Skip to main content

STEM Explained

Lac-Mégantic fire on the day of the train derailment

CSI Lac-Mégantic: How are victims identified after a disaster?

STEM Explained

Learn about forensic pathology and other methods scientists use, like analysing the skeletal system, to identify the dead after a disaster.

Screen capture from the video “Dealing With Asteroids and Other Space Hazards”

Dealing with Asteroids and Other Space Hazards

STEM Explained

Find out how asteroids, space debris, and cosmic radiation can be dangerous, and how to monitor them and protect ourselves from these space hazards.

Man being struck by lightning

Do Amps or Volts Kill You?

STEM Explained

This resource explains electricity basics - volts, amps, currents, resistance, and why it is dangerous to touch electrical outlets with wet hands.

Woodpecker on a tree

Do Woodpeckers Get Concussions?

STEM Explained

Pecking puts a lot of force on a woodpecker’s brain. But scientists think woodpecker bodies are adapted to help keep them from being injured during pecking-related collisions.

a boy looks at a hamburger

Do You Know What's On Your Plate?

STEM Explained

In 2013, many Europeans learned their beef lasagnas were actually made of horse meat. Learn about food fraud, and how a Canadian invention can help detect it.

Energy-saving light bulbs are a great way to save money at home

Energy Efficiency at Home

STEM Explained

If you understand heat transfer, you can make lots of little changes at home to help the environment and your household’s bank account!

Wind turbines with energy storage system

Can You Store Electricity for Later?

STEM Explained

Sometimes, power plants make too much electricity. Energy storage technologies can help! They store the extra electricity and release it when demand goes up.

Artist’s conception of NASA’s Space Launch System

Escape Velocity

STEM Explained

Why do a baseball and a rocket need the same launch speed to get from Earth into space? It has to do with physics and gravitational force.

Massive algal bloom

Eutrophication: Why you should care about pond scum

STEM Explained

When fertilizers from agriculture get into lakes and rivers, big problems can result for aquatic ecosystems, food chains & webs!

woman with camera

Eye vs. Camera

STEM Explained

The human eye lets us see the world by sending impulses to our nervous system. In many ways, it is very similar to other optical devices, including cameras.

Woman having a panic attack

Chemical Equilibrium and Panic Attacks

STEM Explained

Panic attacks are scary and they upset your body’s chemical equilibrium. Learn what happens to acids & bases in your circulatory system during a panic attack.

Cocoa beans and cocoa powder

Can Chocolate Make Your Brain Work Better?

STEM Explained

Researchers have found that consuming foods rich in flavanols is linked to more efficient blood flow, which can improve brain function.

T cells and cancer cells - Image © Meletios Verras, iStockPhoto.com

Can Your Own Cells Cure Cancer?

STEM Explained

When a person has cancer, CAR-T Therapy uses their own cells to destroy the cancer cells in their body.

A beaver looks up from the water. Image © Jillian Cooper, iStockPhoto.com

Canadian Invaders!

STEM Explained

Beavers are a Canadian symbol. But in South America, they’re considered an invasive species.

Gingerbread house

A Merry Molecular Christmas

STEM Explained

Many holidays mean delicious food - and smells! This fun article looks at the chemistry behind the common aromas of Christmas.