Do you really know?

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

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