Do you really know?

What is terraforming? Thanks for asking! If you’re a fan of sci-fi, the idea of terraformation should be familiar. It refers to all the techniques and technologies which aim to transform the surface of a planet, making it suitable for human inhabitation. Basically, it means making a planet similar to Earth. To make a Hollywood comparison, that’s exactly the purpose of the Weyland-Yutani company in Ridley Scott’s Alien series. Terraforming may have originally been dreamt up in works of fiction, but today's real-world science has taken inspiration and is trying damn hard to put it into practice. The first recorded use of the term terraforming appeared in Astounding Science Fiction magazine in 1942. Which planets would be most likely terraforming candidates? So, how likely is it we could survive on Mars? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is empty nest syndrome? What is air rage? What are silent discos? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a deepfake? Thanks for asking! “Seeing is believing”, as the old saying goes, but in this day and age, you can never quite be sure, especially when viewing something online. Deepfaking is a technique used to create fake videos of real people, with the help of AI technology. They’ve got a lot of attention in recent years, often as a source of light-hearted entertainment. But experts have also warned of the dangers that deepfakes can pose. How do deepfakes work? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is empty nest syndrome? What is air rage? What are silent discos? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is empty nest syndrome? Thanks for asking! With the summer holiday season drawing to a close, many university students are preparing to leave home for the first time and head to campus accommodation. While they’re enjoying freshers week, chances are their parents may be finding it unsettling that their child is no longer present at home. That’s even more likely when it’s their last child who’s just left home. This form of grief is known as empty nest syndrome and it disproportionately affects mothers, who statistically tend to spend more time taking care of children than men, when it comes to heterosexual couples. Why would that be a cause of sadness though? Shouldn’t parents be happy to see their children moving forwards in life? What can parents do to cope with empty nest syndrome? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is air rage? What are silent discos? What is the Ebola Virus? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is air rage? Thanks for asking! Many of us have not set foot on an aeroplane for quite some time, and the idea of being crammed alongside other passengers for a long flight is potentially unnerving, what with Covid still circulating. Of late, a number of amateur clips have gone viral, showing passengers becoming aggressive and sometimes even violent towards fellow fliers or airline staff. Such incidents are examples of air rage, a phenomenon which is currently causing concern. In recent weeks, the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Security Administration have both been sounding the alarm. The two US government agencies have reported a spike in clashes between passengers and flight staff. What’s causing people to lose it on US flights then? How have the authorities responded? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are silent discos? What is the Ebola Virus? What is a QR code? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are silent discos? Thanks for asking! I don’t know about you but I sure miss partying the night away. In the age of social distancing, most of us can barely remember what it’s like to be part of a crowd dancing together in a club. While we wait for life to slowly get back to how it was pre-Covid, you might be interested to know about another kind of party. Even your neighbours are unlikely to complain, seeing as there’s no noise. We’re talking about silent discos of course! Wait, you’ve lost me; how can you have a disco without music? So you can have several different kinds of music at the same party, can you? Doesn’t it get a bit weird with everyone being in their own bubble? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a QR code? What are the Paralympics? What is sapiosexuality? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Ebola virus? Thanks for asking! On August 14th, an Ebola virus case was detected in the Ivory Coast, for the first time in over a quarter of a century. The infected person was an 18-year old woman who had travelled over 900 miles by bus from Guinea, a country which had already seen an Ebola outbreak in early 2021, leading to 12 deaths. The consequences of Ebola returning to the Ivory Coast are significant. The World Health Organisation quickly released a statement saying the outbreak was of “immense concern.” It also sent 5,000 vaccine doses to the country, with the Ivorian health ministry earmarking the first shots for contact cases and frontline healthcare workers. As of August 25th, the Guinean woman was declared cured, having tested negative twice within two days. Just how serious is the Ebola virus? How do people catch Ebola? When did the virus appear for the first time? Has a vaccine been developed since then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a QR code? What are the Paralympics? What is sapiosexuality? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a QR code? Thanks for asking! QR codes have likely never been used more than in the Covid age. They’ve become ubiquitous especially since the NHS started using them for its test and Trace app. These odd black-and-white grids may all look alike, but in fact every QR code is unique. QR codes, or quick response codes to give them their full name, were first invented by Japanese engineer Masahiro Hara, working at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. They were used in factories to track vehicles while they were being assembled, and to scan components. Of course QR codes really took off in the 21st century, and in particular with the rise of the smartphone. What are QR codes used for? So how do QR codes actually work? Can we create a QR code? