Do you really know?

What is the Smurfette Principle? Thanks for asking! Does that ring a bell? How many of you spent hours in front of the Smurfs as children? We’re sure you remember the smiley little girl with blond hair, a white dress and high heels. In case your memory has faded, in the wonderful world of the Smurfs, Smurfette is created by the evil wizard Gargamel to sow discord! How curious that the role of agitator is reserved for a female character, don’t you think?! Add to that the fact that the Smurfville population is exclusively male, until the arrival of the lone Smurfette. That’s where the idea of the Smurfette Principle comes from. It’s mainly to do with the overrepresentation of male figures as protagonists in works of fiction, to the detriment of female characters. How can you base a whole theory on a single cartoon? What’s wrong with that? It’s fiction after all and fiction can write its own rules, can’t it? 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

What are sensitivity readers? Thanks for asking! The role of sensitivity reader first appeared in the United States. Authors and publishing houses recruit these $200 per hour beta readers to go over works with a fine-tooth comb before they are released. The purpose is to make sure there are no offensive stereotypes, relating to race, religion or gender for example, or instances of cultural appropriation. numb The rise to prominence of this area of work is helping to bring on a shift in representations. For example, sensitivity readers may notice the tendency of certain writers to limit black characters to socially devalued roles. They then suggest rewrites which are more respectful of certain characters and less caricatural. In the long run, the aim is that readers, whatever their background, can identify with characters. Isn’t this akin to censorship, which will stifle literature? Are there any examples of works which have had to be rewritten after a sensitivity reader’s input? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is live shopping? What is Friends? What is BookTok? 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 live shopping? Thanks for asking! Technological disruption and the Covid-19 pandemic have combined to bring on new trends, one of which is live shopping. If the shops are closed or you don’t have time to go there, another alternative exists, in addition to standard online shopping. It’s a new kind of shopping experience, where customers see items on video before deciding to buy them. What’s so original about live shopping then? Where did live shopping come from? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Friends? What is BookTok? What is Tiananmen Square Massacre? 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 Friends? Thanks for asking! On May 27th, all eyes were on HBO Max, who aired a Friends reunion special, 17 years after the sitcom’s 236th and final episode. It was the first time since then that the six main cast members had appeared together publicly to talk about the show. Friends was hugely popular throughout the ten years it aired, and is still consistently among the most watched shows on online streaming service Netflix. It won many prestigious awards over the years, including six Emmys, six People’s Choice Awards and a Golden Globe. But, believe it or not, when the sitcom launched, it almost didn’t make it past the pilot episode. No way! I can’t imagine a world without endless Friends repeats! So what do we learn in the reunion special? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a virus variant region? What are zombie fires? What are sleep streams? 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 BookTok? Thanks for asking! You’ve no doubt already heard of TikTok, the short video app of choice for teens and young adults. Well in the last few weeks a new trend has really taken off, and it’s known as BookTok. The idea is simple: recommend books to your Tiktok followers using the hashtag #BookTok. It’s really catching on and has even led to the emergence of literature enthusiast communities on the platform. The hashtag has been used millions of times since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Is it a new form of literary review then? What kinds of books are covered? So is there such a thing as Booktokers now then? Has the trend been having any other positive effects? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are zombie fires? What are sleep streams? What are molecular scissors? 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 Tiananmen Square Massacre? Thanks for asking! 32 years ago today, Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing, saw unprecedented student protests. As night fell on June 3rd 1989, the Chinese military entered the square with a number of tanks and opened fire on the unarmed crowd. The number of deaths is estimated between 1,000 and 2,000, in what became known internationally as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Thus ended seven weeks worth of pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests. One particular image is shared every time the month of June comes around. It’s that of a lone man blocking the path of the Chinese army tanks. It really highlights the imbalance of force between the military and the peaceful student protesters. This anonymous man became a symbol of anti-violence and the struggle for freedom throughout the world. The whole world was shocked and the Chinese government was universally condemned. How did we get to such a drastic situation? Are you saying the massacre put a stop to a series of social movements? Why is this period of Chinese history so poorly known? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are zombie fires? What are sleep streams? What are molecular scissors? 