Quick Smart

When did all our clothes become plastic? (SUMMER SERIES)

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country and most of it is made up of plastic. Thanks to fast fashion, even our op shops are bec...

Non-alcoholic drinks are wildly popular. What’s in them and are they healthy? (SUMMER SERIES)

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Australians love to crack open a ‘cold one’, but increasingly we’re turning to non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. How did NoLo drinks beco...

Feeling stuck? How to make big life decisions, minus the regret (SUMMER SERIES)

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with making big life decisions? Maybe it's moving overseas, quitting your job or deciding to have a baby. This week, how to ditch ana...

Why your childhood could be holding you back financially — and how to fix it (SUMMER SERIES)

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some people save every spare dollar, while others blow through their pay the moment it lands? It might have less to do with discipline and mor...

See You Next Tuesday? How the ‘worst word’ became a compliment (SUMMER SERIES)

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When many of us were growing up, the c-word was the worst thing you could say. Now, it’s having a renaissance. How has an "offensive and hateful”...

Where is all this asbestos coming from?

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like asbestos has been having more than it's fair share of limelight over the last few years. But it's manufacture, sale and import was bann...

Presents — Unravel: Huntsman

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The ABC's biggest investigative true crime podcast Unravel has just dropped their new season, Huntsman, and it's already rocketing up the podcast cha...

Victoria is the first state to have a Treaty. What now?

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Victorian government has signed into law a historic Treaty with First Nations people. It’s supposed to help fix the effects of institutional ha...

How to stop companies knowing everything about you

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our personal data can be used to manipulate the prices we see, the disinformation we believe, and sometimes even who we vote for. So, how much does t...

What makes a cover song better than the original?

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From pub bands and street buskers to TikTok-ing teens, the world is full of music covers. Some are admirable, others are average. Yet every so often,...

Why some politicians want us to feel 'ripped off'

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democracy dates back to the ancient Greeks and is meant to give us a say on who’s in charge. But lately, some democratically elected leaders are a...

Jane Austen wrote plenty of classics, but do we really need to read them?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From a muddling Mr Darcy to Clueless diva Cher Horowitz, some of the most iconic characters in books, films and TV were conceived by Jane Austen — ...

Why Google’s entering its AI era, and what it means for all of us

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Google gets billions of searches every day. But now, the tech giant wants to be AI-fuelled “answer engine”, rather than a gateway to other sites....

Australia desperately needs more organs. Could pigs be our saviour?

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you needed a life-saving transplant, would you take a gene-edited organ from a pig? It sounds like science fiction, but this procedure has been re...

Why your partner’s religious beliefs don’t matter as much as they used to

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Catholic and a Satanist walked into a bar ... and managed to fall in love? During the past two decades, more of us have become non-religious, but w...

Our last soft plastic recycling scheme flopped. Could a new one work?

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Remember when you could drop off soft plastics at the supermarket and feel a little smug, because you knew they’d be recycled? Turns out that schem...

How a Pokémon-loving teen became the first millennial saint

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of a saint, who do you picture? Chances are it’s not a tracksuit-wearing, video game playing teen, but that's exactly who the Cathol...

Who is Charlie Kirk? And why is Trump calling him a Christian "martyr"?

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At a stadium in Arizona, 63,000 people gathered to remember Charlie Kirk. Among them was President Donald Trump, who called the controversial right-w...

Nuns, crosses and exorcisms. Why horror films love religious imagery

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While cinemas struggle to fill seats, horror films are bringing in billions. So, why do we enjoy being scared? And how come horror flicks are filled ...

How to deal with family or friends who hold extreme beliefs

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the sovereign citizen movement to vaccine conspiracy theories, extreme beliefs are on the rise, and they can make family gatherings super uncomf...

Too much stuff? How to get on top of your clutter

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Love decluttering videos, but hate home organising in real life? Too much stuff can make us feel stressed, but parting with objects isn't always easy...

Who are the Israeli Settlers? And who's holding them accountable?

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. And yet, the Israeli government just approved almost 3,500 more of these ho...

Why conspiracy theorists are targeting walkable cities

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you had to dash out for a bottle of milk, could you just stroll to the supermarket? If the answer's yes, you might be living in a 15-minute city. ...

What power does the UN hold if volatile leaders keep ignoring it?

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Financial woes, global conflicts, and world leaders who act like the rules don’t apply. The United Nations is at crisis point. So, 80 years since i...

Are we paying too much tax?

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Like it or not, tax affects our incomes and grocery bills. It also helps pay for roads, hospitals and schools. But could the government be taking les...

Why Stephen Colbert’s talk show was cancelled, and what it has to do with Trump

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Late night TV legend Stephen Colbert is being taken off air, and suspicions are swirling. His US network CBS says it cancelled the talk show for fina...

How big tech is pushing teens into the misogynistic ‘manosphere’

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Teenage boys have always had a certain reputation for rowdiness, but there’s something different going on in our schools. Fuelled by toxic influenc...

Is Stockholm syndrome a sexist myth?

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

'Stockholm Syndrome' is a phrase we use to describe people in toxic relationships. But have you ever considered the first case? This week, meet the w...

Adulting is hard. Should schools be teaching essential life skills?

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, adulthood. Suddenly you're a Jack (or Jill) of all trades, negotiating tax returns and changing tires. Many of us feel wildly unprepared. Should ...

The controversial and very male history of naming body parts

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fallopian tubes. The G-spot. Skene’s glands. Why are so many female body parts named after shady white men... and should that change?

The 'hard men' behind the Israel-Iran war, and why Trump's involved

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Missiles are flying, nuclear sites have been bombed, and now Donald Trump has declared a ceasefire. Why do Israel and Iran hate each other? Who are t...

Why your childhood could be holding you back financially — and how to fix it

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some people save every spare dollar, while others blow through their pay the moment it lands? It might have less to do with discipline and mor...

How cults are using coercive control to manipulate followers

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They tell you how to act, what to believe, and who to surround yourself with. It sounds like coercive control, right? But this type of manipulation d...

Is productivity a scam? How to avoid burnout at work

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel a sinking sensation that you’re not being "productive” enough? It doesn’t just hit at work either, it can tarnish weekends wit...

One in seven of us take antidepressants. Getting off them can be a nightmare

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chances are you, or someone you know, took an antidepressant this morning. One in seven Australians are on the medication, and for many it's lifesav...

When is it OK to cut off your parents and go 'no contact’?

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever considered cutting a family member off? It's called going "no contact" and social media is filled with stories from people who’ve don...

Polyamory is becoming more popular. What can it teach us about our love lives?

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Call it romantically reckless or fiscally responsible, more Aussies are considering ENM (ethical non-monogamy). So, do these relationships work? And ...

New Pope, Who Dis? How the Catholic conclave actually works

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More than a hundred red-cloaked figures will enter in the Sistine Chapel, but only one can walk away with the top role. This isn't a new reality TV s...

Why politicians are allowed to lie in election ads

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Politicians love to overwhelm us during election campaigns. But often, we're left wondering what they actually stand for. Who has the best policies o...

How long can President Trump ignore the law?

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump is wreaking havoc on America's legal system. He's disobeying court rulings, calling judges "crooked", and pressuring law firms to donate...

See You Next Tuesday? How the ‘worst word’ became a compliment

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When many of us were growing up, the c-word was the worst thing you could say. Now, it’s having a renaissance. How has the most "offensive and hate...

How marketing 'shamed' us into using deodorant, and where BO comes from

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Body odour. It’s one of those things we all experience, but rarely talk about. This week, how BO became a social taboo, why you shouldn't fear alum...

Feeling stuck? How to make big life decisions, minus the regret

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with making big life decisions? Maybe it's moving overseas, quitting your job or deciding to have a baby. This week, how to ditch ana...

The 'incestuous' publishing trick that's making you buy books

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re looking for a new book, are you ever swayed by the little quotes on the front cover? They might say “Unputdownable!” or "Obsessed!”...

Why your hormones probably don't need 'balancing'

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scour social media as a Millennial or Gen Z woman, and you're bound to come across wellness influencers claiming your hormones are out of whack. Is t...

Artworks hidden, a creator dumped. Is this censorship?

