Office Hours

House Hunting in the Milky Way

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:31:59 GMT

With over 100 billion stars in the galaxy and at least that number of planets, it feels… strange that we haven't found any signs of life. Not even a single cell. In today’s episode, we sit down with PhD student Drew Weisserman, who talks about his research and how it could help our search for life beyond Earth. Delving deep into the stars might bring us closer to answering one of humanity’s oldest questions: Are we alone in the universe?

Resources to learn more:

Department of Physics and Astronomy Colloquia - Weekly presentations on campus from visiting and McMaster researchers presenting their work and the broader implications.
Solar System Fun Facts - Facts from NASA to learn more about our solar system, and beyond.

I Change, You Change, Climate Changes

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:31:57 GMT

Climate change isn’t a distant threat; it is happening now, affecting communities around the world. But it’s not a single problem with a single solution. It is a complex challenge that can be addressed in many different ways. In this episode, we sit down with two researchers, Dr. Charles De Lannoy and Storm Gourley, who are working on technologies that could be game-changing in the fight against the climate crisis. With the right support, their research has the potential to guide humanity towards a more sustainable future.

Resources to learn more:

The Carbon Curve Podcast: A podcast that discusses different carbon removal technologies
Plan Sea Podcast: A podcast that discusses ocean-based carbon dioxide removal
delannoylab.com or this link: Information on all the different projects the de Lannoy lab is conducting at McMaster
International Energy Agency: Discusses how renewable and non-renewable energy sources are used around the world
NASA Images of Change: Displays before and after images of different locations on Earth that have visibly been harmed by the climate crisis.

Why is Everyone Allergic to Everything?

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:28:13 GMT

Fifty years ago, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a staple in school cafeterias. Now they’re banned because there are so many nut allergies. In today’s episode of Office Hours, we sit down with assistant professor Dr. Josh Koenig, who discusses the recent surge in food allergies, his discovery, and how it could help us lead to better allergy treatments.

Resources to Learn More:

Food Allergy Canada Videos : Short and engaging videos from Food Allergy Canada, all about food allergy awareness and education

Recorded Webinars and Events : Recorded webinars and events with experts discussing allergy research and treatments

Allergy School : A tool for parents and educators to teach children all about allergies