RTÉ Brainstorm
Education & Explainer
About
New ideas and insights about the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and Research Ireland.
Episodes
- What’s really in the air Dubliners breathe?
DNA collected from Dublin's atmosphere has identified the various particles present in the city's air, offering a detailed look at its composition beyond basic oxygen.
- Why a 115kg stone from Waterford is finding a new home in Boston
An episode of RTÉ Brainstorm discusses the unconventional transport of a 115kg stone from Waterford to Boston, highlighting how diaspora communities find joy and connection through heritage.
- The inside story of Dublin’s blood and guts economy
The RTÉ Brainstorm episode discusses Dublin's historical city centre economy, focusing on the businesses and trades that utilized animal byproducts up until the 1980s.
- 4 tips for reading with babies and toddlers
This episode provides four tips for reading with babies and toddlers, highlighting the well-documented benefits of early reading for young children.
- All you need to know about voice spoofing and audio
This episode discusses biometric fraud, including voice spoofing and audio deepfakes, as elements of social engineering attacks conducted by scammers and criminals.
- What learning a second language does to your first language
You have probably heard all the positives about learning a second language. So, what’s the catch? Well, learning a new language might actually cause you to lose parts of your first language.
- Who owns my child’s data?
Teachers, parents and children should have a say in the role of technology in schools and on the types of data it collects and why.
- Are you being ripped off by the 'loyalty penalty'?
From banks to insurance, companies punish loyal consumers with higher prices, while new customers are rewarded with better deals.
- How long will it take for my solar panels to pay for themselves?
Making the most efficient use of your new domestic solar panel installation means a deep dive into usage and storage.
- 6 policy changes which could help consumers save money & cut costs
These simple, quick initiatives could deliver financial relief, promote fairer markets and strengthen consumer protections.
- Why do some words give us the ick?
How do you feel when you hear the words mucus, cyst and moist? We all have certain words or phrases that make us react in different ways. Certain words can provoke positive feelings, while others may make our skin crawl.
- Why electric cars need to be heard as well as seen
The quietness of electric vehicles is a significant safety challenge for pedestrians, cyclists and people with visual impairments
- Why women are taking to the sheds in Ireland
There are 120 or so women's sheds in operation around the country at present and that number is on the rise.
- All you ever wanted to know about emergency planning
The A to Z on planning for the unplannable and dealing with the many known and unknown risks and emergencies a country may face.
- Cad é an scéal leis an nGaeilge?
The Irish language may be having a revival right now, but Gaeilgeoirí up and down the island have some issues they'd like to raise
- What will Irish towns look like in the future?
About a third of the Irish population live in towns which have seen massive changes in recent years and can expect more to come
- Where are the future strongholds of Gaelic games?
You may think it's a given that the All Ireland champions for 2026 in all Gaelic codes can only come from a small number of counties, but what about 2036? We take a look at the developments which may well change where the future stronghold…
- From toys to wars, where will you encounter drones next?
As drones become a constant buzz in our lives, we look at where drones have come from - and just where we can expect them to go next
- Where does the time go?
All you ever wanted to know about how we perceive time as humans, why we use the measurements that we use, how time changes as we get older and why the Universe says time is all relative anyway.
- The hospitality crisis: what's happening to Irish restaurants?
Restaurants are closing on a weekly basis due to rising costs, but Irish consumers are also spending €2.2 billion a year on food delivery. By Ronan Carbery, UCC.
- Are 'quiet redundancies' happening in your workplace?
Employers in Ireland are implementing 'quiet redundancies' to scale back workforces in the face of uncertainty, tariffs and AI. By Aoife Ryan-Christensen, Brainstorm.
- Can I stop drone delivery companies flying over my property?
The legal landscape surrounding the use of drones is currently far from clear and many practical questions remain unanswered. By Kathryn O'Sullivan, University of Limerick.
- How slogans as Gaeilge have become part of Irish-Gaza protests
The use of Gaeilge at demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people is part of the radical tradition of Irish language activism. By Ciara Grant, UCC.
- Why is the Child of Prague statue associated with Irish weddings and weather?
The general belief was that you should leave the statue outside under a bush the night before the wedding to ensure good weather
- Are you stuck in the wrong job? 5 signs it’s time to move on
Warning signs that your job is no longer right for you include burnout, boredom, and feeling undervalued.
