How much does it really cost to build a new house in Ireland?
Depending on who you ask, where you are and what's included, it can cost from an estimated €318,365 to €461,000. By Orla Hegarty, UCD.
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 do people talk so much at gigs and concerts?
Audience members chatting all the way through a live show is yet another example of bad gig behaviour. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, RTÉ Brainstorm
When Ireland said no to nuclear power in Co Wexford
The Carnsore Point festivals in the 1970s helped put a stop to the ESB's plans for a nuclear power plant. By Séan Ó Duibhir, University of Galway.
Wizard wanted: why job ads use such bizarre terms and descriptions
The first task for a would-be employee might be to sift through the jargon and waffle to figure out what exactly the job is. By Chris Fitzgerald, Mary Immaculate College.
Why class in the workplace remains a taboo subject in Ireland
'Perhaps it is time that the diversity discussion in the workplace begins to include socio-economic status'. By Vicki O'Reilly, TU Dublin
Why we keep comparing politicians to Hitler and why we need to stop
It's a comparison which is unproductive at best and dangerous at worst as it effectively kills public debate. By Constance de Saint Laurent, Maynooth University.
How a new app could show you green travel routes through Dublin
Using air quality data, the app would suggest routes through the city for pedestrians and cyclists avoiding the worst pollution. By Mingming Liu, Dublin City University.
Why do breathing techniques stop panic attacks?
Abdominal breathing allows you to regain control of a situation that is both terrifying and unrestrained. By Clodagh Ni Ghallachoir, TU Dublin.
3 misunderstandings about money that cost a lot in the long run
We can learn a lot from the psychology of financial decisions to help avoid losing money. By Deirdre Robertson, ESRI.
How a kiss in public in DeValera’s Ireland caused a global sensation
A woman was effectively banished from the country for the crime of kissing of a boy in public in Co Louth in 1937. By Michael Mary Murphy, Institute of Art, Design + Technology Dún Laoghaire.
How remote working has changed how we learn on the job
We seem to be increasingly missing out on learning invaluable bits and pieces from our colleagues, managers or even the new intern. By Arpita Pal, TU Dublin.
Why are teens half as likely to walk or cycle to school in Dublin as Dunshaughlin?
Research has found disparities between areas are not due to population size, but are more to do with differences in educational provision. By J. M. Mancini, Maynooth University.
Why do you have so many unread emails?
4 tips to manage the time demands of digital communication when there's just so much to do. By Anna Navin Young, UCC.
Who was Kathleen Lynn? The diaries of a radical Irish woman
Her diaries tell the story of an innovative and revolutionary activist devoted to the cause of women, workers and Ireland. By Mary McAuliffe, UCD and Harriet Wheelock, RCPI.
Dia dhuit: what's behind Irish language's religious roots?
Gaeilge is deeply intertwined with Ireland's religious history, which explains so many phrases about saints, devils and eternal life. By Peter Weakliam, DCU.
5 tips to save money on your heating this winter
Winter means having the heating on more often so here's how to have a comfortable home with optimal energy use. By Asit Kumar Mishra, UCC.
Is Government policy leading to longer commutes and urban sprawl?
With Dr Lorcan Sirr from TU Dublin on RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime from November 23rd 2023
'A good send-off': why food plays a major role in Irish wakes and funerals
Irish funerals and wakes since ancient times have always highlighted the importance of food, feasting and hospitality
How Irish dance became a significant business for Irish women
Irish dance has deep historical ties with cultural nationalism and identity, but its financial importance for women cannot be overlooked
How did the marriage bar affect Irish women?
The impact of Ireland's marriage bar on the affected women's professional lives and careers is still felt to this day. By Jennifer Redmond, Maynooth University; Judith Harford, UCD and Deirdre Foley, UCC.
Why so many of us will run up that hill with Kate Bush
As fans gather for the Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever in Dublin, a look at the life, work and Irish connections of Kate Bush
What Ireland ate and drank during the Second World War
From the "black loaf" to a shortage of tea, the Emergency's hardships forced Ireland to try out many alternative foodstuffs
Under Clery's clock: the history and legacy of the landmark Dublin store
One of the mainstays of city life for over 170 years, the store's iconic clock provided a meeting place for generations of Dubliners
What's going to happen to used electric car batteries?
The good news is that they're highly recyclable, but the process can be hazardous due to potential fires and other dangers
Why is society so surprised by older people having sex?
You'll find very few positive depictions of old age sexuality yet research confirms the importance of active sex lives to this cohort
Why we turned a Dublin street into a playground
The D7 Play Streets initiative is about showing what a simple reallocation of public space which puts children first and which returns the street to a source of social life could look like
Ráiméis! Here are 15 slang words as Gaeilge to use this week
Altering words in some way to conceal their meaning to those outside the group is typical of jargons the world over
Do you work in a toxic workplace? Here what you can do about it
If organisations won't create safe, welcoming and positive workplaces, they shouldn't be surprised if employees won't put up with it. By Professor Kevin Murphy, University of Limerick.
A short history of the Irish coffee
How a coffee laced with whiskey, sugar and cream came to be seen as the height of sophistication. By Barry Houlihan, University of Galway
Why are Irish gig tickets so expensive?
The price of a ticket to see your favourite act has increased dramatically for a plethora of reasons. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, RTÉ Brainstorm.