Do you really know?

November is synonymous with Black Friday, great deals but what cost? Over consumption is endangering our already fragile planet. Is it time to change our ways? This week Do You Really Know is highlighting concepts and initiatives about reducing our consumption. All week long we’ll be discussing anticonsumerist trends as an alternative to Black Friday. Zero waste is a good example of one that has b...

November is synonymous with Black Friday, great deals but what cost? Over consumption is endangering our already fragile planet. Is it time to change our ways? This week Do You Really Know is highlighting concepts and initiatives about reducing our consumption. You might not be able to afford a Balenciaga coat, a Prada bag or a Chanel suit, but you could probably stretch to a branded baseball cap,...

November is synonymous with Black Friday, great deals but what cost? Over consumption is endangering our already fragile planet. Is it time to change our ways? This week Do You Really Know is highlighting concepts and initiatives about reducing our consumption. Fast fashion is to fashion what fast food is to dining. That is to say a poor-quality imitation, which everybody criticises but still neve...

November is synonymous with Black Friday, great deals but what cost? Over consumption is endangering our already fragile planet. Is it time to change our ways? This week Do You Really Know is highlighting concepts and initiatives about reducing our consumption. When talking about the economy, two terms always seem to come up: consumption and GDP. Consumption is seen as an important data point when...

It’s not uncommon to hear ringing, buzzing, humming or hissing sounds that can’t be heard by anyone else. The medical term for these symptoms is tinnitus. The sounds may affect both ears, or just one. If you’re lucky, they’re a temporary or intermittent problem, but for some people they can be more severe, affecting their daily lives.  2019 figures from the British Tinnitus Association suggested t...

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. Such comments often co...

On 26th October 2022, Elon Musk walked into Twitter’s San Francisco offices carrying a sink. He was there to complete a deal to acquire the company and later tweeted an image along with the corny caption “Entering Twitter HQ; Let that sink in”. Within two days, the $44bn acquisition was confirmed, following months of speculation. And it’s fair to say that Musk’s first weeks as head of Twitter have...

If you drink alcohol, the chances are at some point you’ve had to deal with a nasty hangover, due to drinking too much. The associated headache, nausea, fatigue and other symptoms can make it a real challenge to get through the day after a night out.  There’s actually a scientific term for the unpleasant symptoms that come with a hangover; it’s veisalgia. According to Ted.com, between 3 and 23% of...

Surely it’s every football fan's dream to watch the world cup live and support their team.  Imagine then being offered free tickets, accommodation and even a daily allowance to do so. For some fans heading to Qatar this November that is exactly what has happened. But like all deals that look too good to be true, here too, there is a catch. Paid fans will be expected to be ambassadors for the tourn...

The world of cinema is full of films and sagas which leave their mark on a generation, sometimes becoming cult films. And another phenomenon is becoming more and more common: that of the spin off.  Spin-off films involve the creation of a new work based on the original, focusing on the story of a secondary character. There are a number of reasons why directors and screenwriters have chosen to carr...

Also known as woodcraft, bushcraft culture is somewhere between a hobby and a philosophy. It’s a minimalist approach to surviving in nature, without disturbing it. It’s the use and practice of certain skills in a natural environment, like a forest.  Many bushcraft skills were common throughout the history of humanity, but aren’t so necessary in the towns and cities where most people live in this d...

The year’s biggest climate event is underway, with a number of challenges making it difficult for countries to deal with ever-increasing global warming. 2022 has seen a number of severe weather disasters, and issues like energy costs, food insecurity and debt aren’t making things easier. What’s more, there’s tension in the air as Egypt hosts COP 27. The 2022 edition of the UN’s climate summit brin...

The average British household usually puts on their central heating by October 24, according to British Gas. But this year, thanks to soaring energy costs, and a mild winter it may well be later. Turning down your heating can have real savings. The Energy Saving Trust calculates that turning your thermostat down from 20c to 19c should cut your energy bill by around 10 per cent. But as well as savi...

These pulsing headaches are known for affecting quality of life in a high number of people. They’re one of the most common disorders in the world, with the WHO suggesting at least 1 in 7 people have migraines across the world. If you’re lucky enough not to get migraines, don't underestimate how debilitating they can be for some people. They’re far from being simple headaches. Migraine symptoms can...

Cellulite is a regular source of insecurity among women. That’s been especially true since women’s magazines came along, pretty much labelling it public enemy number one. In our collective minds, it’s become inextricably linked to being overweight or having gone through pregnancy. In reality, cellulite is the result of a number of factors, and hormonal changes in particular. The first thing to kno...

In past episodes of Do You Really Know, we’ve talked about a number of Scandinavian lifestyle trends, like death cleaning and hygge for example. Both of those are inspired by similar sentiments; to do with feeling good in surroundings that aren’t overflowing with useless items. And yet, in recent months, we’ve been hearing more and more about a home decor trend that’s the complete opposite. Maxima...

“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 comforting and well-intentioned, experts have s...

To this day, consumption of wireless data just keeps on growing as we use the internet more and more every year. Now it might be difficult to comprehend but we could eventually get to a point where WiFi simply can’t cope with that ever-growing demand for data. The radio-frequency space that wifi relies on is gradually getting saturated, which could lead to something called spectrum crunch. That wo...

Of all the involuntary spasms the human body has, hiccuping is one of the most peculiar. Sure, it’s funny at first, and in particular if it’s happening to someone else rather than you. But it quickly gets annoying if it doesn’t go away! There are two things to note when you have the hiccups. First, your respiratory muscles, and the diaphragm in particular, contract suddenly and push out air from w...

Getting babies to sleep is big business, and a major source of stress for parents. There are many theories and methods: rock them, sing, let them cry it out. But now science has come to the rescue and we can finally put this question to bed. Hopefully.    According to a study published in September 2022 in Current Biology, “approximately 20%–30% of infants cry excessively and exhibit sleep difficu...

The Suez Canal is 120 miles long, with 12% of global trade passing through. It is over 200 metres wide and 23 metres deep. It connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, starting at Port Said and ending at Suez Port. It’s by far the most direct shipping route between Asia and Europe. Prior to its existence, vessels had to travel around the south of Africa. 19,000 ships passed through the waterway...

Natural disasters lead to damaged property, loss of life, psychological trauma, displaced individuals and families, among other consequences. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the number of natural disasters has increased five times since 1970. Researchers from all over the whole world have dedicated their careers to studying natural disasters. And they all agree on one thing. Th...

You may remember hearing about ancient Greek hero Ulysses in school lessons. He’s the central character in Homer’s Odyssey. As legend goes, after fighting for a decade in the Trojan war, Ulysses wandered the world for another 10 years to get back home to his wife and son. On his enforced travels, Ulysses suffered danger, adversity and loneliness throughout. Spanish psychiatrist Joseba Achotegui sa...

The Koh-i-noor is a diamond set in the crown which was made especially for the Queen mother’s  coronation in 1937.  It would traditionally be worn by Camilla, the new Queen consort, on the coronation of King Charles on the 6th of May 2023. However, the diamond, or rather how the diamond came to be gleaming out from a British crown is steeped in controversy. A spokesman for the Indian prime ministe...

The US midterm elections are held this Tuesday, 8th of November 2022. There have been many reports of political misinformation on social media in what's looking to be a contenious election. Listen to our rerun episode about Truth Social, the social media created by former president Donald Trump. On February 22nd, Trump Media & Technology Group launched its own social network called Truth Social, w...