Do you really know?

Latest Episodes:

What is Wikipedia? Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

What is Wikipedia? Thanks for asking!

OK so everybody already knows what Wikipedia is, but let’s look closer at its history, how it works and the limits of this collaborative, volunteer-produced internet encyclopedia.

Nowadays, Wikipedia has over 55 million articles in over 300 different languages. But everything started with a single post titled Hello World, published by American founder Jimmy Wales. He invited internet users to join his encyclopedia project with the radical aim of changing how knowledge was created and shared online.

That’s a pretty ambitious objective!

The main novelty was allowing anyone to contribute and edit the encyclopedia’s articles, regardless of education or social origin. So with Wikipedia, knowledge on a subject isn’t produced according to some kind of hierarchy whereby a minority of experts have all the control. Instead we place trust in collective intelligence.

Editors, also known as Wikipedians, combine their efforts on a voluntary basis, to help the collaborative community to exist, with no director.

Can the information really be considered reliable if anyone can contribute?

Interestingly, the sheer number of contributors is seen as a guarantee of Wikipedia’s reliability, even if they work on a voluntary basis. The more editors there are, the greater the number of peer reviews and edits which can be made to reach the general consensus on any given subject.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

First Broadcast: 28/1/2021

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What is London's No Trouser Day? Jan 12, 2025

Show notes

You may have seen it on the news, on social media, or even on the tube: hundreds of people riding the underground with no trousers on, in the middle of winter. On Sunday the 7th of December London commuters braved the cold to strip off to their underwear for this unusual event.

The No Trousers Tube Ride, as it is officially called, is an annual event that takes place on the first Sunday of January. It started in London in 2009, inspired by the No Pants Subway Ride, which was created by Improv Everywhere, a New York-based comedy collective, in 2002.

What does it mean? Is it a protest, a prank, or a party? What is the reaction to the event? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK?

How can I make and keep my new year’s resolutions?

Why does the year begin on January 1st?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First Broadcast: 11/1/2024

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Why do some stroke victims wake up with a foreign accent? Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

The idea might seem like something out of a fantasy, but “Foreign Accent Syndrome” is a genuine, albeit very rare, neurological condition! It sees a person begin to speak with an accent different to the one they had prior to having a stroke; one which makes them sound like they come from an entirely different country!

Since the first case was discovered in France in 1907, there have only been about 100 documented cases worldwide, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But certain cases have attracted the attention of the media and scientific researchers alike. One dates back to 1941 in Oslo, Norway, during a period of German occupation.

What is the foreign accent syndrom? What exactly happens in the brain in such cases? How serious can the syndrome be? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How to spot, prevent and treat heatstroke ?

What are the strangest reactions caused by an orgasm?

How can I learn 1000 words in a new language?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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Should I cut the electricity at home during a storm? Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

As thunderclouds gather and winds intensify, the decision to shut off the power becomes a critical one, balancing safety concerns with the practicalities of daily life. The risks associated with electrical installations depend on the location of your home. For example, the consequences are more severe if your home is in a rural or mountainous area, for a number of reasons.

Lightning poses a significant risk to electrical systems, and power surges can damage appliances and electronics. By cutting the electricity, you reduce the chances of electrical fires and protect your devices from potential damage.

Are there any drawbacks? Is cutting the power the only option? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

How is AI giving a voice to the dead?

Why is climbing stairs so good for you?

Am I in a situationship?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 20/11/2023

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How has the slomadism trend taken off since Covid? Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

According to an August 2023 report by human resources company MBO Partners, the number of Americans considering themselves digital nomads increased by 131% between 2019 and 2022. That means they can travel worldwide while staying connected to their work wherever they are.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to remote work being normalised, when it had already been growing thanks to factors like globalisation and the digitisation of work. However, some digital nomad workers are now tired of being on the move all year around. As a result, many have chosen to adapt their lifestyle accordingly, turning to "slomadism."

What’s the difference between digital nomads and slomads? Is the lifestyle financially beneficial for slomads too? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

How is AI giving a voice to the dead?