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are the Paralympics? What is sapiosexuality? What is the Taliban offensive? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the Paralympics? Thanks for asking! The Paralympic Games got underway yesterday, with 4,400 competitors in Tokyo, including 227 representing Great Britain. Just like the Olympic Games of last month, the Paralympics are taking place behind closed doors because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest edition will see athletes compete at 22 disciplines, including taekwondo and badminton for the first time. When and how were the Paralympic games created? What are the participation criteria for the Paralympics? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is sapiosexuality? What is the Taliban offensive? What is sexsomnia? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is sapiosexuality? Thanks for asking! What are you most attracted to when looking for someone to date? Social status? A sense of humour? Good looks? Well, those are all positive traits for sure, but for sapioseuxals there’s one quality which trumps all others, and that’s intelligence. The word comes from the Latin word “sapien”, which means wise. Sapiosexuals don’t fall in love at first sight or even through an emotional spark. Rather they seduce one another through long and complex discussions. Well it’s nothing new being attracted to someone who’s intelligent, is it? Is it a sexual orientation in its own right? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is sexsomnia? What is the IPCC report? What is rape culture? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is OnlyFans? Thanks for asking! The platform OnlyFans announced on Thursday 19 August its decision to ban "all sexually explicit content" from October. OnlyFans is a digital content platform which operates on a subscription model. As with social media platforms, when you follow a user, you get access to that person’s content. Since being launched in the UK in 2016, the service has drawn criticism from some quarters. One key difference with other social networks is that it enables content creators to charge fans for access to their images and videos. It’s a whole new way for influencers to make money online. So it’s a bit like a paid version of Instagram is it? So why are people talking about OnlyFans at the moment? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Taliban offensive? Thanks for asking! The Taliban’s offensive against the Afghan government, which began back in May, accelerated dramatically in the last 10 days, leading to the group taking complete control of the country. As of August 13th, the Islamist military group only held 132 of Afghanistan’s 398 districts, according to BBC research. But three days later, capital city Kabul had fallen and the figure had risen to 391 districts, with just 7 remaining contested. Meanwhile the UNrefugees.org charity organisation reports that 390,000 Afghans have been displaced since May alone, and 80% of them are women or children. Families have been forced to flee their towns and villages, desperate to save themselves from the Taliban by any means necessary. Footage of chaotic scenes at Kabul airport has emerged. How did the offensive begin? Who are the Taliban? How did the Taliban advance so quickly? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is sexsomnia? What is the IPCC report? What is rape culture? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is sexsomnia? Thanks for asking!We all know someone who talks in their sleep, or occasionally sleepwalks around the house, perhaps even heading to the kitchen to prepare a nighttime snack. These kinds of episodes aren’t especially rare. But some forms are relatively unknown, one of which is sexsomnia.It’s a form of parasomnia, which means undesirable behaviour which occurs while falling asleep, during sleep, or while waking up. As you may have guessed from the name, sexsomnia consists of sexual activity, ranging from aroused moaning to exhibitionism, masturbation, fondling or even penetration. Just like with sleepwalking, a person with sexsomnia usually has no recollection of their acts the next day.The term was first coined in June 2003, as part of a study led by sleep researcher Dr Coling Shapiro which was published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. The article cited a case which had first been highlighted by a Singapore medical journal in the 1980s, that of a 34 year old married man who masturbated next to his wife on a nightly basis.It must be pretty rare to suffer from sexsomnia, mustn’t it? Does sexsomnia affect certain groups of people more than others? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:What is rape culture? What is Maslow's hierarchy of needs? What is the Covid vaccine pill?A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the IPCC report? Thanks for asking! There may still be a minority of doubters out there, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny the existence of climate change and its disastrous consequences. The summer months of July and August have once again seen extreme and unprecedented weather events, like the North American heat dome we discussed in a recent episode, the fires witnessed in Greece caused partly by a lack of rainfall, or the deadly floods which hit Belgium and Germany, countries usually known for having a mild climate. Released on August 9th, the latest Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change comes as a stark reminder that planet Earth is heating up. It’s known as AR6 for short, reflecting the fact that it’s the sixth such report, with the first dating back to 1990. Who actually makes up the IPCC? What can we read in the latest edition? Is there any hope? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is rape culture? What is Maslow's hierarchy of needs? What is the Covid vaccine pill? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is rape culture? Thanks for asking! Society generally sees rape as one of the most heinous crimes that exists. But the sociological theory of rape culture suggests that sexual assault continues to be so common precisely because of certain attitudes on gender and sexuality. Certain myths and misconceptions are handed down from generation to generation, ending up embedded in cultural norms. The consequences: victim shaming, impunity for perpetrators and encouraging women to sacrifice freedoms to avoid being raped, are drastic Are you talking about the idea of the patriarchy? How has the situation evolved in recent years? How can we combat rape culture? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Covid vaccine pill? What is the black fungus epidemic? What is geophony? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? Thanks for asking! During the Covid-19 pandemic, governments around the world have taken it on themselves to judge what’s essential or not for their citizens. Think of non-essential shops, businesses, products and leisure activities, for example. Restrictions based on these judgements have evolved constantly during various stages of lockdown or closures. At an individual level, the Covid era has forced us all to think more deeply about what is truly essential to get by day to day; things we may have taken for granted before. Small comforts or luxuries have had to be sacrificed in many cases. Back in the 1940s, American psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with a paper entitled “A Theory of Human Motivation”, in which he suggested a hierarchy for human needs. It’s commonly represented as a five-level pyramid, with physiological needs at the base, being the biological component for survival. Working up from there, you’ve got safety needs, love and belonging needs and then esteem needs. At the top of the pyramid is self-actualisation, which means a person reaching their full potential. How does the theory relate to human behaviour? What do those critics argue? And in what ways has Covid been an equaliser? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Covid vaccine pill? What is the black fungus epidemic? What is geophony? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Covid vaccine pill? Thanks for asking! Summer 2021 has seen Covid-19 vaccine campaigns making steady progress around the world. As of the start of August, 15% of the global population had been fully vaccinated. While health authorities in some countries are considering a third dose by injection, Oravax Medical, a subsidiary of Israeli pharmaceutical company Oramed, is hoping to produce a Covid-19 vaccine in pill form. A pill?! So you’d just swallow it like paracetamol then? How would the vaccine actually work? Is it really that revolutionary of a vaccine method? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is geophony? What is Earth Overshoot Day? What is Godwin’s Law? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the black fungus epidemic? Thanks for asking! Since May 2021, India has been faced with an additional epidemic on top of Covid-19. It’s that of a black fungus, also known as mucormycosis. This rare infection spreads among Covid patients, first of all attacking their faces, in particular the nose, sinuses or eyes, before moving onto the brain and lungs. According to AFP, India has recorded over 45,000 black fungus cases in the last two months. That’s compared to less than 20 cases per year in pre-Covid times. The real figure may be much higher and the epidemic is causing major concern, especially given the infection has a mortality rate of 50%. Why has this epidemic taken off in India? What is done to treat those infected with mucormycosis? Is the black fungus a new kind of Covid then? Has it been seen in other countries? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is geophony? What is Earth Overshoot Day? What is Godwin’s Law? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is geophony? Thanks for asking! Taking its name from the Greek prefix geo, as in the earth and phony as in sound, geophony could be most simply described as part of Planet Earth’s music. It’s a component of the soundscape that has surrounded us humans ever since we have been present on Earth. We owe the concept to experts like Canadian composer and environmentalist Raymond Murray Schafer, who popularised the idea of the soundscape, or American and bioacoustician Bernie Krause. This field of study gives us a lot of insight into the state of the planet. What kinds of sounds are we talking about? What can geophony tell us about the world? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Godwin’s Law? What are the Puppy Blues? What are blue zones? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Earth Overshoot Day? Thanks for asking! July 29th saw an unwelcome landmark in the calendar as we reached Earth Overshoot Day. It might sound like a celebration, but the reality is a lot more troubling. Earth Overshoot Day marks the point during a year at which humans have used up all the planet’s resources. To use a budgeting analogy, from that day onwards, we’re effectively living on credit and building up ecological debt. It’s estimated that we currently use 74% more resources than what the planet can produce. To sustain consumption rates, we would need 1.7 planet Earths. Spoiler alert: we only have one! The consequences on the environment are drastic. What kind of resources are we talking about? That’s a positive sign at least, isn’t it? Is the calculation foolproof? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Godwin’s Law? What are the Puppy Blues? What are blue zones? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Godwin’s Law? Thanks for asking! The events of the Holocaust are part of the compulsory curriculum in many countries across the world, especially in Europe. Indeed, it’s pretty rare to come across any adult who hasn’t heard of the unique horrors that took place. Most people would agree that comparing recent Covid-19 restrictions and vaccination campaigns to Nazi atrocities is at best extreme and misguided; at worst disrespectful and downright offensive. But that’s exactly what some politicians and members of the public have done during recent protests. This is an example of an adage known as Godwin’s Law, which originated on an internet forum in 1990. It reads as follows: “As an online discussion continues, the probability of a comparison to Hitler or to Nazis approaches one.” What does that even mean? Who are these people comparing Covid-19 rules to the Holocaust? Is Godwin’s Law still relevant in the 21st century? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are the Puppy Blues? What are blue zones? What is Niksen? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the Puppy Blues? Thanks for asking! You’ve no doubt already heard of the baby blues, a nice-sounding euphemism for the rather unpleasant postpartum depression. Well, some new pet owners have started talking of puppy blues in the same way, to describe the sadness they sometimes feel after adopting a new furry companion. The puppy blues might be behind increased animal abandonment rates during the summer. Additionally, Fortune magazine reported a week ago that many Americans are surrendering their pets now the time has come to return to the office. What is it like having the puppy blues? What can I do to get more confident about being a pet owner? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are blue zones? What is Niksen? What is Pop-It? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are blue zones? Thanks for asking! Humans have wondered about the secrets behind longevity since the beginning of time. Well, as it turns out, the world’s five blue zones offer some revealing insight into this mystery. In these regions, people seem to live longer than in the rest of the world. Researchers have sought to understand the unique lifestyles that may be behind this phenomenon. Let’s go back to the year 2000. Studying the province of Nuoro in Sardinia, Italian professor Gianni Pes and Belgian demographer Michel Poulain discovered to their great surprise that certain villages were home to a high number of people in their 90s or even over a hundred years old. The researchers marked these locations with blue circles which is how the non-scientific blue zone label was coined. Where are the other four blue zones then? So what are the secrets behind these people’s long lifespans? Diet and exercise have something to do with it too? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Pop-It? What are sonic weapons? What is the I.O.C.? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Niksen? Thanks for asking! Ever had one of those days when you just feel like doing nothing at all? Well, increasingly we as humans are wired to be doing something all the time. We might even feel guilty when not dedicating every last moment of our day to accomplishing tasks from a written or imaginary to-do list. Technology no doubt has a role to play, what with us being connected almost constantly. Maybe we could all learn a lesson from the Dutch concept of Niksen, which celebrates occasional idleness. It’s formulated as a verb, with the prefix Niks literally meaning “nothing”. We’ve discussed the Danish concept of hygge on Do You Really Know? in the past and Niksen is another Northern European wellness trend that seeks to combat the stress of modern life. Isn’t that just an excuse for being lazy and unproductive? How does one go about doing nothing then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Pop-It? What are sonic weapons? What is the I.O.C.? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Pop-It? Thanks for asking! If 2017 was the year of the hand spinner in the toy world, 2021 is the year of the Pop-It! Even if the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the chances are you’ve seen one of these fidget toys in a picture or video on social media without realising. Manufacturers have had to ramp up production due to the recent surge in popularity. The Pop-It is basically a silicone-based tray containing colourful half-sphere bubbles. You’d be forgiven for saying it looks pretty unremarkable at first. You can push the bubbles through one by one, which creates a satisfying popping sound. Once you’ve finished popping one side, you can simply flip it over and pop back the other way! It sounds like a reusable version of bubble wrap! What’s the appeal of Pop-It then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are sonic weapons? What is the I.O.C.? What is the global bike shortage? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Pegasus Project? Thanks for asking! Ever since the Snowden case of 2013, the world has gotten used to the idea that states use surveillance to monitor people’s activity. All the same, the fallout from the Pegasus Project revelations of recent weeks has been huge, making it a highly significant cyber espionage scandal. The initiative was coordinated by French media nonprofit organization Forbidden Stories, who last year obtained access to a list of 50,000 phone numbers targeted by Pegasus spyware. Thanks to the work of a consortium of investigative journalists from all around the world, as well as the support of Amnesty International, the global scale of government surveillance has become apparent. Where does the name of the project come from? Who do the phone numbers belong to then? What have the repercussions been following the Pegasus Project revelations? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are sonic weapons? What is the I.O.C.? What is the global bike shortage? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are sonic weapons? Thanks for asking! In June it emerged that Greek police had acquired two long range acoustic devices, designed to discourage migrants from approaching the country's border with Turkey. At the size of a small TV, the cannons don’t look particularly threatening, but are capable of emitting powerful sound waves as loud as a jet plane. An LRAD is an example of a sonic weapon, which is an umbrella term used to cover the many different types of acoustic harassment devices. They emit a particularly audible sound in a precise direction, making it very unpleasant for those who get close. The use of LRADs has been a source of controversy in a number of scenarios. In addition to the pain and disorientation caused, their alert feature has been reported to cause lasting hearing damage. In what other scenarios are sonic weapons used? Is there anything peaceful protesters can do to protect themselves? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the global bike shortage? What is Eswatini? What is mansplaining? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the I.O.C.? Thanks for asking! Yesterday saw the Tokyo Olympic Games begin with the traditional opening ceremony. For the first time in the event’s history, the Games were delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the International Olympic Committee’s latest Session in Tokyo, president Thomas Bach described the uncertainty facing Games organisers in the last 15 months.“There were sleepless nights. Like everyone else in the world, we did not know, I did not know, what the future would hold.” But the stress isn’t over just yet! Why not? The Games are underway now so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about, should there? Apart from overseeing the Games, what’s the role of the International Olympic Committee? Does the IOC select host cities for the Olympic Games? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the global bike shortage? What is Eswatini? What is mansplaining? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the global bike shortage? Thanks for asking! Cycling has enjoyed a huge boom since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Local authorities have increased efforts to prioritise cyclists over drivers, creating new bike lanes and making other investments in this form of transport. However, a shortage of bikes has been affecting the whole world since 2020. This supply chain nightmare is still going on in summer 2021, and may be for some time. What’s causing the global shortage? How long will I have to wait if I order a bike now? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Eswatini? What is mansplaining? What is the digital divide? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Eswatini? Thanks for asking! Situated between South Africa and Mozambique in southern Africa, the small landlocked country of Eswatini has a surface area of just 17,000 km2 and a population of 1.3 million. Until 2018, it was known as Swaziland, a name which may be more familiar to you. Then King Mswati III decided to restore the pre-colonial name Eswatini, in recognition of 50 years of independence. Eswatini also happens to be Africa’s last absolute monarchy. In late May, an anti-establishment protest movement took off. The country’s people are rebelling against their king and demanding a democracy. Shops have been burned and looted by rioting youths, with government buildings also attacked. What led to the start of the protest movement? How did the authorities respond to the protests? Isn’t Southern Africa usually a calm region? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is mansplaining? What is the digital divide? What is Hungary's anti-LGBT law? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is mansplaining? Thanks for asking! Have you ever noticed a man explaining something to a woman in a supremely confident way which suggests he absolutely knows more than her about the subject? Well, there’s a term for that, which is mansplaining. A recent thread on parenting forum Mumsnet invited women to share their worst examples of mansplaining. Among them were patronising explanations of the offside rule, a gas man telling a qualified engineer to wait for her partner to get home so he could tell him how to fix the boiler rather than her and a male doctor telling a pregnant woman not to worry as C-sections aren’t painful! God yes, guys like that are the worst! How long has mansplaining been around? Why do men do this then? Are they really all that bad? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Hungary's anti-LGBT law? What is space tourism? What is Ocean Viking? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the digital divide? Thanks for asking! Whether you’re a regular Do You Really Know? listener or just tuning in for the first time, the fact that you’re here probably means you’re not affected by digital illiteracy! The digitalisation of society as a whole has been accelerating for years now. Covid-19 lockdowns further sped up the process in a way we hadn’t anticipated. People suddenly had no choice but to work remotely, homeschool their kids and do grocery shopping online. But the health crisis also revealed the isolation which permanently affects people who find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide. Digital illiteracy is holding back a surprisingly high number of people, even in developing countries. Does that really still affect anyone in 2021? What are the benefits of digital literacy? What can be done to bridge the digital divide then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Hungary's anti-LGBT law? What is space tourism? What is Ocean Viking? