Do you really know?

What is low tech? In the struggle against climate change, politicians are getting behind technological innovation. But some experts believe that, rather than high-tech, we should instead be banking on the simple, robust and reparable solutions offered by low tech. The all-powerful nature of high-tech has been called into question for decades, with regular controversies and debates on subjects like...

What is Tetris? 6th June sees the anniversary of one of the most successful and addictive video games of all time: Tetris! Pretty much everyone is familiar with the game concept: it involves moving and rotating falling shapes to form gapless lines which then disappear. In theory you can carry on ad infinitum, but the shapes fall faster and faster the longer you play, thereby increasing the difficu...

What is the thyroid? This small butterfly-shaped gland is situated at the bottom of the neck, wrapped around the windpipe. It plays an important role in a number of bodily functions, but isn’t as well known as it should be. According to The American Thyroid Association, over 12% of the country’s population will develop a thyroid disorder at some point in their life. Many people are actually unawar...

What is mental load? Mental load, or emotional labour, is a sociological concept often relating to the daily management of a household. Research has shown that within traditional families, the strain of mental load is more often than not taken on by women. It’s become a feminist issue due to this imbalance. Early discussions relating to mental load date back to the 1980s. Sociologists noted how wo...

What is asthma? According to figures published in the Lancet in 2020, asthma had affected around 260 million people the previous year, causing 455,000 deaths. The condition can’t be cured, but with the right management it can be kept under control, so people with asthma can still lead active lives. Asthma symptoms are brought on by inflammation of the respiratory system, and more specifically the...

What is Stranger Things? On 27th May 2022, one of Netflix’s most iconic shows made a long-awaited return. Many series and films were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Stranger Things was no exception. But the fourth season is now available for streaming, and has already broken a Netflix record, with 287 million viewing hours on its opening weekend. Let’s discuss how the series, which was f...

What is ecological debt? With World Environment Day coming up on 5th June 2022, let’s take a moment to consider a concept which highlights both the scale of the climate crisis and inequalities between different areas of the world. Discussions around ecological debt are closely linked to that of overshoot and the overuse of planet Earth's resources. As regular listeners know, humans have now long b...

What is a zombie company ? If you’ve ever seen horror movies, you’ll know that when you see a zombie, you should start running! Well, the term is also used in the world of business to describe companies which are hugely indebted and only able to pay their fixed costs and interest, but not actually able to reduce the debt itself. Much like the horror film creatures, you could say these companies ar...

What is gender dysphoria? Gender dysphoria describes the unease that people can feel when there is a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity. So for example a person with male genitals and facial hair might not identify as a man. This unease can cause depression and anxiety in some cases, and have a real impact on a person’s daily life. How is this label different from more commo...

What is monkeypox ? This viral infection gets its name from first being discovered among lab monkeys in Denmark in 1958, although its natural reservoir remains unknown. It’s a cousin of the now eradicated smallpox virus. The first human infections date back to 1970 and cases are rare, occurring mainly in central and Western Africa, where the virus is endemic. Until recently, the only four identifi...

What is mom shaming ? Just like with body shaming or slut shaming, mom shaming is another example of how women are often subjected to disproportionate criticism, and made to feel guilty about their choices, in this case specifically about parenting methods. The term refers to how mothers are criticised or even humiliated, for the way they bring up their children and fulfil their role as a mother....

What is cultured meat? The world’s ever-growing human population is eating meat in greater quantities than ever before. Yet at the same time, we’re also increasingly conscious of the environmental impact, as well as ethical issues around animal slaughter.  So imagine if you could eat meat without any animals being harmed, and with 96% less greenhouse gas emissions! Well, that is actually possible...

What is Top Gun ? 36 years on from his breakthrough performance in the original Top Gun film, Tom Cruise is back to star as Pete Mitchell in follow-up Top Gun: Maverick, which hit cinemas at the end of last week. Let’s look back at how the original, directed by Tony Scott in 1986, became a cult film and has remained relevant in popular culture to this day. Of course the challenge now is for Top Gu...

