Introducing our new podcast, Essays On Air

Editor's note

Got weekend chores to do? Need help making 15 minutes of housework or garden jobs fly by? Let us transport you to another world with our immersive new podcast, Essays On Air. In each episode, we’ll read aloud fascinating, meticulously researched essays penned by academics who are experts in their fields.

Our first episode is from Paul Salmond, reading his essay Journeys to the underworld – Greek myth, film and American anxiety. He explains how films like Chinatown, The Silence of the Lambs and Apocalypse Now evoke narratives played out in Homer's Iliad, the story of Theseus and the minotaur, and other classic Greek tales.

You can find episodes of Essays On Air on our website, in Apple podcasts or in Pocket Casts.

Sunanda Creagh

Head of Digital Storytelling

Essays on air

A central convention of Greek mythological narratives called katabasis, the hero’s journey to the underworld or land of the dead. Marcella Cheng/The Conversation NY-BD-CC

Essays On Air: Journeys to the underworld – Greek myth, film and American anxiety

Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation

Our new podcast, Essays On Air, features the most beautiful writing from Australian researchers. Today, classics expert Paul Salmond explores how modern cinema directors borrow from Greek legends.

Education

Learning how to manage anxiety takes time and practice, so it’s not helpful to wait until stress levels are at a peak before seeking help. shutterstock

Early intervention is key to support students with anxiety about starting university

Viviana Wuthrich, Macquarie University

Starting university is a common cause of heightened stress, with many new challenges for students to overcome.

While digital footprints are considered to be a liability, if managed well they can be an asset. Shutterstock

Why children should be taught to build a positive online presence

Rachel Buchanan, University of Newcastle

When it comes to online spaces, children are usually taught about cyber safety and keeping information private, but curating a positive digital footprint could actually benefit them later in life.

Environment + Energy

A month into operation, the Tesla lithium-ion battery at Neoen wind farm in Hornsdale, South Australia is already providing essential grid services. REUTERS/Sonali Paul

A month in, Tesla's SA battery is surpassing expectations

Dylan McConnell, University of Melbourne

After a month of operation, the Tesla battery at Hornsdale Power Reserve in SA is outperforming expectations - and the model is set to be emulated in Victoria

The storm intensified rapidly off the US east coast. NOAA/EPA

Explainer: 'bomb cyclones' – the intense winter storms that hit the US (and Australia too)

Acacia Pepler, Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Andrew Dowdy, Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Eun-Pa Lim, Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Pandora Hope, Australian Bureau of Meteorology

The US was hit by a 'bomb cyclone' last week, bringing icy cold and driving snow. These storms develop very rapidly, forming outside the tropics, typically on continental east coasts in winter.

Cities

Children being children can be loud, which creates challenges when they live in an apartment. Pexels

With apartment living on the rise, how do families and their noisy children fit in?

Sophie-May Kerr, University of Wollongong

In Sydney, families with children now account for one in four households living in apartments. The expectations and design of apartments have not kept up with this rapid demographic change.

Sydney’s west is growing at a staggering pace. Reuters

The future of Sydney: a tale of three cities?

Rob Roggema, University of Technology Sydney; Peter Bishop, UCL

The future of Sydney is under constant scrutiny. But before we consider creating a 'third city' in Sydney's west, we should ensure we get the current infrastructure up to international standards.

Arts + Culture

Craig McLachlan (centre), playing the role of Frank-N-Furter, rehearses with the cast of the Rocky Horror Show in 2015. Paul Miller/AAP

Rocky Horror allegations throw a spotlight on acting boundaries, on and off stage

Leith Taylor, Edith Cowan University

It is important for actors to 'de-role' after performing their character – but this is not something they routinely do.

Detail from the Roman-era Sousse Mosaic Calendar, El Jem, Tunisia. Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons

Explainer: where do the names of our months come from?

Caillan Davenport, Macquarie University

If you’ve ever wondered why our 12-month year ends with names that mean the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months, you can blame the Romans.

Health + Medicine

There’s still a lot we don’t know about why more children have food allergies today. from www.shutterstock.com

Can I prevent food allergies in my kids?

Jennifer Koplin, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Parents are now advised to introduce foods like peanut and egg to infants before one year of age.

Despite the marketing hype, antioxidants can be harmful when consumed in excess. Israel Egio/Unsplash

What are antioxidants? And are they truly good for us?

Jacqui Adcock, Deakin University

Antioxidants are meant to be good for us, but not all antioxidants are equal.

Politics + Society

Talks between North and South Korea have led to the rogue North agreeing to send a delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Reuters

The Winter Olympics and the two Koreas: how sport diplomacy could save the world

David Rowe, Western Sydney University; Jung Woo Lee, University of Edinburgh

North Korea sending a delegation to this year's Winter Olympics in South Korea may be a global shadow puppet show – or it might help thaw the frozen relations between the two countries.

Music festivals tend to be geared toward young audiences, and may constitute the site of sexual harassment and assault against younger women. AAP/Damian Shaw

How music festivals can change the tune on sexual violence

Bianca Fileborn, UNSW; Phillip Wadds, UNSW

Sexual harassment and assault are common experiences in general: there is no reason to assume this is any different at music festivals.

Business + Economy

Senior journalist Carrie Gracie (right) found she was being paid less than her male colleagues at the BBC. Joi Ito/Flickr

For women fighting the gender pay gap discrimination law is limited

Alice Orchiston, University of Sydney

Sex discrimination law has limited capacity to address the gender pay gap.

This year the Chinese Communist Party will tackle some of it’s biggest economic hurdles. AAP

What we can expect from China's economy in 2018

Alice de Jonge, Monash University

The Chinese government will use its consolidated power to try to reign in some of the biggest problems facing its economy in 2018.

Science + Technology

WayRay’s holographic AR device displays information tailored to drivers and passengers. WayRay

It's time to get ready for augmented reality

Matt Adcock, Data61

Upcoming innovations suggest that 2018 might be the year when the promise of augmented reality begins to be realised.

Australian captain Steve Smith batting in the fifth test match between Australia and England, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. AAP/Dean Lewins

What the stats say: is Steve Smith the second-best Australian cricket batsman ever?

Christopher Drovandi, Queensland University of Technology

Australian cricket captain Steve Smith's play during the recent Ashes saw him hailed as one of the greatest Australian players. So what do the numbers say?