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Hungary’s anti-LGBT law? Thanks for asking! Exactly a week ago, Hungary’s controversial anti-LGBT law came into effect. It contains amendments to several acts and was almost unanimously approved by the country’s parliament three weeks earlier. Despite that fact, the restrictions are causing an outcry in both Hungary and the international community. What changes have actually come into effect? Have Hungarian laws always been homophobic? What has the international reaction been to this law? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Ocean Viking? What is the orgasm gap? Who is Quentin Tarantino? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is space tourism? Thanks for asking! Just over a week ago, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stepped down from his position as the company’s CEO to focus on other projects. He’ll remain executive chairman at Amazon but now wants to dedicate more time to other projects, including his space tourism company Blue Origin. Following that surprise announcement, British business magnate Richard Branson also declared his desire to go into space with his company Virgin Galactic. Some have labelled these developments as a new dawn for space tourism. So who’s earning bragging rights in the billionaires’ space race?How long has space tourism been around? Wait, are you saying one day I’ll be able to jump on a rocket into space? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Ocean Viking? What is the orgasm gap? Who is Quentin Tarantino? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Ocean Viking? Thanks for asking! The Ocean Viking humanitarian vessel now has well over 500 survivors on board, located in waters between Italy, Malta and Libya. It has carried out a number of rescue operations in the last week. According to NGO SOS Mediterranee, who operate Ocean Viking, survivors on board are mainly refugees and migrants. Many are minors, some of whom were attempting the treacherous crossing unaccompanied. Yet governments so far seem in no hurry to come to their aid. When was Ocean Viking first used as a rescue ship? Have there been other similar rescue operations? What’s the latest for Ocean Viking then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Quentin Tarantino? What is a heat dome? What is the Olympic flame? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the orgasm gap? Thanks for asking! July 31st is National Orgasm Day in a number of Western countries, including the UK, US, Australia and Canada. Kudos to anyone who already had that holiday noted on their calendar! The annual event’s purpose is to celebrate sexual climax and raise awareness around related issues. Which leads us nicely onto today’s topic: the orgasm gap! Research has consistently shown that women orgasm less often than men in heterosexual sex. In one American study, 91% of male college students said they usually or always had a orgasm during sex with a partner, compared to just 39% of their female counterparts. Meanwhile, a more recent 2017 survey from condom manufacturer Durex found that 75% of women couldn’t always achieve an orgasm during sex. Furthermore, more than half of male respondents considered that an orgasm wasn’t necessary for women to enjoy sex! How do you explain the existence of the orgasm gap? What’s the secret then? And what can be done to make things better? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Quentin Tarantino? What is a heat dome? What is the Olympic flame? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is Quentin Tarantino? Thanks for asking! What’s your favourite Tarantino film? Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, Inglorious Bastards or perhaps Django Unchained? Every last one of his releases have had a huge impact. They’ve often been big hits among critics and popular opinion. So his recent confirmation of plans to retire following his next film has understandably drawn a lot of attention in the world of cinema. Tarantino’s cinema is instantly recognisable. His films often have a lively rhythm, as well as a non-linear storyline, with a narrative often split into chapters. They are also characterised by dark humour and scenes of extreme graphic violence, which have been criticised. Why is Tarantino calling it quits then? What’s Tarantino going to do when he stops making films then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a heat dome? What is the Olympic flame? What is the glass ceiling? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a heat dome? Thanks for asking! The Pacific north-west is typically a mild region when it comes to weather. But in late June, Western Canada experienced record temperatures, with the province of British Columbia hit particularly hard. Temperatures are usually around 21° on the Pacific coast, but reached 49.5°C in Lytton, a village around 100 miles to the North-east of Vancouver. Cities on the other side of the border weren’t spared either, with Portland and Seattle both seeing their respective record temperatures smashed. We’re used to talk of heatwaves, but observers have labelled the latest situation a heat dome. What’s the science behind these extreme temperatures? How dangerous is the heat dome? To what extent are heat domes due to climate change? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Olympic flame? What is the glass ceiling? What is the offside rule? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Olympic flame? Thanks for asking! As Japan prepares to host the delayed 2020 Olympics, let’s look at one of the Games’ iconic symbols, the Olympic flame, and how it spreads the values of the Olympic movement. It brings a sense of identity to the Games, much like the Olympic rings and its Latin motto Citius Altius Fortius. Throughout the Games, the flame burns inside the Olympic stadium, symbolising the ideals of peace and friendship between people. The flame is a reminder of the Games of ancient Greek times, when messengers travelled from city to city announcing competition dates, as well as calling for a sacred Olympic truce. This meant all conflicts ceased, allowing athletes and spectators to travel to Olympia. Of course in 2021, the coronavirus hasn’t agreed to any truce, so the Tokyo Games are being organised under strict measures. Are you saying the history of the Olympics is linked to Ancient Greece? What happens once the flame is lit? What happens if the flame goes out? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the offside rule? What is Auroville? What is Straight Edge? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the glass ceiling? Thanks for asking! When talking about diversity and inclusion, the glass ceiling refers to an invisible barrier stopping those in minorities from obtaining upper-level workforce opportunities. The metaphor is most often used when talking about women. They may find their careers stagnating, unable to progress beyond a middle-management role, through no fault of their own. When it comes to senior positions, they are overlooked in favour of men, despite often having equal or better credentials. Where does the expression come from? How has the situation evolved since the term “glass ceiling” was invented? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the offside rule? What is Auroville? What is Straight Edge? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the offside rule? Thanks for asking! Now, now, let’s not get carried away. England may have beaten old rivals Germany on Tuesday evening to seal a place in the Euro 2020 quarter finals, but they still need to win three more matches to lift the trophy at Wembley on July 11th. In the meantime, let’s talk about one of football’s oldest and yet still most confusing rules: law 11, more commonly known as offside. It’s the first time that video refereeing is being used at a European Championships tournament, and it’s been used to confirm or reverse a number of crucial offside decisions. Just last Saturday, Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic thought he had given his team the lead against Italy with less than 25 minutes left to play. To his dismay, the goal was ruled out following a VAR check, and Italy would go on to win the match in extra time.. So how does the offside rule work then? How has the offside rule evolved over the years? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Auroville? What is Straight Edge? What is Oceanix City? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Auroville? Thanks for asking! Imagine a world without politics, religion or nationality. Well, Auroville is perhaps as close as you’ll come on Planet Earth. The small community, which has been labelled as utopian, was born in South India half a century ago, near to the city of Puducherry. Also known as the Universal Town, Auroville has close to 3000 inhabitants, from over 50 different countries of origin. It’s alternative and aims to become fully self-sufficient, one day accommodating 50,000, withdrawn from the noisy consumerist society to which us regular people belong. How was Auroville created? What is life like in Auroville? How does the Auroville economy function? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Straight Edge? What is Oceanix City? What is zythology? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Straight Edge? Thanks for asking! The music you’re listening to comes from 1980s American hardcore punk band Minor Threat and it’s called Straight Edge. It might only last 46 seconds, but turned out to be hugely influential. The song name was adopted by the Straight Edge movement, which is associated with abstinence from alcohol, drugs, animal products and promiscuous sex. Several decades later, this aggressive celebration of sobriety seems to be undergoing a revival. In the Minor Threat song, lead vocalist Ian MacKaye shouts the words which would go on to become the Straight Edge movement’s motto: “I’ve got better things to do than sit around and smoke dope”. Without intending to, MacKaye was creating a subculture which would affect a whole generation. Why would you want to give up all those guilty pleasures though? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is zythology? What is the Tigray Region? What is coliving? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Oceanix City? Thanks for asking! It might sound like a theme park or the latest sci-fi comic series, but Oceanix City is actually a futuristic architecture project thought out for the climate refugees of years to come. It’s a mobile floating city, designed to welcome those whose homes are under threat from rising sea levels. That could apply to a high percentage of the world’s population in the not so distant future, as it’s estimated 90% of coastal cities will be affected by 2050. Furthermore, living near the sea comes with more and more challenges these days. Insurers are hesitant at the idea of covering damages caused by natural disasters. How did the Oceanix City project get off the ground? What do these floating cities actually look like then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is zythology? What is the Tigray Region? What is coliving? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is zythology? Thanks for asking! With bars and pubs open for business again, there’s plenty more opportunity for each of us to discover our inner zythologist. The cool-sounding word zythology derives from the Greek zythos, for beer, and logos, for study. Wait a minute! Are you saying there’s such a thing as the study of beer? That’s right! The field is also known as beerology, but it’s about far more than just putting away pint after pint of lager. Beer is actually the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world. Evidence of its existence goes back to the 5th millennium BC. So humans have been brewing and drinking beer for a long time. However, a lot of the knowledge we’ve acquired around beer is much more recent. It’s a complex and sophisticated beverage. In the same way that an oenologist knows everything about wine, zythologists are real beer connoisseurs. Sounds like a fun job! So what do zythologists actually do? Where can I sign up? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is coliving? What is polyandry? What is the Global Minimum Tax? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Tigray Region? Thanks for asking! On June 11th, the USA and European Union issued a joint call to end what they described as a “humanitarian nightmare”, occurring in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Tigray is situated in the northwest of the country, bordering Eritrea and Sudan. According to a UN statement at the start of the month, 90% of the war torn region’s population needs emergency food aid. In November 2020, the Ethiopian federal government sent its army from the capital Addis Ababa into Tigray, which was ruled at the time by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The short military offensive was ordered by prime minister Abiy Ahmed. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, after signing a peace treaty with Eritrea, but now it’s war instead which is drawing attention to the country. How did we get to such a drastic situation? What can you tell me about Ethiopia’s federal system and ethnic groups? What’s the current situation? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is coliving? What is polyandry? What is the Global Minimum Tax? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is coliving? Thanks for asking! Born in the 2000s on the West Coast of the US, coliving is an emerging form of residential community living. Generally speaking, colivers each have their own private space within a shared property. They also share a number of other services. It’s kind of like a hybrid between a hotel and traditional flat-sharing. In cities like New York, Berlin or Tokyo, you can increasingly find this kind of living arrangement in buildings or large houses. Young workers have caught the bug, as have investors and real estate developers. So what’s the difference between coliving and traditional flat-sharing? Which groups of people are most likely to try coliving? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Global Minimum Tax? What is sea snot? Who is Bo Burnham? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is polyandry? Thanks for asking! When we talk about polygamy, we often automatically think of its most common and accepted form, which is known as polygyny. That’s when a man is married to two or more women. But discussions around polyandry, also known as female polygamy, are a lot rarer. In South Africa, the government published a green paper proposing to reform marriage laws. Polygyny is already allowed, but the country has now been debating the possibility of recognising polyandry for several weeks. The issue is proving divisive, but supporters have called it a step forward for gender equality in the country. Why change the law now? So why should a man be able to share a married life with several wives, while a woman can’t do the same? That’s double standards, isn’t it? Is polyandry recognised in any countries at the moment? What about throuples? Is that similar to polyandry? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Global Minimum Tax? What is sea snot? Who is Bo Burnham? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the global minimum tax? Thanks for asking! At the end of last week, finance ministers from the G7 countries met in London and formally endorsed a global minimum corporate tax rate. Going forward, companies will have to pay a minimum of 15% tax on their profits. The framework is part of an effort to stop multinationals, and in particular the GAFA companies Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple, from profit-shifting to tax havens. Tech companies are able to easily move between countries due to the nature of their business. How will the global minimum tax rule actually work? Why do we need such a tax in the first place? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is sea snot? Who is Bo Burnham? What is the Smurfette Principle A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is sea snot? Thanks for asking! In the last few weeks, a thick and foul-smelling foam known as mucilage has appeared in the Marmara Sea on Turkey’s northwestern coast. It’s been unofficially dubbed sea snot by observers, which might sound like a name invented on a school playground. But there’s nothing funny about the environmental impact of this outbreak, which is a result of global warming and pollution. How does this sea snot actually develop? Is this the first time the Marmara Sea has been impacted by sea snot? Do we know what the impact could be? Is there a way to make this sea snot disappear? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Bo Burnham? What is the Smurfette Principle What are sensitivity readers? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is Bo Burnham? Thanks for asking! Five years after Bo Burnham’s last comedy special, he released Inside on Netflix on May 30th. To mark the occasion, let’s discuss one of American comedy’s brightest talents. Many have put Burnham up there among the ranks of the world’s elite comedians. He’s multi-talented, with his shows mixing music, singing and clever jokes. As a straight white man, he’s supposed to come from a position of privilege without having any problems in life. But he shares his thoughts on life’s simple issues in a unique, self-aware and satirical way. The Boston Globe has described him as "simultaneously wholesome and disturbing, intimate in a folksy-creepy sort of way”. What’s so special about the latest release? How did Burnham’s career get started? Where can we see his comedy? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are sensitivity readers? What is live shopping? What is Friends? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices