Do you really know?

The "cuffing season" refers to that time of year—typically from October through February—when people are more likely to pair up. It’s not about finding "the one" for life, but rather seeking temporary companionship to get through the colder months. In essence, it’s a way of finding some warmth and connection to help navigate the winter chill. A study published in Perception and covered by Slate explored how attraction shifts with the seasons. Researchers asked 114 heterosexual men to rate photos of women every month. Results showed that men found women significantly more attractive in winter than in summer. The theory is that when the temperature drops, people’s attraction triggers might adjust to help them find a partner during this season Is there any scientific backing to this idea? Why does our attraction seem to change as the weather gets colder? Does the cuffing season end when the weather warms up? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are the four types of attachment in our relationships? How can you revitalise your relationship with 3 expert sex tips? Could mate poaching be a threat to your relationship? A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all experienced it: the sudden urge to pee when it's cold is a common thing. This connection was supposedly discovered by Austrian physician Alfred Adler back in 1918. His experiment involved injecting cold water into a bladder to see how the body reacts. You might think it caused the kidneys to contract, but that's not the case... What did Adler discover then? Are there other factors explaining the link between the bladder and cold? What can you do if you struggle to hold it in? To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the influence of the God complex in the workplace? Why is panto a Christmas tradition in the UK? Why are some kinds of fruit not considered vegan? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 17/12/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humans are the only creatures on Earth that shed tears. Whether it's tears of joy, laughter, anger, pain, sadness, or fatigue, the emotions that bring about crying are diverse. You might be familiar with these emotional triggers, but have you ever wondered about the physiological explanations behind them? Let's start by categorising tears into three types. There are "basal" tears that maintain a continuous lubrication of the cornea, "reflex" tears that emerge when you're chopping onions, have dust in your eye, or encounter too much light, and then there are the emotional tears – and they’re the ones we're delving into today. What happens in our eyes when we're sad? What about tears of joy then? But why does witnessing someone else cry make us want to do the same? To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the influence of the God complex in the workplace? Why is panto a Christmas tradition in the UK? Why are some kinds of fruit not considered vegan? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 16/12/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital sobriety is all about reducing the ecological footprint of our daily digital lifestyles. That’s right, using your cell phone, PC or connected refrigerator all contributes to pollution. And it’s on the rise. The transition to digital technology is often presented as being a positive evolution, especially with regards to reducing household energy consumption. But current practices are contributing to global warming. How does online browsing contribute to pollution? So, what should we do about it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: Is feeding birds in your garden a bad idea? Why will we be using liquefied natural gas to heat our homes this winter? Who is Giorgia Meloni, the new face of the Italian far right? A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 5/5/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More and more people across the world are struggling with burnout. According to a Future Forum survey of over 10,000 workers from February 2023, as many as 42% of workers experience it, an all-time high. When signs of exhaustion emerge, the ideal solution is, of course, total rest, but it's often a luxury that few can afford. An alternative for preventing burnout is what's known as the "42% rule." The rule was introduced in 2019 in a book authored by two identical twins from the USA: Amelia and Emily Nagoski. The book was entitled "Burnout: The secret to solving the stress cycle" and it was based on the sisters' personal experiences.  How does it work? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What makes someone a cat person? What is an endemic? Why are more and more people paying to find love? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 8/11/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you die, your physical body may be gone, but your digital legacy lives on. Your digital legacy is everything you leave behind online, such as your social media accounts, emails, photos, videos, documents, and more. These may hold financial or sentimental value for you and your loved ones, but they can also pose some challenges and risks.  While most of us make a will stipulating what we want to happen to our possession, few of us consider how to manage our online presence once we are no longer present. The first step is to make an inventory of your online accounts and assets, write a list that includes the name of your accounts, website, and your username or account ID and be sure to keep it safe. And what do I do next? Are there any tools to help me? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Should I be cleaning my belly button? What do you get better at with age? Why has astrology come back into fashion? A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First Broadcast: 9/11/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re most likely familiar with the concept of Dry January, which started out in the UK in 2013 and has since become hugely popular. It involves not consuming a single drop of alcohol for the whole month of January. In 2022, record participation numbers were recorded, with over 130,000 people signing up with Alcohol Change to take part. On average, British people drink 9.8 litres of pure alcohol per year, according to figures released by the OECD in 2021. Right from the first few hours of cutting out alcohol, the body starts its detox process. You may get noticeable withdrawal symptoms, depending on how dependent your body is on alcohol. If you’re a moderate drinker, you may have a little trouble getting to sleep. If you drink more often, you might get headaches or break into a sweat. It’s often said that the first three days are the hardest. Is there really an impact in such a short space of time? What about from week two onwards? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions ! