Latest news with #TheNatureofThings
Hamilton Spectator
19 hours ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Nature of Things' looks at how parenthood changes men's brains and bodies with ‘Dad Bods'
TORONTO - A new episode of CBC's 'The Nature of Things,' timed to Father's Day, explores some of the ways men's brains and bodies adapt to parenthood. The episode titled 'Dad Bods' takes viewers across Canada and around the world to look at social and scientific elements of fatherhood. The Canadian Press spoke with director Christine McLean about how the doc, available now on CBC Gem, came together. CP: Tell me about the tone of the documentary. McLean: I like to think that it's not just humorous, but it's warm-hearted... I think the most important point that came out of all this science, most of it quite recent, only in the last 20 years or so, is that we as humans, we have these incredible bodies that are so adaptable. And especially our brains. What the science is showing us is that given the opportunity, we all have the potential, whether we're male or female, to be great nurturing parents. Dads become more empathetic than they might have been before they had children, but they also become experts in their own child. The part of the brain that's stimulated is the part that allows us to read social cues. And they really become very intelligent in terms of figuring out why a baby is in distress. CP: Did anything you learned while making the documentary surprise you? McLean: I did not know that a man's testosterone typically goes down after he has a child. It made a certain amount of sense because I think many of us notice that when a person becomes a parent, they become a softer, gentler version of themselves... I had no idea that that was linked to biological changes inside that person. That was the first surprise. All men are impacted by hands-on care of children: grandfathers, uncles, adoptive fathers. If they're holding that child, they have those hormonal changes happening. That was all new to me. I think new to most people was the recent science about the benefits of what they call skin-to-skin care, which is common in Canadian hospitals. I remember noticing a few years ago friends would send me photographs of babies being held by their dads, and the dads would have their shirts off. And I'm thinking, what is happening in the delivery room these days? It puzzled me. Is this a weird new selfie that people are taking? Little did I know that there's all kinds of physical benefits to that. The father's heart rate goes down, his blood pressure goes down, the baby is comforted. But also the baby often will take in the good gut bacteria that can be on the dad's skin and it helps their digestive system. And who knew that? That was only discovered a couple of years ago. And we now know that for babies who are born via caesarean section, they don't get the gut bacteria from the mom that they get with a conventional birth. And yet, if dads practise skin-to-skin care, the latest science shows that their contribution to that baby's gut health is as robust as the mom's would have been had she delivered vaginally. It's extraordinary. CP: The episode made me think about masculinity, and the conversations we're having around what masculinity means. McLean: It wasn't one of my goals to delve into that, but watching it, you can't help but think about these things. I would say that anybody watching this documentary is not going to be left with the feeling that a good father isn't masculine. I think they're going to have the exact opposite feeling. The book that inspired it ('Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies' by American primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy) delves into that a little bit more. There is this sense that if we are to give men permission or at least encourage them to be close to their children, that the changes that happen in their body result in a different kind of masculinity. I'm not going to say it's less masculine... I think that there's kind of a new version of a hero that's evolving when it comes to fathering children. And I think today's heroes are the dads who get up in the night, the dads that change the diapers, the dads that worry about whether their children are happy. And I don't think that makes them less a man. I think it makes them a greater human being. And I think that discovering there was so much going on in the male body in a sense takes gender out of the equation. CP: How would you respond to someone who doesn't like the idea of their testosterone level going down? McLean: The fact that testosterone goes down, when that was discovered about 20 years ago, it attracted a lot of attention and led to this burgeoning field of science. And I can only assume that there was some concern about that on the part of men, because it's testosterone that allows men and women to build body mass. It leads to competitiveness, it leads to assertiveness. None of those things are bad. The thought of losing some of that, I can understand where somebody — particularly a young man — might not like thinking about that. But anybody who watches this documentary will see that the rewards for being a hands-on dad are so great. Losing a little testosterone in the process is no big deal when you see the rewards, the bonds that develop with your child. We couldn't fit everything into the documentary, but what the data shows is, in addition to fathers living longer and having greater health, they have stronger marriages. They have better relationships with their kids. We were focused on the dads, but if you were to look at the children, there are so many profound benefits to a child to having a hands-on dad, in terms of how well they do in school, how well their mental health is. And I think that a good dad makes for a good family, and good families make for a great community, and there's just these ripples of positive impact from dads being as involved as they are today. This interview was edited for length and clarity. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Nature of Things' looks at how parenthood changes men's brains and bodies with ‘Dad Bods'
