Do you really know?

It’s been labelled a “marvel of engineering” and a “miracle of convenience” by Harvard Health Publishing. Data published by Statista in July 2022 showed that in 2018, 93% of UK households owned a microwave, a figure which had risen from 67% when the survey started back in 1994. But still some doubts persist about whether microwaving food is bad for your health. Some people even say they cause canc...

It's becoming a more common topic of discussion. According to BUPA.co.uk, “around one in every 10 older children and adults are thought to have lactose intolerance”. It might be thought of as a disease by some, but in fact it’s quite the opposite. Lactose intolerance is due to a natural process, which sees people’s bodies produce less of an enzyme called lactase as they age. Lactose is a natural s...

From overbuying and unnecessary packaging to food waste, the way we shop can have a bigger environmental impact than we realise. In the UK, food and drink account for around a quarter of the average household's carbon footprint, according to the Carbon Trust. UK households throw away around 6 million tonnes of edible food every year, according to estimates from the UK's leading waste reduction cha...

On average, we remember just one dream per week, and around 5% of us never remember any. But in reality, we all dream; it’s just that some of us never have any recollection of doing so. So why is it then that certain dreams stay with us, while others fade away immediately? It’s important to be aware that over the course of a night, we go through various phases of slow sleep, including deep sleep a...

Most of us never really forget the person who first made our heart race or that awkward, wonderful, or maybe disappointing teenage kiss. Whether it was magic or a mess, that first experience often leaves a mark that shapes the way we see relationships as adults. How can one relationship have such a lasting effect?
So, do we keep comparing every relationship to that first one?
Does it matter if tha...

We've all been there, haven't we? That moment when a holiday comes to a close and the reality of everyday life sets in. The post-holiday blues, that feeling of melancholy after returning from a relaxing escape, can cast a shadow on our moods. According to a 2017 articles from Mirror.co.uk, 57% of Brits are affected. Many of you may be experiencing these blues right now, so today we’re explori...

Walking is something we all do every day, but did you know it has numerous health benefits? It’s not just a simple way to get from point A to point B; walking can improve cardiovascular health, boost your mood, and even enhance your overall well-being. According to specialists, it can also help you lose weight under certain conditions. By incorporating regular, brisk walks into your routine, you c...

A Swiss survey from 2023 suggests they do: 73% of women said they never watch pornography, compared to just 17% of men. Talking about porn consumption is still taboo and even more so for women. Sexologist and psychotherapist Patrizia Anex says that’s no surprise. Admitting to watching and enjoying porn is still frowned upon, she explains. Many women do it quietly, fearing judgment. But do women ac...

We all know staying hydrated is crucial for feeling fit and healthy. The general recommendation is to drink between 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day. But let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to stick to that. Ideally, you shouldn’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water because thirst signals that your body has already lost about half a litre of water. But you might be surprised to learn that you...

There have been many films and documentaries about the thrill and struggle of climbing Everest and with social media it has become an ever more popular destination.  Just this year a French youtuber has broken audience records for his film ‘Kaizen’ about his challenge that he made to conquer Everest in just one year.  Over the past century, over 340 climbers have died on its peaks, with...

Period underwear came out in 2013 but has increased in popularity, largely as they claim to be better for the environment and easy to use. However, in January 2023 Thinx, a leading US manufacturer of period underwear who branded themself as a sustainable alternative to single-use menstrual products has just settled a lawsuit regarding the presence of PFAs, also known as “forever chemical...

After clocking out, who doesn’t crave a hearty meal after a hard day's work? But here’s the thing: your dinner choices could be tipping the scales. You’ve likely heard the old saying, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” And yes, that pauper’s plate might skip the starches. Why? How so? So, can you cozy up with carbs at night? In under 3 minutes, we answer yo...

Getting restorative sleep and putting an end to back pain are both good reasons to opt for quality bedding. And if another reason was needed: on average, we spend 7-9 hours in bed every night and around a third of our lives sleeping in total. The problem is it can sometimes be like diving into a sea of options when it comes to mattresses. The most common type is the foam mattress, which adapts to...

