About this podcast
You’ve heard about it, but do you really know it? In 3 minutes, we help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. After listening, you will really know for sure.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 3,000 episodes
- Why do we eat more when we're stressed? · 6 minPicture the scene! You’ve just got home after an absolutely awful day. You had to deal with urgent deadlines at work, a long commute and bad news in your personal life. What’s…
- What is the optimism bias? · 5 minToday we're going to talk about a cognitive bias that causes people to believe, often mistakenly, that they are less likely to experience negative events and more likely to…
- Is veganism really the best choice? · 5 minVeganism is a lifestyle that excludes all animal products from one’s diet and other aspects of life. That means no meat, eggs or dairy but it can also include things like honey…
- What is wellness syndrome? · 5 min"Here’s my yoga instructor’s number”, "You must try this detox juice", "Download this diet app right now!". Have you ever heard people give this kind of ‘friendly advice’ to…
- How does the "Scully Effect" raise young women's interest in science fields? · 5 minThe musical film The Little Mermaid was released in cinemas on 24 May 2023. This movie highlights the importance of representations in the media. This effect has a name: the…
- What is Karoshi, the dangerous overwork epidemic? · 5 minThe subject we’re talking about today is most associated with Japan, but is also relevant in many other parts of the world. The Japanese word “Karoshi” means "death by overwork"…
- What is 12-3-30, the viral Tiktok workout? · 6 minIf you use Tiktok, you may well have seen videos of people walking on a treadmill at a steep incline. Many of them claim to have lost weight and improved their fitness, all…
- Is excuseflation contributing to rising food prices? · 5 minIt won’t have escaped your attention that the price of your weekly shopping basket at the supermarket has gone up significantly in the last year. Indeed, recent data from Kantar…
- Why do we get pins and needles? · 5 minWe all know what it feels like to get pins and needles. It usually happens when we’ve been in the same position for too long, sleeping on one of our arms for example. Bad posture…
- Why do our bodies need to sleep? · 5 minSleep is often seen as a waste of time. Many businessmen, politicians, and celebrities boast about sleeping only 5 hours per night or even being insomniacs. However, despite its…
- What is the war on wee? · 5 minPublic urination has long been a nuisance in the United Kingdom, as it is in many other countries. But it’s really gotten worse in the last few years, and that’s down to the…
- Why do we get grumpy when we're hungry? · 5 minAccording to USA Today, the word “hangry” entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018. It’s a portmanteau term which combines the words “hungry” and “angry”. While it might…
- Why can’t we smell our own homes? · 4 minYou come home after a two-week holiday, open the front door and notice a familiar smell. It’s the smell of your home! But when you’re there every day, you barely notice it…
- Is cracking my knuckles bad for me? · 5 minIf you’re asking yourself whether cracking your knuckles is a bad thing, we'll take it as a given that you do crack your knuckles. You’ve probably also been told at some point…
- How can I avoid putting on weight when giving up smoking? · 5 minAccording to the Office for National Statistics, the number of smokers in the UK is estimated at 6.6 million. The proportion has been steadily dropping for years now. Given the…
- What is the two-day rule? · 5 minAfter enjoying a period of relaxation during the summer, many of us return to studies or work with a desire to develop good habits and a better routine than the previous year…
- What is a man child? · 5 minNo doubt you’ve heard at some point in your life that girls are more mature than boys. As a result, we tend to forgive childlike behaviour in men more easily, even in adulthood…
- Why is sitting with your legs crossed bad? · 5 minWhen sitting, some of us cross our legs at the knee, while others do so at the ankle. According to a study published in Neuropsychologia in 1994, 62% of people cross their right…
- Are cold showers good for you? · 6 minEven during the summer, the mere idea of taking an ice cold shower may well be enough to give you the shivers. After all, the soothing feeling of warm water running over skin is…
- Should you be reducing salt in your diet? · 5 minSalt is a common ingredient in many foods, and it’s essential for our health. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, two minerals that help regulate fluid balance, blood…
- How can you clean your hair without using shampoo? · 5 minYou might think that shampoo is essential for keeping your hair clean and healthy, but there are other ways to wash your hair that don’t involve harsh chemicals or plastic…
- How did Latin music take over the world? · 6 minThe dembow is the signature beat of reggaeton music. And it’s no wonder it’s so familiar to so many of us. In just a few decades, music rooted in Latin America has reached some…
- What is cookie jarring in the dating world? · 5 minDo you have an ex who seems to always get back in touch whenever they’re feeling lonely and have no one else in their sights? Or how about this: Perhaps you had a crush on…
- What is the Batman effect? · 6 minFor many people, asserting themselves at work is a real challenge. There’s a lot of possible reasons for that, including stress, anxiety, new responsibilities, deadlines…