Yesterday, on may 28, was the menstrual hygiene day. We wanted to bring awarness on period poverty. What is period poverty? Menstrual hygiene products are an essential expense, but many women on low incomes find that the cost is out of their reach. This is known as period poverty and it affects more people than you might think, even in developed countries. A survey in the UK found that over 40% of...

What is the Cannes Film Festival ? Every year in May, film stars and fans flock to the French city of Cannes for a 10-day celebration of cinema, or as it’s referred to in the host country, “the seventh art”. Well, not quite every year; just like many large events, the Cannes film festival has had to adapt over the last couple of years. The 2021 event took place in August, while in 2020 it had to b...

What is Fortnite? This multi-player battle royale game first came out on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One in September 2017, before being adapted for other formats like mobile or the Nintendo Switch in 2018. As of November 2017, Fortnite already had 20 million players. A real boom followed in 2018 and 2019. By June the following year, there were over 125 million, and in May 2020 the game’s official...

What is dawn dating ? Dating practices evolve over time along with our ways of life. Over the last two years, Covid-19 restrictions and remote work have had a huge impact on the love lives of singletons all across the world. All of a sudden, it was much less practical to meet a potential suitor face to face. As a result dates became few and far between for many. Now of course, in-person interactio...

Who is Quentin Tarantino? What’s your favourite Tarantino film? Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, Inglorious Bastards or perhaps Django Unchained? Every last one of his releases have had a huge impact. They’ve often been big hits among critics and popular opinion. So his recent confirmation of plans to retire following his next film has understandably drawn a lot of attention in the world o...

What is Stan Culture ? Little did Eminem know when he invented obsessed super fan Stan for a track on The Marshall Mathers LP in 2000, that over two decades later the term would still be used, albeit with a twist. The fictional fan Eminem wrote about ended up killing himself and his pregnant wife when his favourite rapper never replied to his letters. Nowadays, the term mostly refers to hardcore f...

What is an IPA ? India Pale Ales stand out through their golden to amber colours, distinct bitterness and fruitiness. Why such characteristics? Well, it’s all down to hops actually, which are used in greater quantities when brewing IPAs. The name is actually a little misleading, in that it doesn't mean that the beer was brewed in India at all. Rather it refers to the fact that in the 18th century,...

Who is Guillermo Del Toro? On January 21st, Nightmare Alley, the new psychological thriller from Guillermo del Toro, hit UK cinemas. Let’s pay tribute to a truly extraordinary director, novelist, producer, and screenwriter. Believe it or not, the Mexican hadn't released a single film since 2017 before Nightmare Alley. That was The Shape of Water, which won Best Picture and Best Director awards at...

What is Naruto ? This award-winning manga series first appeared in magazine form in 1999, published in the weekly Shonen Jump. A total of 72 volumes would be published over the next 15 years, selling a combined 250 million copies and making Naruto the fourth best selling manga of all time. But the franchise also quickly expanded from 2002 onwards, to include two animated series, with over 700 epis...

What is Lego? Danish toy brand Lego may be celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2022, but it’s showing no signs of slowing down! An average of 31 billion bricks are sold each year around the world, and the company appeals to a wide range of people. While children love to play with it, adults tend to collect it. How did Lego start out ? How did Lego stay so strong over the years? What about Lego's e...

What is the Rubik’s Cube ? Whether you find it infuriating or stimulating, you'll almost certainly recognise a Rubik's Cube as soon as you see it. The multicoloured, six-sided brainteaser has been among the most popular toys in the world for decades now, with over 350 million units sold as of 2019 according to Business Insider. Who invented the Rubik’s Cube ? There can't have been that much fuss a...

What is the fertility cliff? The ability of a woman to get pregnant and give birth doesn’t last forever. 35 has traditionally been seen as a fertility cliff, a kind of cut-off point after which it becomes much more difficult to have a child. Women in their early 30s and even late 20s often feel under pressure from their families or society, like they are losing a race against their biological cloc...