According to The Sun, scientists say that “the average person in the UK now consumes more than eight kilograms of chemical additives every year.” Of course with that being an average figure, it can shoot up even further for those who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods.  If you’ve ever looked closely at ingredients lists on the packaging of food you buy in your supermarket, you’ll have noticed...

Each of us has our own unique experience of social bonds, influenced by our childhood, previous relationships, and personality. And there’s actually a psychological theory that helps explain how we experience our relationships: attachment theory. In psychology, attachment is the strong bond between an individual and an "attachment figure." In most cases, our first attachment figure is the parent w...

According to The Cleveland Clinic, around one in four people are affected by bad breath. It’s also known as halitosis and bad breath can be a source of embarrassment. It’s sometimes caused by consuming certain well-known foods, like garlic, onion, cheese, and coffee for example.  But it can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as pneumonia, gum recession, kidney disease a...

According to the UK’s Department for Education, girls still make up fewer students choosing A-level maths and physics and even fewer go on to study engineering or computer science at university. Yet these subjects often lead to some of the best-paid jobs. So, does this mean girls just aren’t as good at maths? So, what’s behind that shift? So what can be done to change that? In under 3 minutes...

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos… modern billionaires are in a league of their own. We’re often told that wealth comes from hustle, long hours, and smart decisions. But once you reach billionaire level we’re no longer talking about salaries, bonuses, or promotions. Take Jeff Bezos, for example. As of April 2025, Forbes estimated his fortune at around $236 billion. For comparison, the median...

You know how an orgasm usually goes, right? It starts with those little shivers, then the heat builds, your heartbeat picks up, everything’s racing and boom! It peaks, and then everything just… drops. Curtain closed, show’s over. But picture this: what if you stayed right before that point of no return? Stretching out the pleasure, teasing it, keeping it going… and going. Well, that’s basically wh...

Still in this day and age, the burden of being responsible for birth control falls mainly on women. You’ve got an almost endless list of reversible female methods, such as the pill, coil, vaginal ring and the implant, with new ones never ceasing to emerge. On the other hand, when it comes to male contraceptives, the options out there are pretty limited. Mentalities are evolving but there is little...

It may come as a surprise, but for some, summer isn’t always a time for rest and recharging. Quite the opposite, in fact. This phenomenon, known as “mid-year crisis” or “summer burnout,” is a type of seasonal depression that occurs during the summer months. According to The Guardian newspaper, symptoms include drowsiness, lack of appetite, decreased libido and energy, and a general feeling of bein...

LoFi, short for "Low Fidelity," it  blends elements of jazz with hip-hop rhythms, creating a relaxing soundscape. This genre has gained immense popularity, in part due to the YouTube channel *Lofi Girl*, which, as of October 2024, boasts over 14 million subscribers. The channel offers a 24/7 livestream of LoFi tracks designed to serve as ambient background music. Research on this topic offers...

We don’t know about you, but some nights we just can’t fall asleep without turning onto our stomach. And when we do, we seem to drift off more easily when not using a pillow. But we do sometimes wonder whether doing that could have any negative health impact. Just like your mattress and bed base, the pillow plays a key role in sleep quality, but it’s often the most overlooked part of our bedding....

On September 6th, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a 96-word statement in which he referred to “climate breakdown” having begun. It was in response to a report from the World Meteorological Organization, which highlighted the impact of record-breaking heatwaves across the globe this summer.  June, July, and August 2023 are the hottest three-month period ever recorded. The WMO sa...

In French, when someone is beautiful, you can say they’re  ‘canon’. The word itself means a general law, rule, princely or criteria by which something is judged, but when it comes to beauty it is simply means model that we elevate to the level of perfection. Except that this model has changed a lot over the centuries and across cultures. Those who are considered “canons” today would have been...