Do you really know?

An often cited estimate suggests that children smile an average of 400 times per day, while when we reach adulthood that figure drops to just 50 times, even for the happiest of us. For most adults, it’s more like 20 times. Now of course most of the time we smile involuntarily in response to something bringing us joy or making us laugh. But it’s also possible to smile intentionally, which can actua...

It is a bit of a stereotype that the Brits love to moan, with the weather and Brexit being among the most common causes of grumbling around the country. It might not always be pleasant around someone who’s complaining, but there is something deeply authentic about it. What’s more, moaning can provide a form of relief and allow people to express their dissatisfaction, frustration or bad mood. That’...

While it’s not a scientifically recognised food category, the term “superfoods” has become common when referring to certain foods that are very rich in nutrients and micronutrients. You may have heard about the disease-preventing wonders of seeds and algae for example, or weight loss benefits associated with fruits such as goji berries, spirulina, and pomegranates. Let’s investigate whether all th...

Dubbed Britain's 'most dangerous prisoner' Charles Bronson, who now goes by Charles Salvador, is currently at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, and has been in prison for much of the last 50 years. However, now at the age of 70,  he went before the parole board on the 8th of March and could finally be released.  Bronson was first convicted in 1974 when he was 21 and was jailed for seven years for rob...

It’s been just over three years since Brexit came into effect and the latest YouGov poll from late February 2023 suggests that 53% of Brits now think it was wrong for the UK to leave the EU. The infamous 2016 Brexit referendum exposed deep divisions within British society, which have only deepened since. Three prime ministers have come and gone since, and current PM Rishi Sunak is facing an unprec...

Binge eating, also known as uncontrollable overeating, is an eating disorder. It is characterized by compulsive and excessive consumption of food within a specific period, usually not exceeding two hours, and a loss of control over eating behavior.  This means that a person can’t measure the amounts or types of food they are consuming, and may eat quickly without feeling full. This loss of control...

According to Dr Yasemin Didem Aktas, deputy academic director of the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB), “Mould is everywhere, all the time,” this is because the UK is a pretty wet country and so some level of mould, particularly in damp places like bathrooms or windows is to be expected. However it is how we manage the mould and prevent it building up into dangerous levels that is import...

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 system in use at an election can...

You’re standing or sitting perfectly still, but yet you feel like everything is spinning around you, as if you were on a theme park ride. You’ve been getting nausea and throwing up too. Well, the chances are you’re suffering from vertigo.  According to the NHS: "Vertigo can also feel like you're being pulled, tilted, or pushed to one side…[and is] often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, problems wi...

It’s not uncommon for rhinoviruses to resurface during the spring and autumn seasons. They’re the main cause of the common cold. At the same time, spring also brings increased pollen circulation, leading to hay fever symptoms which are very similar to those of a viral cold. Having a blocked nose can be particularly bothersome, what with having to blow your nose every two minutes, sneezing, having...

The Danish toy brand Lego may be celebrating its 91th anniversary in 2023, 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.  Back in 1932, in the small Danish town of Billund, carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen decided to expand his business by building small wooden toys. A couple of year...

Despite the rising popularity of vegan or vegetarian lifestyles, many people still love the taste and texture of meat, or simply can’t kick the habit, having eaten meat throughout their lifetimes. That explains why the vegan meat substitute market is thriving. These 100% plant-based products are a good source of protein and closely resemble meat in a number of ways. But no doubt many of you who ea...

On 4th March 2023, UN member states agreed a historic treaty that had been over fifteen years in the making. The High Seas Treaty is the first ever treaty to protect the world’s oceans outside national boundaries. The aim is to meet the 30 by 30 biodiversity target, protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by the year 2030. Also known as the open sea or international waters, the high seas begin at the...

There are lots of advantages to renting rather than buying but one of the pitfalls is you have to live with your landlord's style choices. But just because you are renting does not mean you can’t adapt it to your own personal style without jeopardising your deposit. So here are some tips and advice about how to put your own flair into a temporary space.  First of all, if you do want to make change...

Trolls have been around for as long as the internet, but in recent years they've been getting professionalised. Indeed, companies have actually been set up with the specific aim of creating and spreading fake news online.  Such organisations are known as troll farms or troll factories, and Russia has been home to some of the most prominent. Based in the city of St Petersburg, its Internet Research...

The suffix “core” is often used to describe a trend or a niche, such as cottagecore, an attraction to meadows, farms, and flower dresses. Disneycore refers to anything related to Disney, and so on. CoreCore is a play on this suffix; it means everything and nothing at the same time. Kieran Press-Reynolds, a Digital Culture Reporter at Insider interviewed by Time: "Through its name, Corecore makes i...

Looking for love in this day and age can be a time-consuming and draining process. More often than not, it involves downloading one or more dating apps, swiping through profile after profile, chatting for a while and then finally actually meeting up if it gets that far. It can feel like a bit of a crap shoot, and when things don’t lead anywhere, that can be disheartening. Well, a trend called date...

Meditation is often sighted as a great way to relax, reduce stress and help us focus, but it can be difficult for lots of people to do in the traditional sense. However, meditation can be achieved without ever sitting down cross legged and focusing on your breathing. “The whole idea with mindfulness is training your brain, you can do this just as well by being intentionally mindful throughout the...

Every year, International Women’s Day falls on March 8th. It’s a global celebration of women’s achievements in economics, culture and politics. Furthermore, it’s an important occasion to continue the struggle for women’s rights, with inequality still commonplace across the world. International Women’s Day is a public holiday in a number of countries in the world, including Russia and around a doze...

Over the course of our lifetime, we around 34,000 litres of urine, according to Business Insider. Urine evacuates the nitrogen-containing waste produced by the organs and expelled into the blood, like urea and uric acid for example. It's also made up of water and mineral salts. It tends to be a clear shade of yellow, ranging from pale to dark at different times of the day. Nevertheless, our pee ca...

“Time and tide waits for no one”, the old saying goes, but it’s fair to say that some people are affected by symptoms of ageing earlier than others. And the latest study to come out of the University of Rotterdam suggests that there may be a link between how old we look, and how likely we are to develop certain age-related conditions. The team of researchers published their findings in the British...

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, Britain exported...

Astrology has had a real revival in these last few years, in particular among the younger generations. You may remember we ran an episode on the subject not long ago. Most likely you’ve heard your friends talk about astrology at some point in time, or read about it online. Maybe someone in your family started using a specific term as part of their everyday vocabulary. Well, we’re here to decipher...

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of smokers in the UK is estimated at 6.6 million. The proportion has been steadily dropping for years now. Given the health risks, you’d think smokers would be delighted to give up, but the prospect of putting on weight is a cause of concern for many. To be fair, it i’s a well-founded fear to some extent. In 2014, Addiction journal report...

Lidl, following on from Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons, is the latest supermarket to put a limit on how much fruit and vegetables people can buy. Peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers will be limited to 3 per customer for the moment.  “As advised to our customers through signage in our stores last week, adverse weather conditions in Spain and Morocco have recently impacted the availability of certain s...