My boss is a psychopath: why bad people get good jobs (repeat)
There is much evidence to suggest that the traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathology are linked to career advancement.
Episodes
RTÉ Brainstorm
New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Episodes
Where does the phrase ‘taking the soup’ come from?
By Ciarán Reilly, Maynooth University
The story behind John Lavery’s controversial painting of Roger Casement in the dock
The painting embodies many of the complexities that deny a simple representation of modern Irish history. By Dr Siobhán Doyle, TU Dublin.
How architect Herbert Simms transformed Dublin
The capital's first housing architect played a key role in the battle with unfit housing conditions in the 1930s and 1940s. By Ruth McManus - School of History and Geography, DCU.
The spy who came to lunch: Ireland and Russia during the Cold War
While determined to remain neutral, Ireland could not remain aloof from the potentially devastating implications of the Cold War. By Eoin Kinsella, Royal Irish Academy.
How to eat and exercise your way to healthy ageing
Many of us first think about healthy ageing the day we turn 65, but age-related changes in our bodies start long before that. By Caoileann Murphy and Sinéad McCarthy, Teagasc
How the Irish helped to create Easter Sunday
The work of early Irish scholars and astronomical experts on developing mathematical tables helped to solve the thorny problems of Easter-calculation. By Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Department of History
Is it really bonkers to use an algorithm to hire a person?
There has been tremendous interest in using artificial intelligence tools to streamline hiring decisions in organisations, but the blind use of them without understanding why the algorithm prefers some candidates to others is risky. By Professor Kevin Murphy, University of Limerick8
The problem with having a difficult name in Ireland
'Wwhen I say that I have a difficult name, I should also ask: difficult for who? And difficult for what reasons?'. By Bhargabi Das, Maynooth University.
How the Civil War split an Irish republican family in two
No family rivalled the prominence of the Ryans during the War of Independence, but few were as bitterly divided by the aftermath. By Michael Loughman, DCU.
CSI St Patrick: just where is the saint's body?
Despite his fame, the exact location of the body of St Patrick has been a bone of contention for over a millennium. By Niamh Wycherley, Maynooth University.
From Elvis to the Muppets, the story of Danny Boy
Just how did "Danny Boy" became a song loved and hated in equal measures? By Aileen Dillane, University of Limerick
How roots of Riverdance can be found in Kerry
The creative model for the blockbuster Irish dance show was partly forged by a collaboration with a Kerry dance company. By Ciarán Walsh, Maynooth University.
The Great Resignation: why are so many people leaving their jobs?
The impact of this potential talent exodus on any organisation's future performance is hugely significant. By Sarah Kieran and Deirdre O'Shea, University of Limerick
How much water should I drink daily?
There really is no one-size-fits-all solution to hydration, but your pee will tell you if you need to drink more. By Catherine Norton, University of Limerick.
How can we enjoy a tasty, fatty meal without weight gain?
Researchers have been looking at how whey proteins could be the answer to this particular pickle. By Oleksandr Nychyk, Wiley Barton, Paul D. Cotter and Kanishka N. Nilaweera, Teagasc
How to build a new town in Ireland
Shannon was the first town to be designed and built from scratch in Ireland in almost 300 years. By Susan Hegarty, DCU.
Who do some ads follow me around online?
Our online activity is monitored and monitised by marketers who deliberately make it difficult for us to stop being tracked. By Jennifer Edmond, TCD.
Why some runners get injured - and how to stop it happening
Changes in running distance, speed, surface, footwear, environment and stress levels can all cause a running injury. By Peter Francis, Institute of Technology Carlow
Just how do reindeers fly Santa’s sleigh around the world?
Santa Claus and his elf-scientists use some very smart climate-friendly science to get Christmas done. By Barry Fitzgerald, TU Delft.
Why It's A Wonderful Life is still a winner today
Frank Capra's masterpiece remains a Christmas classic because the film still speaks to many to us at this time of year. By Declan McKenna, Ulster University
Why do girls stop playing sport? Let's ask them
Changing priorities, peer influence and a lack of confidence are some of the reasons why so many quit sport, but this can be turned around. By Sara McQuinn, Mary Rose Sweeney, Sarahjane Belton and Anthony Staines, DCU
All you need to know about basic income
There's a lot of talk at present around basic incomes so is it time to introduce the concept to Ireland? By Joe Whelan, UCC.
Why do we have godparents?
While there's no mention of godparents in the Bible, parents choose godfathers and godmothers for their children for many reasons. By Bernadette Sweetman, DCU
6 signs that you need a digital detox
There are many benefits to a digital detox so how do you know if you need one? By Noel Carroll, NUI Galway.
Cooking the books: the recipe for a successful cookbook
As the huge growth in cookbook publishing shows, what we eat and cook has become an indicator of lifestyle and identity
Why do British people know so little about Ireland?
From politics to academia, ignorance in British society about Ireland has profound implications for relations between the two nations
What makes a great horror movie so scary?
Halloween is a great time watch a scary movie, but what's the science behind why we keep watching even when it scares us?
The superstitions and mysteries around Ireland's 'fairy forts'
In the recent past in rural Ireland, many ringforts were associated with fairy activity and supernatural happenings. By Marion McGarry, RTÉ Brainstorm.
How DNA is used to catch a killer
When we think of catching killers or solving crimes, we often think of DNA matching, but what does that actually mean? By Seán McDermott, TU Dublin.