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: How can I celebrate New Year’s at home and still have fun? Should we be worried about the Lensa AI avatar app? How does the 3-30-300 rule affect my mental health? A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 2/1/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Single women in your late 20s or early 30s, has anyone ever suggested that you absolutely must find a partner or you’ll end up being a “cat lady”? What an annoying, not to mention ignorant, stereotype, right? It might be tempting to explain all that to the person saying it, but do they really deserve your attention? Let’s talk about where the cat lady character actually comes from. Isn’t there a ‘crazy cat lady’ on The Simpsons? Why is it a cat rather than any other animal like a lizard for example? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Is there really such a thing as love at first sight? Which foods can hurt your libido? How do I know if I sleepwalk? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 16/2/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people tend to exercise less during the colder months, preferring to stay indoors and avoid the chilly weather. But doing exercise in winter is a good idea for lots of reasons so don’t let the cold put you off.   Exercising in cold weather can offer many advantages for your physical and mental health. For example, according to a study published in March 2023 in BMC Public Health, winter workouts can improve your endurance, as your heart doesn’t have to work as hard, you sweat less, and expend less energy. Winter exercise can also help you burn more calories, as your body has to generate more heat to keep warm. What are the other benefits of doing exercise when it is cold? And what about the risks? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Why do people R-bomb in the dating world? Are budget food brands really worth the savings they offer? How can you save money on your food bill? A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First Broadcast: 28/11/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In some religions, people believe in reincarnation or an afterlife, but in medicine, life is generally considered to end when the heart stops beating. Recently though, researchers have challenged that view.  In November 2024, American biologists Peter A Noble and Alex Pozhitkov published groundbreaking findings in The Conversation under the title “Biobots arise from the cells of dead organisms − pushing the boundaries of life, death and medicine.” They showed that, under certain conditions, dead cells can not only survive but also reorganise and form new multicellular structures. And that discovery suggests the existence of an intermediate state where biological organisms are neither fully alive nor completely dead. Scientists are now referring to this as the "third state." Doesn’t death occur when the brain stops functioning? How would that even be possible if the person is deceased? What are the implications of the third state? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a near-death experience? What is citizen science, the concept opening up research to the general public ? How did Covid lead to the emergence of meta cities? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"May all your delulu come trululu, because being delulu is the solulu." The clip you just listened to comes from American influencer Bianca Bernardo on Tiktok, and it’s had over 2/3 million views at the time of recording. If you’re wondering what the heck those crazy words mean, it’s best summed up as saying: “may all your fantasies turn into reality”.  Indeed, the delulu hashtag has racked up over 6 billion views on TikTok. And it’s more than just an online trend; delulu is genuinely morphing into something of philosophy, or coping mechanism for Gen Z to deal with reality. So, what does delulu actually mean? What are some real life examples of being delulu then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Could custobots do our shopping for us in a few years time? What are some of the more unusual Royal servants jobs from the past? Are cold showers good for you? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 21/1/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don’t know about you, but I find that there’s something about the seaside air which just always makes me relax and puts me in a better mood. As it turns out, that might be more than just my impression. A study conducted by the University of Vienna and published in May 2022 established that living near the sea can have significant effects on health and life expectancy.  Now the idea is not exactly brand new. Way back in the 17th century, English doctor Robert Wittie published a book entitled Scarborough Spa, in which he recommended people take sea baths and walk along the coast to treat certain illnesses.  Why is it good? What about people like me who don’t live close to the sea at all then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Could custobots do our shopping for us in a few years time? What are some of the more unusual Royal servants jobs from the past? Are cold showers good for you? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 20/1/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 5, 2024, Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States. That same evening, his opponent, Kamala (like calm) Harris, conceded at Howard University, urging supporters to “never give up the fight,” especially for women’s reproductive rights. Abortion rights were overturned in 2022, leaving it up to states to decide with Trump’s appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices during his first term playing a key role in that shift. With Trump’s return to power, fears of further restrictions reignited, fueling the rise of a new feminist movement spreading rapidly on social media. What exactly is the 4B Movement? What do the "4 Bs" stand for? What does this have to do with the U.S. elections? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: How is micro-feminism helping women combat workplace sexism? Why has purple become the colour of feminism? Why are women’s rights regressing? A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know that having sex is a great form of stress relief. It releases pleasure hormones, like endorphins and oxytocin, also reinforcing the cardiovascular and immune systems. But slow sex may be a way of further enhancing pleasure and allowing you to fully savor the multi-sensory experience that is good sex. It doesn’t have to be a race to the finish line! First of all, it’s a bit of a leveller between men and women in a heterosexual relationship. On average it takes men from 5 to 7 minutes to climax during sex, whereas it’s more or less double that for women. So slowing things down makes it more likely both partners will have an orgasm. And a longer buildup tends to lead to more powerful climaxes for many people. The drawn out stimulation brings on a slow build up of blood flow in the genitals. How does it differ from the kind of sex most people are having then? How can slow sex help partners to be more intimate? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Why is generative AI set to explode in 2024? Is being delulu a good thing? Should you be reducing salt in your diet? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 11/7/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever heard ot the stairs test? Experts say it’s an excellent gauge of a person’s overall health. The idea is to run up as many flights of stairs as your body allows you to. If you can’t manage two flights at a brisk pace, you may need to consider lifestyle changes to improve your health. Meanwhile if you can climb eight or more, the chances are you’re in excellent health already. But beyond being a good health indicator, taking the stairs is a fantastic way to stay in shape. It combines muscle strengthening and cardiorespiratory work. Whether it’s in public transport, at your workplace or even at home, I’m sure you can think of an opportunity to fit some stair-climbing into your daily routine. What does climbing stairs do to the body then? Why is it sometimes so challenging? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: How can you protect yourself from being mugged? How to use less water? How did Covid lead to the emergence of meta cities? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 2/2/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Pew Research Center survey from August 2023 found that 52% of respondents were more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, compared with just 10% who felt the opposite. It’s not surprising really when you think about it; after all, things that we don’t understand tend to both fascinate and frighten in equal measure. It’s only very recently that AI has started becoming part of many people’s everyday lives, and it’s still hard to predict its full impact in the future. The growing unease around artificial intelligence is known as AI anxiety, and that’s a term we’re only going to hear more and more about in years to come. What exactly is AI anxiety? Why does that prospect worry so many people? How can I best manage my AI anxiety? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: How to protect your art from AI exploitation? Will AI steal my job? Could AI ever be able to offer therapy? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we embrace resolutions and light up the skies with fireworks, it's time to mark the arrival of the New Year! All of us on the Do You Really Know team, hoping you soaked in the holiday vibes and send you our warm wishes for a splendid 2024. Today, planet Earth has set off on another full orbit around the sun, a journey which will span 365 days until we hit the reset button again next year. And that's why we now refer to January 1st as New Year's Day. But bear in mind, that wasn't always the case. We can trace back our calendar roots to the Romans and their initial 355-day calendar. That’s right: 355, and not the 365 we're used to these days. That lunar-based system was credited to Numa Pompilius, the legendary second King of Rome, who succeeded Romulus. And it saw the New Year kick off in March, a nod to Mars, the Roman god of war.  When did January 1st appear then? What about elsewhere in the world? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is body neutrality? What are the most popular and unusual baby names in the UK? How can I return unwanted gifts? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 1/1/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many new year’s is a great time to take a look at your life and make some changes. Unfortunately, According to the time management firm FranklinCovey, one third of resolutions fail before the end of January.  There are three main reasons resolutions fail. Firstly, resolutions made because of what you think you ‘ought’ to do, are not likely to succeed. Next, being too vague and finally not having a realistic plan of how you intend to achieve your goal are all signs that your resolution will probably not make it. Your resolutions should be SMART. By that, I mean specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. This acronym is a great way to think about your resolutions and experts agree. Why do so many resolutions fail? How do you make successful resolutions? How do I know when I'm setting unrealistic goals for myself? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is future faking? Why are we so fascinated by true crime? Why is the UK not as happy as it used to be? A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First Broadcast: 1/1/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you wake up feeling rough after a night of heavy drinking, it's likely your liver couldn't handle all that alcohol, and your body couldn't flush it out completely. That's when you get stuck with classic hangover symptoms, like nausea, a pounding headache and perhaps even a bout of diarrhoea. Apart from chugging water to rehydrate, figuring out what to eat to get back on your feet can be a bit tricky. When you're in this situation, there's often a hankering for fast food. A 2016 study from the University of Chicago's Department of Medicine suggested this craving is linked to sleep deprivation, which causes the brain to release endocannabinoids, compensating for the energy drop. That leads to a yearning for comfort food, often on the greasier or sweeter side. Interestingly, the sweeter the alcohol you consume, the more likely it is that your appetite will be revved up the next day. Why does that happen? So what should else we eat then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK? How can I make and keep my new year’s resolutions? Why does the year begin on January 1st? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 3/1/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An often cited estimate suggests that children smile an average of 400 times per day, while when we reach adulthood that figure drops to just 50 times, even for the happiest of us. For most adults, it’s more like 20 times. Now of course most of the time we smile involuntarily in response to something bringing us joy or making us laugh. But it’s also possible to smile intentionally, which can actually bring on a whole host of health and wellness benefits. What are the health benefits of smiling? Why do some people tend to smile more than others then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Why is sugar bad for our memory? Does the law of attraction really work? How can I stay trendy buying only second hand clothes? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 19/3/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices