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.
10 Jul 2026
After the ‘red card’ scandal, has the shine come off Gianni Infantino’s World Cup? Trump's red card scandal at the FIFA World Cup incensed the world. Macquarie University Senior Lecturer of Modern European History and Sports History, Keith Rathbone, asks if the US President has stolen the tournament's shine.
17 Jun 2026
White power symbol or subconscious twitch? How an Aussie ref landed in a World Cup controversy Shaun Evans has denied a hand gesture he made during a live broadcast signalled 'white power'. Far-right scholars explain how the upside-down 'OK' hand signal became associated with extremism.
09 Jun 2026
Seahorses and shark fins are illegally trafficked. An AI tool could help stop this crime Shark fins on a plane, seahorses in your bag and sea cucumbers in the post – these are just a few examples of illegal marine wildlife trafficking.
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.