Last week a massive sinkhole opened up suddenly in Dunbar in Scotland...but what actually causes sinkholes and do they happen in Ireland? Michelle McKeown, Lecturer in Environmental Geography at UCC and columnist in the Irish Examiner joined Sean to explain

Demand for so-called “personal protection dogs” is surging in the UK. Once the preserve of celebrities and security professionals, these highly trained animals – taught to bite, hold and release on command – are now being marketed as family pets and living alarm systems. Supporters say they offer reassurance in an age of rising crime, but critics warn of serious risks: to public safety, to owners’ legal liability, and to the dogs themselves. But is the same practice happening here at home?

Robbie Owens, Founder of Blackstar K9 training, joined Sean to explain.

Why do we just replace our goods when they break and not try and fix them? In developing countries like Brazil there are repairmen (women) to fix everything. Here in Ireland, generally we just replace. Henry McKean has been speaking to people in the circular economy and he sent us this report.

Doug Burgum, Trump’s Interior Secretary, has launched a new ambassador for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. It’s a mascot, with cute, big eyes and wellies, and his name is Coalie...but what is the actual point of political mascots like this? Joining Sean was is Lorcan Nyhan, from the Communications Clinic.

Becky Lotus is a surrogate from Ireland. She joined Sean to explain her  journey, how she has no regrets about becoming one and to highlight the relative lack of legislation in Ireland in relation to surrogacy

As the recent flooding has shown, something needs to be done. However, instead of big engineering projects which take years to get over the line, are nature based solutions an alternative? Joining Sean to explain was climate and environmental researcher Sadhbh O’Neill.

Joanna Fortune joins Sean to discuss listeners' parenting queries...

According to a new scientific study, what being in space does to human fertility, pregnancy and early foetal development remains exceptionally under-researched. But with the advent of space tourism, should there be more focus on the possibility of sex in space, and would it even be possible? Joining Sean was Niamh Shaw, Science communicator specialising in space to talk about why Sex isn't really possible in space and to explain why research is now being done into the topic.

Fresh off the fashion conveyor belt, Lego has stepped into footwear — quite literally. The toy giant has teamed up with Crocs to launch a bold new €200 clog inspired by the most painful object known to mankind: the Lego brick. Bright red, blocky and already causing serious debate online, the shoes have split opinion between fans who call it playful creativity and critics who say it should’ve stayed in the toy box. Love them or loathe them, they’ve already hit Paris Fashion Week — and they’ll be landing in shops next month.

IMAGE: Lego Group.

It was announced recently that the government would be outsourcing the operation of electronic tagging. But is the broader delegation to third parties eroding government control and expertise? Joining Sean was Paul Davis, Associate Professor at Dublin City University Business School.