Pandemic boredom research is thrilling and — and might even be helpful; A dinosaur's 'butthole' was a swiss-army-knife of orifices; Building Earth's largest telescope on the far side of the moon; Mussels play a 'shell game' to deal with increasingly corrosive ocean waters; Cancer cells 'hibernate' to hide from chemotherapy.

Fourteen year-old Tai Poole returns with Season 3 of Tai Asks Why to ask: What’s happening in my teen brain? How is the Universe going to end? Why do humans dance? And how much screen time is too much? Join Tai as he boldly goes where no 9th-grader has gone before to find you answers you never knew you needed. His conversations with everyone from NASA experts, to physicists and dancers, to his little brother Kien will expand your mind, no matter how old you are! More episodes are available at http://hyperurl.co/taiaskswhy

Snakes tie themselves in knots to climb up slippery poles after endangered prey; Spinning stars act as cosmic lighthouses to help detect gravitational waves; Heavy machinery is compacting agricultural soils. Can we persuade plants to put up with it?; Canada committed to protecting 30% of our territory by 2030. Which 30% should it be?; ‘Shocking’ electric eel pack-hunting behaviour discovered in the Amazon.

New COVID variants: what’s driving the virus to evolve, and what we can do about it; A 60,000 year-old frozen wolf cub paints a picture of ice age life; Jellyfish are the ocean’s most efficient swimmers - here’s how they do it; An online learning expert explains how the COVID crisis might help change education for the better.

The Quirks & Quarks annual Question show, ten questions, ten answers.

The 'best of' Quirks 2020 season as selected by the show's producers

Do you feel lucky? A biologist explains we exist because of ‘A Series of Fortunate Events’; A ‘Black hole Survival guide’ and your brief life in a paradox of space and time; A new book about our ‘Kindred,’ the Neanderthals, puts to rest the brutish image.

Citizen scientist help reveal new features of the mysterious aurora-like STEVE; Superbolts and megaflashes — scientists study souped up lightning; Hyperventilate yourself sober — a simple new device could help treat acute alcohol poisoning; Bees defend themselves from giant asian ‘murder’ hornets with animal poop; Maydianne Andrade on black widow spiders, and fighting for racial equity in science.

Pluto probe finds mysterious ‘night light’ in the universe; Your smartwatch might be able to detect early signs of COVID-19; These birds communicate through feather flutters - and even have different accents; Scientists reverse aging in retinal cells by removing genetic 'rust' to restore vision; Ice Walker — a mother polar bear's precarious existence in the changing Arctic; Why does Jupiter’s moon Io have volcanoes but our moon doesn’t?

Could quick COVID ‘antigen’ tests break the back of the pandemic?;This gorgeous African rat combs poison into its fur to deter predators; Neuroscience suggests that yes, when you see purple, it's the same purple I see; The world's major climate zones - polar, temperate and tropical - are transforming as we watch; Why are the hottest temperatures measured in Death Valley?