need to ensure that they stay healthy. Things like natural disasters, pests and resource extractions can pose a problem. On this episode, we talk to a scientist who is working with industry, academia, Indigenous communities and various levels of governm…

Look around! Apollo 11, the smallpox vaccine, the first direct evidence of dark matter in space. These are just a few of the outstanding scientific breakthroughs made possible by women working hard behind the scenes. In this episode we look at how women have helped make science, and our world, what it is today. Do you want to be an arctic explorer,…

The spruce budworm is an insect that eats the needles of fir and spruce, weakening the trees an putting them at risk for disease or even death. As if that wasn't enough, researchers are now looking at the potential impact that spruce budworm outbreaks could have on climate change. On today's episode: killer insects, scientific collaboration and ela…

Today, we hear from someone who started his career by fighting fires on the ground. Now, he’s turned his sights to the sky. We’re about to find out how a satellite the size of a dishwasher could radically change the way we fight fires in Canada. WildFireSat: Enhancing Canada's ability to manage wildfires, Canadian Space Agency – https://www.asc-csa…

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to conduct research up North? Like, way up North, in the middle of the Arctic, in the middle of nowhere up North? David Mate from the Polar Continental Shelf Program joins us to talk about how his team supports nearly 1,000 people per year to conduct scientific research in some of the most extreme conditions.Po…

We received a lot of feedback from listeners who are interested in energy efficiency and curious about what they can do to make their existing home more energy-efficient. We decided to bring back Chris McLellan from the Office of Energy Efficiency to discuss getting better performance and comfort out of your home.The Future of Energy Efficiency for…

Marine geoscientist Calvin Campbell joins us to talk about the importance of a specific underwater landslide that caused a massive tsunami in Newfoundland back in 1929. Calvin is part of a team studying this historical landslide, and shares with us recent findings that changed our perception of the event.Recommended Links- The 1929 Magnitude 7.2 "G…

This episode is all about earthquakes. We are joined by seismologist John Cassidy who explains what causes earthquakes, where they are more likely to occur, and he answers the big question: “can we predict them?”Recommended Links:-Earthquakes Canada - http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index-en.php-BC Shakeout - https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/John Cas…

For the past two decades, ash trees have been under attack by a tiny, yet formidable foe – the emerald ash borer. This invasive pest has already killed tens of millions of ash trees and shows no signs of letting up. On this episode, we are speaking with an expert that is conserving ash seeds for future restoration activities.Recommended Links:-Nati…

Like many organizations, the Government of Canada is exploring ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into our work to make us more efficient and effective. On this episode, we’ll learn what artificial intelligence is, and we’ll see how it can be used to solve problems that the natural resource sectors are facing.CIFAR Pan-Canadian Artificial …

Have you ever wondered exactly what’s under the hood of an electric vehicle? Specifically, what kind of batteries do they use and how different are they from the ones you find in a gas-powered vehicle? Research engineer Kathleen Lombardi answers our pressing questions about electric vehicle batteries. Buying an electric vehicle (Natural Resources C…

During a geological mapping expedition to the western Canadian Arctic in 2014, research scientist Rob Rainbird collected samples that yielded microfossils of a species of fungus that is about one billion years old. Rob joins us to share his experience in the field, as well as discuss his discovery.Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM): https://…

With Canada’s newest generation of radar satellites successfully launched, it is now up to Natural Resources Canada to establish communication. Our experts will help activate the three satellites so that they can start capturing images. Find out how on this episode of Natural Elements.Canada Centre for Remote Sensing: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/scienc…

The spruce budworm is a notorious forest pest that has been causing havoc in recent years in Eastern Canada. It feeds on new foliage from spruce and fir trees, often killing them in the process. Rob Johns from the Canadian Forest Service joins us to talk about the measures taken to slow down the spruce budworm outbreak.Healthy Forest Partnership: h…

In the 1980s, scientist Kim Conway was part of an expedition to map the continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean. During this mission, he made a fascinating and unexpected discovery – unique reefs that were long thought to be extinct. Kim explains the significance of this discovery and what it means for science. Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Gl…

Managing forest fires is all about balancing the good and the bad. Richard Carr from the Canadian Forest Service explains the type of research that Natural Resources Canada conducts to better understand forest fires and help manage both the risks and benefits.Canadian Wildland Fire Information System: http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/homeForest Fires –…

Research scientist Peter Gogolek explains to us what is renewable hydrogen, how it is used by the energy sector, as well as how it can help Canada lower its carbon footprint.De către Natural Resources Canada

In the first episode of our new series Natural Elements, Simon Tolszczuk-Leclerc from Natural Resources Canada’s Emergency Geomatics Service explains how we use satellite imagery to monitor flooding. This information is valuable to first responders and local governments managing flood risks.Floods and river ice break-up: www.nrcan.gc.ca/hazards/flo…

On this episode of “Ask NRCan,” research scientist David Mosher talks about his experiences travelling to the North on a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker to map the Arctic Ocean floor.De către Natural Resources Canada

On this episode of “Ask NRCan,” engineer Chris McLellan talks about the next generation of energy efficient homes in Canada.De către Natural Resources Canada

On this episode of “Ask NRCan,” research scientist Alexandre Normandeau talks about his work on underwater landslides and their impacts on coastal communities.De către Natural Resources Canada

On this episode of AskNRCan, our experts explain how we’re working to increase the use of wood in non-traditional buildings like high-rises, commercial box stores, bridges and more.De către Natural Resources Canada

Experts Peter Gogolek and Jean-François Levasseur discuss bioplastics, a type of plastic made from renewable biomass sources like vegetable fats and oils, straw, and woodchips. Are bioplastics truly better than petroleum based plastics? Listen to find out.De către Natural Resources Canada

Scientists Yan Boulanger and Sylvie Gauthier talk about how forest fire behavior and frequency are impacted by a changing climate.De către Natural Resources Canada

On this episode of AskNRCan, scientist Heather Dettman sits down with us to discuss her work with diluted bitumen to improve the transportation of crude oil and better understand how oil spills behave in water.De către Natural Resources Canada

Rare earth elements are found in just about every type of high-tech device from smart phones to electric vehicles. In this episode of our Ask NRCan podcast, we sit down with expert Janice Zinck to discuss what rare earth elements are, why they are important and what type of research Natural Resources Canada is doing to help Canadian industry.…

In this episode, Diane Cameron and Dave McCauley discuss how nuclear energy will play a key role in meeting our international climate targets.De către Natural Resources Canada

In this episode of Ask NRCan, Yves Madore talks about the most common misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles, from infrastructure to distance to charge time.De către Natural Resources Canada

In this episode of Ask NRCan, we talk to research scientist Peter Morse about climate change geoscience and permafrost research in the North.De către Natural Resources Canada

In this edition of Ask NRCan, we discuss advanced material research for pipeline use with Philippe Dauphin, Director General of CanmetMATERIALS.De către Natural Resources Canada

In this edition of Ask NRCan, researcher John Foran takes us through the basics of pipelines in Canada.De către Natural Resources Canada

Dr. Jennifer Galloway explains how scientists rely on traditional knowledge to complement and supplement the scientific work conducted at NRCan.De către Natural Resources Canada