Detecting COVID in sewage, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, pet dogs fail at rescue, AI sources fossil poop, and the insect apocalypse

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)

May 30: Swearing makes pain more tolerable, Mt. St. Helens 40 years later, turning plants into carnivores and COVID reopening speedbumps

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).

May 23: Can COVID cut climate emissions permanently? Robot stand-up comedy and more, evolving animals from worm guts to fish fingers and adapting to climate change on the prairies

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.

May 16: COVID unknowns, a giant sloth graveyard, drying northern peatlands, and this is your brain on fear

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

May 9: COVID stress and pregnancy, a black hole in our backyard, solving koalas’ drinking problem and how to live on Mars

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

May 2: COVID and social isolation, COVID and dreams, the most dangerous place on Earth, Satellite streak watcher and Coping with sea level rise in Nova Scotia

Your brain’s ‘hunger’ for social interaction and your strange COVID dreams. Scientists describe ‘the most dangerous place in the history of planet Earth.' The wrong kind of ‘constellations’ are threatening astronomical observations. Sea level’s rising faster in the Maritimes, but science can help communities plan and prepare.

Apr 25: Deepwater Horizon 10 years later, COVID-19 and understanding immunity. Invaders eat Europe’s ragweed, and making AI compatible with humans.

10 years after Deepwater Horizon — what has science learned from the spill? COVID-19 What we're learning — and what we need to know — about immunity. The threat from AI is not that it will revolt, it’s that it’ll do exactly as it’s told. Ragweed allergy sufferers in Europe get relief thanks to invasive beetle

Apr 18: Age, sex and COVID-19 vulnerability, learning from pterosaur flight and, Earth Day’s odd birthday, and a super-dupernova

‘Men are at a huge disadvantage’ — who is getting hit hardest by COVID-19 and why. Pterosaurs haven’t soared for 67 million years, but they can still teach us about flight. Earth Day 2020 — the 50th anniversary will be the weirdest Earth Day ever. The ‘super’ in this supernova means the biggest and brightest one we’ve ever seen

Introducing Unlocking Bryson's Brain

Unlocking Bryson’s Brain is the latest release from CBC Podcasts. Bryson seems like a perfectly healthy baby. But soon doctors confirm his parents’ worst fears: something is wrong with Bryson’s brain. Despite dozens of tests over nearly a decade, doctors come up empty in their efforts to find a diagnosis.Then one day, everything changes. Scientists working at the cutting edge of genetics believe they know what's causing Bryson's disease — and think it could be reversed. Here’s the first bonus episode of the new CBC podcast, Unlocking Bryson’s Brain. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/unlocking

Apr 11: COVID-19 transmission, reliving Apollo 13 in real time, birds watch out for rhinos, toads outbreed in hard times, and sports in mesoamerica 3400 years ago.

Why speaking ‘moistly’ could be partly to blame for the rapid spread of COVID-19. Apollo 13 was a near-disaster that became a triumph — now you can experience it in real time. The birds on their backs are a distant early warning system for endangered rhinos. A desert toad chooses to mate with another species when times get tough. Play ball! Researchers find ancient ballcourt in Mexico’s highlands.