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 virus variant region? Thanks for asking! The Indian variant known as B.1.617 is causing concern in Europe, particularly due to a steep rise in infections since early May. It recently spread into the United Kingdom, where it is currently taking over as the dominant variant. As a result, Germany reclassified the UK as a virus variant region on May 23rd. Travel between the UK and Germany is therefore strictly limited for the time being, meaning only German citizens or residents are allowed to enter the country. Even then, whether arriving by train, car or plane, they are also subject to a two week isolation period, which can’t be shortened even by testing negative. For now, four main variants are still circulating in Europe: the Indian, South African, Brazilian and British variants. With summer just around the corner, the situation is being monitored closely as these variants are more contagious and virulent. I thought the UK’s health situation was going much better! Is Germany the only country to have put in place restrictions against visitors from the UK?Could the Indian variant have an impact on summer holiday plans in Europe? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are zombie fires? What are sleep streams? What are molecular scissors? 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 zombie fires? Thanks for asking! Believe it or not, some fires are able to smolder for months underneath snow, even when their flames have been extinguished above ground. Researchers and forest rangers have been aware of the existence of these zombie fires in the Arctic Circle for many years now. But a study published in Nature magazine on May 19th revealed the full extent of the issue. It turns out the threat they pose to boreal forests and the climate as a whole is greater than we previously knew. How can a fire resist cold and ice? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are molecular scissors? What is the fertility cliff? What is phantosmia? 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 sleep streams? Thanks for asking! How do you like the idea of going to sleep and waking up richer? Sounds pretty sweet, huh? Well believe it or not, sleep streams have actually become a big trend among influencers on streaming platform Twitch. They film themselves asleep, set challenges and go through sleep marathons in interactive formats. Meanwhile, viewers try to annoy the streamer or wake them up by playing videos and sending text-to-speech messages. That’s right, sleep streams are the latest weird way of making money online! How did this become a thing? What’s the point of staring into a laptop or smartphone screen watching someone sleep? And even worse, paying for it?! In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are molecular scissors? What is the fertility cliff? What is phantosmia? 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 molecular scissors? Thanks for asking! When we think about genetically-edited plants, animals and even humans, we might wonder whether it’s the stuff of dreams or nightmares. But it’s close to reality, thanks to a gene editing technique, Crispr-Cas9, also known as molecular scissors. There are a number of potential health and environmental benefits.The concept made headlines for the first time in late 2018. Chinese researcher He Jiankui took to Youtube to announce the birth of genetically-edited twin girls who were supposedly immune to HIV due to the use of molecular scissors. The international scientific community was outraged at He’s failure to follow safety protocols and the researcher ended up in prison. However, the amount of research on molecular scissors has been on the rise for several years now. The CRISPR CAS 9 technique was developed in 2012 by two researchers: Jennifer Doudna from the USA and Emmanuelle Charpentier from France. It ended up being so revolutionary that the pair won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020. What’s so revolutionary about molecular scissors? What’s the point of it all? Are we talking about GMOs? Aren’t those dangerous? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the fertility cliff? What is phantosmia? What is the urban exodus? 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 fertility cliff? Thanks for asking! The ability of a woman to get pregnant and give birth doesn’t last forever. 35 has traditionally been seen as a fertility cliff, a kind of cut-off point after which it becomes much more difficult to have a child. Women in their early 30s and even late 20s often feel under pressure from their families or society, like they are losing a race against their biological clock. But recent research findings have led many to call the reasoning behind this threshold into question. So where did the idea of 35 being a fertility cliff come from? What’s the latest information in this area then? What conclusions should we draw from all this? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is phantosmia? What is the urban exodus? What is Bollywood? 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 phantosmia? Thanks for asking! The symptoms and after-effects of Covid-19 vary hugely between people and can be very incapacitating. We’ve already discussed anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell, in a past episode. But some people also report strange and unpleasant odours, that no-one else around can smell. The medical term for these olfactory hallucinations is phantosmia, coming from the Greek “phanto” for ghost and “osmia” for smell. That’s right, hallucinations aren’t always visual! Does that mean I could mistake one smell for another? Can phantosmia be linked to conditions other than Covid-19? And is it treatable? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Bollywood? What is the Doomsday Glacier? What is Resident Evil? 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 urban exodus? Thanks for asking! The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the lives of almost everyone around the globe. City dwellers have had to adapt their daily lives to a new organisation and work-life balance. Many have chosen to leave their urban homes behind in favour of a calmer life in the suburbs or countryside. This has been described as an urban exodus, although there is some debate as to what extent this will last when the pandemic ends. Are we talking about a Moses and the Israelites kind of mass exodus? Should we expect the urban exodus to last in the long run? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Bollywood? What is the Doomsday Glacier? What is Resident Evil? 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 Bollywood? Thanks for asking! If you’re a Westerner, you’ve almost certainly heard of Bollywood, but there’s also a decent chance you’ve never actually watched a Bollywood film! If Hollywood is the stronghold of American cinema, Bollywood is an even more generic term used to describe the Hindi-language film industry in India, in particular the city of Mumbai. The label is a portmanteau of Bombay, Mumbai’s former name, and Hollywood. There is debate about who exactly coined the term, which emerged in the 1970s. Some records suggest it was first used by a gossip column in the Indian magazine Cineblitz. You should be warned that the term is relatively rarely used in India. Many see it as derogatory or patronising, having been adopted as a blanket term by Westerners. It also excludes films produced in other Indian languages like Tamil or Bengali. So what exactly does a Bollywood film look like then? Is it as popular as American cinema? What are the latest trends in Bollywood cinema? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Doomsday Glacier? What is Resident Evil? What is the andropause? 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 Doomsday Glacier? Thanks for asking! The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is melting rapidly and risks breaking up completely. For nearly a quarter of a century, climate scientists have been observing it closely and have nicknamed it the Doomsday Glacier due to its instability and potential impact on the future of the planet. Thwaites Glacier is more than 1km deep and has a surface area of 74,000 m2, larger than all of England. It’s more than 1,000 miles away from the closest research base, making it remote even for Antarctica. The speed at which the glacier is melting has increased due to currents of warm water flowing underneath it, wearing away at its base. A study published last month by Gothenburg University researchers showed that the quantity of warm water, measured for the first time using a robotic unmanned submarine, was far higher than previously thought. How long ago did the glacier start melting? What will happen if the glacier disappears? I bet it isn’t the only glacier in the world that’s causing concern... In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Resident Evil? What is the andropause? What is parcopresis? 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 Resident Evil? Thanks for asking! May 7th saw the release of Resident Evil: Village; the eighth instalment in one of video gaming’s most epic series. Originally released under the name Biohazard in Japan, Resident Evil was far from being the first horror video game in history, but it’s definitely become the most influential over the years. How did Resident Evil achieve such success? What was so unique about the first edition? Has Resident Evil been as consistent since its early days? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is captology? What is broken heart syndrome? What are cookies? 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 andropause? Thanks for asking! We’ve all heard of the menopause which occurs in women in middle age. But there is much less awareness around changes in male sex hormones which are linked to ageing and have been described as the andropause.The word comes from the Greek “andros”, meaning man, and “pausis”, meaning end. It generally arrives very gradually and is characterised by low testosterone levels in men. So is the andropause a myth or reality? And what are its symptoms? What should a man do if he feels like he is undergoing the andropause? Could it be compared to the menopause in women then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is captology? What is broken heart syndrome? What are cookies? 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 parcopresis? Thanks for asking! Ever needed to go to the loo but held it in, due to a lack of privacy, or fear of noise and smells? The social taboo around pooping is known as parcopresis or shy bowel syndrome. It’s an anxiety disorder which can have significant health consequences as well as interfering with a person’s daily routine. Public toilets have been closed for much of the last year, due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions. This has had an impact on bathroom habits for all of us. Without access to outdoor bathrooms, nearly half of us have experienced difficulty in relieving ourselves over the last twelve months. Well no-one wants to be heard pooping at their partner’s place or in the office do they? Who is most affected by parcopresis then? 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 cookies? What is the Chernobyl exclusion zone? 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 captology? Thanks for asking! Getting internet users’ attention and influencing their online behaviour is a massive priority for Big Tech companies in this day and age. Behind their practices is captology, a term invented in 1996 by American researcher BJ Fogg. It might make you think of the word “capture” at first, but it actually comes from the initials of “Computers As Persuasive Technologies”. The idea was to study the link between digital tool design and the resulting impact on individuals’ behaviour. Captology has often been cited as a source of inspiration for Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. To such an extent that its definition has evolved to describe all kinds of techniques used by internet giants to grab users’ attention, and make them addicted. Coronavirus lockdowns haven’t helped and the stats are there to back it up. A global study by analytics company App Annie found the average daily time spent using a smartphone in 2020 was 4 hours and 10 minutes. That’s crazy! So what are the secrets behind captology then? Is captology dangerous then? 