Do you really know?

The World Health Organisation suggests that 18° C is the perfect temperature to set your heating to, but in reality that is just an average. There are a number of variables to take into account.  For example, certain rooms might need to be heated more than others. And generally speaking, when we’re away from home or sleeping at night we can turn the heating down or off completely. That’s right, it...

The subject of today’s episode is the latest questionable practice in retail. "Stretchflation" is getting a lot of attention, and for good reason: it's yet another way to squeeze more money out of consumers. We’ve already talked about shrinkflation on Do You Really Know, which is when you see product sizes reduced but prices stay the same. Since the start of the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve also s...

During summer holidays, many of us experience the discomfort of motion sickness while travelling by car, coach, plane, or boat. motion sickness is Also known as kinetosis and it’s particularly common in children but can also affect a lot of adults. According to the US government’s Medline Plus portal, one in three people are prone to it. Symptoms include paleness, cold sweats, dizziness, a feeling...

You may remember we talked about whether or not opposites attract in a recent episode of Do You Really Know. As it turns out, more often than not, couples tend to share a lot of characteristics, and it’s relatively rare for them to be substantially different. When you think about it, it kind of makes sense. After all, it's often easier to be in a relationship and share your life with someone who s...

Is there anyone in your phone contacts who only seems to text you when they need something? It might be a nice surprise at first when you see their name on your notifications, but then when you read the content of their message, the real reason for them reaching out becomes obvious. You just know that once you give them what they need, it won’t take long for them to disappear again. If this friend...

Losing belly fat is a common health and wellness goal. The fat we consume in excess is stored in specialized cells called adipocytes, and its distribution varies between men and women. For men, it’s more likely to accumulate on the belly, while for women, it tends to be on the thighs, buttocks, and hips before migrating to the belly at menopause. Regular physical activity, especially exercises tha...

Penis size is often wrongly linked to notions of masculinity, and it’s an issue that causes a lot of insecurity among many men. Now, the term micropenis is used to refer to a penis that falls well below the average size. Bear in mind that from a scientific standpoint, there isn't a strict definition of a normal penis size is. According to Medical News Today, the average penis length is “probably a...

Most productivity methods aim to boost your efficiency during office hours. But a new technique, based on your biological clock, might be the key: chronoworking. The term was coined by British journalist Ellen Scott in early 2024 in her newsletter “Working on Purpose.” She predicted that working according to your body clock would be a major trend. Chronoworking means tuning into your natural energ...

Condoms are the best protection out there against sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies! And you can get them for free on the NHS from sexual health clinics, some GP surgeries and pharmacies, and some young people’s services. But many people wonder how to find the right size for them or their partner, for max comfort, safety and pleasure. What are the risks of using a condom tha...

The beach flag system is a way of indicating the safety conditions of the water and the beach. It helps you to avoid potential hazards and enjoy your time at the beach. Not all countries use the same flags or have the same meanings for them. In some countries, such as the USA and Canada, there are more than four colours of flags, such as brown for rip currents or double red for water closed. There...

June 2025 saw the hottest days of the year so far in the UK, and those records could be broken again as we head deeper into summer. You’ll hear people talking about the “glorious sunshine” and the “amazing weather.” And yes, sunlight can be a great mood booster. It also helps your body produce vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and a strong immune system. Plus, let’s be honest: gettin...

It’s common knowledge that having plants in your home is incredibly beneficial. They reduce carbon dioxide levels, purify air, reduce dust, and can even dampen noise. Not to mention, how pleasant and soothing they are to look at. But alas, not everyone is blessed with a gardener’s green thumb! Do you feel like your indoor plants just can’t survive more than a few months, despite your best efforts...

We know that palm oil cultivation isn’t great for the environment, but it’s also not the best for our health. Despite this, palm oil production continues to soar, reaching a record 77.5 million tonnes in 2023, primarily from Indonesia and Malaysia. It’s the most consumed vegetable oil globally. The main reason is its cost-effectiveness. This vegetable fat is derived from  the fruit of oil palm tre...

There are lots of advantages to renting rather than buying but one of the pitfalls is you have to live with your landlord's style choices. But just because you are renting does not mean you can’t adapt it to your own personal style without jeopardising your deposit. So here are some tips and advice about how to put your own flair into a temporary space.  First of all, if you do want to make change...

Imagine humanity only using half the brains at its disposal to solve the many scientific challenges it faces in the present and future. While such an idea might seem crazy, it’s not so far from reality. Over the years, very few female scientists have got the same level of acclaim as their male counterparts, whether it be in the history books or on award winner lists. As a simple illustration, if y...

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” goes the popular tongue twister, based on a song written in the 1920s by American musicians Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. King. And ice cream is indeed the perfect cold treat for a hot summer’s day, isn’t it? Except when it gets too cold! Sometimes, with the very first mouthful, the sudden chill of brain freeze rushes to your head, ca...

Many men feel self-conscious about the size of their penis, and it’s often down to constant comparisons with other men, driven by pornography. Interestingly, some men have noticed that their penis appears bigger during warmer weather, and online discussions of this have led to the phenomenon becoming known as "summer penis." Is there any basis to those claims though? Just how much bigger can it ge...

According to The Telegraph, Brits eat an average of 220g of meat per day, which is almost double the global average. And agriculture is responsible for 12% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions according to government figures from 2022.  So it’s clear that our food consumption can have a real impact on the environment. While red meat is often labelled as the worst offender environmentally, in reali...

Brits have just experienced the hottest June on record, according to the Met Office. The average mean temperature across the UK was 15.8°C, nearly a full degree higher than the previous record. July is also expected to be hotter than average, and a heatwave isn’t out of the question. So it’s important to be prepared for high temperatures, especially at home. What is the ideal temperature to have a...

Some visitors can be so shocked by the reality of Paris compared to their expectations that they can experience psychiatric breakdowns or symptoms such as hallucinations, depersonalization, anxiety, dizziness and nausea. This is known as the Paris Syndrome. Romance, sophistication, croissants and sipping fine wine with the Eiffel Tower in the background spring to mind when thinking of a visit to P...

It’s known that to beat the heat and avoid dehydration, we need to drink plenty of water. But while some reach for a hot cuppa, others swear by ice-cold beverages, and while this may give you an instant feeling of chill it's sadly just fleeting. The reason being is that our bodies work hard to keep our core temperature steady at around 37°C. So while a cold drink might feel refreshing, it actually...

You know how sometimes you might indulge in a bit too much junk food, or maybe the kids aren’t acing their tests, or perhaps you’re navigating the single life? Hold up—before you start to worry, there’s a seemingly scientific explanation for all of it, and it points to one place: our brains. Neuroscience has become the go-to for decoding life’s issues, spanning medicine, economics, politics, and e...

These tiny insects, which reproduce at an astonishing rate, often invade our kitchens. They are particularly attracted to damp areas, stagnant water, organic waste, and ripe fruit—especially in warm weather. Fruit flies, or midges, can lay up to 100 eggs a day. While studies indicate that flies can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites, the midges in our homes are generally harmless. They can tra...

We’ve all gotten frustrated after squashing the tenth mosquito ruining a beautiful summer evening — especially after days of relentless itching. Mosquitoes are a global nuisance. In tropical regions, they’re more than just annoying: they can transmit serious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. But despite all the efforts, these tiny insects continue to thrive — and buzz in our ear...

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, our mouths host no fewer than 700 species of microbes, including “germs like bacteria, fungus and more”. Some are helpful in producing vitamins, or aiding in digestion, for example, but others can cause problems like bad breath. Because many of these microbes live on the tongue, recent years have seen increased use of oral hygiene devi...