Do you really know?

Does your face match your name? Surprisingly, researchers have scientifically proven that an Emma will never resemble a Sophie, or a Jack or an Oliver.  They stem from a Franco-Israeli study published in July 2024, a collaboration between HEC Paris and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Participants were shown a photograph of a person and asked to choose their first name from four options. How ca...

The John Hopkins University defines a phobia as “an uncontrollable, irrational, and lasting fear of a certain object, situation, or activity.” With that in mind, if you’re unfortunate enough to be confronted with your phobia on a regular basis, then it can really have a destabilising effect on your life. What do psychologists have to say on the matter then? Why do we get some phobias and not other...

You've been seeing someone for a few weeks now. The romantic dinners, cozy nights at each other's places, and sweet morning or evening texts have been giving you those butterfly feelings. It's shaping up to be the start of something beautiful. But then, out of the blue, your date drops a bomb during a conversation, mentioning a Tinder match or a date with someone else in town. It catches you off g...

If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift, it won’t have escaped your notice that the singer was back on tour this year across the United States. And what a tour it was! Fans were desperate to attend, and prepared to pay from $49 to $499 for the privilege, according to face value ticket prices quoted by Stylecaster.com. Meanwhile, resale ticket prices were in the thousands.  If that seems a lot, then you sh...

Think of Katy Perry in her video for This Is How We Do, Madonna in a traditional Berber outfit at the 2018 VMA awards, or Adele with her hair in Bantu knots to mark Notting Hill Carnival, this is cultural appropriation. It’s a practice which has caused regular controversy in the world of pop culture. Most often, white artists are accused of using ideas, symbols or other items which come from non-W...

In our professional lives, just as in our personal ones, we all wear many hats. But how does juggling all those roles make us feel? For some, it can be a fulfilling challenge, while for others, it can lead to burnout and a loss of identity. This is especially true for managers, who often find themselves in the toughest spot. Think about your coworker who’s always balancing the demands of their tea...

Ever since they were first introduced in the United States in 1973, barcodes have been part of our everyday consumer lives. They helped stores around the world transition to digital, but their days are numbered.  That’s right, traditional barcodes are due to be gradually replaced by 2D versions as part of a worldwide initiative called Sunrise 2027. It’s led by GS1, the nonprofit standards organiza...

We’ve all heard that reading builds imagination and vocabulary and helps us learn, but there’s more. Research suggests it may even help us live longer. In 2016, Yale University researchers followed more than 3,600 adults over 50 for 12 years, tracking their reading habits and life expectancy. Their finding was striking: people who regularly read books lived, on average, nearly two years longer tha...

Imagine yourself tucked snugly under the covers in your bed, anticipating a blissfully restful night's sleep when all of a sudden, you're jolted awake by your partner! And as it turns out, they’ve done that because you were chattering away in your sleep, disturbing their peace and quiet. Now, being rudely awakened in the dead of night is bad enough, but adding the embarrassment of talking in your...

Restless sleep, a hollow feeling inside and the sting of heartbreak; most of us have been through that kind of ordeal at least once in our lives. Let’s be honest: when it comes to your career and work life, a breakup doesn’t exactly bring out the best in your productivity. And at work, you can’t always afford to be distracted. Earlier in 2024, a Filipino lawmaker proposed an unexpected solution: a...

Whether it’s making a wish over a birthday cake, waiting for lottery results, or opening an email following a job interview, it's pretty common to cross your fingers. It’s a way of communicating that we’re hoping luck swings in our favor and our wishes come true. Often, you don’t even need to physically cross your fingers; simply saying "Fingers crossed” is enough to get the message across. But th...

You’ve probably seen ads online promising easy money—“Make up to £300 a day using just your phone! Join me and change your life” It sounds tempting but here's the catch, most of the time, these claims are a scam designed to pull you into a pyramid scheme, afterall if making money online were that easy, we’d all be doing it. Pyramid schemes often masquerade as legitimate Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)...

