The Lab DoctoRs

Obesity rates are rising globally, but is there anything we can do about it? Obesogens, belonging to a larger group known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), have been linked to obesity-related metabolic conditions including insulin resistance and high blood pressure. Tune in this week as we discuss how obesogens promote obesity, common types of obesogens, and what we can do to reduce our ex...

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in fright wanting to run away but feeling like an ominous presence is holding you down? Studies suggest that 15-40% of people have experienced an episode of sleep paralysis. Listen along as we discuss the science behind this phenomenon, why some people sense or even see demons, and the three-factor structural model that has been proposed for halluc...

Limb lengthening surgery, originally intended for the management of different conditions including birth defects, cerebral palsy, and poliomyelitis, is a medical procedure that aims to stimulate bone and tendon growth thus leading to longer legs and extra height. Listen to this week’s episode to find out more about the process (which involves screws, nails, external frames, and literally breaking...

Whilst some risk factors are modifiable by lifestyle changes, we are *generally* stuck with certain physical traits, like our height. In this week’s episode we discuss a recent genetic study looking at how a person’s height may affect their risk for several health conditions. Tune in to find out whether you may be at a higher risk for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, neuropathies,...

Do we spend too much time on social media, and more importantly, how is it affecting our lives? In this week’s episode, we discuss a recent study assessing the effect of social media on how satisfied we are with our lives and vice versa across different age groups. Fret not, there are still benefits to social media, it all depends on how you use it! TLDR : Researchers reported an overall associati...

Hair transplant is one of the many hair treatment solutions available today for hair loss or hair thinning, but do you really know what this process entails? Join us this week as we give you the rundown on modern hair transplant techniques, what to expect long-term, and who would most benefit from a hair transplant (spoiler alert: it is not suitable for everyone). TLDR : Hair transplant procedures...

This week, we delve deeper into how we hear the world around us and what happens when our brain processes these signals and information. Besides being a useful mnemonic device, music is connected to memory of events in our lives, some of which are inextricably linked to certain emotions thanks to the activation of the limbic system. These associations may prove useful in improving cognitive functi...

You may be familiar with short- and long-term memory, but how do we get to these stages of memory? In this episode, we go through sensory memories, or simply what happens when our sensory systems receive information. Listen along as we discuss the fascinating neurobiological explanation for the close association of smell with memory, and how our senses may be linked to mental health. TLDR : The se...

The recent monkeypox outbreaks in multiple non-endemic countries have health officials concerned, but will it be the cause of the next pandemic? In this episode, we cover what is monkeypox, how the virus is transmitted, symptoms to look out for and where the smallpox vaccine fits into this story. Stay until the end for the dos and don’ts for protecting yourself against monkeypox. TLDR : The curren...

With the news that Singapore will soon provide women access to elective egg freezing, we go through the entire process of this procedure in this week’s episode. Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, involves consultation, precise medications for egg production and maturation to facilitate successful egg retrieval and vitrification. Listen on to learn about the finer details of each...

Have you ever wondered whether the colour or shade that you see is the same as what the people around you see? In this episode, we talk about the colour of objects, how humans see colour, and the different types of colour blindness. Finally, we go through the technology behind colour blind glasses and whether they actually work. TLDR : Currently available EnChroma glasses are designed to address o...

All of us have forgotten something in our lives, but how can you explain it when the thing you forgot is a whole baby. This week we discuss memory in the context of the forgotten baby syndrome, from retrospective to prospective, explicit and implicit memory. Listen along to find out the significance of each of these types of memory, which part of the brain is responsible for them, and the steps we...

Besides the environment and caregiving, can intergenerational trauma be transmitted genetically? This week we discuss the research that has been conducted in mice to better understand where biology fits in the context of trauma. From epigenetic and behavioural changes in traumatised parents, to what was observed in their offspring and future generations. Make sure you listen to the end, where we g...

Over the next two weeks, we will be discussing psychological and emotional trauma, specifically how trauma may be transferred between generations. In this episode, we delve into the social aspect of intergenerational trauma with examples from both mice and human studies, and the impact of parenting/caregiving on offspring. TLDR : We all have trauma, no matter how big or small or different from the...

Is runner’s high a sham that gyms are trying to sell you, or do people really experience this state of euphoria when working out? Is it really just endorphins, where do drugs fit into the picture, what about hunger and satiety? This week, we get to the bottom of runner’s high, specifically the hormones that scientists believe are responsible for this phenomenon. TLDR: New research suggest that run...

Can you nurture empathy or is empathy mostly innate? Many researchers have been trying to better understand the link between empathy and genetics. In this week’s episode, we look at two studies which assessed the heritability of empathy in twins versus non-twin siblings as well as how much empathy is really determined by our genes. TLDR : Empathy is variably dependent on both genetics and environm...

Bonus episode alert! We decided to record the top five regrets of the dying, as collated by Bonnie Ware, an Australian palliative caretaker. Listen along and reflect, hopefully you won’t have the same regrets in the future! TLDR : Reflect every now and then, not just at the end of your life Links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/life-s-biggest-decisions/202106/the-6-most-common-regrets-peo...

Every single day we wake up and make decisions, whether taking action or not, and some of these decisions are bound to be met with regret. What affects the intensity of the regret we feel? Research findings from a group in New Zealand explore how time, justifying our decision, and social contexts affect our regrets. Stay till the end where we go through global regrets from the World Regret Survey...

Historically, inbreeding in royal families was common to preserve bloodlines and power, but at what cost? On this week’s episode, we discuss the biology of inbreeding and incest, how this impacts genetic diversity, and why it matters. Inbreeding also extends to the animal kingdom, where sheep and cows are selectively bred in the farming industry, to mice used in experiments with research, and even...

Have you ever felt irrationally happy, sad, or even angry in a situation, only to look back after you’ve calmed down and wonder why you reacted so emotionally at that point in time. Emotional bias describes the way we process stimuli and information in different ways, namely negatively (negativity bias) or positively (positivity offset). In this episode, we discuss how stimulus arousal (high vs lo...

Could sitting down all day in offices make our lives shorter? A recent meta-analysis looked at the increase in mortality rate with every seated-hour. Tune in to this week’s episode to see how you compare to international and local averages of seated hours per day as well as pick up some tips on how to combat a sedentary lifestyle. TLDR : Regular sitting breaks (a 2-minute walk every 20 minutes) is...

Are cold showers the answer to losing weight and living longer? How effective is cryotherapy and ice baths for elite athletes, and should amateurs follow their lead? This week we go through the health benefits of cold therapy, and accessible ways people can also experience these benefits. Before jumping in (to cold pools or to cold therapy), take note of some safety tips and consult your doctor, e...

Another milestone as we come into the third year of the pandemic is the approval of the first antiviral drug for the treatment of COVID-19. Paxlovid, developed by Pfizer, will be prescribed and prioritised for patients with higher risk of severe COVID-19. On today’s episode, we talk about EPIC-HR, the clinical study where a dramatic reduction in COVID-19 related hospitalisation or death was observ...

We should all be experts in mask-wearing at this point in the pandemic, but could there be a better way to protect yourself? This week, we talk about the research conducted on different mask hacks and which is the best. Factoring in things like mask fit and filtration efficiency, and of course comfort of the wearer. Stay safe and pick up some tips to keep you and your community safer! TLDR : A goo...

Welcome back to part 2 of the friendship series! Have you ever thought about how many friends are too many? Are we even able to keep up with such a large number of people in our lives? This week we discuss Dunbar’s number of stable social relationships and the different layers of friend zones, as well as how these numbers track in our lives and whether numbers even matter. TLDR : To us, numbers do...