The Lab DoctoRs

As we usher in the Lunar New Year, we were wondering why do people celebrate? And that’s exactly what the researchers in this week’s episode studied, specifically whether capitalisation celebrations will leave you feeling more socially supported. Listen along to find out what capitalisation celebrations are, and how different factors affect the outcome of perceived social support. TLDR: Capitalisa...

Have you ever watched a talent show where the contestant stutters through their introduction but blows away the audience with a flawless rendition of a song? This week we delve into how singing, or even just speaking with an accent or in a melodic progression, helps with stuttering and the scientific theories behind this phenomenon. TLDR : Singing a song, and even just changing your speech accent...

Did you learn to play a musical instrument and do you think it helped with your anxiety and stress? A recent study compared music training, music listening and a non-musical activity for their effects on audio visual synchrony perception as well as depression, anxiety, and stress. TLDR : Music training was shown to improve audio-visual processing and reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in a sma...

Following last week’s episode on the potential benefits of artificial sweeteners, this week we discuss the association (read: not necessarily causation) between these sweeteners and risk of various diseases and health conditions. These include various types of cancers, gut microbiome, and cardiovascular disease. TLDR : Consume less sugar and sweeteners, if you do, consume in moderation Links: http...

We have learnt about sugar, let’s talk about artificial sweeteners! How do these sweeteners work, do they help with weight management and diabetes, and are there any risks linked to consuming these sweeteners? Join us as we answer these questions and more! TLDR : Artificial sweeteners are generally safe to consume, within the recommended daily intake. Links: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Shaken baby syndrome is a traumatic brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking a baby, and is fatal in a quarter of reported cases. In this week’s episode, we talk about the symptoms of this syndrome, the science behind these symptoms and ways you can prevent it. Disclaimer: This episode contains sensitive content related to infant harm, death, or dying. TLDR : Just DON’T shake your baby! Link...

Can excessive mosquito bites be explained away with the age-old “your blood is too sweet”? Listen along to hear how researchers tackled the question of mosquito attraction and what they found. Specifically, what distinguishes a low attractor from a high attractor, and whether we can do anything about it. TLDR : High (mosquito) attractors were found to have scent profiles that comprised higher leve...

Swimming in open waters may sound exhilarating, but swimmers should be prepared as 79% of all drownings occur in open water. Listen along as we go through the six stages of drowning, interspersed with tips from the show Bondi Rescue, as well as post-immersion syndrome or dry/secondary drowning. TLDR : Some signs of people drowning include shorter swim stroke length, more frequent swim strokes, fac...

Do you believe COVID brain fog is real, or something that people are saying to justify their bad memory? Researchers from Stanford University investigated the effect of mild COVID on the brain and how this may affect cognitive function. Join us as we go through these neurological changes and give you some tips on how to counter COVID brain fog. TLDR : Mild COVID infection caused inflammation in th...

Are microrobots the future of biomedicine? Engineers at UCSD have developed microrobots, from algae cells, to swim around the lungs and deliver antibiotics directly to bacteria in the lungs. Join us this week as we bring you through how they developed these microrobots and the mice model that they used to demonstrate its value in treating ventilator-associated pneumonia. TLDR : Nanoengineers have...

What is the deal with ASMR videos? This week, we bring you through the world of ASMR triggered by audio stimuli and more! The tingling sensation that some people reportedly feel is associated with certain physiological and neurological changes, and may have positive effects on our wellbeing. TLDR : ASMR (or “autonomous sensory meridian response”) is the tingling sensation that people may experienc...

Have you ever had a nasty sore throat accompanied by fever, headaches, and difficulty swallowing? It could have been tonsillitis, which may be induced by bacteria or viruses. This week, we go through the signs and symptoms of different types of tonsillitis as well as the lesser-known tonsilloliths or tonsil stones, specifically what they are, how they develop, and how to treat them. TLDR : Disting...

The European Society of Cardiology states that drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day is moderately beneficial in preventing heart diseases, should we trust them? This week, we take you through the recent observational studies in Europe that studied whether the intake of various types of coffee was beneficial for heart health. Listen until the end for coffee’s less desirable side effects and varying ca...

Are you a teeth grinder, or the person suffering through someone else’s teeth grinding? Either way, this episode on bruxism (which covers teeth grinding and clenching, awake or during sleep) may be helpful! We give you the lowdown on bruxism, from factors linked to grinding or clenching, why you should care, what you can do about it, and when you should consider seeking professional help. TLDR : T...

Acupuncture, which has roots in traditional Chinese medicine, involves the insertion of thin needles through your skin at specific points in the body to treat certain conditions. Join us this week as we discuss how it works, the scientific evidence for some of the benefits associated with acupuncture, and whether we would use acupuncture to treat our ailments. TLDR : Acupuncture triggers specific...

Winning is more motivating than losing, right? Seems straightforward enough, but a recent study reported that people who were close to winning gained greater motivation to succeed in subsequent tasks. Tune in this week to find out how researchers engineered the different scenarios, the outcomes, and tips on how to harness this near-win effect in our everyday life. TLDR : Researchers report that ne...

Do you know what cholesterol is, and why it gets such a bad rep? Join us this week as we give you the lowdown on cholesterol, why it may be harmful at high levels, what lipoproteins are, and the new research conducted on LDL. Don’t miss out on the tips for managing cholesterol levels at the end! TLDR : In severe cases, fatty deposit buildup in blood vessels due to excess cholesterol may cause a he...

Are scientists close to achieving immortality? Recent studies in pigs described the revival of major organs after death using the breakthrough technology known as OrganEx. This technology involves a machine that pumps synthetic, enriched blood around the body that resulted in some restoration of function in these organs up to an hour after the heart stopped beating. Tune in to find out how the cur...

Did you yawn after reading that title, or when you just think about the act of yawning? Scientists propose that yawning increases arousal and alertness whilst also helping to cool the brain and to relieve ear pressure. Listen until the end as we discuss why yawning is contagious and why some people (read: not Zhao Yong) are usually immune to it. TLDR : Drowsiness and boredom are the most common st...

Do you feel tired after using your brain a lot? New research has discovered a possible culprit for mental fatigue: glutamate. Specifically, glutamate accumulation in the lateral prefrontal cortex led to increased signs of fatigue and changes in participants’ decision-making. Tune in to learn more about why thinking hard makes you tired. TLDR : Cognitive fatigue, due to glutamate accumulation, led...

If you’ve held the belief that low serotonin levels are a major cause of depression, you’re not alone! This week we clarify what recent research has to say about lowered serotonin levels and activity with regard to depression. We also talk about the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a widely prescribed antidepressant, and possible mechanisms of action for this drug besides al...

Why do we sweat? How do deodorants and antiperspirants work, and which should you use? Join us this week as we answer these questions as well as discuss the studies that have linked antiperspirants to certain health conditions (breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and kidney problems) and the various chemicals present in these products. TLDR : If you are concerned about antiperspirants, consider...

How stressed do you feel right now? What are you stressed about? This week, we go through the definition of stress (beyond psychological stress) and what happens to our body when a stress response is triggered. We also cover the potentially silent and harmful effects of stress, especially prolonged stress, and ways to manage your stress. TLDR : Following a distress signal in the brain, the fight o...

Is intelligence a curse or a blessing, and while we are asking that question, how do we truly measure intelligence? In this week’s episode, we discuss studies that surveyed IQ scores against conditions including mood disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, food allergies, and asthma. Find out more about how psychological and physiological overexcitabilities fit into this story as well as whether int...

Have you ever had a catchy song relentlessly play again and again in your head? You aren’t alone! Earworms affect almost everyone and can be triggered when you are unattentive, nostalgic, or sometimes even when you are stressed. Tune in this week to find out why our brain retains these catchy tunes, what predisposes you to be plagued by earworms and how you can get rid of them. TLDR : Some ways to...