5 things you didn't know about Fionn Mac Cumhaill
The man who ate the Salmon of Knowledge was a complex character and not always likeable, but he was certainly thought-provoking
Episodes
RTÉ Brainstorm
New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Episodes
Why It’s A Wonderful Life still resonates today (repeat)
Frank Capra's masterpiece remains a Christmas classic because the film still speaks to many to us at this time of year
Why women prefer male bosses
The queen bee syndrome may be why women usually find it more stressful to work for female bosses than for male bosses
How we unearthed a medieval town in Co Kilkenny
New technologies have allowed researchers to retrace Newtown without having to take a spade to the site
All you need to know about employment contracts
as there is no one-size-fits-all employment contract, here's a guide to the various contracts which employees may be offered
How surfing can improve your mental health
Surf therapy has been shown to boost those factors that help protect young people against the development of mental illness
Will a latte levy stop us dumping 200 million coffee cups a year?
The proposed charge on disposable coffee cups may not be popular, but levies really are effective in changing consumer behaviour
Is it time for a woolly jumper revival?
Cheaper and handier than retrofitting your house, wearing a woolly jumper out is one individual action to counter climate change. By Kevin Berwick ,TU Dublin
All you need to know about bank holidays in Ireland
We love our "bank holidays" in Ireland. But where did they come from and who gets to decide when they are?
Why workers don’t like their HR departments
HR departments are often criticised by employees, but do they really deserve this bad rep?
A history of the GAA in 100 objects (Special)
Marie Crowe and Siobhán Doyle discuss the book "A history of the GAA in 100 objects".
Where did the term ‘west Brit’ come from?
A short history of a term which has been long employed in a derogatory way in Irish politics since the days of O'Connell and Parnell
How to save cash on your energy bills
Reducing energy use is the most immediate measure we can do to reduce our exposure to high energy bills
Why sea levels are rising higher than expected in Dublin and Cork
Aside from climate change, local exacerbating factors are behind rising sea levels in Irish coastal cities. By Gerard McCarthy, Katherine Dooley, Amin Shoari Nejad, Andrew Parnell, Maynooth University and Zoe Roseby, Trinity College Dublin.
How the Civil War split an Irish republican family in two (repeat)
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.
You're not singing any more: where do soccer chants come from?
The chants sung by fans have their origins in hymns, opera, folksong, advertising jingles and nursery rhymes
All you need to know about how heat pumps work
Here's a look at the engineering that underpins this technology and its potential for heating our homes
Can I delete myself from the internet?
People usually do not realise how much information is out there about them - and the work required to remove it
The good and bad news about workplace gossip
Rumours, gossip and the "he said/she said" grapevine are an inevitable part of almost all organisations
What First Dates tells us about dating in Ireland
We have found a number of linguistic clues that may point to the reasons why people choose to meet one another again – or not
What can you do with used wind turbine blades?
One way to deal with the estimated 200,000 tonnes of blade waste per year is to use them for other products like bridges
10 commemoration ideas you won't forget in a hurry
From cakes marking the 1916 Rising to a Scent of War candle, some historical merchandise has been colourful to say the least
Why are legal costs in Ireland so high?
Lack of competition, cumbersome procedures and a reluctance to change combine to keep costs high
The life and times of Dublin’s first O’Connell Bridge
Carlisle Bridge was at the heart of new commercial and social life in Dublin and quickly became a pivotal feature in the city
Why the reign of SUVs on Irish roads should end
There are many solutions to tackle the problem of heavy, fuel-hungry SUVs, but all require bold action from policymakers
The summer Garth Brooks didn't come to town (repeat)
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
What happens to the waste that goes down the drain in your home (repeat)
In this extract from the 2020 Brainstorm Radio programme, we go on a journey beyond the sink and the drain to find out what happens next. With presenter Ella McSweeney and guests Jean O'Dwyer (UCC and Irish Research Council) and Tom Curran (UCD).
The groundbreaking Irish woman golfer you’ve never heard of before
The many challenges Eitnne Pentony faced in the 1930s did not stop her becoming a successful golfer at home and abroad
What Leopold Bloom's food diary tells us about Bloomsday
The story of Ulysses unfolds through the food Leopold Bloom eats as he travels around Dublin by day and night
Why it's time to make room on the road for electric scooters (repeat)
The electric scooter's economic and environmental credentials make it a transport winner