You’ve heard about it, but do you really know it? In 3 minutes, we help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. After listening, you will really know for sure.
…
continue reading
Click here to subscribe. Jewels are everywhere. We admire them in the windows of master jewelers, and in the collections of the world's greatest museums. Young lovers, movie stars, and heads of state each have their treasures: objects of desire, fascinating ornaments, or symbols of power. But every piece of jewelry also holds its secrets. Secrets of fabrication… but also… relationships. Stories of love and separation. Myth and curses. Moments of glory or downfalls. The height of an empire or ...
…
continue reading
1
Which foods will help you get a good night's sleep?
5:16
5:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:16Here at Do You Really Know, we’ve talked over and over again about the importance of getting good quality sleep. So of course, you don’t want your evening meal to disrupt it, and that’s a cause of uncertainty for many people. Bear in mind that to drift off to sleep, your body temperature needs to gradually drop. Given that digestion tends to raise …
…
continue reading
The term goose bumps appeared way back in the 17th century, and describes the well-known phenomenon which shows up when we’re cold, scared or simply feeling strong emotions. For example, going out underdressed in winter, hearing the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard, or watching a horror film. Yes, indeed it can seem rather odd, but just like ev…
…
continue reading
Caffè sospeso literally translates to English as a ‘suspended coffee’. It’s an Italian tradition whereby cafe customers pay for an extra coffee that will be put aside, for a poor person to claim at a later time. The caffè sospeso idea can be extended to other types of food, and it’s seen a revival in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s be…
…
continue reading
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged an unprecedented offensive on Gaza. What began as retaliation against Hamas attacks has escalated into relentless violence. According to Statista, by July 30, 2025, more than 60,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli bombardments, including over 18,000 children. As early as November 2023, UN rapporteurs,…
…
continue reading
1
Should vapes have the same restrictions as cigarettes?
4:33
4:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:33In the UK you can only buy vapes or e-cigarettes if you are over 18, but the bright packaging, fruit flavors and affordable prices attracts teenagers who often use disposable single-use products like Elf and Geek bars. Now campaigners are calling for tighter restrictions on vapes to bring them more into line with cigarettes. The Local Government As…
…
continue reading
Eating raw fish like sushi and sashimi has never been more popular, whether that’s in restaurants or on supermarket shelves. The good news is that such dishes are rich in fatty acids and vitamins from the A, D, and E groups, which brings a host of health benefits. But on the flipside, they can also be sources of contamination. It’s mostly down to i…
…
continue reading
According to a YouGov study from 2022, 20% of Brits sleep naked. Men are actually more likely to do so than women, with a rate of 25% compared to 15%. And those who do so tend to talk up the health benefits. For example, science suggests that sleeping naked might help regulate your body temperature more effectively. Our bodies naturally fluctuate t…
…
continue reading
In this day and age, we barely have time to be bored, what with the endless stream of notifications coming from our smartphones, music, TV shows, games, work and social media all demanding our attention around the clock. Our brains have become addicted to constant stimulation. And as a result, doing nothing has become almost unbearable. But there a…
…
continue reading
1
S10E04 - Emerald⏐The “lechuga”: the 1,400 emeralds monstrance
13:51
13:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:51In Spanish, the word “lechuga” means lettuce. But it is also the nickname for a sacred object, a monstrance adorned with so many emeralds that it takes on the color of lettuce. These precious stones come from the famous mines of Colombia, known for centuries by the native populations. Even today, these mines are the source of some of the world’s mo…
…
continue reading
1
How can I reduce damp and mould in your home?
4:43
4:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:43According 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 i…
…
continue reading
1
What does my urine colour say about my health?