- What was on the menu in prehistoric Ireland?
From hazelnuts and fish to dairy and beef, new archaeological evidence reveals what our ancestors ate.
- Do I have to work when I’m sick?
Presenteeism—working while sick—is common in Ireland, but it has long-term consequences for health and productivity.
- It's 1970 and the Irish army are plotting to invade Northern Ireland
The prospect of Irish Defence Forces making incursions into Northern Ireland was seriously considered in response to the 1969 violence.
- Howya lads: how we address and greet others in Ireland
From ‘howya lads’ to ‘hiya girls’, Irish greetings reveal a lot about our social norms and changing gender dynamics.
- How 92 year‑old Richard Morgan became a rowing world champion
At 92 years of age, Richard Morgan was a four-time world champion in indoor rowing.
- The colourful story of the Elephant House on Dublin's O'Connell Street
The roots of Elverys and its elephant logo lie in a remarkable 19th-century shop on Sackville Street.
- The night JFK came to dinner in Dublin
President John F. Kennedy attended a state dinner in Iveagh House on 28 June 1963 during his iconic visit to Ireland – here’s how the night unfolded.
- Meet George Ryan, the Tipperary Don Quixote in 18th century Peru
The Tipperaryman's adventures as a grandee at large in South America involved everything from coca collection to debt collecting. By Richard Fitzpatrick, Maynooth University.
- Is it possible to create a healthy, tasty beer with no alcohol?
The sober-curious movement has seen sales of non-alcoholic drinks rocket, but do these beverages come with health benefits? By Ana Soriano and John Kenny, Teagasc
- How RIP.ie became an unlikely Irish cultural phenomenon
Aside from publishing death notices and condolences, RIP.ie is also a rich source of significant personal, cultural and historical data. By Shannon Mora, TCD.
- Why micro-retirement has become a new workplace trend for Gen Z & millennials
One of the main factors driving the demand for micro-retirement breaks is the employee's desire to achieve a better work-life balance
- How bonus points have changed Leaving Cert Maths
There's no doubt that bonus points are driving the uptake of Higher Level maths, but the initiative has had unintended consequences. By Niamh O'Meara, University of Limerick; Páraic Treacy, MIC Limerick and Mark Prendergast, UCC
- Here are 10 landmark GAA sites to visit in 2025
A bucket list of GAA destinations to explore, all offering unique social insight and powerful historical connections to Gaelic games
- Why exemptions from studying Irish are an increasing phenomenon
We need a comprehensive plan for Irish in education and one that addresses the issue of exemptions in an inclusive fashion
- How do EVs perform in the real world? Here’s what one Cork driver discovered
Gerald Bruton has learned a lot about range anxiety and capitalising on cheap electricity since buying his first EV at 81 years of age
- Why are my bills going up (and up) mid-contract?
Mid-contract price hikes may be legal, but the practice has been criticised as being unfair to consumers during a cost of living crisis
- Do you have a middle-ageing brain?
Recent research suggests middle age could mark a shift in brain ageing with our blood in our 40s more informative about our brain in our 60s. By Sebastian Dohm-Hansen Allard, UCC.
- Why money doesn't always motivate employees
Research suggests the relationship between pay, motivation and performance is much more complicated than you might think. By Ann Masterson and Karen Feery, TU Dublin.
- Why you should be collecting and using rainwater
Rainwater harvesting is a possible small solution to some very big problems - and not just watering the garden. By Ruth Quinn, ATU Sligo.
- Why do we work?
A deep dive into the motivations, purposes and challenges about why we clock in from 9 to 5
- How social media has impacted on young people's mental health
Social media has amplified what young people think about body image, self-esteem and mental health
- All you ever wanted to know about Jupiter
Your guide to the Giant Red Spot, those large ocean-bearing oceans and the conditions which could support life on the planet
- Where have all the Patricks gone?
The Patricks of Ireland have left a formidable mark, but the minds of new parents appear to have moved away from using that name
- How do you create a bike-friendly neighbourhood?
Here’s a checklist for communities who want to take action on traffic congestion, pollution and green transport in their area
- What can be done with 11,000 tons of used wind turbine blades?
Wind turbine blades don't last forever and 11,000 tons of them are due to be decommissioned in Ireland by the end of 2025, so where do they go and can they be reused?