Big Ideas

Is romance really dead? Are sexual companion robots the future of relationships? After the news Big Ideas looks at one of the biggest mysteries of man kind – love.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about women in politics. Whether we have enough of them and how they’re treated by their male colleagues. But it seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. When Natasha Stott Despoja became a senator in 1995, the media focussed on her looks, marital status and bringing up baby. Natasha Stott Despoja and Annabel Crabb discuss gender equality on International Womens Day.

What does it mean to ‘belong’ in Australia, if you’re of Asian heritage?

Fungi are the unsung heroes of recycling. They play a vital role in breaking down organic matter for plants to use. Now we've discovered fungi can clean up oil and plastic. And their root systems are being used to create alternatives to plastic , wood and bricks. Who knew the humble mushroom could be so versatile?

Can plants think, learn and communicate? We used to believe that only humans and other animals had that ability. But science is showing that plants are smarter than you think. Plant scientists describe how plants talk to each other, respond to sound and share resources.

Are you the forgiving type? Or does your forgiveness depend on the circumstances? Forgiveness is often discussed as if it were a single, straightforward, phenomenon. The reality, however, is not so simple.

Science writer, Mike McRae, outlines the ever-changing nature of illness, and how disease is socially and culturally defined.

Have you ever thought about starting a business, being your own boss, making all the decisions? Indigenous business is a growing sector which provides employment and training in urban and regional communities. We meet four female business owners who are part of an expanding network of Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Throughout the centuries, music has inspired philosophers. Some thought it was dangerous other found it metaphysically profound or very suspicious. Goetz Richter discusses the perplexity philosophers feel when facing (the) music.

Do you feel comfortable in your own skin?  Or are you always on a diet and searching for the perfect body? With so much focus on body image and staying thin , it’s not surprising that eating disorders are on the rise. But , contrary to popular belief,  you can’t always tell that someone has an eating disorder.