New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Latest episodes
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8 min
Why is everybody joining run clubs?
The psychological motivations behind this popular phenomenon include mating, community, online connections, wellness and natureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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9 min
Do you need an 'admin night' with friends to fix your finances?
Dealing with bills, insurance forms, subscriptions and other low-grade bureaucratic life admin with friends can make things feel more doableSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
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7 min
Are you due a tax refund? 3 tax credits you may not know about
Thousands of taxpayers are missing out on refunds by not availing of tax credits for medical expenses, rent and college tuition feesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat…
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9 min
Is Ireland's EV home charging infrastructure fit for purpose?
Around 30% of Irish households don't have easy access to private home charging, with policy and regulatory gaps hindering progressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio…
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7 min
Sunny, cloudy or rainy: how the weather affects our mood
The weather can impact us in both obvious and subtle ways, and both rain and sun bring different benefits to our livesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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7 min
Why are Irish taxi fares so high?
The Irish taxi market doesn't need a free-for-all, but it does need competition, flexibility and a serious conversation about value for moneySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
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7 min
Why are employers making you do so many rounds of job interviews?
The move to get applicants to complete multiple interviews for jobs is another form of the conservative bias around hiring in many firmsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info…
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9 min
Do high price tags really mean a better quality t-shirt or coat?
True durability is measured in design intelligence, responsible materials and emotional connection, not luxury markups or brand prestigeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info…
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9 min
What's the logic behind the spelling mistakes you keep making?
The English language is often viewed as chaotic and full of "exceptions," but most spellings follow patterns of sound, meaning, and structureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
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8 min
Why you should pay attention to the weather in space
Solar flares and geomagnetic storms can have very significant effects on satellites, airplanes and GPS and electrical systems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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8 min
Why is Ireland home to so many bogs?
The convergence of geology, climate, vegetation and human history allowed peat to accumulate on an extraordinary scale over thousands of years.See omnystudio.com/listener for priva…
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8 min
The secret history of volcanoes in Ireland
You might not know it, but Ireland is dotted with extinct volcanoes that have shaped the island we know and love today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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8 min
All you need to know about the evolution of the spice bag
The spice bag sits proudly alongside the spiceburger, jumbo breakfast roll, jambon and chicken fillet roll in the pantheon of great 21st century Irish dishes.See omnystudio.com/lis…
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7 min
Meet the Bart Simpson of 16th century Ireland
An Ceithearnach Caoilriabhach was a rule-breaking trickster in Early Modern Irish culture, a figure who caused chaos wherever he went.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform…
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7 min
Why do some people play their phones out loud on buses and trains?
New social norms and behaviour are behind the rise of headphone dodgers on public transport showing zero consideration for those around them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
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9 min
Why did the British Army have an artist with them in Northern Ireland?
Art created by Ken Howard during the Troubles shows the power of images to control the conflict narrative and conceal the reality of war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf…
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9 min
Are you more likely to get divorced than switch your bank?
Until switching banks is as easy as switching mobile network, most of us will stay in the same financial relationship we began in college.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in…
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9 min
Dr ChatGPT will see you now: how AI could be bad for your health
Can we trust AI with our health, our hearts or our sanity? Not yet at least, not without supervision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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8 min
Jeff Buckley and me: the story of the singer’s 1992 Irish show
Buckley's prep for the Trinity Ball, his first ever European show, involved drinking tea, eating Mikado biscuits and watching The Late Late ShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for priv…
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8 min
'Cash is here to stay': why cash is king in emergency planning
Governments are increasingly advising people to keep cash on hand for emergencies which may severely impair electronic payments systems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info…