Many of us grab a banana for a quick snack, however have you ever considered what exotic diseases could wipe out our favourite fruit overnight? It’s happened before… once in the 1950’s. A new report from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation reveals that investing in disease prevention could save the Australian banana industry over $52 million, all the while shining a light on the dangers of monoculture farming. 4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chatted about dodging banana threats and building a resilient future for bananas with Professor Andrew Geering from UQ's Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI).

Have you ever wondered how a specially trained dog can transform the life of someone with vision loss, helping them navigate the world with confidence? Guide Dogs Queensland has been empowering Queenslanders with low vision or blindness for over 65 years, providing life-changing services through their remarkable dogs and dedicated volunteers. 4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin is joined by Jock Beveridge, CEO of Guide Dogs Queensland to chat about their impactful work and how the community can support this vital mission.

Imagine if beetles could be heroes, just for one day? Well, that dream might just become a reality for darkling beetles, who are being studied at UQ to become cyborg beetles and could be used for search and rescue operations. 4ZZZ's Anita Diamond chatted with Lachlan Fitzgerald a PhD researcher from UQ on 'Cyborg' beetles and their use in search and rescue.

We often hear about species of bandicoots, bilbies or quolls facing the risk of extinction… but did you know there are populations of Brush-Tail Rock Wallabies facing serious decline. This Rock Wallaby subspecies is still relatively common in areas such as Southern Queensland, though in other regions of Australia… serious conservation efforts are now being done to protect this vulnerable marsupial from the numerous threats it faces. 4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Jessica Guidotti, Project Officer from the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland to learn more on protecting the Brush Tail Rock Wallaby as well as understanding the animal.

With a housing and a cost of living crises, some Australians have no choice to sleep rough. However, a new research conducted by not-for-profit OrangeSky shows Australians lack an understanding of what being homeless is, with 1 in 10 saying they can clearly define homelessness. OrangeSky has also launched a school curriculum course to teach school kids about homes and what homelessness is, so they have a clear understanding of it and become more sympathetic towards this sector. 4ZZZ's contributor Eduardo Jordan spoke with Shayne Herriot, Chief Operating Officer at Orange Sky about the research and school curriculum Orange Sky launched last week.

Have you ever wondered how a simple vaccine could save your pet from a deadly disease sweeping through Southeast Queensland? The The Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ) is tackling outbreaks of canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia in suburbs like Ipswich and South Brisbane, offering free vaccinations to protect our furry friends.

Could the energy levels in our brains hold the key to understanding mental disorders? New research from James Cook University’s Professor Zoltan Sarnyai and 40 global neuroscientists suggests that disruptions in ʻhowʻ the brain uses energy may be at the core of such conditions such as depression, psychosis, and epilepsy to name a few. 4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chats with Professor Zoltan Sarnyai of James Cook University’s Margaret Roderick Centre for Mental Health Research about how this “landmark” discovery could revolutionise psychiatry and what it may mean for future mental health treatments.

A new study has revealed nearly half of young Australian workers are being underpaid by hiring employers and a quarter are not being paid compulsory superannuation. The research conducted between the Paul Ramsay Foundation and Melbourne Law School found wage exploitation amongst young workers is multifaceted. 4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Tom Dillon, Research Fellow from the University of Melbourne (Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law) to discuss the research findings as well as ways of tackling the issue.

As Australia deals with a housing affordability crisis, new business models of home building production could be the solution. The proposed models known as Servitisation and Prefabrication could help rethink the ways we construct and own homes. Home ownership in Australia now lags behind many countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. To discuss these new business models, 4ZZZ’s Toni Pankaluic spoke with Kebir Jemal, PhD Candidate from the University of Melbourne. Kebir’s research focuses on how new business models like servitisation can be applied in commercial buildings. He now aims to brings this concept to housing and office spaces.

With all the scenes of distressed wildlife in our unprecedented catastrophic bushfires a few years back, we haven’t heard of any effects on our insect population. Insects are often forgotten. Is there an ‘Insect Apocalypse’ impending? 4ZZZʻs Eliot Rifkin chats with Stefan Hattingh the Operations Manager from the B4C (Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee) about what’s happening in the world of insects.