Do you really know?

What is plogging? Thanks for asking! We’ve covered several Scandinavian wellness trends in the past and here’s one which is good for both the body and soul. Plogging is a mash-up of the Swedish term “plocka upp”, which means picking up, and the English word “jogging”. So what are we picking up while jogging? Does it actually burn that many calories? How can I get started then? In under 3 minutes,...

What are the Pandora Papers? Thanks for asking! On October 3rd, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists began publishing leaked documents exposing the hidden assets of some of the world’s richest and most powerful people.  Five years after the Panama Papers revelations, the latest investigation, carried out over two years, represents the biggest ever leak of offshore data, showin...

What is degrowth? Thanks for asking!   Degrowth advocates believe that if we continue prioritising economic growth, political, environmental and geopolitical crises will only increase in number. It’s a form of opposition to consumerist society, all about the importance of the collective over the individual, and planet Earth over the human race. Where does the term come from? What are the arguments...

What is conversion therapy? Thanks for asking! In the midst of the scandal surrounding pedocriminality within the Catholic Church, conversion therapies have been voted to be banned in France on October 5, 2021. Conversion therapy, also known as homotherapy, is a pseudoscientific practice that seeks to convert homosexuals to heterosexuality, or at least encourage them to be abstinent. Largely pushe...

What is coolsculpting? Thanks for asking!  Just a couple of weeks ago, 90s catwalk star Linda Evangelista shared an emotional post on Instagram. The model revealed she had left the public eye for the last five years to hide the disastrous results of a coolsculpting procedure.  She has decided to sue Zeltiq Aesthetics, the company who markets CoolSculpting, for $50M, arguing the botched treatment h...

What is a bore-out? Thanks for asking! Hearing the term will likely make you think of another kind of psycho-social condition related to the world of work; that of a burnout. Well bore-outs are perhaps less well-known than their workaholic cousin, but they are actually much more common.  A Forbes article from January 2020 suggested that between 43% and 53% of employees are bored of their job. What...

Who is James Bond? Thanks for asking! Since its original planned release in March 2020, the 25th James Bond film has been pushed back over and over again. But good things come to those who wait as they say, and No Time To Die finally opened in cinemas around the UK last week. More than 60 years after the first 007 film was produced, any new instalment is still a major event in the cinematic calend...

What is reproductive health? Thanks for asking!  September 26, 2021, was World Contraception Day. The event was first held in 2007 by ten international family-planning organizations to raise awareness about contraception and help each new generation of adults make informed decisions until every pregnancy in the world is a planned one.  In other words, it promotes what is known as sexual and reprod...

What are LGBT-free zones? Thanks for asking! Monday September 27th, three Polish regions scrap anti-LGBT resolutions. The European Parliament declared the E.U. to be an LGBTIQ Freedom zone. That was in reaction to the increasing number of LGBT-free zones in Poland, which have been making headlines for the last two years. Poland has gained a reputation as the worst EU country for LGBT rights. If we...

What is Lagom? Thanks for asking! The Swedish term lagom is one of those words that doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English, yet it has caught on as a wellness trend. If you had to translate it, you’d probably go with something like “just the right amount” or “according to common sense.” It’s kind of similar to the expression “less is more” in intention, used as a contrast to the idea that mor...

Who are Oasis? Thanks for asking!     On August 10th 1996, Oasis drew over 250,000 fans to their gigs on two consecutive nights at Knebworth Park. Much like the band, these record-breaking concerts would end up gaining legendary status.   And just a week ago, a dedicated Oasis Knebworth 1996 documentary premiered in UK cinemas, making it the perfect opportunity to talk about one of the country’s m...

What is the Aukus alliance? Thanks for asking!   On September 16th, Australia announced it had signed a strategic pact with the United States and United Kingdom. The aim is to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific, which consists of several important seaways between India, Japan and Australia. The ocean region is a hub for global trade and energy supply. The recent pact was named AUKUS, to include...

