Taylor Swift's songs are full of literary references - so what do they tell us?
The pop star's references to books and classic literature allows us to see her self-awareness and growth as an artist. By Ellen Howley, DCU.
Episodes
RTÉ Brainstorm
New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Episodes
What goes on at the Workplace Relations Commission?
The WRC is a one stop shop for the resolution of a myriad of employment law issues and disputes. By Brenda Daly, DCU
Why Irish people sing 'Ole Ole Ole' when they're happy
We don't just break into a blast of 'Ole Ole Ole' at soccer matches, but also at gigs, homecomings and other celebrations. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm
How Michael Collins became the Irish revolution's sex symbol
The mystery, romance and cult around Michael Collins has created an idealised version of the Irish leader. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, RTÉ Brainstorm
How do you clean a wind turbine blade?
Dirt on a blade's surface can decrease a wind turbine's efficiency by up to 40% after just two weeks of operation. By Seamus Cummins, DCU
The growing world of nixers, passion projects and side hustles
Many people embark on jobs on the side to maximise their talent, make full use of potential and earn some extra income. By Bhuvan Israni, TU Dublin
‘He proposed to me on our first date’: my experience of Irish culture shock
What we say and how we behave is influenced by cultural norms and can lead to critical (and sometimes funny) incidents. By Florence Le Baron-Earle, University of Limerick
Because they're worth it: medieval hair treatments
Connla Mac an Leagha's 16th century collection contains many remedies and treatments intended to enhance the appearance of the medieval Irish man and woman. By Siobhán Barrett, Maynooth University.
A Croke Park murder mystery: who shot Séan Ó Glaimín?
When a player is shot dead in the middle of a match, there's only one lad to turn to for answers and that's detective Réics Carlos. By Siobhán Doyle, Brainstorm.
Why banks need to maintain cash services for customers
We are much further removed from becoming a cashless society than some might like to think. By Olive McCarthy, UCC.
Meet the 5 worst boyfriends in fiction
Boyfriend characters in many novels can show women how a potential romantic partner's toxic behaviour should act as a warning. By Maria Butler, UCC.
Radio GAA GAA: the Irish abroad and Gaelic games on the radio
Listening to Gaelic games on the radio is a way for many of the Irish diaspora to maintain their sense of Irishness. By Daithí McMahon, University of Derby
Why Irish people love making connections when we meet strangers
The Irish connection grid means we're always striving to find a link to make the world smaller. By Gail Flanagan, University of Limerick
A short history of the many plans to reclaim land from Dublin Bay
There have been numerous proposals over the years to reclaim land from Dublin Bay to use for everything from housing to an airport. By Ruth McManus - School of History and Geography, DCU.
Help, my child is now a teenager – what do I do?
As challenging as it is to be a teenager, it's equally so for parents as all grapple with new roles and responsibilities. By Aidan Farrelly, Maynooth University
How many friends do you need?
Our network changes over the course of our lives, but how many friends do we really need? Here's what the research tells us (By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm)
Will we see 'robot judges' in Irish courtrooms in the future?
While other jurisdictions are trialing law by artificial intelligence, there are many reasons why this might not be a good idea (By Rónán Kennedy, University of Galway)
Why the trench coat became the garment of choice for IRA fighters
The waterproof coat protected soldiers from rain, thorns and mud, but the advantage for the IRA was it also concealed weapons (By Jane Tynan, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Why Ireland sought to stop US airlines landing at Dublin Airport in the 1960s
There was a high level of tetchiness between Ireland and the US when it came to transatlantic aviation in the 1960s (By Michael Kennedy, Royal Irish Academy)
How listening to music at lunch increases your afternoon productivity
Research has found that 15 minutes of music listening at lunchtime may increase employees' work engagement in the afternoon (By Avery Torres, Hilary Moss and Deirdre O'Shea, University of Limerick)
5 things women should know before starting a business
Here's how budding women business owners and entrepreneurs can overcome the pitfalls and challenges they face (By Maura McAdam, DCU)
The man from Co Meath who had at least 10 funerals
T he story of Irish language revivalist Eoghan Ó Gramhnaigh's life, death and extraordinary reburial remains largely unknown to most (By Tracey Ní Mhaonaigh, Maynooth University)
4 ways to make public transport easy to use and safe for all
We need to send the message that public transport really matters by making it safe, easy to use and part of the neighbourhood (By Sarah Rock and David O'Connor, TU Dublin)
How much does your job title matter?
Job titles may be the least important signifier of a successful approach to managing and motivating staff (By Brian J Murphy, TU Dublin)
'Ah sure, you know yourself': why Irish people never say what they mean
We subconsciously choose our words carefully when it comes to keeping the conversation indirect and polite (By Gail Flanagan, University of Limerick)
All you need to know about putting solar panels on your roof
You can expect a simple system of six to eight solar panels to generate about one third of your home's electricity needs (By Paul Deane, UCC)
Why referees are quitting Gaelic games
94% of match officials have experienced verbal abuse during their career and 23% have experienced some form of physical abuse. (By Noel Brick, Gavin Breslin, Mark Shevlin and Stephen Shannon, Ulster University)
How to save money on your household bills with simple maths
Deciphering the complex numbers around energy costs, mortgages and supermarket prices is key to making good financial decisions
How to fall in love with strangers
We can often experience the same psychological and physiological benefits of love with strangers
Could super-villains use your smart kettle to disrupt the power grid?
We're moving to a world where more and more of our home appliances are connected to the internet and and thus more hackable