5:17
5:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:17Over 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 di…
…
continue reading
Have you ever noticed how revisiting films from your childhood, listening to old tunes, or flipping through cherished books can bring on a certain sense of solace. Your past is intricately woven into your present; it shapes who you are and influences the person you go on to become. With its comforting embrace of fond memories, nostalgia seems to br…
…
continue reading
In 2016, researchers in Vancouver, Canada observed an unprecedented phenomenon: an 87-year-old patient died while undergoing an MRI scan. It was the first ever recording of the brain activity of a human being at the moment of death. After all, death is a topic that remains shrouded in mystery. What are the physical stages of death then? Does the bo…
…
continue reading
The nipples are an erogenous zone for many people. But as it turns out, having them touched can bring on a whole other kind of feeling for others. The so-called sad nipple syndrome has been discussed more openly on Reddit and Tiktok in the last few years, raising awareness. But it still remains somewhat of a mystery. It refers to a wave of negative…
…
continue reading
It doesn’t take a genius to realise that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the relationship many white-collar employees have with work. And that’s particularly true when it comes to remote work; which some of them now see as a non-negotiable. And a lot of other employees have made it clear they don’t want to return to full-time office life. Nevertheles…
…
continue reading
An IPSOS study from late 2020 found that 45% of people across the world were trying to lose weight at the time. In many cases, losing weight is beneficial for health, but a lot of the time, people want to achieve unrealistic body images which are projected by the media as being ideal. Of course, a popular way of doing so is by dieting, but the subj…
…
continue reading
House hushing is a decluttering method that aims to create peaceful spaces in your home by reducing visual noise. Visual noise refers to anything excessive, jarring, or inharmonious in your environment, such as clutter, mismatched colors, or loud patterns. According to interiors blogger Myquillin Smith of The Nester, "Everything in your room has a …
…
continue reading
1
How can I use the 80/20 method to save money?
4:31
4:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:31If you’re like many people, you probably want to save more money but hate the idea of budgeting. Maybe you don’t like tracking every single expense or feeling restricted by spending categories. Maybe you just want a simple and flexible way to manage your money without too much hassle. That’s where the 80/20 method comes in. Also known as the anti-b…
…
continue reading
It's becoming a more common topic of discussion. According to BUPA.co.uk, “around one in every 10 older children and adults are thought to have lactose intolerance”. It might be thought of as a disease by some, but in fact it’s quite the opposite. Lactose intolerance is due to a natural process, which sees people’s bodies produce less of an enzyme …
…
continue reading
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 th…
…
continue reading
Being a grafter or hustler is often portrayed in a positive light when it comes to the world of work. But there are a host of negative consequences that can arise when a person becomes a workaholic. The term was invented by American psychologist Wayne Oates back in 1971. Oates said workaholics had “an uncontrollable need to work incessantly”, and c…
…
continue reading
Snacking is a bad habit that can have a significant impact on your weight and health in the long term. It can be tricky to beat, so here are our top tips to stop snacking during the day. When the body is in need of energy, it asks for fuel to function, which is totally natural. But you may then want to ask yourself why it didn’t get enough energy f…
…
continue reading
1
How can I free myself from negative thoughts?
4:34
4:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:34According to American neuroscientist Daniel Amen, a specialist in brain imaging, we produce 60,000 thoughts per day, and a staggering 80% of these thoughts are negative. That means we have 48,000 negative thoughts on a daily basis. Sometimes we just can’t seem to fight them off, but thankfully there are ways to cope with them. How can we counteract…
…
continue reading
1
Should I start my Christmas shopping in autumn?
4:27
4:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:27You've probably noticed that as soon as the back-to-school season ends, stores start filling their shelves with chocolates, garlands, and Advent calendars. For many of us, it feels like an early jump into the holiday spirit, even before we've figured out our Christmas plans. But beyond the sometimes overly eager marketing by big retailers, there mi…
…
continue reading
We all know that the effects of tobacco on the human body are devastating. The World Health Organisation says that it kills more than 8 million people each year, making it one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever seen. It’s hardly surprising when you consider that cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemical substances, and at least 50…
…
continue reading
Around the age of 4, children develop a preference for using one of their hands to complete certain tasks, like drawing for example. The same goes for foot preference, when it comes to which foot they use to start going up a flight of stairs, or to kick a ball. It even goes for our eyes and ears. Generally when a child reaches the age of five, thei…
…
continue reading
1
Is it really possible to disappear from the internet?