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s something going on in the art world. Works are being covered up, a creator was controversially dropped, and an Oscar-winning documentary ca...

‘Party like it’s 1939’. Why Germany’s far-right is back

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk did that questionable “hand salute” at a Trump rally. Now, Germany's far-right party has doubled its share of votes. How did we get her...

Non-alcoholic drinks are wildly popular. What’s in them and are they healthy?

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australians love to crack open a ‘cold one’, but increasingly we’re turning to non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. Why have NoLo drinks bec...

Why award ceremonies have always been provocative — and political

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Award ceremonies, like the Oscars and GRAMMYs, used to be the height of glamour and success. But are these events increasingly irrelevant? Or are we ...

Will 'arrogance' be the downfall of our major parties?

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you've tuned out of Aussie politics, you’re not alone. Apathy is high, especially among young people, and there’s a genuine concern that elect...

Why Aussies are using Facebook groups to get sperm from strangers

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Getting pregnant through a fertility clinic can be difficult and wildly expensive. That’s why thousands of Australians are using Facebook groups to...

When did all our clothes become plastic?

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country, and most is made of plastic. So, when did synthetic fibres take over fashion? And why ...

Would you fall in love with an AI chatbot?

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of people are turning to AI chatbots for friendship, fun banter and even romance. But these digital companions come with a dangerous catch.

Why the zeitgeist is Mormon obsessed + a Quick announcement

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mormons seem to be everywhere right now—on our TVs and social media feeds. So, why is the zeitgeist currently obsessing over The Church of Jesus Ch...

How to boost your creativity while you sleep

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There’s a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its u...

Demure, skibidi, brat: why teenage girls are behind your future vocabulary

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary.But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the a...

Is our love for pets killing the planet?

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our relationship with pets has dramatically shifted over the decades. Historically, we domesticated and bred pets for utility, such as catching rats ...

Does Australia have a problem with class?

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australians generally like to think we're a classless society and that if you have a go, you get a go. This could be one of the reasons why most Aust...

What not to do on jury duty

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You often hear about "mistrials" or cases being "thrown out of court," but how do these situations actually occur? In an age of constant information ...

How the DNA of 15 million people ended up for sale

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

23andMe launched in 2016 to widespread excitement from Silicon Valley evangelists. It promised a simple and fun way to explore our genetic makeup.Eig...

How overtourism became a problem

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This year’s European summer saw an unprecedented influx of tourists flocking to idyllic holiday destinations. Tourists faced longer lines, fully bo...

Why your job decides who you'll marry

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you're in a relationship with someone in the same profession as you, you're not alone. Most people are, and there are stats to prove it. So why do...

How Mormons could decide the US election

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The US election is around the corner, and the polls are neck and neck. Both candidates are zeroing in on key voter groups that could win them the ele...

How mindfulness was commodified

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much should inner peace cost? For the people selling the idea of mindfulness and inner peace the price tag can be limitless. Apps, retreats, balm...

Are dictators taking over the world?

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Around the globe, governments have been shifting across the political spectrum. Have some leaders exploited the public's desire for change, and are w...

Why we're breaking up with dating apps

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The advent of dating apps gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'plenty of fish in the sea.' Suddenly, you could cast your search for 'the one' into...

Why the prince of Saudi Arabia wants you to move to NEOM

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The prince of Saudi Arabia has a vision for a sci-fi like city in the middle of the desert called NEOM and he wants you to move in. The futuristic s...

Is our love for pets killing the planet?

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much is that doggy in the window impacting climate change? And do we need to take paws for thought before buying a pet? 

Will Kamala Harris become the first female US President?

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amidst the culture wars and identity politics stirred up during the election campaign, can Kamala Harris secure the presidency and make history? And...

What happens when the world goes cashless?

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The whole world is moving towards a cashless future. So what does our digital money future look like and is it for the best? 

Why is sex tech still so taboo?

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sex tech conjures up images of hot robots sent from the future and while that might be where this multi million dollar industry is headed - for now a...

Demure, skibidi, brat: why teenage girls are behind your future vocabulary

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary.But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the a...

One year on from a fatal mushroom lunch, the saga continues

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where is the case now and when will mushroom murder-accused Erin Patterson face trial? We find out and get into the weeds about the legality and ethi...

How to boost your creativity while you sleep

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There’s a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its u...

Why are criminals using video games to launder money?

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cryptocurrency and block chain technology has dramatically shifted the way criminals launder money - so what are the techniques some criminals are us...

Why are so many women freezing their eggs?

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re a woman between 25 and 45 on Instagram there’s a good chance you’ve seen ads for egg freezing. And in recent years, the popularity of...

How the Olympics were almost cancelled

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Olympic Games are about to kick off and athletes from all over the world will make their way to France to compete. The event is watched by billio...

The truth behind reality TV villains

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the back of our minds we all know that there’s very little that’s real about reality TV… but you might be shocked to discover just how decep...

Should we ban teens from social media?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Social media is a huge part of our lives. We use it to talk to friends, to read about what’s happening in the world, and to find out whether or not...

The rise of AI in the movies

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

AI is impacting every creative industry - and movies are no exception. If a young Harrison Ford can be churned out of a computer, what does the futur...

The science behind singing in a choir

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're singing in a karaoke room at 2am, or at a more reasonable time with a local choir, there’s something about singing without inhibitio...

Why is the alt right obsessed with eating meat?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a man, a man? Well eating copious amounts of red meat of course – at least according to certain corners of the internet. The alt-right h...

Are we addicted to our phones?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On average Australians spend around three hours on their phones everyday - and experts believe our screentime is impacting our relationships, our abi...

What's the deal with nuclear energy?

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If we want to avoid the worst of the climate crisis, it's vital we switch to clean energy and fast. Wind and solar have long been on the agenda as cl...

Is life coaching a giant con?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Scrolling on instagram it’s impossible to avoid people giving their unsolicited advice - about fashion, the news, or the latest food trend. But wit...

Why we need to start talking about dying

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Death is something we don’t really like to think about. But when you or someone you love becomes ill, it’s important to be able to have a convers...

How to survive the cost of living crisis

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australians have been in the midst of a cost of living crisis for a while now. Groceries are more expensive. Petrol is more expensive. Rent is more e...

Why are book bans skyrocketing?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Banning books feels like a thing of the past. A humble past-time of authoritarian leaders and churches trying to control the way people think. These ...

Office romances are more common than you think

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We spend more of our waking hours at work than anywhere else – and by extension, a lot of time with our colleagues. That might explain why up to ha...

Should TikTok be banned?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok has over a billion users and counting. Recently there’s been a lot of talk about the national security threat that such a large user base ow...

Could AI swing elections around the world?

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

AI is already impacting the way we work, the way we design and the way we think but there’s a growing concern that soon it’s going to start impac...

Have Australians forgotten how to relax?

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With more Australians working from home than ever, the lines between work and leisure time have really blurred. With so many huge advances in technol...

Since when do Australian cities have flags?

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Outside of the Olympics or the driveway to the United Nations, how often do you think about flags? Countries and states have them but Australian citi...

Why is Facebook deleting Australian news?

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to finding and sharing news, one third of Australians use Facebook. But that’s about to change because Facebook’s owner Meta has de...

Where in the world is Kate Middleton?

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal family has a knack for being the centre of controversy. And over the last few weeks - rumours about the health and location of Kate Middlet...

Why does the internet love to hate fan girls?

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s nothing wrong with a healthy celebrity obsession - but throughout pop culture history, fan girls have had a bad rap. While being an expert ...

Streaming services killed the Christian radio star

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the early 2000s the Christian rock scene was a billion dollar industry, there were huge international acts, massive multi-day festivals and thousa...

The science behind your favourite chips

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cheeseburger, roast duck, grapefruit, sizzling steak and cucumber are flavours you expect to find in a supermarket, but perhaps not in the potato chi...

The conspiracy theories plaguing Taylor Swift

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Taylor Swift just set the record for the biggest crowd of her career in Australia. And while the most successful female artist playing to half a mill...

Your cheat sheet for the US Presidential election

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In November Americans will head to the polls to vote for their next president. And it’s looking like the contenders will be Joe Biden and Donald Tr...