For decades, neuroscientists have offered opposing theories for how our brains process the risks and rewards of daily life. Some thought our brains dedicate the most energy into managing everyday realities. Others have thought our brains fire up when we’re thrown something unexpected.

Now we have an answer. And it might make you re-think how you live.

Today, science reporter Angus Dalton on findings by researchers from the University of Sydney, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, that might help explain how our brains are functioning, in this age of information overload.

For decades, neuroscientists have offered opposing theories for how our brains process the risks and rewards of daily life. Some thought our brains dedicate the most energy into managing everyday realities. Others have thought our brains fire up when we&rsquo;re thrown something unexpected. Now we have an answer. And it might make you re-think how you live. Today, science reporter Angus Dalton on findings by researchers from the University of Sydney, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, that might help explain how our brains are functioning, in this age of information overload.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

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New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series. 

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series.&nbsp;

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The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

In an age of information overload, this is what happens to our brains

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/c5600d54-4827-4f0c-a609-b47500490e8b/transcript

Karl Stefanovic was the face of Australian morning television for 25 years. Lauded for wearing the same suit for a year to highlight sexism, laughed at for showing up drunk on air following the Logies.

Now he’s agreed to part ways with Nine, the owner of our mastheads, after he featured far-right, anti-Islam British activist Tommy Robinson on his podcast.

Today, columnist and senior journalist Jacqueline Maley on whether the Stefanovic saga is the new rite of passage for the middle-aged man, or, if it signifies a fundamental shift in mainstream media.

Karl Stefanovic was the face of Australian morning television for 25 years. Lauded for wearing the same suit for a year to highlight sexism, laughed at for showing up drunk on air following the Logies.
Now he&rsquo;s agreed to part ways with Nine, the owner of our mastheads, after he featured far-right, anti-Islam British activist Tommy Robinson on his podcast.
Today, columnist and senior journalist Jacqueline Maley on whether the Stefanovic saga is the new rite of passage for the middle-aged man, or, if it signifies a fundamental shift in mainstream media.

Is the Karl Stefanovic saga a midlife crisis or media evolution?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/bb01dd01-6ff2-4365-bd46-b47800713d0a/transcript

This week independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender announced they would form a new political party, Community Strong Australia.

Steggall was successful as the first teal candidate, winning the prize seat of Warringah on Sydney’s north shore from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019.

Spender took Sydney’s blue-ribbon electorate of Wentworth from Liberal David Sharma in 2022.
But the leaderless Community Strong is a high-risk strategy, as all other teal MPs have declined to join.

Today, Steggall is a special guest on Inside Politics with Jacqueline Maley to talk about, amid the fracturing of the Coalition and the rise of One Nation, why now is the right time for Community Strong Australia.

This week independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender announced they would form a new political party, Community Strong Australia.
Steggall was successful as the first teal candidate, winning the prize seat of Warringah on Sydney&rsquo;s north shore from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019.
Spender took Sydney&rsquo;s blue-ribbon electorate of Wentworth from Liberal David Sharma in 2022. But the leaderless Community Strong is a high-risk strategy, as all other teal MPs have declined to join.
Today, Steggall is a special guest on Inside Politics with Jacqueline Maley to talk about, amid the fracturing of the Coalition and the rise of One Nation, why now is the right time for Community Strong Australia.

High risk or the right time? Zali Steggall on the new teal party

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/66202aa1-e63e-4d61-ac7d-b474005e620d/transcript

More Australians feel unsafe in the world than ever before, according to new research from the Lowy Institute.

And it is this environment of fear – fear of a bad economy, of terrorism, of immigration – that makes for an environment ripe for a political party like One Nation to prosper.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Australia is experiencing a moment he has never witnessed before, and where the solutions lie.

 

Background reading
This is the Australia that Pauline Hanson has been waiting for – a frightened country

More Australians feel unsafe in the world than ever before, according to new research from the Lowy Institute.
And it is this environment of fear &ndash; fear of a bad economy, of terrorism, of immigration &ndash; that makes for an environment ripe for a political party like One Nation to prosper. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on how Australia is experiencing a moment he has never witnessed before, and where the solutions lie.
&nbsp;
Background reading
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/this-is-the-australia-that-pauline-hanson-has-been-waiting-for-a-frightened-country-20260622-p6092n.html">This is the Australia that Pauline Hanson has been waiting for &ndash; a frightened country</a></li>
</ul>

Peter Hartcher on Australian nihilism, fear and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/a4d4931c-641e-413c-8b6b-b4730054ab9b/transcript

In an age of information overload, this is what happens to our brains

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