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Quirks & Quarks

Is science just a subject for academics and geeks? Not according to the CBC Radio program Quirks & Quarks. When it debuted in 1975, Quirks set out to show Canadians that science is exciting, interesting and relevant to our daily lives — and the program has pursued that same goal ever since. The first host of the show was outspoken geneticist David Suzuki, at the helm from 1975 to 1979. Jay Ingram hosted from 1979 to 1991, and Bob McDonald has been host since 1992. The CBC Digital Archives features the first four entire episodes from the program's inaugural year of 1975, plus a broad selection of shorter clips from throughout the show's history.

Debut episode

Broadcast Date: Oct. 8, 1975

"You don't have to have a PhD to be interested in science," says David Suzuki, host of a brand new radio program called Quirks & Quarks. The 1975 debut episode begins with science writer Isaac Asimov explaining the origins of the word "alcohol." Then, the connection between hair dyes and cancer is explored. Subsequent segments look at flying cars, a burglarproof lock, and chemical and biological warfare. The program ends with the question of the week: "Why does it get dark at night?"

Debut episode

• The debut episode of Quirks & Quarks set the stage for what would be a fairly standard format during the 1975-76 season:
• Scientific word origins with Isaac Asimov.
• Two long-form interviews on a variety of scientific subjects.
• "Visions of the Future" - a fun segment that looks back at what scientific advancements were being predicted for "the future" decades earlier.
• "Inventor of the week," in which an amateur inventor describes his or her invention.
• Richard Lubbock's question of the week (science-related questions from listeners are answered.)

• The connection between hair dye and cancer is still debated. It's now well accepted that before 1980, many hair dyes did contain chemicals known to cause cancer in rodents, but those chemicals aren't being used in hair dyes anymore. Some scientists believe today's hair dyes could still be hazardous to health in some instances, but most recent studies - including a 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association - conclude that evidence of any link between today's hair dye and cancer is weak.

• Flying cars have been a staple of science fiction for decades. And in fact, a number of companies were actually working on developing flying cars in 2008, including California-based Moller and Israel-based Urban Aeronautics. "We believe that it will still be quite a while - decades - before the fantasy of an everyman's flying car becomes a reality," said Urban Aeronautics's Janina Frankel-Yoeli in a 2007 CNN.com article. Hurdles include high cost, and the fact that a whole new transportation infrastructure would be required accommodate flying cars.

Quirks & Quarks: Debut episode

Medium: Radio

Program: Quirks & Quarks

Broadcast Date: Oct. 8, 1975

Guest(s): Bruce Ames, Martin Samoilov


Commentator: Isaac Asimov, Richard Lubbock
Host: David Suzuki

Duration: 57:56

Last updated:
April 3, 2008


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