Why is climbing stairs so good for you?

Am I in a situationship?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 22/11/2023

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Can going through a breakup really make us fall sick? Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

Restless sleep, a hollow feeling inside and the sting of heartbreak; most of us have been through that kind of ordeal at least once in our lives.

Let’s be honest: when it comes to your career and work life, a breakup doesn’t exactly bring out the best in your productivity. And at work, you can’t always afford to be distracted. Earlier in 2024, a Filipino lawmaker proposed an unexpected solution: a proposal to introduce a period of so-called “heartbreak leave”.

How would heartbreak leave work? Is that a bit much for just a breakup? What exactly happens to the body? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here :

What is broken heart syndrome?

What are the secrets to a long lasting relationship?

What are the four types of attachment in our relationships?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What’s the "Cuffing Season" everyone's talking about right now? Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

The "cuffing season" refers to that time of year—typically from October through February—when people are more likely to pair up. It’s not about finding "the one" for life, but rather seeking temporary companionship to get through the colder months. In essence, it’s a way of finding some warmth and connection to help navigate the winter chill.

A study published in Perception and covered by Slate explored how attraction shifts with the seasons. Researchers asked 114 heterosexual men to rate photos of women every month. Results showed that men found women significantly more attractive in winter than in summer. The theory is that when the temperature drops, people’s attraction triggers might adjust to help them find a partner during this season

Is there any scientific backing to this idea? Why does our attraction seem to change as the weather gets colder? Does the cuffing season end when the weather warms up? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What are the four types of attachment in our relationships?

How can you revitalise your relationship with 3 expert sex tips?

Could mate poaching be a threat to your relationship?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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What is the third state of existence between life and death? Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

In some religions, people believe in reincarnation or an afterlife, but in medicine, life is generally considered to end when the heart stops beating. Recently though, researchers have challenged that view.

In November 2024, American biologists Peter A Noble and Alex Pozhitkov published groundbreaking findings in The Conversation under the title “Biobots arise from the cells of dead organisms − pushing the boundaries of life, death and medicine.” They showed that, under certain conditions, dead cells can not only survive but also reorganise and form new multicellular structures. And that discovery suggests the existence of an intermediate state where biological organisms are neither fully alive nor completely dead. Scientists are now referring to this as the "third state."

Doesn’t death occur when the brain stops functioning? How would that even be possible if the person is deceased? What are the implications of the third state? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is a near-death experience?

What is citizen science, the concept opening up research to the general public ?

How did Covid lead to the emergence of meta cities?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is the 4B Movement? Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

On November 5, 2024, Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States. That same evening, his opponent, Kamala (like calm) Harris, conceded at Howard University, urging supporters to “never give up the fight,” especially for women’s reproductive rights.

Abortion rights were overturned in 2022, leaving it up to states to decide with Trump’s appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices during his first term playing a key role in that shift. With Trump’s return to power, fears of further restrictions reignited, fueling the rise of a new feminist movement spreading rapidly on social media.

What exactly is the 4B Movement? What do the "4 Bs" stand for? What does this have to do with the U.S. elections? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

How is micro-feminism helping women combat workplace sexism?

Why has purple become the colour of feminism?

Why are women’s rights regressing?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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Why are so many people suffering from AI anxiety? Jan 01, 2025

Show notes

A Pew Research Center survey from August 2023 found that 52% of respondents were more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, compared with just 10% who felt the opposite. It’s not surprising really when you think about it; after all, things that we don’t understand tend to both fascinate and frighten in equal measure.

It’s only very recently that AI has started becoming part of many people’s everyday lives, and it’s still hard to predict its full impact in the future. The growing unease around artificial intelligence is known as AI anxiety, and that’s a term we’re only going to hear more and more about in years to come.

What exactly is AI anxiety? Why does that prospect worry so many people? How can I best manage my AI anxiety? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

How to protect your art from AI exploitation?

Will AI steal my job?

Could AI ever be able to offer therapy?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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