Do you really know?

What is a lockdown? Thanks for asking! It’s estimated that up to 50% of the world’s population has been under some form of lockdown since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Governments have imposed these measures to reduce physical contact and stop the disease from spreading. The current lockdown in India, which has a population of 1.3 billion people, is reported to be the largest in human hi...

What is HouseParty? Thanks for asking HouseParty is a video chat app that was created in the United States in 2016 and became particularly popular among millennials. Those who download it use it for an average of 51 minutes per day. That’s comparable to Facebook and higher than other popular apps like Instagram, Messenger and Snapchat.  The current coronavirus-related lockdowns have led to a resur...

What are neobanks? 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...

What is chloroquine? Thanks for asking! Chloroquine is a prescription drug which has been used for many decades to treat malaria. It’s included on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines, which means it should be kept widely available at an affordable price for all.  Due to its antiviral properties, it has been getting a lot of attention from medical researchers as a potential...

What are conlangers? Thanks for asking ! A conlanger is a person who creates one or more constructed languages. These are different to most languages in that they are devised for a particular purpose, rather than evolving naturally. Most notable examples come from science fiction or fantasy franchises, like Lord of the Rings and Star Trek. Their depicted characters often communicate in constructed...

What is anthropomorphism? Anthropomorphism means transferring human forms or emotions onto animals and other non-human entities. It has its origins in ancient mythology, where deities were often represented with human forms and qualities. Think of many ancient Roman or Greek gods; when they weren’t fighting battles on horseback, they were at home falling in love, getting married and having childre...

What is Misophonia? You probably won’t find it on autocorrect or spell check, but misophonia is a condition which affects up to 15% of adults. The term literally means “hatred of sound” and it was coined in the 2000s by Margaret and Pawel Jastreboff, audiologists at the University of Atlanta. Misophonia is a condition when specific sounds trigger negative emotions, thoughts and even physical react...

What are dark patterns? A dark pattern is an online interface which has been designed to trick visitors into performing certain actions against their will. The term was coined by British UX specialist Harry Brignull in 2010. Ecommerce industries were booming and the general public weren’t necessarily aware of dark patterns.   Researchers at Princeton University carried out a study of 11,000 e-comm...

What is instant-runoff voting? Also known as the alternative vote, instant runoff voting is an election method in which voters rank candidates by order of preference. It’s not massively comm on across the globe, but some mathematicians believe it to be more democratic than other widely used systems.  Just because we have the right to vote, doesn’t mean we live in a perfect democracy. The voting sy...

What is telehealth? Telehealth refers to remote health services which are provided using technology. While the technologies have been around for decades, uptake has been relatively slow. That’s changed with the current COVID-19 pandemic however, as telehealth has become a must for patients and doctors alike.   The terms telehealth and telemedicine are sometimes used interchangeably, though the sco...

What are desert locusts? Desert locusts are a type of insect which have been threatening agricultural production in Africa, Asia and the Middle East for centuries. They are phytophagous, which means they feed on plants. In early 2020, these locusts have invaded several countries in East Africa, destroying vegetation everywhere they go. Experts fear the risk of famine, in a part of the world where...

What is male contraception? We’ve all heard of the pill and the coil for women, but did you know that male contraceptives also exist? The obvious examples are condoms and the withdrawal method, but new solutions are being developed in the form of gels, shots and even thermal underwear. Many have tried and failed in the past, with no such products yet achieving commercial success. The ideal situati...

What is OK Boomer? OK Boomer is an internet-born phrase which surfaced in 2019 to highlight the generational gap between certain people of different ages. It pits baby-boomers up against the millennials and members of gen-Z.  It all started as a viral meme on social media, which teens used to dismiss criticism of their generation, most often by so-called boomers. In the eyes of many young people,...

What is cruelty free? Cruelty free is a label for products which don’t cause harm to animals. This kind of guarantee is designed to reassure consumers who refuse to buy products which are tested on animals. It’s most often used to describe cosmetics, but can also apply to a wide range of other household and pet products. There are many cruelty free labels around, but the main premise is generally...

What is...no, who is Alan Smithee? Alan Smithee is perhaps Hollywood’s least talented director! Let me explain… It’s not uncommon for directors to disown their projects by using a pseudonym. Most often, they are not satisfied with the movie, or feel that it does not represent their creative vision. This is often due to pressure and interference from producers or movie studios, preventing the direc...

What is the Blob? The blob is a nickname for Physarum Polycephalum, a slime mold that can detect and digest food, move around and procreate. It’s ultra-resistant and has capacities for learning and transmitting information. While it had been largely ignored for a very long time, the blob and its distinctive features have been getting a lot of attention of late.  That’s largely thanks to a public u...

What is a digital detox? A digital detox is a period of time when a person chooses to limit their use of computers and mobile devices. The aim is to reduce the stress that can be generated by technology and spend time concentrating on real-world social interactions instead. Digital detoxes are certainly in vogue - even the major internet companies are promoting it, despite the obvious role they pl...

What are hikikomori? A hikikomori is a reclusive person who withdraws from society and lives in their own home all the time. This isolation phenomenon is mainly recognised in Japan, where it’s believed there are over one million hikikomori. Local authorities are concerned about what may happen to these people, as well as their increasing numbers. The word hikikomori literally means “pulling inward...

What are GINKs? The acronym GINKs stands for “Green Inclinations - No Kids”, referring to those who consciously decide to forego having children for environmental reasons. It’s inspired by the term DINKs of the 1980s, which meant “Double Income - No Kids”. Whereas childless couples have often been accused of being selfish in the past, GINKs choose not to form a family out of a sense of eco-respons...

What is revenge porn? Revenge porn is the intentional sharing of private sexual content, without the consent of the person in that content. It could be explicit text messages, photos or videos, for example. Revenge porn hasn’t been around forever; it has grown with, and been facilitated by, the internet, smartphones and social media. The humiliation and harassment that comes with it can cause seve...

What is a sedentary lifestyle? A sedentary lifestyle is one which involves little or no physical activity. It’s one of the major global health issues of the 21st century, as it is an underlying cause of death, disease and disability. It’s estimated that each year over 300,000 premature deaths are caused by obesity and sedentary lifestyles, just in the United States. Screen time spent in front of a...

What is CBD? CBD is short for Cannabidiol, which is one of the chemical components found in cannabis. Not being psychoactive, CBD is legal in many countries. But it’s also claimed that CBD has several health benefits. That’s why demand has been growing around the world for a few years now. Cannabis is illegal in most countries, mainly because it contains the psychoactive chemical Tetrahydrocannabi...

What is a narcissistic pervert? It seems like we hear about narcissistic perverts pretty often these days. They are charming manipulators who often turn their partners’ or families’ lives into hell. So, are we all surrounded by narcissistic perverts?  The term has its origins in psychoanalysis. It was coined in the 1980s and began to get more attention at the start of the 21st century. Narcissus w...

What is Flygskam? Flygskam is a Swedish neologism, which literally translates into English as “flight shame”. Confronted with the high level of pollution generated by this form of transport, more and more people are ashamed of travelling by plane. Some are even going as far as boycotting it as a means of transport, a trend which is of course of concern to airlines and plane manufacturers.  The wor...

What is Asperger Syndrome? Asperger Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, characterised by difficulties in social interactions and restricted interests. Asperger’s is often diagnosed late, which is why associations run campaigns to increase awareness. International Asperger’s Day is celebrated every year on the 18th of February, to educate the general public and highlight the challenges faced b...