A recent outbreak of Melioidosis in flood devastated North Queensland has claimed at least seven lives and with even more cases being reported.

The rare disease has put health authorities on alert as the severity of this current outbreak is higher compared to years gone past.

To find out exactly what is the disease and why its surging, 4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer of Microbiology at Western Sydney University.

Did you know our sun operates on a natural 11 year cycle, alternating between high and low magnetic activity?

In October 2024, U.S space agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the sun had reached its solar maximum phase and would continue into 2025.

However, has the maximum phase already peaked or will it do so later in the year?

To find out the answer as well as learning from past solar storm activity, 4ZZZ’s Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Benjamin Pope, an Associate Professor of Statistical Data Science at Macquarie University to find out more.

In early May, US President Donald Trump announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced in foreign lands, marking the first instance of these trade policies extending to the entertainment industry.

The announcement has sparked fears for the future of the Australian film and television industry, while our streaming services are saturated with overseas content leaving little room for locally made stories.

To discuss the situation and possible future ramifications, 4ZZZ’s Toni Pankaluic spoke with Stephen Luby, a Lecturer in Screen Producing from the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne.

5th of May is Cinco de Mayo, a day when we all celebrate Mexico, sort of like a Mexican Saint Patrick’s day… however do you know the story behind Cinco de Mayo? Do you realise how much Mexican culture has enhanced our lives? Mexico is not just burritos.

4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chatted about Mexico with Eduardo Martínez Curiel, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Mexican Embassy in Canberra.

When it comes to selling or disposing of phones and computers, simply deleting personal files or performing factory resets may not be enough to protect our data from hackers.

A study by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky found 90 percent of second-hand devices contained leftover sensitive information, such as passwords, medical files or tax documents.

However there are steps to protect and discard personal data responsibly.

4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Ritesh Chugh, an Associate Professor in Information and Communications Technology at Central Queensland University Australia to find out these protective steps as well as exploring the current situation involving device data breaching.

A new study by neuropsychologists finds no supporting evidence technology causes 'digital dementia' in older people.

The research found the use of digital technology, such as the internet, may have beneficial effects for people over 50.

To find out more, 4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke to Nikki-Anne Wilson, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of New South Wales (Sydney) and Neuroscience Research Australia. Nikki was not involved in the study, but the new findings provided an interesting discourse on the impact technology may have on the aging brain.

Are You Afraid to Grow Orchids?
Do you feel that orchids are the most evolved plants and are too complex for you to grow? We dove into the hidden world of orchids. Did you know the Queensland state flower is an orchid?
4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chatted with Paul McCarthy from Brisbane Orchid Supplies, who helped us befriend these fascinating plants.

Greenland’s Demokraatit party has recently won the parliamentary election amidst talks of a possible takeover by the United States.

The Centre-right party won nearly 30 percent of votes, and is described as being ‘pro-business,’ supporting a gradual approach towards independence from Denmark.

As times are changing, Greenland is now becoming a heated battleground between major powers over strategic influence in the North Atlantic.

To discuss the election outcome and what the future may entail for the Arctic island, 4ZZZ’s Toni Pankaluic spoke with Professor Matthew Qvortrup, Senior Research Fellow at Australia National University’s Centre of European Studies.

We’ve all heard about one of the most critical environmental and wildlife crises of our time – rhino horn poaching and the illegal trade that fuels it. But how much do we really know about goes on? Whether you’re an environmental advocate, wildlife enthusiast or just someone who wants to understand more about this urgent issue. 4ZZZ's intrepid reporter, Anita Diamond, interviewed journalist Mic Smith, who conducted his research at Griffith University on the topic of rhino horn poaching.

The ancient ‘Library of Alexandria' was said to have contained all the books of the Ancient World before it was destroyed in 48BC, are we heading towards a new digitised version of the ‘Library of Alexandria'?

It has been said that history is written by the hands of the victor, how is our current history in its digital format being recorded for future generations? How will all the perspectives be recorded objectively?
It is so much easier to change a digital record that a written one - what types of considerations are being considered and by whom?

Dr Natalia Grincheva from the University of Melbourne joined 4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin to chat about these new digital history collections.

A recent outbreak of Melioidosis in flood devastated North Queensland has claimed at least seven lives and with even more cases being reported.

The rare disease has put health authorities on alert as the severity of this current outbreak is higher compared to years gone past.

To find out exactly what is the disease and why its surging, 4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer of Microbiology at Western Sydney University.