10 reasons why more women should lift weights
Here's why you consider swapping the bike for the barbell on your next visit to the gym. By Leanne Quinn, University of Limerick.
Episodes
RTÉ Brainstorm
New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Episodes
Is email ruining your life?
Email has become the bane of many people's working and personal life so is there any way back? By Professor Kevin Murphy, University of Limerick.
The lost art of 'booleying' in Ireland
It was common practice for people in rural Ireland to migrate to the hills for the summer right up to the early 1900s. By Eugene Costello, UCC
Does where you work influence your political beliefs?
The way we are treated at work can shape our beliefs about how others should be treated. By Lorraine Ryan and Thomas Turner, University of Limerick.
A tip for your next work meeting: what would Tommy Tiernan do?
We can all learn from the comedian's ability on his TV show to see and draw out the value in people. By Sarah Kieran, University of Limerick
4 steps to make Dublin a better walking city
From more trees to fewer cars, turning cities into better walking environments is of benefit to all. By Ken Boyle, TU Dublin
What Ireland's first stamps told the world about the new state
The Irish Free State stamps of the 1920s were a way of decolonising the Irish visual imagination. By Billy Shortall, TCD.
How Medieval Ireland's scholars and ideas had an impact on France
Ireland's cultural exports to France at the time included learned pilgrims, cheeky philosophers and ideas on the science of time
The science behind the spicy food you eat
How hot things get in your mouth depends on the capsaicin chemicals to be found in the chilli peppers in your food
All you need to know about the Noble false widow spider
Meet the spider who can live for up to five years, produce 1,000 babies annually and whose bite can land you in hospital. By John P. Dunbar, Aiste Vitkauskaite, Sean Rayner and Michel M. Dugon, NUI Galway.
The physical and emotional health benefits of living with a dog
Our four-legged friends teach us patience, understanding, generosity, kindness, and are a catalyst for other healthy behaviours in our lives.
What's behind the emergence of the far right in Irish politics?
The rise of the radical right reflects a 40 year trend in politics across Europe as socities and economies have changed
Here are some radical ways to solve the GAA's Dublin problem
could regional franchises and budget caps overcome GAA conservatism to create a level playing pitch for all 32 counties?
Meet the 18th century Irish gents obsessed with plates and dishes
This preoccupation with elegant tableware was designed to draw attention to the gentlemen's good taste and wealth
The hairy history of beards | Brainstorm
The world has become a hairier place since we first heard those ominous words, "Covid-19". The lockdown on barbers, hairdressers and beauticians has led to a flourishing of beards, hair and body fur around the globe. Many people are working from home, allowing a degree of freedom from conventional norms around appearance and personal grooming.
What exactly are you giving away when you hand over your DNA?
Sharing your DNA information for a genetic profile may well have potentially harmful privacy infringements for you and your family
Love Island: the love lives of our 19th century ancestors
Forget Bumble or Tinder or First Dates, our ancestors got the shift at gatherings like fairs, pattern days and wakes.
The biggest lie online: why we ignore legal terms and conditions
We all instinctively click the box which says 'I have read and understood the terms and conditions', but should we read the fine print?
The summer Garth Brooks didn't come to town
The infamous five in a row fiasco at Croke Park in 2014 was a turning point in the megastar's complex relationship with Irish music fans
How workplace bullying costs Ireland €239 million every year
New research finds that one in 10 employees in Ireland have experience of being bullied and the problem is unlikely to go away with remote working
Can your accent really affect your job prospects?
A new bill aims to ensure employers do not discriminate against job applicants or employees because of their accent
The science of chocolate
How the chocolate industry relies on the right scientific recipe to keep customers happy
Can you sue your robot?
Creating a legal personality and classification for robots raises a number of interesting issues
How global brands try to woo local markets
International companies often package their product with specific language and imagery in an effort to connect with local consumers
CSI St Patrick: just where is the saint's body? | Brainstorm
Despite his fame, the exact location of the body of St Patrick has been a bone of contention for over a millennium
Why it's time to make room on the road for electric scooters
The electric scooter's economic and environmental credentials make it a transport winner
Why the dryrobe wars shouldn't put you off outdoor swimming
Irish swimming places have always welcomed people regardless of body shape, size, skin or what you're wearing
How civil service careers can attract millennials and Gen Z
With huge numbers due to retire in the coming years, the Irish civil service will require increased recruitment among younger generations
From courting to Tinder, the changing landscape of dating
Romantic relationships have taken centre place in the evolution of culture over the last century
What are my rights when I buy online from the UK after Brexit?
Buying online from our nearest neighbour now comes with extra risks for consumers trying to enforce their legal rights