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 cookies? What is the Chernobyl exclusion zone? 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 broken heart syndrome? Thanks for asking! The idea of a broken heart may make you think of a cartoon, an emoji or a bad break-up from your past. But broken heart syndrome is a real physical condition, which is also known as Tako-tsubo. Is the name Japanese because that’s where the first case was recorded? Is it like the heart having a burnout basically?! How can we recognise the symptoms? Can broken heart syndrome affect anyone? How can we avoid becoming a victim of Takotsubo in the current situation? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Chernobyl exclusion zone? What is the Escazu Agreement? What is the insider-outsider theory? 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 cookies? Thanks for asking! Most of us probably associate them with annoying pop-ups, but HTTP cookies actually do a lot of good for our web browsing experience too. Cookies are small pieces of data which are stored on our computers as soon as we visit a website. There are many kinds, and they are usually totally inoffensive, but some can end up being rather intrusive, causing privacy concerns and leaving a bittersweet aftertaste! Tell me more about where cookies come from... In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the Chernobyl exclusion zone? What is the Escazu Agreement? What is the insider-outsider theory? 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 Chernobyl exclusion zone? Thanks for asking! It’s just over 35 years since the worst nuclear disaster in history. On April 26th 1986, reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. Following the accident, an exclusion zone of around 1,000m2 was established by the Soviet army. It covers the areas most affected by radioactive contamination, including the city Prypiat situated 2 miles away. Built in the 1970s to house workers from the nuclear plant, it was seen as a model Soviet metropolis, but became a ghost town when its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated. Does the exclusion zone still exist today? So can humans go inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone nowadays? What about temporary visits? Will people be able to live in Chernobyl again one day? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the insider-outsider theory? What is stalkerware? Who is Alexei Navalny? 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 Escazu Agreement? Thanks for asking! Ratified on April 22nd 2021, the Escazu Agreement is a historic treaty set to affect one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. It’s Latin America’s first ever environmental treaty, and the first in the world specifically designed to protect defenders of the environment. It was first signed by 24 countries, then ratified by 12 national governments so far, with the notable exceptions of Chile, Colombia and Brazil. Where does the name come from? What’s so historic about the Escazu Agreement then? What is expected with the arrival of the Escazu agreement? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the insider-outsider theory? What is stalkerware? Who is Alexei Navalny? 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 insider-outsider theory? Thanks for asking! The insider-outsider theory is a New Keynesian economic model which developed in the 1980s, explaining certain disparities in the job market. Insiders are those who already have a job in a company, most of the time a permanent contract and having undergone expensive training. Meanwhile, outsiders are those with unstable jobs or unemployed. The theory considers whether, in a period of wide unemployment, companies would be better off replacing their insiders with outsiders, who would be likely to accept a lower salary. On the other hand, the resources needed to replace insiders can quickly add up. Think of severance packages, hiring processes and training for example. These labour turnover costs often end up being more expensive than the money saved by paying a lower salary.So it’s not really in a company’s best interests to fire its insiders. Does that mean the insiders are in a position of strength then? Is there any hope for the outsiders then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Alexei Navalny? What is chemsex? What are Covid toes? 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 stalkerware? Thanks for asking! We’ve probably all jokingly referred to social media stalking when looking at an ex’s profile or checking out what a future colleague looks like. But online stalking can reach serious levels, particularly through the use of monitoring stalkerware. These apps are installed on smartphones, making use of functions like key logging, automated screenshots and GPS monitoring, while the owner is blissfully unaware that their privacy is being violated. Who even does that - the CIA?! How common is stalkerware use then? What should I do if I suspect someone of installing stalkerware on my device? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Alexei Navalny? What is chemsex? What are Covid toes? 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 Alexei Navalny? Thanks for asking! In late March 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny began a hunger strike in his prison cell. A few weeks later he was transferred to a prison hospital, with his allies declaring he was “close to dying”. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Moscow, St Petersburg and over 40 other cities. Police arrested over 1700 people. At the same time, UN human rights experts called for Navalny to be evacuated from the country. They said his life was in “serious danger” due to harsh prison conditions and inadequate medical care. What can you tell me about Navalny’s background? What’s happened to Navalny since the Novichok poisoning? Will international pressure have any impact? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are Covid toes? What is Helium-3? What were the Troubles ? 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 chemsex? Thanks for asking! Chemsex is the practice of taking synthetic drugs or psychoactive products to spice up sexual activity. Participants are predominantly gay men, who claim these illegal drugs remove inhibitions, while also boosting performance and pleasure. Chemsex often involves unprotected and anonymous sex between multiple partners. Parties can last for several consecutive days! Wow, that’s the first I’ve heard of this - is it a new trend? What kind of drugs are we talking about exactly? Are the drugs really that dangerous, if you know the people you’re with? How can someone beat a chemsex addiction? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are Covid toes? What is Helium-3? What were the Troubles ? 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 Covid toes? Thanks for asking! So-called Covid toes are a symptom observed by doctors since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, consisting of swollen, purplish toes. For a while we suspected it to be a symptom of virus infection, but as it turns out, it may be quite the opposite. As early as April 2020, dermatologists noticed a curious trend. Numerous patients were coming for appointments as their toes were swollen and had changed colour. These skin eruptions looked a lot like chilblains. At the time, the International League of Dermatological Societies stated that the symptom went away on its own most of the time, but that it could last several months. So what’s the explanation for this odd symptom then? Could it be due to lockdown measures and people having a sedentary lifestyle? Can there really be a link between toes and immunity?! In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What were the Troubles ? What is Operation London Bridge? What is a lateral flow test? 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 Helium-3? Thanks for asking! Helium-3 is a helium isotope which contains two protons and a neutron. It dates back to the earliest days of the universe and formed in the mantle of planet Earth. However, humans only discovered it in 1934. It is a pretty unique gas, with rare and valuable properties. For example, it can reduce temperatures to nearly absolute zero, which could be useful in cryogenics or medical imaging. Most of all, it’s known for producing enormous quantities of energy. Estimates vary, but it’s been suggested that just a few hundred tons of Helium-3 would be enough to meet the entire planet’s energy needs for a whole year. Great, could Helium-3 be a potential energy source of the future then? Could we really bring back Helium-3 from the moon? Is anyone trying to mine Helium-3 right now? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What were the Troubles ? What is Operation London Bridge? What is a lateral flow test? 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 were the Troubles? Thanks for asking! It’s been 23 years since the Good Friday peace agreement put an end to The Troubles, a decades-long period of violence which saw 3,500 people die. Nevertheless, in recent weeks riots broke out in loyalist areas of Northern Ireland’s major cities, including Derry and Belfast. Gangs of youths attacked police, injuring scores of officers in the worst violence the country has seen for years. What’s caused tensions to rise again in Northern Ireland? How did the Troubles begin? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Operation London Bridge? What is a lateral flow test? What is vegetarianism? 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 Operation London Bridge? Thanks for asking! The recent passing of Prince Philip at the age of 99 has served as a reminder that even Her Majesty the Queen won’t be around forever. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over the United Kingdom and Commonwealth since February 6th 1952, longer than any other British monarch. Believe it or not, extensive protocol is already in place for the day when the Queen passes away. Plans known as Operation London Bridge were first made in the 1960s and are updated regularly. Wow - That’s going to be the end of an era! Who will be the first to hear the news? How quickly will the rest of us find out? What are the practical arrangements for Operation London Bridge? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a lateral flow test? What is vegetarianism? What are LGBT-free 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 a lateral flow test? Thanks for asking! The number of new Covid-19 cases in the UK continues to drop as its vaccination campaign advances. The economy is beginning to reopen with lockdown measures gradually easing. But it’s not all roses unfortunately. The South African variant of concern, which may be vaccine-resistant to some extent, has arrived in the country. The government is now expanding its testing programme to provide everyone in England with the opportunity to take two free lateral flow tests per week. These tests can be carried out under supervision at designated sites, or at home. The aim is to quickly detect people who have Covid-19 without displaying any symptoms. Believe it or not, that occurs around a third of the time when someone is infected with Covid-19. Despite being cheap and rapid, the system is not without its risks. People are sometimes forced to self-isolate unnecessarily when false positives occur and the accuracy of testing data is still unclear. If I want to do a lateral flow test, do I just go to the pharmacy and ask for a kit like with a pregnancy test? You can do that if you wish, and the technology behind lateral flow tests has actually been compared to that used for pregnancy tests! But there are several other ways of obtaining the tests, and you can do so without even leaving the comfort of your home. You can order them online or by phone, or get tests from your employer, if you’re not working from home. Lateral flow tests, or LFTs for short, contain antibodies which detect coronavirus proteins by binding to them. If administering the test yourself, you’ll need to take a swab from your throat or nose and mix it with an extraction fluid. Like a pregnancy test, you drip the solution onto a strip of test paper. Within 30 minutes you should have a result which will be either positive, negative or inconclusive. It’s recommended to take a lateral flow test twice a week and report the results on the same day. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is vegetarianism? Thanks for asking! We’ve probably all eaten a meat-free dish at some point over the last few months, but that on its own doesn’t necessarily make a person veggie. Nevertheless, vegetarianism is becoming more and more popular among young people. It’s often about much more than simply taking meat out of your diet. A lot of vegetarians see it as a form of activism which can help protect the environment and animal welfare. Are there enough vegetarians out there to really have an impact? Do people mainly go vegetarian for environmental reasons then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are LGBT-free zones? What are NFTs? What is pansexuality? 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 LGBT-free zones? Thanks for asking! Last month, the European Parliament declared the E.U. to be an LGBTIQ Freedom zone. That was in reaction to the increasing number of LGBT-free zones in Poland, which have been making headlines for the last two years. Poland has gained a reputation as the worst EU country for LGBT rights. If we look back to early 2019, the liberal mayor of Warsaw had announced plans to integrate LGBT issues into the curriculum of the city’s schools. This caused anger among conservative politicians and media. In March 2019, the first “LGBT ideology-free zone” was declared in the rural town of Swidnik. Dozens of regions, towns and villages followed suit in the ensuing months, especially in the strongly Catholic South-East and East of Poland. Is there even such a thing as an LGBT ideology? What has the reaction been among the LGBT community in Poland? So the rest of Europe was outraged, but what did it actually do? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is pansexuality? What is soft power? What is Covax? 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 NFTs? Thanks for asking! It’s one of the latest crazes in the world of blockchain. Non-fungible tokens are digital certificates of ownership, which state who owns a piece of virtual crypto-art. That’s right, you can now buy collectible digital art, like memes, GIFs, videos and even tweets, all thanks to NFTs. NFTs emerged in 2017, as part of the Ethereum cryptocurrency blockchain. You’ve most likely heard of bitcoin and blockchain before. Well, NFTs are based on the same technology. So are NFTs cryptocurrency then? What are the advantages of using the blockchain? Why would anyone spend millions on something that can be copied endlessly and can’t even be hung up on their wall? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is pansexuality? What is soft power? What is Covax? 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 pansexuality? Thanks for asking! More and more celebrities are talking about their sexuality. Just two weeks ago, Demi Lovato talked about being pansexual during an interview with Joe Rogan. According to Kim Rice, who wrote the Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality in 2015, pansexuality can be defined as sexual, emotional, romantic or spiritual attraction for other people, regardless of their biological sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. This sexual orientation is still pretty unknown, but Demi Lovato is far from being the only public figure to have claimed it. Others include Cara Delevingne and Miley Cyrus. Isn’t that the same thing as being bisexual? Is the term pansexual a little more inclusive? But why do some people feel this need to identify as something and find a name for it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Covax? What is the Suez Canal? What is a ghost kitchen? 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 soft power? Thanks for asking! There was a time where the only way to impose power was through violence and war. But for a few decades now, the power of a country or group is also affected by its soft power. By that we mean its ability to influence other parts of the world by spreading its cultural model. Soft power can be held by states, but also by international institutions, NGOs, businesses or citizen movements. It’s actually nothing new. Looking back in history, you can find examples of soft power in the times of ancient Greece or the British Empire. But only in 1990 was the theory of soft power developed by international relations professor Joseph Nye. Nye argued that the rise of globalisation meant using military force, or hard power, alone was no longer an option. His country, the United States, had grasped that and was using a new and highly effective form of power, which depended on its ability to attract and persuade others, thus shaping their preferences. What does soft power look like? Are the Americans the kings of soft power in that case? What countries are on the first place of soft power? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is Covax? What is the Suez Canal? What is a ghost kitchen? 