- What are Butler Cafés? · 5 minAccording to Chinese media outlet The Sixth Tone, butler cafés are enjoying impressive success. They’ve been springing up all over big cities since 2021. In China, an…
- Is it bad to drink water with a meal? · 5 minIt's often said that drinking water while eating can make the stomach swell, causing bloating. But in reality, there are no studies to back that up. Similarly, drinking or…
- What is the Werther effect? · 5 minIn April 2023, Bloomberg.com published an article entitled "Tiktok’s Algorithm Keeps Pushing Suicide to Vulnerable Kids” in which it explained that Tiktok was facing a “flood of…
- Why do we get screen apnea? · 6 minIt’s pretty common knowledge that office workers across the world have a sedentary lifestyle, which is linked with a whole host of potential health problems. But did you know…
- What is reverse ageing? · 5 minIn 2021, American multi-millionaire Bryan Johnson began his Project Blueprint. Then 43, his stated aim was to restore his body and organs to the state of an eighteen-year-old…
- How long does love last according to science? · 5 minWe’ve talked about love and relationships in a number of previous episodes of Do You Really Know. You may remember we’ve discussed the secrets to a long-lasting relationship, and…
- What do you get better at with age? · 5 minYou might think that ageing is all about decline and deterioration, but that’s not the whole story. In fact, there are many aspects of life that improve as we grow older, such as…
- How does daylight saving affect your health? · 5 minDaylight saving time (DST) It’s the practice of advancing your clocks by one hour during the spring and summer months, and then turning them back in the autumn and winter. The…
- Is it best sleeping in total darkness? · 7 minAlmost all kids are afraid of the dark, and sometimes that fear even lingers into adulthood. It's a shame really because, contrary to what you might think, darkness is actually…
- What is postpartum psychosis? · 5 minIn the summer of 2026, the trial of Lindsay Clancy in the United States brought this condition back into the spotlight: postpartum psychosis. The former nurse is accused of…
- How can I stop smoking? · 5 minWe all know that the effects of tobacco on the human body are devastating. The World Health Organisation says that it kills more than 8 million people each year, making it one of…
- Why are some deadly diseases re-emerging? · 6 minIf you're not up to date with your vaccinations, it might just be time to schedule an appointment with your doctor! When it comes to the diseases we’re going to be talking about…
- What household products should I avoid? · 5 minCleaning can feel satisfying, but did you know many household products might actually harm your health? A 2021 Which? study revealed that nearly half of common UK cleaning…
- Are fresh vegetables better for you than frozen ones? · 5 minWe often assume that fresh is best, but the reality is more complicated. It all depends on how vegetables are stored, how long they’ve been in transit, and even how they’re…
- Why is the brain our biggest sex organ? · 5 minThe brain plays a central role in desire, arousal, and sexual pleasure, but we don’t always realize just how much it influences our sex lives. While hormones and physical…
- Why do we celebrate Halloween? · 4 minHalloween is here and if you’re anything like us, you’ll be frantically doing some last-minute pumpkin carving or stocking up on sweets for trick-or-treaters. Maybe you’re going…
- Why do we love horror films so much? · 5 minHalloween is the only time of year when you can scare yourself silly! While some people go trick-or-treating around the neighbourhood, others prefer a thrilling film. Being…
- What are some of the most common phobias? · 4 minWe’ve all got fears. For some, it’s the dark, for others, it’s spiders, heights, or maybe even something as ordinary as a phone call. But when those fears take root and are no…
- Can you still learn a new language as an adult? · 7 minPlenty of adults dream of learning another language. I don’t know about you, but I’d love to learn a really unique one like Chinese or Arabic. But the reality is that after…
- Can I cure my fear of spiders? · 5 minIf just thinking of spiders is enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, or you jump any time you see one, the chances are you suffer from arachnophobia. It…
- What does the popcorn index teach us about the economy? · 5 minFiguring out how well the economy is doing might seem like the preserve of those working in big accounting firms or financial institutions, dealing with complicated graphs and…
- Are twins really telepathic ? · 6 minAccording to a study published in Human Reproduction in 2021, there are around 1.6 million twins born each year, with an average of one in every 42 newborn children being a twin…
- Could love echoing be damaging your relationship prospects? · 6 minWhether you’re the one being left or the one doing the leaving, a breakup always presents certain challenges. It’s pretty common to try to learn from the relationship that’s…
- What are the best natural remedies for insomnia? · 6 minNot being able to fall asleep at night can be incredibly frustrating. You’re tossing and turning, exhausted but unable to drift off. If this sounds familiar, you’re not…
- How often should I cut my hair? · 5 minFor some, a trip to the hairdresser feels like a chore, while for others, it’s a refreshing boost. Either way, getting regular haircuts isn’t just a matter of appearance; it’s…
- How can you beat hangxiety? · 5 minIf you drink alcohol, the chances are that on occasion you’ve overdone it and drunk way more than you planned to. Or maybe you decided to let yourself have a big night out, even…
