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.
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.
29 Nov 2023
Please explain: What causes osteoporosis? So you think loss of bone density is a natural process that only occurs in people over 70 who don’t drink enough milk? Think again. Endocrinologist Associate Professor Veronica Preda explains what it is, how we can treat it, and how we can prevent it.
09 Nov 2023
Rising interest rates and the RBA’s inflation problem explained With persistent high inflation, the Reserve Bank of Australia has little choice but to use the blunt instrument of interest rate rises to control price pressures. Dr Ponomareva from the Macquarie Business School explains.
19 Oct 2023
Please explain: Why do 2.5 million tourists pour into Pompeii every year? VIDEO: The vast archaeological site of Pompeii in southern Italy’s Campania region offers a unique snapshot of ancient Roman life, frozen at the moment it was buried under metres of volcanic ash and pumice. Professor of Ancient History Ray Laurence explains.
17 Aug 2023
Please explain: Why do magpies swoop? Behavioural ecologist Dr Ben Ashton, who is researching magpie cognition and behaviour, explains.
04 Jul 2023
Please explain: What is medical cannabis? With the race to open Sydney's first cannabis dispensary in full swing, Macquarie Medical School pharmacologist Professor Mark Connor explains the uses of medical marijuana.
07 Dec 2022
Please explain: What is the Law of the Sea and why is it so important? The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea recently overturned the UK’s 55-year unlawful occupation of the Chagos Islands. And, as sea levels rise, this ruling has the potential to cause a ripple effect in international law.
25 Oct 2022
Please explain: Why do we scream? Screaming activates the amygdala, a nucleus in the brain that helps heighten awareness. And, according to Macquarie University's Dr Philippe Gilchrist, it provides clues as to how people respond to danger and the environment.
19 Oct 2022
Please explain: Is it possible to speed read? Claims that it is possible to teach us to read at incredible speeds so we can improve our performance in study and at work are easy to find online. But is speed reading really possible?