1. People Magazine Investigates: Cults: Jonestown Massacre
2. Critical thinking

Big Ideas presents the best public talks, debates and lectures from Australia and around the world, with a focus on arts and culture.

Tampa, a story about female paedophilia and the debut novel by Alissa Nutting. Here she is in conversation with Benjamin Law at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

See just how severely you can embarrass, injure and humiliate yourself when abseiling, running up walls and flying with a jet pack.

See just how badly you can embarrass, injure and humiliate yourself when pole vaulting, ski jumping or just rolling down a hill in a trashcan.

Philosopher Raymond Gaita speaks with Simon Longstaff, seemingly without constraint, about the "examined life and the role a philosopher might play."

This session will lift your spirits and remind you that such good journalism is still out there and this is a great bunch of women practising it. Kate McClymont, Joanne McCarthy and Colleen Ryan shine.

What can possibly go wrong when bungee jumping blindfolded, flying a kite in high winds, or hydroplaning a jet sprint boat at 120km/h? We breakdown the science of stunts gone wrong.

It is impossible to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon. But don't just take our word for it - see the hundreds of daredevils that have tried this popular Internet challenge ... and failed.

By now, we know all there is to know about Australia's history. Or do we? Here's a fascinating discussion with Henry Reynolds, Bruce Pascoe and moderator Lydia Miller about war, memorials, commemoration and agriculture!

Done right, a golf club head speed can approach 200 kilometres per hour. Done wrong, and the momentum can knock a golfer off his feet.

A group of intrepid amateurs attempting to ride a mechanical bull help to demonstrate the relationship between inertia and mass.

Humour and Debauchery - it's a fairly hefty title to live up to at a Writers' Fest! Annabel Crabbe juggles Irvine Welsh, Gary Shteyngart and Sandy Toksvig at this session at the Sydney Writers' Festival.

Get a crash-course in aeronautical science with home videos of paragliders colliding into trees, a moving truck and even the Statue of Liberty.

We break down the science of a human cannon ball, and see can go wrong when attempting to run across rooftops for sport.

Who knows for how long mankind has been jumping up and down for fun, and yet we still have not perfected the art of the trampoline. We break down the science of bouncing.

What happens when there's not enough friction on a slip and slide, or too much drag after diving off a nine metre platform? We break down the science of summer fun gone wrong.

The 'Cannon Ball Ice Dude' racked up 2 million views on YouTube with his attempt to jump into a frozen pool. We break down the science behind what went wrong.

Big ideas presents the best public talks, debates and lectures from Australia and around the world, with a focus on arts and culture.