Do you really know?

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”. If you’re obsessed with having a tidy work environment, you may want to consider that that quote comes from none other than Albert Einstein, one of the most renowned geniuses in human history. Given that Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and even Steve Jobs were also known for working in messy environments, you...

Towels, used to dry our freshly washed bodies, quickly become dirty, collecting dead skin cells, perspiration, bacteria and fungi that thrive in damp environments. This can lead to fungal infections and skin problems. To manage this, use separate towels for the body and face, and ensure they are thoroughly dried between uses to minimise bacterial growth. Experts recommend washing towels at a high...

According to research published in The BMJ in 2002, around 40% of people experience some age-associated memory impairment after reaching 65. Thankfully only 1% of those affected will then go on to have dementia each year. But still, it’s important to be aware of how effective your memory is, whatever your age. An impairment can be a sign of cognitive decline, which becomes more likely the older we...

The subject of today’s episode is the latest questionable practice in retail. "Stretchflation" is getting a lot of attention, and for good reason: it's yet another way to squeeze more money out of consumers. We’ve already talked about shrinkflation on Do You Really Know, which is when you see product sizes reduced but prices stay the same. Since the start of the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve also s...

If you’re listening to this show, you're no doubt a keen learner and explorer. We bet you’ll love Fabulous Destinies, another Bababam podcast, which takes you on a journey through real-life stories which are incredible but true. Starting from tomorrow and exclusively on Do You Really Know, we'll be sharing our listeners' four favourite Fabulous Destinies episodes! Some are tragic, some mysterious,...

Have you ever been on an aeroplane and wondered how on earth a vehicle weighing tens of thousands of kilograms can even take off, let alone stay in the air for hours on end? Well, whatever the type of plane is, the basic principle is pretty much the same. It has to overcome the pull of gravity, the force that draws everything towards Earth’s centre. What does an aeroplane need to fly then? How so?...

If you’re listening to this show, you're no doubt a keen learner and explorer. We bet you’ll love Fabulous Destinies, another Bababam podcast, which takes you on a journey through real-life stories which are incredible but true. Starting from tomorrow and exclusively on Do You Really Know, we'll be sharing our listeners' four favourite Fabulous Destinies episodes! Some are tragic, some mysterious,...

We talk about sleep needs a lot on Do You Really Know, so regular listeners will be well aware that we need 7-9 hours each day, and that not getting enough can lead to negative health impacts. Regardless of who you are, when you get less than seven hours of sleep, you start accumulating what’s known as sleep debt or sleep deficit. The Sleep Foundation defines it as: “the difference between the amo...

If you’re listening to this show, you're no doubt a keen learner and explorer. We bet you’ll love Fabulous Destinies, another Bababam podcast, which takes you on a journey through real-life stories which are incredible but true. Starting from tomorrow and exclusively on Do You Really Know, we'll be sharing our listeners' four favourite Fabulous Destinies episodes! Some are tragic, some mysterious,...

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...

If you’re listening to this show, you're no doubt a keen learner and explorer. We bet you’ll love Fabulous Destinies, another Bababam podcast, which takes you on a journey through real-life stories which are incredible but true. Starting from tomorrow and exclusively on Do You Really Know, we'll be sharing our listeners' four favourite Fabulous Destinies episodes! Some are tragic, some mysterious,...

All romantic relationships come with challenges, and one of the biggest hurdles tends to be fidelity. Over the years, there have been a number of studies on the prevalence of cheating, but it’s tricky to know how reliable data from those studies is. After all, it relies on people owning up to unfaithful behaviour. Generally speaking though, surveys from the likes of YouGov have suggested that arou...

Welcome to Do You Really Know! If you’re listening to this show, you're no doubt a keen learner and explorer. We bet you’ll love Fabulous Destinies, another Bababam podcast, which takes you on a journey through real-life stories which are incredible but true. Starting from tomorrow and exclusively on Do You Really Know, we'll be sharing our listeners' four favourite Fabulous Destinies episodes! So...

These tiny insects, which reproduce at an astonishing rate, often invade our kitchens. They are particularly attracted to damp areas, stagnant water, organic waste, and ripe fruit—especially in warm weather. Fruit flies, or midges, can lay up to 100 eggs a day. While studies indicate that flies can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites, the midges in our homes are generally harmless. They can tra...

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...

The start of any school year is always an emotionally charged time, whether you’re a child or an adult. But as a parent that excitement can quickly turn into stress and anxiety when money is tight.  In July 2024, retail marketing consultancy Gekko reported that UK parents were set to shell out an average of £452.40 per child on back-to-school supplies, which combined adds up to a whopping £2.3 bil...

Job interviews have always been a daunting prospect for a number of reasons. And the process is only getting more time-consuming for candidates, without offering increased chances of success. According to a June 2023 report from the Josh Bersin Company and AMS, the average recruitment process now take a whopping 44 days. As if all this isn’t demanding enough, interviewers like to throw in the occa...

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 exploring ju...

In the period from 2018 to 2020, the life expectancy at birth for women in the UK was 82.9 years, while it was just 79 for men. That’s according to data from the Office of National Statistics. And that disparity is a common trend across various countries and even among certain other species of mammals, like great apes. There certainly are, and they span both biological and behavioral factors. Dr....

What do chicken nuggets, margarine and instant noodles all have in common? Well, they may look tasty, but they’re loaded with sugar, salt, fat and chemicals that strip away their nutritional value. That’s due to the heavy processing that goes into making them, which sees them completely transformed from the original raw ingredients.  And they’re increasingly ever present on our shelves and in our...

Interviewed by Harper's Bazaar in June 2022, US First Lady Jill Biden admitted to arguing over text with her husband. She said it’s been a good way for them to settle disagreements, away from the ears of secret service agents and everyone around them. Arguing by text is also known as fexting, which is a contraction of fighting and texting. Of course, it isn’t only the President and his wife who fe...

It’s worth bearing in mind that overtourism has become a real nuisance. As tourists, it’s not exactly fun being in a highly overcrowded area, but it’s even worse for the natural environment. Could tourism quotas be one way of addressing the problems? In mid-June 2022, the island of Corsica brought in quotas for three iconic sites: the Bavella needles, the Restonica valley and the Lavezzi islands....

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...

According to a World Meteorological Organisation report from May 2023, it’s now more likely than not that global temperatures will surpass the key milestone of 1.5°C warming. This is of course down to human-related greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the El Nino weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, which was confirmed to have started as of early June. Of course the long term impact of such wa...

There are a number of possible reasons why people don’t manage to save as much money as they would like. For example: paying for things with a credit card can make you forget how much you’ve spent, or you simply don’t earn enough to save in the first place. You might feel like money saving methods simply won’t ever work for you. But let's go back to basics. A simple Japanese technique called “kake...