Do you really know?

The ChatGPT AI chatbot has grabbed a lot of attention since it was released in December 2022. GPT stands for generative Pre-trained transformer, and the chatbot is based on one of the most advanced AI language models currently available. Those who’ve tested it have been impressed at how it generates complex, human-like responses to many different kinds of questions. It’s also been used to write es...

You’ve probably seen the ads for products and services that promise to make you happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. Things like journals, air purifiers, crystal jewellery, and of course, bubble baths. These are all examples of what some experts call ‘faux self-care’: the idea that we can buy our way out of stress, burnout, and depression. It’s also based on the idea that we are responsible for...

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2nd, 1953. Today, it is difficult to comprehend the Queen's death. The announcement of the sad news of the Queen’s passing, like all of the events following her death, followed strict protocol. The Prime Minister was informed using a pre-arranged code “London Bridge is down”. And somewhere, deep in the gardens of Buckinham palace, the royal beekeeper informed...

Christmas festivities are coming and often go hand in hand with overindulgence, in the form of large servings of roast dinner, yummy pudding and alcohol consumption. That can result in heartburn, a condition which despite the terrifying sounding name, is usually relatively harmless.  It’s a burning sensation felt in the chest, behind the breastbone, which explains where the name comes from. But it...

According to a survey back in the 2010s, the average couple has 312 arguments a year. Household chores are one of the main reasons for arguing, and there’s one room in the home in particular which is connected to several of the most common argument triggers: the bathroom. We’re talking about leaving stubble in the sink and all sorts of toilet etiquette infringements, like leaving the seat up or no...

For physicists, chemists, diplomats, medical researchers, and even writers, the Nobel Prize represents the ultimate accolade. Since Their inception in 1901, the purpose has been to honour those who "during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind", in their respective fields. Now that wording comes from the will of Alfred Nobel himself, which was signed in November...

There are a number of possible reasons why people don’t manage to save as much money as they would like. For example: paying for things with a credit card can make you forget how much you’ve spent, or you simply don’t earn enough to save in the first place. You might feel like money saving methods simply won’t ever work for you. But let's go back to basics. A simple Japanese technique called “kake...

According 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 interesting trend has been catching on. An increasing number of women are paying for male companionship in establishments known as butler cafés. Review sites list dozens of outlets offering butler services. And how do they work? Is i...

Cottagecore first started appearing online around 2017, but it wasn’t until the lockdowns of 2020 that it really took off. As more people grew tired of city life, social media, and the constant buzz of technology, they started dreaming of simpler, slower days. Vogue France even calls cottagecore the "new art of living."  It's about a longing for the past — for a time when people baked their own br...

If you are a pet owner you know how hard it can be to leave your furry friend at home when you go to work. You may worry about their wellbeing, feel guilty for not spending enough time with them or miss their companionship. According to a BBC article, more than 3 million people in the UK have taken on a pet since the start of the pandemic. Many of them have enjoyed working from home with their fur...

You may remember that we’ve talked about the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index in the past on Do You Really Know, which assigns each of the world’s countries a score from one to ten based on how democratic they are.   But have you ever heard of a kleptocracy? It’s a phenomenon that can creep into democracies and drag down their scores. A kleptocracy is a political system where corrupti...

Every year, 1st December is World AIDS day. To mark the occasion, let’s look back at the story of the Act Up group. Act Up started causing a buzz in New York in 1987, four years after the AIDS virus had been discovered. The highly organised group met several times a week to discuss their action plan. They demanded more prevention and communication campaigns from the state, better access to care, t...

Your body is a complex machine, and sometimes it’s more intricate than we realize. Take the pelvic floor, for example. It’s a group of muscles that help control the urethra (to hold in urine) and the anus (to hold in gas and stool).  A stronger pelvic floor can enhance intimacy. For women, it can increase sensations and comfort. For men, it provides better control over performance. What exercises...

Getting intimate while you or your partner are menstruating isn’t always straightforward. Still, the idea of period sex has gradually become less and less of a taboo over time. OK, it is potentially messy, but there’s nothing inherently wrong or unsafe with it. And if you’re in the mood for sex, it’s kind of a shame to miss out for that reason alone.  Most importantly, both partners need to be ful...

Masturbation tends to be somewhat of a taboo topic in society, often down to religious or spiritual beliefs.  You’ve probably also heard some of the common myths about it leading to blindness, erectile dysfunction or infertility. Needless to say, these are false. And the air of shame around masturbation need not be there, as it’s perfectly natural and in fact there are several health benefits.  Wh...

Neobanks are 100% digital. They run exclusively through mobile apps, with no brick-and-mortar premises. They offer customers a user-first design, and promise low cost banking operations. There are more and more neobanks around, drawing in millions of users and rivalling traditional banks, although they don’t technically hold the same status.  Don’t confuse neobanks with digital banks, which are us...

Modern life moves fast—work, responsibilities, and that endless to-do list. It often feels like there’s no time for what truly matters. Relationships get sidelined, calls get postponed… and before we know it, staying connected becomes a real challenge. But here’s the thing: sometimes, just a few minutes is all it takes to maintain those vital connections. In fact, some experts say the perfect call...

Botox is the name of a brand that offers a popular cosmetic treatment that involves injecting a toxin into the facial muscles to reduce wrinkles and signs of aging. The poison that they use, botulinum toxin, blocks the nerve signals that instruct the muscles to contract so make the appearance of fine lines, like crows feet or frown marks appear smoother. It can also be used in some medical procedu...

With the warmer weather that summer brings, it’s especially important to be aware of the best techniques for freezing food before it goes bad. This ensures food safety and minimises waste. Furthermore, proper freezing techniques help preserve the taste, texture, and nutritional value of the food. You might think it’s as simple as bunging something in the freezer and leaving it there for as long as...

According to a study published in Dreaming journal in 2022, between 50% and 75% of adults have experienced a recurring dream at least once. These tend to be negatively toned, with some common examples including falling into thin air, finding oneself naked, losing one’s teeth or failing an exam. And how often a recurring dream recurs really varies from person to person. According to CNN: “recurring...

During the extended holiday feasts, it's common to let loose a little, perhaps mixing different kinds of alcohol. You might start out with a glass of champagne, then movie to wine or beer, and end the meal with a digestif. That’s despite the widespread belief that combining alcohol types can worsen the unpleasant aftermath of a hangover and all the symptoms that brings, like nausea, headaches, deh...

You may have heard of AI art generators, tools that use artificial intelligence to create images based on language prompts. For example, you can type “a picture of Elmo from Sesame Street in the style of Pablo Picasso”. These tools are fun and impressive, but they also pose a serious threat to artists who share their work online. AI art generators rely on large datasets of existing images to learn...

We all know the classic tale: a man from humble beginnings works tirelessly, overcomes adversity, and rises to the top. It’s the famous myth of the self-made man, but where did it  come from? Today, this narrative is everywhere. Many of the world’s top executives cultivate the image that they built their empires from the ground up. Even the 47th President of the United States leans into this myth....

Discussions of sexism are commonplace in public discourse. And despite government policies aimed to ensure equality between women and men, the problem persists. Even if in your immediate environment, sexism seems to be gone for good, you may be thinking of sexism in its classical sense. Experts say that more discreet forms remain, and benevolent sexism is one of them. Can a form of prejudice reall...

Young people have much less of an appetite for sex these days, it seems. The phenomenon has been labelled a “sex recession” in the media and terms like “puriteens” have emerged to describe sex-shy youngsters.  Studies have backed up the idea of a sex recession too. One published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior journal in November 2021 found that the proportion of adolescents reporting no sexual...