As humans have swarmed across the globe, so too have the species that ride on the backs of our success. Right now, parts of New South Wales are enduring their worst mouse plague in decades. Angus Thomson revisits the horrors of 1984 to find out why these plagues keep happening, and how it all ends.

This podcast was created as part of the 2021 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in Science Gallery Melbourne's SWARM exhibition, a space that uncovers the very essence of human behaviour and questions what drives us to be social.

https://melbourne.sciencegallery.com/swarm

Grey-headed flying foxes have been coming to Melbourne for more than 100 years. The number of them has been increasing due to a loss of habitat in New South Wales and Queensland. Now I’m walking on the nature trail heading to the bat colony in the Yarra Bend Park, waiting for flying foxes waking from their sleep. Those creatures swarm every evening over the sky around the park. Die Hu gets into the world of flying foxes and finds out how climate change influences them substantially.

This podcast was created as part of the 2021 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in Science Gallery Melbourne's SWARM exhibition, a space that uncovers the very essence of human behaviour and questions what drives us to be social.

https://melbourne.sciencegallery.com/swarm

Could you pare back your phone use to the bare essentials? Some experts suggest living without social media platforms is the most simple way to protect online privacy when people are swarmed by digital data. But it seems impossible for the young generations to give up using social media. Fiona Wang explains why social media uses big data analysis to attract its users.

This podcast was created as part of the 2021 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in Science Gallery Melbourne's SWARM exhibition, a space that uncovers the very essence of human behaviour and questions what drives us to be social.

https://melbourne.sciencegallery.com/swarm

Insects have inspired many a horror film, and for many of us, creepy-crawlies evoke our deepest fears. For farmers though, contending with insect pests is a familiar and endless battle, with our very dinner plates at stake. Matthew Hall spoke with Paul Umina, Director of Cesar Australia, on why our traditional approach to pest management doesn’t work well anymore, and how rethinking our relationship with bugs can save both our kind.

This podcast was created as part of the 2021 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in Science Gallery Melbourne's SWARM exhibition, a space that uncovers the very essence of human behaviour and questions what drives us to be social.

https://melbourne.sciencegallery.com/swarm

Social media and digital technologies have given bullying a new edge. Now it can happen anywhere and anytime through smartphones, social media, text messages and emails. Everyone’s participation, such as praising, commenting and sharing may overwhelm the victims' final psychological defense.

This podcast was created as part of the 2020 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in MENTAL, Science Gallery Melbourne's exhibition that is a welcoming place to confront stereotypes and social bias about mental health. Content deals directly and indirectly with a range of mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised.

Photograph by Wanzhi Deng

An interview with David Phillips, a retired pilot who experienced G-force induced loss of consciousness, or G-LOC, while performing a loop in an airforce jet in 1976.

This podcast was created as part of the 2020 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in MENTAL, Science Gallery Melbourne's exhibition that is a welcoming place to confront stereotypes and social bias about mental health. Content deals directly and indirectly with a range of mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised.

Photograph supplied by production team.

Tim Allan, a pool lifeguard from Melbourne, successfully resuscitated a drowning six-year-old girl while on duty. The experience took a toll on his mental health and shows the psychological challenges lifeguards face. This is his journey to recovery.

This podcast was created as part of the 2020 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in MENTAL, Science Gallery Melbourne's exhibition that is a welcoming place to confront stereotypes and social bias about mental health. Content deals directly and indirectly with a range of mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised.

Photograph supplied by Edan Runge

The human memory is as confusing as it is fascinating. We don’t remember our first few years, and towards the end of our lives things might start to get hazy. Somewhere in between, we have an opportunity to make sense of things. But what happens when you walk into a room, and your loved one doesn’t recognise your face?

This podcast was created as part of the 2020 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in MENTAL, Science Gallery Melbourne's exhibition that is a welcoming place to confront stereotypes and social bias about mental health. Content deals directly and indirectly with a range of mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised.

Photograph: Mariah Papadopoulos

During her early years, Prealene Khera's mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune neurological disease. The illness challenged the traditional roles of mother and daughter. Yet while the sickness festers in her brain and chains it down, Prealene knows her mother’s mind will always be free.

This podcast was created as part of the 2020 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in MENTAL, Science Gallery Melbourne's exhibition that is a welcoming place to confront stereotypes and social bias about mental health. Content deals directly and indirectly with a range of mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised.

Photograph: Prealene Khera

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but what does that really mean in practice? Ashleigh Barraclough speaks with young Australians suffering from anxiety who have pushed comfort limits.

This podcast was created as part of the 2020 Journalism program at University of Melbourne, supervised by Louisa Lim. Students responded to themes in MENTAL, Science Gallery Melbourne's exhibition that is a welcoming place to confront stereotypes and social bias about mental health. Content deals directly and indirectly with a range of mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised.

Photograph of Lucy Williams supplied by production team.