What is the Britney Spears conservatorship case? Thanks for asking! Ardent fans and onlookers alike have probably noticed the diva’s disappearance from major social media platforms, including Instagram. Before deactivating her accounts, Britney assured her followers on Twitter she was just taking a break to celebrate her engagement and promised to be back soon.  However, there seems to be more to...

What is the baby bust? Thanks for asking! The United Kingdom is facing a particularly low birth rate recorded. The phenomenon could have significant long-term economic consequences, a British think tank warned on Monday 20 September 2021. You’ve almost certainly heard of the baby boom, which saw birth rates soar in many countries following the end of the Second World War. Well, we’re currently exp...

What is mucosal immunity? Thanks for asking!  It was announced last week that Covid booster vaccines would soon be available to millions of people across the UK, including all over 50s and other people with underlying health conditions.   In the meantime, new ways to combat the virus are emerging, specifically that of an nasal spray vaccine designed to boost mucosal immunity. Regular listeners may...

What are Butler Cafés? Thanks for asking! In recent months, an interesting trend has been catching on in China. An increasing number of women are paying for male companionship in establishments known as butler cafés. According to Chinese media outlet The Sixth Tone, butler cafés are enjoying impressive success. They’ve been springing up all over big cities for a few months. Review sites list dozen...

What is last chance tourism? Thanks for asking!   Last chance tourism is a travel trend whereby tourists increasingly seek to experience the world’s most endangered sites before they vanish or are irrevocably transformed, according to the definition given by the Current Issues in Tourism magazine. Last chance tourism is also sometimes referred to as doomsday tourism. The term was first coined in t...

What is toxic positivity? Thanks for asking! “Good vibes only”, “everything happens for a reason”, “When life gives you lemons.”...You’ve almost certainly been told these mantras at some point in your life, whether in a professional or personal context.  Toxic positivity is a belief that people should maintain a positive mindset no matter how difficult their situation is. Though they might seem co...

What is 5G? Thanks for asking! On Tuesday 14 September, Apple presented its new iPhone 13. With the 5G, the American company has boosted its iPhone sales. 5G is the fifth and newest generation of mobile connectivity. Its commercial rollout has already begun, with the four major US carriers having begun deployment in 2019. The GSMA estimates that 5G will account for 20% of all global connections by...

What is World Cleanup Day? Thanks for asking!  World Cleanup Day is held annually on the third Saturday of September all over the world. This year it falls today, on September 18th. The global initiative was launched by the Let’s Do It Foundation, a nonprofit association, and the aim is to combat pollution through community clean-ups. Created in 2008 in Estonia, the association is a certified memb...

What is the #QuitMyJob trend? Thanks for asking! This hashtag went viral on TikTok during the summer. On social media, thousands of web users used the hashtag QuitMyJob to hand in their resignation directly on the Internet. For starters, to give their notice in style. But more importantly, to call their employers out for unacceptable behaviour. American Shana Blackwell, is seen as having started t...

What is a Tiny House? Thanks for asking! You may have spotted one in a park, at the edge of the woods, or in a parking lot in the middle of the countryside. Tiny houses on wheels or up on a trailer have been springing up like mushrooms for a number of years.  The tiny-house trend is a social and architectural movement that demonstrates a desire to return to simplicity by downsizing living spaces....

What is tokenism? Thanks for asking!   Have you ever got the feeling a company or organisation is preaching equality, but it all feels a bit fake? Well, you may be witnessing what’s known as tokenism. It’s a societal practice which is designed to prevent accusations of discrimination. It involves recruiting members of underrepresented groups to give an impression of equality. But more often than n...

What is Operation London Bridge? Thanks for asking!  This meticulous plan had remained largely secret until now. All the details of this dreaded moment have just been leaked to a British media. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over the United Kingdom and Commonwealth since February 6th 1952, longer than any other British monarch.  Believe it or not, extensive protocol is already in place for the day...

What is the 9/11 Museum? Thanks for asking! It’s been twenty years since the 9/11 attacks which shocked the entire world, killing 2977 people. As part of the commemorations, President Biden is due to visit the three plane crash sites in New York City, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.  Part of the memorial at Ground Zero in New York includes the 9/11 Museum, which was inaugurated in May 2014 by th...