We all desperately want to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Instinct tells us when we band together, we can achieve amazing things. But our desire to belong can drive us – and our environment – to strange places. 

In part one of our new series Swarm, we present three stories about the lengths we go to for connection, and the hidden price we sometimes pay. Reporting by Julie Fenwick, Nyima Lhamo Wangchuk, and Josh Nevett. 

These stories have been produced as part of an upcoming exhibition with the Science Gallery Melbourne. They were developed together with mentors from All The Best.

The Yarn is produced at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, at The University of Melbourne