The Current

Researchers say that artificial intelligence can now tell the difference between an expensive bottle of wine and a bottle of plonk made in someone's garage. Neuroscientist Alex Pouget explains how computer code can measure mouthfeel and more, and what AI can tell us about why certain wines shine.

Close to half a million public sector workers are striking in Quebec, including nurses, social service workers and educators. Matt Galloway calls up a teacher on the picket line to hear why she’s out on strike, and asks a union leader how the public will be impacted by what’s one of the largest strikes in Canadian history.

On her YouTube show Stump Kitchen, Alexis Hillyard shows that life with one hand is no hindrance to cooking great food. Now she’s received a Governor General's Meritorious Service award for her work championing representation for people with limb difference and disabilities in the culinary world.

A U.S. biotech company has unveiled an anti-aging drug that could increase a dog’s lifespan by a full year. The drug isn’t on the market yet, but it’s sparked some debate about what’s in the best interests of the animal — and what people would give for a little extra time with the animals they love.

It can be hard to find happiness in the world these days, but the Big Joy Project asks people to engage in little acts of joy every single day. Project leader Emiliana Simon-Thomas explains the science behind giving people a daily nudge to making their own happiness — from doing something kind for someone else, to taking in the beauty of the natural world.

After more than 70 years, the Canadian version of Reader's Digest will shut down in March. The magazine’s former editor-in-chief Mark Pupo looks back at the legacy of a groundbreaking magazine that had an impact well beyond the doctor’s waiting room.

Desperation is growing in Gaza, where Israel’s military offensive is pushing further south, hostages remain in Hamas detention, and hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since the temporary ceasefire ended last week. Matt Galloway talks to Isam Hammad, who is trying to get his family out via Gaza’s southern border; Médecins Sans Frontières International President Dr. Christos Christou, who has just returned from the region; and Israel's ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed.

Math scores for Canadian students continue to slide, but some say the fault lies not with the students but in how the subject is taught. Matt Galloway asks a panel of experts how we can help kids rediscover the wonder and creativity in mathematics.

Cabbage Patch Kids were the must-have toy for many kids in the 1980s, with parents brawling in stores when there weren’t enough dolls to go around. Dan Goodman, executive producer of new documentary Billion Dollar Babies, says the frenzy around the toys reached “next-level insanity,” in a shopping craze that changed consumer culture.

The federal government plans to lower methane emissions in the oil and gas sector by 75 per cent — but scientists aren't even sure where all this potent greenhouse gas is coming from. We hear how satellite tracking is helping pinpoint methane leaks, from the oil patch to the garbage dump.

U.S. politicians are deadlocked over renewing military funding to Ukraine, with Republicans demanding a tightening of the U.S.-Mexico border in exchange for new overseas funding. Matt Galloway hears what that funding means to Ukraine’s defence against Russia, and whether a shortfall could change the course of the war.

Canada is one of the few countries without nationally mandated paid sick days, leaving many workers feeling forced to work when they’re unwell. Matt Galloway talks to a physician, an economist and a business advocate about the arguments for and against paid sick days — and hears why a pandemic-era push for them stalled.

Nicotine pouches were approved for sale in Canada as a product to help smokers quit — but health experts warn they are being marketed to teens through a loophole.

Calgary is leading the way in converting empty office towers into housing, with more than a dozen projects underway in the city. Experts say only a fraction of buildings are suitable, but the ones that are convertible could help ease the housing crisis and bring vibrant new life to our downtown cores.

Researchers and musicians have collaborated to translate scientific data from deep space into music. NASA scientist Kimberly Arcand and Montreal composer Sophie Kastner explain how they turned starscapes into symphonies.

Flight emissions are a major contributor to climate change, but Canadian businessman John Risley says it's not realistic to think people will just stop air travel. He tells Matt Galloway about his company’s work on curbing those emissions with sustainable aviation fuel, made from waste fats and plant sugars. The Aviation Environment Federation's Cait Hewitt says that sustainable fuel solutions are decades away, and baby steps won’t cut it.

The holiday advertising season has begun, and companies are using humour, nostalgia or just a good old-fashioned tear-jerker to sell their wares. Under The Influence host Terry O'Reilly highlights the best Christmas ads and what companies are really trying to pitch you on.

Venezuelans have voted overwhelmingly in favour of setting up a new state in an oil-rich territory called Essequibo. The snag? Essequibo makes up roughly two-thirds of neighbouring country Guyana, with a population of more than 200,000. Washington Post reporter Ana Vanessa Herrero discusses what happens next with the disputed region.

Many Canadians are dealing with colds and flu right now, and some with RSV and COVID-19 infections. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch discusses what to expect this winter virus season — and why there’s no need to panic about an uptick in what's being called “white lung syndrome” among children.

With the world’s eyes on Gaza, a Palestinian farmer in the West Bank says his community is facing a surge in Israeli settler violence, which has prompted fears of escalating conflict in the wider region.