Black holes are perhaps the strangest thing in a very strange universe. An almost unbelievable prediction of Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, black holes create a gravitational pull so strong, they can trap anything that gets too close. Even light. Black holes also pull on our imaginations, often appearing as the villains in science fiction. Join RCIScience for an exploration of the latest science about black holes and a discussion about how they are depicted in popular culture. Are black holes truly terrifying?

RCIScience is delighted to recognize Canadian journalist, author and broadcaster, Dan Falk, with the 2019 Fleming Medal for Excellence in Science Communication. Dan’s award-winning work spans many formats. He is well-known for his books and articles, but also radio documentaries and a popular podcast. You can find more information about his work on our blog.

Magnetism is one of the fundamental forces of nature and shows up in many places in our daily lives, but it’s not something that most people associate with astronomy. Yet the entire universe is filled with magnetic fields on all scales: from planets to stars to galaxies to galaxy clusters and beyond. In this talk we will take a look at the magnetic universe: the nature of magnetism, the causes of magnetism in astronomical objects, how we detect magnetism in distant places, and how magnetic fields affect our understanding of astrophysics.

This Fall and Winter, spend a Sunday afternoon in the OTHER dome at the DDO! Join us in the Starlab Digital Planetarium and take an interactive journey through the Universe, led by a DDO astronomer. Tour the night sky and see close-up views of galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters, view our Solar System's Planets and alien exo-planets, land on the moon, Mars - and the Sun, travel home to Earth from the edge of the Universe, hear Indigenous starlore, and watch immersive fulldome movies!

Everyone is invited to join us and Durham Skies for stargazing at the edge of Lake Ontario. Take a free look through different kinds of telescopes (including solar-filtered scopes) to get close-up looks at sunspots, craters on the Moon, and planets visible in the current night sky. Peer into deep space and try your hand at spotting faint star clusters and nebulae. You can even bring your own telescope along and we'll give you expert advice on how to use it better.

This Winter, spend a Sunday afternoon in the OTHER dome at the DDO! Join us in the Starlab Digital Planetarium and take an interactive journey through the Universe, led by a DDO astronomer. Tour the night sky and see close-up views of galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters, view our Solar System's Planets and alien exo-planets, land on the moon, Mars - and the Sun, travel home to Earth from the edge of the Universe, hear Indigenous starlore, and watch immersive fulldome movies!

In this profusely-illustrated, non-technical presentation, you will see the universe, as revealed by astronomy, is just as exciting as the universe of science fiction and video games - and it's real! And you can see it, study it, and understand it! Presented by Dr. John Percy, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, in Astronomy & Astrophysics, and in Science Education.

In this profusely-illustrated, non-technical presentation, you will see the universe, as revealed by modern astronomy is just as exciting as the universe of science fiction and video games. And it's real! And you can see it and understand it! Lots of time for Q&A.

See the Milky Way and galaxies with the unaided eye. Point your telescope to find the many dim deep space objects that sprinkle the sky. Away from Toronto's light polution, there is so much to see. We observe from the Long Sault Conservation area, an hour outside of Toronto. We meet around dusk once a month in the parking lot for views only seen in dark sky conditions. We hold this event on the first clear night of our week-long window. Check our homepage for GO/NO-GO calls as this event is weather dependent.

Calling all kids raised by Bill Nye, David Attenborough and John Acorn! Introducing the KNOW SHOW: Toronto's only SCIENCE-themed comedy variety show. Join us at The Social Capital Theatre on January 22nd where we guarantee you'll learn a little and laugh a lot. Featuring science-based sketch, improv, and an interview with a REAL SCIENTIST. This show will feature the improvisational talents of:Simon McCamusRachel MansonGlenys MarshallAllan TurnerJames Chapman