Bob McDonald’s prime conversations with the world’s smartest folks

By our tough estimate, Bob McDonald has carried out greater than 7,000 interviews over the previous 30 years as host of Quirks & Quarks. And whereas it is a problem for him to select a favorite, listed here are just a few standouts:

Bob’s first episode

Airing on Oct. 24, 1992, Bob seamlessly slid into the host chair for the primary time with little fanfare. If he was nervous to have lastly landed his dream job, he did not present it. 

He interviewed researchers akin to David Lewis about whether or not dental tools might unfold AIDS, Edward J. Weiler in regards to the Hubble house telescope’s troubles, and Richard Wassersug a few frog with some unusual reproductive behaviours. 

The universe is half the dimensions we thought it will be

In 1994, scientists had been in a position to calculate a much more correct distance measurement between Earth and a pair of galaxies within the distant universe. The issue is that these galaxies had been nearer than that they had thought, and as astronomer Peter Stetson informed Bob, it meant that the universe was considerably youthful and smaller than anticipated. 

This was the perception that led scientists to the idea that one thing was inflicting the universe to increase — the darkish vitality.

Nobel Laureates take us by the trying glass

Bob has interviewed many Nobel Laureates in his 30 years, however this episode was a uncommon deal with — in 1995 he hosted a number of Nobel Prize winners within the studio on the similar time, all speaking about the way forward for science. 

On this particular version of Quirks & Quarks, we hear from George Porter and Ilya Prigogine, celebrated for his or her work in chemistry, and Christian de Duve, who was awarded the Nobel for his work in drugs.

Jane Goodall displays on her storied profession

In 2002, the legendary primatologist stopped in to speak with Bob forward of the Canadian launch of her IMAX movie Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees. Bob and Jane spoke about how a woman rising up in city England developed a love for animals, why scientists crucial of her work had been flawed, and the way she was in a position to get near the wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream Nationwide Park.

“After months and months, when these wonderful creatures would run away as if I used to be some terrifying unusual ape, lastly I bought their belief… and people moments had been the reward,” she informed Bob.

First planet outdoors of our photo voltaic system

In 1994, scientists, together with Alexander Wolszczan who spoke with Bob, made the invention of the primary planet outdoors of our photo voltaic system. It was thrilling information on the time however, since then, researchers in establishments world wide have found hundreds of extra-solar planets. 

We now consider most stars doubtless have planets, which might imply tons of of billions in our galaxy alone.

twenty fifth anniversary of Earth Day

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, and for the twenty fifth anniversary of this celebration of our planet, Bob spoke with Elizabeth Might, then-director of the Sierra Membership, about whether or not the day really did something to assist environmental causes — or whether or not it was simply stuffed with sizzling air.

Reaching all of the planets of our photo voltaic system

Bob had a once-in-a-lifetime expertise when he was allowed into the management room at Johns Hopkins College to observe because the probe New Horizons zoomed round Pluto in 2015. Afterwards, he spoke with the mission’s principal investigator, Alan Stern.

Carl Sagan on the seek for life

Only a few interview visitors go away Bob starstruck, however that is precisely what occurred when cosmologist Carl Sagan got here into the Quirks & Quarks studio to document a number of segments in early 1995. Here is the primary, which aired in March of that 12 months.

The onset of the Web

Again in 1993, Bob spoke with new media knowledgeable Paul Hoffert of York College about an thrilling new expertise: a communication community that may switch giant quantities of knowledge through fiber optics into folks’s places of work and personal houses. On the time it was dubbed the digital freeway, however as we speak we simply name it the web.

Canada’s first feminine Nobel laureate

On Oct. 6, 2018, Canadian scientist Donna Strickland was awoken by a telephone name she’ll always remember — even when, at first, she thought it was a prank and hung up on the Nobel committee.

Strickland, a professor within the division of physics and astronomy on the College of Waterloo, is likely one of the Nobel Prize recipients for her work on chirped pulse amplification.

twenty fifth anniversary present

Again within the 12 months 2000, the present celebrated its twenty fifth season by pretending Bob had been cloned and woken up within the 12 months 2025. 

On this hypothetical world, Bob interviewed a number of collection regulars who’re specialists of their fields to share what was taking place on this planet of science, 25 years sooner or later. The result’s a wacky episode that includes a complete bunch of scientific predictions that have not come true — however many who did.

And as a bonus:

Here is Bob’s first piece for CBC Radio. It is a section that aired on Concepts in January 1978 for a particular collection in regards to the local weather referred to as Working Sizzling and Chilly. Bob begins on the 20:40 mark however the entire episode is price a pay attention.

Written by Amanda Buckiewicz.