4:46
4:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:46The internet knows everything about us. Even when we think we’re discreet, traces remain, bank accounts, emails, administrative forms, social media profiles. To vanish completely, you’d have to delete every account and disconnect entirely. It may sound extreme but for those facing harassment, identity theft, or stalking, it can feel necessary. So, …
…
continue reading
"Wrap up warm, or you'll catch a cold!" No doubt you heard that advice a lot as a child, and you may well still hear it as an adult. For a long time, scientists were skeptical about the idea that simply being exposed to the cold could make a person sick. After all, to get sick, you need to actually come into contact with a microbe, like a virus. An…
…
continue reading
A funeral is one of those rare occasions where you don’t really need to think too much about your choice of outfit. After all, everyone wears black to funerals as a sign of grief, don’t they? Well, that might be true in the Western world, but it’s not necessarily the case everywhere, which is what we’re going to talk about today. In the Western wor…
…
continue reading
1
S10E03 - Emerald⏐The Buried Treasure of Prince Liangzhuang
11:03
11:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:03In 2001, in the village of Dahong, nestled in the heart of China’s Hubei province, the Lunar New Year was in full swing. As fireworks illuminated the night sky, another series of explosions, muffled and more sinister, suddenly resonated deep in the nearby mountain… The villagers immediately realized that tomb robbers were about to strike, and they …
…
continue reading
An infection becomes endemic in a population when it is constantly maintained at a baseline level. That happens when the circulation of the virus is taken under control and therefore becomes easier to monitor. A disease may be endemic in some areas and not in others, as in the case of malaria, for example. Other endemic diseases reappear in waves i…
…
continue reading
For some, true-crime stories have a strangely calming effect when they are tucked up in bed for the night. It’s a phenomenon that’s not gone unnoticed on TikTok, where people share how tales of mystery and suspense are part of their go-to nighttime routine. If you’re one of those who drift off to the narration of unsolved cases, rest assured, you’r…
…
continue reading
Turmeric is a plant that belongs to the ginger family. It has a bright yellow-orange color, and a bitter and peppery taste. The main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, a compound that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. One of the conditions that turmeric may help with is indigestion which can be caused by various factors, suc…
…
continue reading
1
What happens to your online life after you die?
4:30
4:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:30When you die, your physical body may be gone, but your digital legacy lives on. Your digital legacy is everything you leave behind online, such as your social media accounts, emails, photos, videos, documents, and more. These may hold financial or sentimental value for you and your loved ones, but they can also pose some challenges and risks. While…
…
continue reading
1
Why are Gen Z “revenge quitting” their jobs?
5:00
5:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:00Have you ever been so fed up at work that you wanted to not only quit your job, but also make a statement while doing so? Well, that’s a workplace trend that’s really been on the rise in 2025, so much so that it’s been given its own name: revenge quitting. Fortune magazine says that it’s taken over from quiet quitting. Does revenge quitting mean st…
…
continue reading
Sometimes there’s a very thin line between friendship and love. You spend time with someone, you’ve got things in common, you make each other laugh.Things can easily get blurry. Imagine you’ve recently met someone and really hit it off; you’re at each other’s places all the time, maybe you’ve even kissed once or twice on a night out. Maybe it’s gon…
…
continue reading
Chromophobia is a term with Greek origins, referring to the fear of colours. Initially, it was a concept used in biology to describe cells unresponsive to colour, commonly employed in medical examinations. Over time, its use expanded into psychology, particularly in the context of the rejection and fear associated with specific colours. A pathologi…
…
continue reading
You know the feeling: you’re running, cycling, or doing some other physical activity, and suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your side, just below your chest. It’s like someone is stabbing you with a needle, and it makes you want to stop and catch your breath. Although there is no precise definition of exactly what a stitch is, everyone knows how to…
…
continue reading
A time optimist is someone who is overly optimistic about how much time they have to do something, and therefore often ends up being late or missing deadlines. They tend to underestimate how long tasks will take, overestimate how much they can accomplish in a given period, and ignore potential delays or interruptions. They may also have a distorted…
…
continue reading
Cooking is a passion and hobby for a lot of people. They scour Pinterest for hours to pick the best recipe, dice their ingredients finely, let the food cook gently and even reuse leftovers in inventive ways. But for others, cooking is a hassle and a bother. Grocery shopping, the cooking itself and cleaning up all seems like a lot of effort. But may…
…
continue reading
1
What is a “performative man,” this trend that has taken over TikTok?