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 Covax? Thanks for asking! Described as the “biggest worldwide rollout of vaccines in the history of humanity”. the Covax scheme is part of the international battle against Covid-19, with the aim of ensuring people all around the world have access to vaccines, especially in poorer countries. This global initiative is led by the World Health Organisation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, with the support of Unicef and other international NGOs. 190 countries are participating, divided between 98 higher-income and 92 low- and middle-income economies. In the long term, Covax should help vaccinate 20% of the population in countries belonging to the latter group. Which countries are due to benefit from Covax then? So is it mainly African countries who are set to benefit then? Who is donating all the Covax vaccine doses? What challenges does the Covax initiative face? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a ghost kitchen? What is the precautionary principle? What is poverty porn? 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 Suez Canal? Thanks for asking! On March 23rd, the Ever Given container ship ran aground in the Suez Canal, blocking traffic in both directions. Such a blockage had never occurred before and it took six days for salvage crews to free the 220,000-ton cargo ship. Over 400 ships were forced to queue, waiting for Ever Given to be moved. Shipping data suggested the obstruction was holding up $9.6M worth of goods each day. Insurer Allianz estimated that each additional day contributed to a further $6bn - $10bn loss for world trade. Wow, that sure is one important waterway! When was the Suez Canal built? Who does the canal actually belong to? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a ghost kitchen? What is the precautionary principle? What is poverty porn? 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 ghost kitchen? Thanks for asking! For many of us, it’s been a long time since we last set foot in a pub or restaurant. We’ve become more accustomed than ever before to navigating our favourite food delivery apps until we find something that catches our fancy. But do we actually know how and where our meals are prepared? Ghost kitchens, or dark kitchens as they are also known, have really taken off in the last two years. Their success has come hand-in-hand with that of online delivery platforms, and the Covid-19 pandemic has only served to speed up the process. The idea is simple: a kind of virtual restaurant with no seating, no diners and no waiters. That’s right, ghost kitchens operate only to serve online customers. Uber Eats claims to now have 10,000 such providers on its US platform, compared to just 3,000 in 2019. Don’t they need a restaurant in order to prepare delivery food? So are ghost kitchens going to kill off traditional restaurants? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is poverty porn? What is Stop Asian Hate? Who is Ousmane Sonko? 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 precautionary principle? Thanks for asking! While over 50% of people in the UK have received at least one coronavirus vaccine dose, the EU is lagging far behind at 16%. Just two days ago, the World Health Organisation described the rollout in Europe as being “unacceptably slow”. The delays are down to several factors, one of which is the precautionary principle. In mid-March, 18 countries suspended use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, including some of the EU’s biggest member states like Spain, Germany and France. They cited the precautionary principle as justification. This followed reports of blood clots in some patients who had received a dose of the vaccine. What’s the link between the vaccine and the precautionary principle then? Couldn’t you argue the EU leaders were right to exercise caution? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is poverty porn? What is Stop Asian Hate? Who is Ousmane Sonko? 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 poverty porn? Thanks for asking! Poverty porn is a provocative term of criticism which looks at how poor people and their living situations are portrayed in films, on television or on social media. The term became more widespread after the release of Slumdog Millionaire in the late 2000s. The Oscar-winning film tells the story of a young boy who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and is close to winning ₹20 million on a TV quiz show. Despite the film’s massive success, there were debates about whether it was poverty porn. Some suggested director Danny Boyle created it for a white audience looking for images of deprivation in a faraway setting. What’s the link with porn then? But is it really such a bad thing? Can you have poverty porn in Western countries too? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Ousmane Sonko? What is Generation Covid? What are HFCs? 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 Stop Asian Hate? Thanks for asking! On March 16th, a series of shootings in Atlanta caused eight deaths. The murders took place at three different spas, and six of the deceased victims were Asian women. The 21-year-old perpetrator claims to have been motivated by shame at his own sexual addiction, rather than specifically targeting the Asian community. But some believe the killings should be classed as hate crimes. The Stop Asian Hate hashtag has been trending on social media ever since. On the day of the shootings, social media analytics platform Visitbrain recorded 4 million tweets using the hashtag. It was notably shared by the Black Lives Matter movement, who released an anti-white supremacy statement. Is Stop Asian Hate a recent development? Do we have any statistics on the crimes being carried out? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Ousmane Sonko? What is Generation Covid? What are HFCs? 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 Ousmane Sonko? Thanks for asking! Since early March, Senegal has seen a series of violent protests, a rare event in a country known for its political stability. Behind it all is the arrest of one man - Ousmane Sonko. The 46 year old MP is the main opponent of President Macky Sall and came third in 2019’s presidential election. Sonko is the leader of the PASTEF political party, and identifies as an anti-establishment candidate. He’s particularly popular among Senegal’s youth, and it’s worth noting half the country’s population is under the age of 20. Why was Sonko arrested? What are the Senegalese youth demanding? What’s happened to Ousmane Sonko in the meantime? