When I first learnt to drive, my mother gave me some very important advice: “When you’re the one driving,” she said, “everyone on the road is an idiot except you.”

Tim Ferriss is an American entrepreneur, self-help guru and author best known for The 4-Hour Workweek. His hugely popular podcast series has seen some of world's most famous people reveal the tools, tactics, and tricks that led to their success. Here are 15 of the best; from Arnold Schwarzenegger's meditation tips to the creator of WordPress' favourite productivity tools.

Earlier today, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk provided fresh details on the company's plans to create a permanent, self-sustaining human on Mars. The key to the mission will be "reuseable" rocket technology which will help to keep costs down. If Musk can be believed, the first colonial cargo drop could occur within five years.

It all sounds incredibly impressive and exciting, doesn't it? But is any of it actually feasible, particularly within the ambitious timeframes given? Here's what three physics, astronomy and earth science experts have to say...

It’s no secret that Google knows a lot about its users. The tech giant collects tons of data about you, including your search history, location, and voice searches that help improve Google’s services and provide relevant ads. However, you might be surprised to know Google can easily take a look at all of the data it has on you. Here's how you can find out what the tech giant knows about your online habits and personal information.

Small businesses should consider thinking like a startup to help achieve better results, especially when it comes to adopting the concept and execution of a minimum viable product (MVP). Basically, a MVP is a cost effective way to test an idea, product, or solution without going all in. This will also allow continuous improvement of the initial idea as feedback from customers will directly help the idea shape and grow.

Sex isn’t only a pleasurable experience, with some reports claiming the act also has health benefits that can be compared to those of exercise. But can bonking really be considered a form of exercise? Let's find out.

There’s an emerging type of worker who usually knows more about their job than anyone else in the organisation and is not likely to suffer fools gladly. This type of worker is difficult to manage as they don’t consider themselves to be subordinates in the traditional sense.

Are you feeling underpaid and undervalued at work? You are not alone. The latest Hudson research1 has found that 42% of employees surveyed in Australia felt that they were underpaid. Furthermore, 48% of the respondents received no pay increase in the last year and it wasn’t that great for those who did. Of those who got a pay rise, 75% of them received just 1-5%.

Furthermore, the ABS also reported a record low wage growth of 1.9% WPI (wage price index) in the last quarter of 2016. Before you go and look for a higher-paying job, you need to consider a couple of things: the market rate for your role and what the real problem might be for your workplaces woes.

Evidence suggests that transport modes (walking, cycling, public transport, private motor vehicles) should be separated wherever possible. However, this isn’t always the case. In all Australian states – except Victoria and New South Wales (unless the rider is under 12 years of age, or accompanying someone who is) – cyclists are allowed on footpaths. This effectively makes every footpath a shared path. The mix of pedestrians using shared paths varies greatly. So how is it that we don’t always run into each other? And what can we do to prevent clashes?

If you’ve ever needed a blood transfusion, or donated blood, you probably would have been asked your blood type. While it was once thought all blood was the same, we now know there are different types of blood, called blood groups. Transfusions between blood groups can be catastrophic, even deadly, so knowing the blood type of donors and recipients is of the utmost importance.

Should you ever wish to be reminded of those irritating workplace catchphrases, the internet abounds in news features and helpful sites – “26 Annoying Business Clichés You Should Stop Using Immediately”; “The Most Annoying, Pretentious And Useless Business Jargon”, to name just two.

Prescribing and using pharmaceuticals is a matter of trust. Health service providers and patients need to know medicines are genuine. “Counterfeit” medicines that do not contain enough, or any, of the pharmacologically active ingredients are potentially harmful. For example, you would not want to use medicines adulterated with brick dust, plaster, rat faeces or other contaminants. If you are relying on antipsychotics, antibiotics and antivirals, blood thinners or other medicines to support your health, you want them to work.

Older people needing extra help to live at home, whether that’s help with bathing, gardening, transport or physiotherapy, now have greater choice when it comes to the types of subsidised government care they receive.

The world’s population, and Australia’s, is ageing. The number of adults aged 65 and over is increasing, as is the proportion of the population they represent. However, there are a number of myths associated with what happens to our brain and bodies as we age.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) abandoned plans requiring its staff to work 37.5 hours per week following an employee backlash. This would have been an increase of 45 minutes per week, or nine minutes per day, over what’s currently required.

At face value the notion that ATO workers in full-time positions should be expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week seems entirely reasonable. But arguably a more interesting question is just how close this award standard is to the hours Australian workers actually devote to paid employment.

Small improvements can all add up to make a big difference. And we're talking small improvements here. Tiny ones. It's clear that the idea of marginal gains has had a huge impact in the world of professional sports and performance. I wanted to find out how we can take some of these learnings and apply them to our own lives to make things a little easier, our routines a little healthier and our minds a little clearer. Here are five things simple things you can improve that will make a difference to your life in a small but meaningful way.

It’s always distressing and tragic when we hear a report of shark attack. But what is the actual likelihood of dying due to a shark encounter in Australia? How concerned about this are you as you go swimming? How concerned should you be?

The Turnbull government’s signature economic policy at last year’s election was a 5% cut in the company tax rate, over a ten-year period, at a cost to revenue estimated to be in excess of A$48 billion. As the government itself has conceded, this now stands very little prospect of being passed by the Senate.

However, there is one element of the government’s proposal which appears to enjoy almost universal political support - the idea that “small” companies should get a tax cut. The only disagreement among the Coalition, Labor and the Greens on this score is how small a company should be in order to be deserving of paying a lower rate of tax. From the standpoint of good economic policy this is surprising.

Sitting has been branded the “new smoking” for its supposed public health risks, especially for people with sit-down office jobs.

Over the past 15 years or so sitting has been linked with cancer, heart disease and diabetes and even depression. This has led to a surge in media stories on the risks of sitting, even for people who do a lot of exercise.

But is sitting really that bad? Let's find out.