Please Explain
Everything you ever wanted to know
but didn't know who to ask.
Please Explain
Everything you ever wanted to know
but didn't know who to ask.
19 May 2026
Bedtime stories by ChatGPT? The AI children’s book boom explained AI tools are turning family photos into instant storybooks and opening publishing to anyone, but experts say the technology comes with serious trade-offs.
16 Mar 2026
Can I be hypnotised online? Does virtual hypnotherapy work? And should I be worried about having my mind controlled by a stranger? Spencer Arbige, who recently submitted his doctoral thesis based on research in Macquarie’s Altered States Laboratory led by Dr Vince Polito, explains hypnosis and whether it really works online.
11 Nov 2025
Please explain: What is low-carbon supply chain finance? Dr Peter Shi from Macquarie Business School explains how low-carbon supply chain finance helps businesses reduce emissions, unlock green funding and build resilient, profitable networks amid global climate challenges.
27 Oct 2025
Please explain: What does the breast density rating on my mammogram mean? BreastScreen NSW began routinely reporting breast density in mammogram results this year, in April 2025. Is dense breast tissue automatically a cause for concern? Macquarie University Hospital breast surgeon Dr Negin Sedaghat explains.
13 Oct 2025
Please explain: Why do people fall for implausible scams? Professor Neil Levy from Macquarie University’s discipline of Philosophy explains why some people bet on an attractive fantasy – and how we can avoid falling prey to scams.
10 Sep 2025
Please explain: Does the sun have seasons? Ahead of Macquarie University's annual Astronomy Open Night on September 27, astrophysicist Dr Deepak Chahal explains.
11 Aug 2025
Please explain: Why vapes laced with nitazenes are causing alarm In an Australian first, NSW police have charged a man following the seizure of vials of vape liquid laced with nitazenes. Macquarie Medical School pharmacologist Professor Mark Connor explains what nitazenes are and why authorities are concerned about their health effects.
05 Feb 2025
Please explain: Is it possible to miss something happening right in front of you? In one famous case in the US, a police officer pursuing a suspect ran past an assault without seeing it. What does this tell us about how memories are formed and retrieved, and how they might be altered along the way? Forensic psychology researcher Dr Hayley Cullen explains.
22 Aug 2024
Please explain: Trial by judge or jury? Would judge-only trials put our criminal justice system at risk? Dr Andrew Burke, Senior Lecturer at the Macquarie Law School, looks at the ramifications of the rise of judge-only trials.
29 Feb 2024
Please explain: What is sustainable finance? To smooth Australia’s pathway to net zero, the Federal Government recently released its Sustainable Finance Strategy. To what extent is it a force for good? Dr Rohan Best, senior lecturer in finance and economics, explains.
11 Jan 2024
Please explain: Why do we have leap years? The Romans, a 16th-century pope and the rotation of the earth all contribute to why we have leap years, explains Dr Stuart Ryder from Macquarie University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
02 Jan 2024
Please explain: How to choose a new year diet There is no time like a new year for starting a fresh diet or way of eating, but with so many options – and passionate supporters in every camp – it can be hard to know which one to choose. MQ Health Accredited Practising Dietitian Valentina Duong weighs up the pros and cons of some popular diets.