4:28
4:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:28A matcha in hand… a tote bag slung over the shoulder… black nail polish neatly applied… a carefully styled mullet… and a copy of Sally Rooney peeking from his back pocket. That’s the look of the so-called performative man. In the past few weeks, this character has turned into a full-blown meme, with videos racking up millions of views. On the surfa…
…
continue reading
How many times have you come across expired pills in your medicine cabinet and wondered whether they we still safe to use? It’s pretty common, and often we consider using the medicine anyway, because we don’t have a prescription to get more, for example, or simply don’t want to waste what we already have. In early 2022, Censuswide conducted a surve…
…
continue reading
1
What are the health benefits of walking up stairs?
5:18
5:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:18Have you ever heard ot the stairs test? Experts say it’s an excellent gauge of a person’s overall health. The idea is to run up as many flights of stairs as your body allows you to. If you can’t manage two flights at a brisk pace, you may need to consider lifestyle changes to improve your health. Meanwhile if you can climb eight or more, the chance…
…
continue reading
It’s been labelled a “marvel of engineering” and a “miracle of convenience” by Harvard Health Publishing. Data published by Statista in July 2022 showed that in 2018, 93% of UK households owned a microwave, a figure which had risen from 67% when the survey started back in 1994. But still some doubts persist about whether microwaving food is bad for…
…
continue reading
1
Could you be micro-flirting without realising it ?
5:16
5:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:16There are plenty of ways to get the attention of someone you're crushing on. It might come very naturally to some, but for others, flirting can be an intimidating proposition. Have you ever wondered if someone is flirting with you, because of their somewhat ambiguous approach? Well, they may have been micro-flirting, a technique that dating experts…
…
continue reading
After the emergence of ‘quiet quitting’, it's now the turn of quiet hiring. And although the term is relatively new, the practice is not. The term "quiet hiring" first appeared in the report "9 Future of Work Trends for 2023" published at the end of 2022 by Emily McRae, a philosophy professor in New Mexico, USA. She explains that this phenomenon fo…
…
continue reading
Intermittent fasting has been making waves, especially on social media, where it's often hailed as a miracle fix for weight loss. While it's no silver bullet, fasting can be an effective tool when part of a well-rounded lifestyle tailored to individual needs. Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that alternates between periods of fasting, us…
…
continue reading
Polish-American man Leo Gerstenzang is credited with inventing the humble cotton bud in the 1920s, an item which has since gone on to be used for many different purposes, having originally been thought up as a baby hygiene product.Yougov research from 2019 found that 62% of Brits use cotton buds to clean their ears, and 22% of us only use them for …
…
continue reading
There’s a lot of popular ideas out there about body hair removal. Shave too much and the hair becomes thicker. Wax, and it will gradually start thinning out. It can be hard to know who or what to believe. Both women and men increasingly spend a lot of their time and money removing body hair, even though it acts as a barrier to bacteria, and sexuall…
…
continue reading
Fear of the dark is very common for children and usually starts between the ages of 5 and 10. At this age, children become more aware of the dangers around them. However, they often have difficulty correctly assessing just how real these dangers are. Usually, this fear disappears naturally as children gain confidence and grow up, but in rarer cases…
…
continue reading