How social media has impacted on young people's mental health
Social media has amplified what young people think about body image, self-esteem and mental health
Feb 28, 2025•58 min
RTÉ Brainstorm
New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Episodes
All you ever wanted to know about Jupiter
Your guide to the Giant Red Spot, those large ocean-bearing oceans and the conditions which could support life on the planet
Feb 21, 2025•33 min
Where have all the Patricks gone?
The Patricks of Ireland have left a formidable mark, but the minds of new parents appear to have moved away from using that name
Feb 14, 2025•49 min
How do you create a bike-friendly neighbourhood?
Here’s a checklist for communities who want to take action on traffic congestion, pollution and green transport in their area
Feb 07, 2025•39 min
What can be done with 11,000 tons of used wind turbine blades?
Wind turbine blades don't last forever and 11,000 tons of them are due to be decommissioned in Ireland by the end of 2025, so where do they go and can they be reused?
Jan 31, 2025•30 min
Rain, floods & storms: why weather conditions are getting wetter
We all can clearly see the effects of climate change on our weather events, with violent storms becoming more commonplace bringing damage and flooding in their wake. Here's why we need to look at the increasing deluges in a different way and what the future may hold for such a critical resource.
Jan 23, 2025•50 min
The story of 3 wild Irish lives
Ireland has certainly been known for distinctive personalities over the years. Here, we profile the high times and unique worlds of Kerry music promoter Bill Fuller, Dublin artist Kathleen Cox and activist, politician and doctor Kathleen Lynn.
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min
How we’re tricked into buying new appliances
Different aspects of environmental literacy affect our repair or replace behaviour when it comes to home appliances. By Emma Delemere DCU.
Dec 31, 2024•7 min
How the way you walk tells the story of your health
Your gait is a fundamental clinical measure of your health, including future changes in cognitive and emotional health. By Aidan Boran DCU.
Dec 03, 2024•7 min
The golden age of video games is over
After years of blockbuster titles and massive creativity by designers and developers, video games just feel so tired now. By James O'Sullivan UCC.
Nov 26, 2024•12 min
5 things our deposit return scheme can learn from other countries
From holders on bins to donating your deposit, there are plenty of small ways for us to collect even more bottles and cans. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.
Nov 19, 2024•10 min
Where did all the historical Irish weather data go?
Hidden and lost weather observations contain hugely valuable information about historical climate variability and changes. By Kevin Healion, Simon Noone, David Smyth, Peter Thorne, Maynooth University; Ciara Ryan, Met Éireann and Ed Hawkins, University of Reading.
Nov 12, 2024•9 min
How competitive is the Irish broadband market?
We should consider such factors as ease of movement between providers, increasing broadband speed and falling prices. By Catarina Marvão, TU Dublin.
Nov 05, 2024•7 min
Do you work with a psychopath? Here's how to know
It is easy to be fooled by the charming behaviour of a psychopath in the workplace, but their meanness is a particularly sinister trait. By Melrona Kirrane, DCU.
Oct 29, 2024•6 min
'Ireland's gate to hell': a Co Roscommon cave and the Otherworld
Oweynagat is a cave linked to many colourful tales in Irish folklore, especially around Halloween. By Gary Dempsey, ATU.
Oct 22, 2024•6 min
Tornadoes in Ireland: yes, we get them and here's how many
We don't yet fully understood the science of tornadoes, but we get a surprising number of them in Ireland every year. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.
Oct 15, 2024•8 min
From Germany to the US, the countries who plotted to invade Ireland
History records that Ireland has long occupied a place in the strategic military planning of other nations. By David Murphy, Maynooth University.
Oct 08, 2024•9 min
Meet Anne O'Brien, the legendary soccer star from Inchicore
A 'wizard on the ball', O'Brien became one of the first Irish women to play the game at an international level 50 years ago. By Helena Byrne, British Library.
Oct 01, 2024•7 min
Why we need a new bidding process for buying homes in Ireland
Reforming the bidding process could potentially achieve some much needed stability for prospective home owners. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.
Sep 24, 2024•7 min
Here's the real cost of your morning rush hour commute in Dublin
The travel costs of getting from your home to work includes much more than just the price of petrol or the bus fare. By Conor O'Driscoll, University of Groningen and Kevin Credit, Maynooth University.
Sep 17, 2024•10 min
Why do some people have no sense of direction?
When it comes to knowing where you are, multiple factors feed into your ability to know where things or places are located. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.
Sep 10, 2024•7 min
A step by step guide to how one Cork homeowner cut his energy costs
Gerald Bruton's campaign to cut energy costs and emissions involved both new technologies and behavioural change. By Ken Bruton, UCC.
Sep 02, 2024•7 min
Why doctors and nurses should use more plain language and less jargon
We need a prescription to end the confusion of patients leaving hospitals, pharmacies and GP surgeries with more questions than answers. By Laura Jane Sahm, UCC.
Aug 26, 2024•6 min
How Irishman William Howard Russell invented modern war reporting
The Dublin-born correspondent of The Times became synonymous with the work of the war reporter in the 19th century. By David Murphy, Maynooth University.
Aug 19, 2024•8 min
5 reasons why it’s so difficult to get a divorce in Ireland
Getting divorced in Ireland is not as simple as just signing a piece of paper and moving on. By Méabh Browne, TU Dublin.
Aug 12, 2024•7 min
Wreckers and levellers: evicting Ireland's poor during the Great Famine
These reviled figures were involved in the evictions of some 250,000 Irish families during the 1840s and 1850s. By Ciarán Reilly, Maynooth University
Aug 05, 2024•9 min
The successful 'back to basics' approach of farming in The Burren
The BurrenLIFE project developed a blueprint for sustainable farming to meet the needs of both farmers and the environment. By Anne Kinsella, Teagasc.
Jul 29, 2024•6 min
Why Irish field names and local placenames need to be recorded
These names are real signifiers of our diverse native landscape and are shaped by local knowledge and past generations. By Aengus Ó Fionnagáin, University of Limerick.
Jul 22, 2024•7 min
All you ever wanted to know about shipping containers
How a simple corrugated box made it possible for us to access global products in a timely, secure and cost-effective manner. By Maurice Brady, TU Dublin
Jul 15, 2024•10 min
How the Marino estate transformed Dublin housing 100 years ago
Marino was a testing ground for a number of Dublin Corporation housing policies which influenced the city for many years afterwards. By Ruth McManus, DCU
Jul 08, 2024•10 min