Author: Nathan Rutherford

Populism and the threat of authoritarianism is rising in many of the world’s democracies. In Canada, a quirk of the constitution could provide a tempting tool to any populist leaders.

JRR Tolkien based the character of Gandalf in part on the Norse god. However, he omitted a lot of the attributes that make the mythological Odin who he is.

The tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is well known. The Japanese tell us a similar story.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease, commonly found in tropical areas. The genetic sickle cell trait can provide resistance but also comes with consequences.

Medieval maps often feature areas with impassable deserts. Due to climate change, future maps may display these too.

We rely on memory to tell stories, learn skills and build relationships. Memory is integral for giving accounts, such as in eye witness testimony. Yet, memory is often not perfect, and false memories occur when a remembered event did not happen or is different from how it truly occurred.

The Romans borrowed much of the earlier and contemporary Greek mythology into their religion, especially the figure of Zeus.

Green Fluorescent Protein, or GFP as it is otherwise known, is an important tool used by many biologists today. Its development comes from early studies into a certain species of jellyfish and culminated in the awarding of a Nobel Prize.

Canada has a national stockpile of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and antidotes. This dates to the beginning of the Cold War and is designed for such emergencies as natural disasters, bio-terrorist attacks and pandemics.

The picture below is one of my favourite images. The original is an engraving found in a 19th century book by an early French astronomer. It shows a man who has found himself at the mythical point where the sky and earth touch, at the end of the known world. He puts his head through…