If you have ever slept with a cat or a dog, you know how cozy it can be. Whether they are at the foot of the bed or on the duvet, pets can make you feel safe and comforted like a plush toy. According to the UK Pet Food Manufacturers Association, 62% of households in the country own a pet, including 13 million dogs and 12 million cats. But are there health risks when you share your bed with a furry...

You might or might not be surprised to learn that warm weather naturally enhances the libido. According to a 2022 survey by the Kinsey Institute, 60% of Americans report that spring is the season when they most want to get under the duvet with their partner.  It all comes down to hormones. Light and warmth naturally stimulates our serotonin production, a mood-enhancing chemical. Additionally, it a...

The X platform formerly known as Twitter has often been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons since Elon Musk acquired it in 2022. But recent months have perhaps seen it hit a concerning new low, in terms of seediness at least. Users realised that Grok, X’s in-built AI, could be used to generate nude images of a person, based on an original image of them wearing clothes. How long has this Grok to...

For 30 years, male sperm counts have been declining all around the world, particularly in Western countries. It’s been demonstrated over and over again by scientific studies.  Indeed, research published by Oxford Academic in the Human Reproduction Update journal in 2017 looked at nearly 200 studies on the matter. It found that sperm counts in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand had pl...

Intermittent fasting (IF) isn’t just a diet; it’s a pattern of eating. It’s not about what you eat, but when. The idea is simple: you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. Popular methods include the 16/8 method, this involves fasting for 16 hours each day and eating all meals within an 8-hour window. On the 5:2 diet you eat normally for 5 days of the week and restricting calories to about...

After over three decades of relentless searching, the Golden Owl was finally found on October 3, 2024. This €150,000 treasure was hidden back in 1993 by writer Régis Hauser, who took on the pseudonym Max Valentin to publish ‘Sur la trace de la chouette d'or’  ("On the Trail of the Golden Owl"). The book has 11 riddles, each one a clue to the owl’s secret location, setting off what would become the...

We're all aware that scammers are getting more meticulous day by day. Iit used to be our grandparents who were the primary targets of their schemes, but nowadays, even the most tech-savvy of us can fall prey to their tricks! At Do You Really Know, we aim to keep you informed about all the latest types of scam, so you can understand how they work and protect yourself. Today, we're tackling the issu...

So long rain and dreary skies, hello buds and sunshine! Spring typically injects a fresh dose of energy into our lives, as the arrival of warmer days sparks a desire to get out, start new projects, focus on ourselves, and embrace a healthier lifestyle.  What better way to clean your mind than by making sure you've got a clean, organised space to live in! Spring-cleaning offers the perfect opportun...

November is synonymous with Black Friday, great deals but what cost? Over consumption is endangering our already fragile planet. Is it time to change our ways? This week Do You Really Know is highlighting concepts and initiatives about reducing our consumption. If you thought Britney Spears shaving her head in 2007 marked the end of the flared jeans era, think again. In 2022, youngsters are huntin...

Mugging is a form of robbery that involves violence or the threat of violence against a person in a public place. It’s also known as street robbery or personal robbery. However, would-be muggers have been foiled by a recent covert police operation in London which aimed at reducing street theft.  Brave officers posed as potential victims by wearing expensive luxury watches to tempt thieves and hang...

Promo codes, sponsored hauls, paid partnerships… If it feels like your feed has turned into a nonstop ad break, you’re not imagining it. And plenty of people are over it. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, 61% of users say they no longer trust influencers’ recommendations. That’s a serious credibility problem. Why are we growing more skeptical of influencers? Can influencers win...

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still palpable, with repercussions stretching across various facets like the economy, education, and health. These sectors took a severe hit due to the virus and the ensuing lockdowns.  On a more personal level, our mental well-being has faced significant challenges. According to the World Health Organistion, the world saw a 25% increase in the prevalence of...

It’s common knowledge that autumn often sees people put on weight. But if you’re looking to shed a few pounds, there are some foods you can rely on to boost metabolism and thereby improve calorie burning. That’s because they increase thermogenesis, which is the production of heat in the body. That in turn stimulants our metabolism, forcing the body to use energy from its fat reserves. There are th...