Psygen, an Alberta business, is seeking to manufacture synthetic psychedelics for the pharmaceutical industry. While the application of hallucinogens in medicine is in its infancy and remains highly speculative, the company is riding a wave of renewed interest in the field.

Bitcoins flirtation with mainstream acceptance and gravity-defying climb in price have made headlines around the world. Underneath the mania is a potential sea change in the world of finance that observers say was made possible by a global pandemic. And whats at stake is nothing less than a war for the future of money.

Analyst says the downturn thats been weighing on the sector since the middle of the decade has impacted the number of students enrolling in oil-and-gas-related studies.