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is eye yoga? What is a test concert? What is euthanasia? 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 Generation Covid? Thanks for asking! In social sciences, a generation refers to a group of the population whose members are around the same age and have hence lived through the same era. Think the baby boomers, Generation X, Millennials… and now Generation Covid! While they may be significantly less at risk of serious illness from Covid-19, young people are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s economic consequences. Their development into adulthood is increasingly being affected, and it’s taking a mental toll. So who exactly do we count as part of Generation Covid? What about students and young adults? How have they been affected? Is there any cause for optimism? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are HFCs? What is eye yoga? What is a test concert? 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 HFCs? Thanks for asking! Fridges, freezers and air conditioning. In cooling our individual homes, humans are heating up our collective home - planet earth. That’s partly down to hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs for short. These industrial chemicals are mainly used for cooling and refrigeration, but they generate a huge amount of pollution. The adoption of HFCs is relatively recent as until the 1980s we used chlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants. Scientists then realised these greenhouse gases were contributing to ozone layer depletion, with a global warming potential of around 10,000. That’s a multiple of the heat that would be absorbed by the same mass of carbon dioxide. So in 1987, states signed the Montreal Protocol, which would see the production of CFCs drastically reduced. To be replaced by.... HFCs? What is that? Is it good for the environment? How are we going to produce refrigerants without CFCs or HFCs? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is eye yoga? What is a test concert? What is euthanasia? 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 eye yoga? Thanks for asking! In the last 12 months, we’ve all spent more time at home than we expected. As a result, our use of computers or smartphones has increased to the point where many of us spend almost all day gazing into a screen. This can lead to eye strain and dry eyes, as well as other disorders or diseases. OK, so in this day and age it’s difficult to totally go without all these digital tools which are part of our daily lives. But there are some tips to prevent or slow vision loss. Eye yoga allows us to train our eye muscles. It’s a natural method which comes from Indian medicine. We often forget to exercise our eyes, which function thanks to muscles. And muscles need to be trained! This sounds like it must be the latest fad! Is it actually effective? What are the exercises to stimulate eyes? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is a test concert? What is euthanasia? What is the baby bust? 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 test concert? Thanks for asking! Living through a pandemic has seen many of our favourite pastimes turn from harmless fun to high-risk activity! Think of going for a beer with your colleagues after work, taking your grandma to the cinema or dancing the night away in a club for example. The whole culture sector has suffered and the music business is among the industries which have been affected the most. Concerts have been at a halt for some time now but we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. With vaccination campaigns now underway in many countries, there’s hope performing arts will return in the coming months. Test concerts are being arranged in some places to see the impact of allowing limited crowds to gather. That sounds exciting, but still risky! How do we know these test concerts won’t turn into super-spreader events? having avoided COVID for this long, is it really worth the risk? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the baby bust? What is period poverty? What is newspeak? 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 euthanasia? Thanks for asking! Euthanasia is the act of intentionally ending a person’s life in order to relieve their suffering. The practice is often confused with assisted suicide but there is a key difference. When it comes to euthanasia, medical practictioners carry out the final deed, whereas with assisted suicide it’s the patient who commits the act. Laws on euthanasia and assisted suicide vary across the world, and it’s a complex ethical subject. The general trend in the Western world is that people are becoming more open to the idea of legal euthanasia. It’s being debated in a number of places. In the countries where euthanasia is legal, how is it carried out? So where is euthanasia actually allowed then? What are some of the main arguments for and against euthanasia? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the baby bust? What is period poverty? What is newspeak? 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 baby bust? Thanks for asking! You’ve almost certainly heard of the baby boom, which saw birth rates soar in many countries following the end of the Second World War. Well, we’re currently experiencing the opposite of that thanks in part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many observers have labelled this a baby bust. Are you saying there’s been a significant drop in the number of births? What are the likely consequences of this baby bust? Are governments taking action to stop this trend? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is newspeak? What is the three-finger salute? What is class-passing? 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