TORONTO – A new episode of CBC's 'The Nature of Things,' timed to Father's Day, explores some of the ways men's brains and bodies adapt to parenthood. The episode titled 'Dad Bods' takes viewers across Canada and around the world to look at social and scientific elements of fatherhood. The Canadian Press spoke with director Christine McLean about how the doc, available now on CBC Gem, came together. CP: Tell me about the tone of the documentary. McLean: I like to think that it's not just humorous, but it's warm-hearted… I think the most important point that came out of all this science, most of it quite recent, only in the last 20 years or so, is that we as humans, we have these incredible bodies that are so adaptable. And especially our brains. What the science is showing us is that given the opportunity, we all have the potential, whether we're male or female, to be great nurturing parents. Dads become more empathetic than they might have been before they had children, but they also become experts in their own child. The part of the brain that's stimulated is the part that allows us to read social cues. And they really become very intelligent in terms of figuring out why a baby is in distress. CP: Did anything you learned while making the documentary surprise you? McLean: I did not know that a man's testosterone typically goes down after he has a child. It made a certain amount of sense because I think many of us notice that when a person becomes a parent, they become a softer, gentler version of themselves… I had no idea that that was linked to biological changes inside that person. That was the first surprise. All men are impacted by hands-on care of children: grandfathers, uncles, adoptive fathers. If they're holding that child, they have those hormonal changes happening. That was all new to me. I think new to most people was the recent science about the benefits of what they call skin-to-skin care, which is common in Canadian hospitals. I remember noticing a few years ago friends would send me photographs of babies being held by their dads, and the dads would have their shirts off. And I'm thinking, what is happening in the delivery room these days? It puzzled me. Is this a weird new selfie that people are taking? Little did I know that there's all kinds of physical benefits to that. The father's heart rate goes down, his blood pressure goes down, the baby is comforted. But also the baby often will take in the good gut bacteria that can be on the dad's skin and it helps their digestive system. And who knew that? That was only discovered a couple of years ago. And we now know that for babies who are born via caesarean section, they don't get the gut bacteria from the mom that they get with a conventional birth. And yet, if dads practise skin-to-skin care, the latest science shows that their contribution to that baby's gut health is as robust as the mom's would have been had she delivered vaginally. It's extraordinary. CP: The episode made me think about masculinity, and the conversations we're having around what masculinity means. McLean: It wasn't one of my goals to delve into that, but watching it, you can't help but think about these things. I would say that anybody watching this documentary is not going to be left with the feeling that a good father isn't masculine. I think they're going to have the exact opposite feeling. The book that inspired it ('Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies' by American primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy) delves into that a little bit more. There is this sense that if we are to give men permission or at least encourage them to be close to their children, that the changes that happen in their body result in a different kind of masculinity. I'm not going to say it's less masculine… I think that there's kind of a new version of a hero that's evolving when it comes to fathering children. And I think today's heroes are the dads who get up in the night, the dads that change the diapers, the dads that worry about whether their children are happy. And I don't think that makes them less a man. I think it makes them a greater human being. And I think that discovering there was so much going on in the male body in a sense takes gender out of the equation. CP: How would you respond to someone who doesn't like the idea of their testosterone level going down? McLean: The fact that testosterone goes down, when that was discovered about 20 years ago, it attracted a lot of attention and led to this burgeoning field of science. And I can only assume that there was some concern about that on the part of men, because it's testosterone that allows men and women to build body mass. It leads to competitiveness, it leads to assertiveness. None of those things are bad. The thought of losing some of that, I can understand where somebody — particularly a young man — might not like thinking about that. But anybody who watches this documentary will see that the rewards for being a hands-on dad are so great. Losing a little testosterone in the process is no big deal when you see the rewards, the bonds that develop with your child. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. We couldn't fit everything into the documentary, but what the data shows is, in addition to fathers living longer and having greater health, they have stronger marriages. They have better relationships with their kids. We were focused on the dads, but if you were to look at the children, there are so many profound benefits to a child to having a hands-on dad, in terms of how well they do in school, how well their mental health is. And I think that a good dad makes for a good family, and good families make for a great community, and there's just these ripples of positive impact from dads being as involved as they are today. This interview was edited for length and clarity. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
CBC
20-03-2025
- Science
- CBC
I thought my body was safe from microplastics. I was wrong
Social Sharing Nothing will radicalize you like seeing another person's garbage in your body. In my blood, in my lungs and in my guts, there are tiny, invisible particles of plastic bags, medical waste, tire dust, synthetic clothing and food packaging. Making the film Plastic People made me realize I am a human landfill. In the documentary, from The Nature of Things, I have my home, food and body tested for microplastics as part of an investigation into our addiction to plastic — and the growing threat to human health. I began the journey thinking my body was relatively pristine. As a bona fide eco-nerd, I thought there couldn't be that much plastic in my home. My rug and sofa are made of natural fibres; I don't eat a lot of fast food; I even use beeswax wraps for my leftovers. And this is why, when we first began discussing ideas for the film, I thought I should try to burden my body with extra plastic — by eating shellfish, for example, which I don't normally do — to see if we could detect a spike in my system. Turns out that wasn't necessary. My body was already inundated. While the science is new, studies on microplastics in the human body are revealing just how insidious the tiny toxic particles are. A recent study looking at the human brain, for instance, found we may have anywhere from five to seven grams of plastic lodged between our ears (though experts I spoke with suggested the actual number is not that high). Seven grams of plastic — the high end of the estimate — is roughly the weight of a disposable plastic spoon. It's a fitting image when you consider that an estimated 40 billion plastic utensils are used and thrown away every single year in the United States alone. And that plastic doesn't disappear. It breaks down into tiny pieces that sweep into our oceans, are buried in the soil and drift into the air. We breathe in that plastic. We eat that plastic. We drink that plastic (about 80 per cent of tap water contains microplastics). So it shouldn't come as a surprise that when we trash the environment, we inevitably trash our bodies too. Still, reading about microplastics in the headlines is one thing, but seeing that garbage in your body is quite another. We are becoming plastic people For the documentary, I travelled around the world and met with scientists to test the microplastic burden in my body. I will spare you the gory details of having to test my feces (very unglamorous), but it was the microplastics in my blood that I found most shocking. My samples were tested as part of a double-blind study. In the film, researchers were finding an average of 11 microplastic particles in 2.5 millilitres of blood — the equivalent of half a teaspoon. Now, keep in mind the average adult has about five litres of blood in their body. If just 2.5 millilitres contains 11 microplastic particles, do the math and consider how much garbage is coursing through your body. We are literally becoming plastic people. Microplastics are everywhere, including in our blood 55 minutes ago Duration 1:22 Ziya Tong participated in a double-blind study testing microplastics in donor blood. In the documentary Plastic People, researchers found microplastics in every 2.5-millilitre blood sample — the equivalent of half a teaspoon. Watch Plastic People on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube channel. Can we stop plastic pollution? The thing is, while plastic is ubiquitous, most of us still don't see it in our surroundings. That's because so much plastic is invisible and hides where you'd least expect it: in paint, flooring, paper cups, clothes, chewing gum, cigarette butts, makeup, sunscreen — it's even in our produce stickers. It goes without saying that the campaigns that focus solely on banning plastic straws or bags are missing the mark. This brings us to the question I'm most often asked: what can be done to stop plastic pollution? The good news is there are some very smart and dedicated people working to ban single-use plastics. Right now, the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations are taking place, with 170 countries working on a legal framework to stop plastics pollution. There is also a growing business coalition, which is working toward systemic change and a circular economy. There are Plastic Free Communities around the world, where residents are fighting against single-use plastics, and in Plastic People, we delve into new technologies and plastic alternatives. So there absolutely is hope, and there are solutions. The very first step to solving a big problem is identifying it and naming it. Ten years ago, few people even knew the problem of microplastics existed. Today, the tiny, invisible threat is making front-page news. The key thing to remember is that we do know how to solve big problems. Just as DDT was phased out in the 1970s after we understood its harms, if we work together to ban single-use plastics now, we will reduce the harmful effects of microplastics on the planetary body and, importantly, on the human body too. Watch Plastic People on CBC Gem and the CBC Docs YouTube channel.
CBC
20-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Microplastics are everywhere: 6 ways to help protect your health — and the planet
Purging our world of microplastics requires change at the government level. But until that happens, here are some things individuals can do to make a difference. Plastic pollution has reached every corner of our planet, from the highest mountaintops to deep ocean trenches. It also contaminates the air we breathe and water we drink. According to a 2023 report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. And around 85 per cent of it ends up in landfills, incinerators or the environment, where it breaks down into hazardous microplastics. In Plastic People, a documentary from The Nature of Things, Sarika Cullis-Suzuki connects with science journalist Ziya Tong to explore our plastic-filled world and its potential impacts on human health. Tiny particles, big impact Microplastics — particles under five millimetres in length — can be deliberately manufactured for inclusion in products like cosmetics. But much of them come from the degradation of packaging, synthetic fabrics, paint, personal care products and other plastic items. "Some of it, as it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, can go up into the atmosphere and travel globally that way," says ecologist Chelsea Rochman in the film. "It is eaten by almost every level of the food chain … so it's [in] atmospheric currents, global dust cycles, the water cycle, the carbon cycle." In the documentary, with the help of microplastics researcher Mary Kosuth, Tong uncovers the alarming extent of microplastic contamination, finding it almost everywhere — from household dust to backyard snow to her own body. "We found it in my blood, we found it in my feces," Tong says. Microplastics have also been found in human lungs, placentas and even our brains. A study commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature found that people could be ingesting five grams or a credit card's worth of plastic every week. "The study of toxicity of microplastics is in its infancy, but we're beginning to learn that they are a transport mechanism for getting bad chemicals into people," says Pete Myers, chief scientist at the not-for-profit Environmental Health Sciences. Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are two compounds commonly found in plastic that can make their way into the body. In Plastic People, experts discuss how they impact the endocrine system and have been linked to various health problems, including obesity, fertility issues and cancer. Addressing our microplastics problem Purging our world of microplastics seems like a daunting challenge. As a longtime activist against plastic pollution, Tong believes that change needs to happen at the government level. "Ultimately, this is about policy," she says in the documentary. "As individuals, we're in a trap. There's only so much we can do." As a step toward this, the UNEP is currently developing an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution. It will address "the full life cycle of plastic," the authority says, from production to disposal. Meanwhile, there are lots of folks working on plastic alternatives. In Plastic People, Cullis-Suzuki visits CTK Bio, a Surrey, B.C., company that's developing innovative biodegradable materials and products — like a biostraw that would compost in three to six months. However, until government change comes into effect and alternative materials are the norm, what can we as individuals do? Here are a few steps you can take to protect your health and the planet. Tip 1: Go for natural fibres The UNEP estimates that about 60 per cent of material made into clothing is plastic, and these synthetic fabrics are a major source of microplastic contamination. "As we wear clothing that's increasingly plastic, those fibres shed, go down the drain, [and] wind up in the local lakes and rivers," says author and environmentalist Rick Smith in the documentary. A simple change is to opt for clothing made from natural fibres, such as cotton, wool and linen, instead of garments made from polyester, nylon and acrylic. Synthetic clothes don't just shed fibres during wear. Manufacturing, disposal and washing are all sources of microplastic pollution. In fact, one study showed that a single load of laundry can unleash hundreds of thousands of microfibres into the water supply. Washing synthetic clothes on a "gentle" cycle with cold water, however, can reduce microplastic shedding by nearly 70 per cent, according to research from conservation group Ocean Wise. Additionally, using a washing bag can help capture microfibres before they enter the water system. Tip 3: Replace plastic storage containers and kitchen tools Plastic particles from containers and bottles can leach into food and drinks — particularly when heated — and over time, they break down into microplastics. A simple swap is to replace plastic vessels with glass or stainless steel. These materials also tend to last longer, which is better for the environment. Switching from plastic cutting boards and utensils to alternatives like bamboo, wood and stainless steel can also help minimize exposure. "I threw out my plastic chopping board," Tong says in the documentary. "I was realizing, 'Oh my goodness, every time I use my knife, I am chopping microplastics into the food that I'm eating.'" Tip 4: Avoid microbeads Certain personal care products, such as cleansers, shampoos, toothpaste, shower gels and cosmetics, contain microplastics in the form of microbeads. These tiny plastic particles are frequently made of polyethylene and are used to provide exfoliation. To reduce your exposure to microbeads (and prevent them from entering the water supply), check labels for ingredients such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and choose natural exfoliants instead. Tip 5: Cut back on single-use plastic According to the UNEP, over one million plastic bottles are bought every minute, and a staggering five trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. "Almost half of all plastic produced goes into single-use items," says Smith in the documentary. Invest in alternatives like reusable shopping bags, water bottles and containers — and bring them with you — to reduce your need to purchase and use these items. Tip 6: Make swaps at the grocery store To decrease microplastic exposure in food, avoid plastic-packaged products. Check if items are available in glass or paper packaging. Recent research also shows that highly processed foods contain significantly more microplastics per gram than less processed options. This may be because these foods spend more time in contact with plastic production equipment, or spend more time exposed to dust and other airborne contamination. So you may want to consider swapping products like chicken nuggets for whole chicken breasts. You can also limit your consumption of shellfish, since they're prone to microplastic buildup from oceans and we eat them whole — including their digestive systems. Drink a lot of tea? Some tea bags are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon, and McGill University researchers found that steeping a single plastic-based teabag in hot water can release 11.6 billion microplastic particles per cup. To minimize plastic exposure, try switching to paper bags or loose-leaf tea.
CBC
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Whooping cranes were almost extinct — until Canadian ornithologist George Archibald learned to dance with them
Social Sharing In 1954, an eight-year-old George Archibald was sitting in a one-room school in Nova Scotia when he heard a CBC radio program about whooping cranes in Northern Canada. It was a dramatization: actors portrayed two cranes, and one was panicking about their nesting grounds being discovered, fearing the cranes would soon be killed. Her mate reassured her that they lived in an area protected by the Canadian government and they were safe. That program changed Archibald's life — and the cranes' future. As an adult, he devoted himself to conservation, co-founding the International Crane Foundation (ICF) and spending more than five decades facilitating the birds' stunning recovery. In the 1940s, there were fewer than 20 whooping cranes left. Today, there are more than 800, though they are still an endangered species. Dances With Cranes, an episode of The Nature of Things, features a year in the life of whooping cranes and the humans saving them from extinction. Wooing a bird that loved only humans Dances With Cranes has a very literal meaning — Archibald's work to bring back whooping cranes from the brink of extinction involved deep knee bends, flapping his arms, and jumping up and down. In the 1960s, a whooping crane — which came to be known as Tex — was hatched and raised in a zoo, but mistakes were made in her upbringing. "The director of the zoo took this little bird into his home, and it became hopelessly imprinted on humans," Archibald says in the documentary. "For 10 years, they tried pairing Tex to a male crane. She had absolutely no interest in cranes, but when male zookeepers walked by, she would start dancing." Archibald offered to work with Tex, and she was sent to the ICF in 1976. To trigger her reproductive cycle — so she could be artificially inseminated — Archibald learned to dance like a crane. Dancing is the bird's language of courtship. And after seven years, it worked. Tex laid a viable egg, producing a whooping crane named Gee Whiz. That bird produced 26 of his own offspring, which in turn resulted in about 130 more chicks. One Canadian's lifelong mission to save the whooping crane 35 minutes ago Duration 5:47 George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, once sat down with David Suzuki to talk about his work bringing the whooping crane back from the brink of extinction. 45 years later, Sarika Cullis-Suzuki visits Archibald to see the impact of his efforts. Watch Dances with Cranes now on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube channel. A female crane born to Gee Whiz became the first of the lineage to breed in the wild. The unique story and remarkable success earned Archibald his 15 minutes of fame: an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Archibald received a devastating phone call just before his interview: raccoons had entered Tex's enclosure and killed her. On stage, Archibald told Carson what had happened, and the studio audience gasped. "All across the country, I think a good portion of the 22 million people did the same," Archibald later told Audubon magazine. "And I think whooping cranes likely got a lot more sympathy through Tex's death than from her dance." Helping cranes to thrive in the wild Archibald's work in crane conservation has won him countless awards, four honorary doctorates and the Order of Canada. And the ICF continues to be a lifeline for all 15 crane species, working with specialists in more than 50 countries around the world. At the ICF headquarters in Baraboo, Wis., about 100 cranes live in a captive flock. Captive breeding is often necessary to save an endangered species from extinction, but the goal is to see the birds flourishing in the wild. "The last thing in the world you want is [for them] to be fixated on humans," Archibald says. Dances With Cranes shows ICF staff donning elaborate crane costumes and interacting with new chicks, encouraging them to forage for food. It's a laborious blend of rearing and caretaking, with the hopes the birds will eventually join an existing wild flock. The ICF also encourages adult whooping cranes to raise chicks when possible. Archibald says he has approached his decades of work with optimism and patience and quotes his mother as inspiration: "The only way to get something done is to do it." "I saw the crane foundation right from the beginning as a fertile egg that had to be incubated with the proper conditions, and at some point it's going to hatch," he says. "And I feel that way about all of our projects — that they're very difficult, but through faith and hard work, eventually you'll have a hatch."
