RTÉ Brainstorm is where the academic and research community will contribute to public debate, reflect on what’s happening in the world around us and communicate fresh thinking on a broad range of issues.
1 April 2020
We must not be flippant or too relaxed, but being optimistic may well be the thing that will get us through this
By Ulster University, Rachel McHugh
20 March 2020
From Romeo & Juliet and Pale Horse Pale Rider to Dracula and 1984, four centuries of disease and death on the page
2 March 2020
Very few of us wash our hands adequately, which is why preventable infectious diseases are easily transmitted
11 December 2019
By Rachel McHugh, Ulster University
19 November 2019
By Ulster University, Eli Davies
18 November 2019
By Ulster University, Rachel McHugh
29 October 2019
By Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Dr Declan McKenna
29 October 2019
By University of Limerick, Ciara Breathnach
By Ulster University, Vanessa Gstrein
30 September 2019
By Ulster University, Rachel McHuges
24 September 2019
7 August 2019
Opinion: messages of resistance in troubled times tend to emanate from the culture industry so is this true of Trump's America?
21 July 2019
Analysis: some number-crunching about the economic value of this weekend's all-star golf tournament in Portrush
4 July 2019
Analysis: humans make about 35,000 decisions every day so is it possible for AI to deal with a similar volume of high decision uncertainty?
24 June 2019
Opinion: Sport may be considered a simple hobby, but for devoted athletes, it is an integral aspect of who they are. When challenged to stop or reduce their level of engagement, their sense of identity and purpose can become threatened.
12 June 2019
Opinion: Stroke is the largest cause of adult disability in Ireland, but the use of robotics, VR, brain stimulation, and apps have great potential in helping people make a better recovery from stroke.
7 June 2019
Opinion: Adolescent girls are being left at the bottom of the class when it comes to being physically active, and we need to develop effective interventions to promote lifelong physical activity behaviours in this age group.
17 April 2019
Opinion: dealing with Northern Ireland's high rates of mental illness requires dealing with perceived differences between groups
11 April 2019
Opinion: research has found that concussion can affect a player's balance, reaction time, multi-tasking and risk of further injury
3 April 2019
Opinion: the experiences of medical staff working during the Troubles gives an insight into the effects of conflict on people and society.
By Ruth Coon
13 March 2019
Opinion: there have been increased health concerns about mobile phone usage and new 5G networks, but are they justified?
5 March 2019
Opinion: it is time to challenge our own stereotypical beliefs and acknowledge that all victims deserve support regardless of gender or sexual orientation
7 February 2019
Opinion: food banks are a symptom of austerity measures and government inaction which fail to tackle the real causes of food poverty.
31 January 2019
Opinion: the rise of sports-related brain injuries raises issues about the widespread culture of playing while hurt
23 January 2019
What if there had been an active Northern Ireland Assembly with a power-sharing Executive addressing Brexit issues?
18 January 2019
Here's how the US economy, Chinese growth, oil prices, globalism, unemployment and Brexit will affect our world.
14 January 2019
Analysis: stroke is a largely preventable condition and we could all be working towards reducing our chances of having a stroke
11 January 2019
The ongoing political stalemate at Stormont comes in the middle of the biggest constitutional storm to hit these islands in decades
7 January 2019
By Joanna Jurek, Ulster University
6 January 2019
By Paul O'Hagan, Ulster University
6 December 2018
Analysis: expect the UK's departure from the EU to bring many consequences for the social security entitlements and rights of cross-border workers
19 November 2018
Brexit has highlighted an unprecedented level of self-imposed chaos and ineptitude from British cabinet ministers and civil servants.
5 November 2018
Halloween is a great time watch a scary movie, but why do we like being scared and what makes a great horror film?
24 October 2018
Technology can create digital and virtual animated museums which will help promote the sustainability of our cultural heritage
24 October 2018
Is it the fault of austerity policies and a consequent impact on health and social care provision?
5 October 2018
20 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland is still waiting for the British government to enact a Bill of Rights.
24 September 2018
During the Reformation, the Catholic Church in Ireland faced a crisis as profound as it does today and it was saved by Irish women
31 August 2018
Technology continues to drive huge changes in the worlds of cash and banking so what can we expect in the future?
20 August 2018
Many schools have already banned smartphones, but managing usage of the devices may help students, teachers and parents
25 June 2018
Could an essentially rudderless Italy be a picture of Northern Ireland's future in economic and political terms?
24 May 2018
When it comes to plastic and waste, should our contribution to the solution be equal to our part in creating the problem?
18 May 2018
New research shows that context plays a critical role when we assess another person's personality
17 May 2018
Recent controversies show that seemingly old-fashioned ideas around honour and gender have persisted into the present
6 May 2018
How the horror genre has responded to the events of the Trump years
6 March 2018
We need to take a serious look at how playing hurt is deeply ingrained in the cultural DNA of competitive sport at all levels
25 January 2018
Recent fire disasters demonstrate the need to transfer knowledge gained through research into everyday fire safety practices
18 January 2018
How arthritis plays a stealthy long game with people's lives and what science is doing to out-manoeuvre it.
15 January 2018
The Irish Government's hardline attitude to the border during Brexit highlights a neglect for what this means for Northern Ireland.
9 January 2018
Walking instead of using the lift, escalator or moving walkway can increase your recommended daily dose of physical activity and improve your health
8 November 2017
Blockchain has quickly become an important technology, but there's confusion as to what it is and its limitations. Here's an overview of blockchain and some thoughts on its likely future
8 November 2017
November sees the return of the annual Movember fundraising campaign, which sees men across the world sprout moustaches to raise awareness and money for men’s health issues.
8 November 2017
Blockchain has quickly become an important technology, but there's confusion as to what it is and its limitations. Here's an overview of blockchain and some thoughts on its likely future.
8 October 2016
We can help enable women entrepreneurs by identifying and taking simple steps to meet their needs, particularly around peer support
27 August 2016
The figure of the Irish mother on the stage is at the centre of cultural and social debates about the roles and experiences of Irish women.
5 July 2016
We may be enjoying the sunshine, but the economic effects of this fine spell are mixed
