Do you really know?
Episodes
How can you use Tinder safely?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Salim Berrada, also known as "the Tinder rapist", has been on trial in France since 18 March 2024. He is accused of raping or sexually assaulting 17 w...
Could FOPO be preventing you from fulfilling your potential?
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever really wanted to try something new, but avoided doing so because you were afraid of being judged? Maybe pursuing a hobby that could be...
How is AI giving a voice to the dead?
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever seen the Black Mirror episode called "Be right back"? It aired back in February 2013 and sees a character called Ash die in a car accide...
Where does the old cat lady stereotype come from?
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Single women in your late 20s or early 30s, has anyone ever suggested that you absolutely must find a partner or you’ll end up being a “cat lady”...
How can I prepare my home for a blackout?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
National Grid has warned of potential blackouts in the UK this winter, due to gas shortages. If it does happen, it would be the first time the country...
What is a pyramid scheme?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably seen ads online promising easy money—“Make up to £300 a day using just your phone! Join me and change your life” It sounds te...
Why are more and more children suffering from virtual autism?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The World Health Organisation says that children between the ages of two and five should get no more than one hour of sedentary screen time per day, w...
Why are we having children later and later?
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of births in the UK continues to fall. Experts are even talking about a “baby bust”, t...
Can we really multitask effectively?
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's pretty common these days to have to tackle several things at once, like responding to an email while on a work call. Our constant pursuit of prod...
Is swallowing chewing gum dangerous?
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to Retaildata.co.uk, us Brits are the second biggest consumers of gum in the world. On average, Brits use between 120 and 130 sticks each e...
Where does our phobia of clowns come from?
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clowns are supposed to make you laugh, but often can make you shudder. What is supposed to be a figure of fun is for many the stuff of nightmares. Cou...
Is oversleeping bad for you?
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’re no doubt familiar with what it feels like to be extremely tired after a long sleep. It’s a little like a hangover really: sluggishness, irr...
Why does the Catholic Church have a Moon Bishop?
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Diocese of Orlando, the capital city of the state of Florida, covers a large part of the state. It represents more than 400,000 Catholic residents...
Could sofa theory help you find your ideal partner?
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture the scene: a woman is sitting in a bar, when a man comes up to try to talk to her. She finds him attractive, but acts disinterested and more o...
What is confirmation bias and how does it affect our judgement?
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever found yourself in a debate with someone and realised as it goes on, that the person you’re talking to simply isn’t going to change t...
What is mirror work?
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is mirror work ? It’s not easy to learn to love yourself and have good self-esteem. But here’s the good news: it is possible to work at it. ...
What are some tips for reducing the glycemic index of starchy foods?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Starchy foods should actually be part of every meal. They come in three groups: cereal-based foods like bread, rice and pasta; pulses and legumes like...
What are the health benefits of using sex toys?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've long known that masturbation can help relieve stress and even alleviate menstrual pain in women, thanks to the release of hormones like endorphi...
Which clothes help us sleep best?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Slipping into sleepwear is an essential part of most people’s nighttime routine. We often do it when we’re winding down from a busy day, and it me...
What are parasocial relationships, the one-sided connections between celebs and their fans?
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This kind of one-way relationship is generally between a fan and a public figure or fictional character. It’s about the feeling of familiarity or ev...
Could SMART goals help you reduce stress?
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All personal development coaches emphasise the importance of setting goals, even ones that may seem out of reach at first. Doing so not only boosts mo...
Could intentional lazy parenting foster your child's independence?
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You have to navigate an almost endless list of uncertainties when raising a child, and it’s hard to figure out the best approach to parenting. At o...
Which of Asimov's predictions have come true?
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Speculative science fiction really is a genre of its own. Some people love it, others find it pointless, but you can’t deny the mental gymnastics in...
Could the PAUSE method help me make better decisions?
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you someone who thrives on making decisions at work, or do you prefer to take a back seat and let others have the final say? Decisions can be a so...
Is it bad to hold in your pee?
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m sure you can imagine a few scenarios in which you might have resisted the need to pee in the past. It may have been due to the toilets being unc...
Are cold showers good for you?
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even during the summer, the mere idea of taking an ice cold shower may well be enough to give you the shivers. After all, the soothing feeling of warm...
What is muscle dysmorphia?
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's back to school! DYRK is dedicating a special week to sport. Because moving and doing regular physical activity is important for our physical and ...
What is eco-anxiety?
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The UN’s COP26 summit is due to start this Sunday, and it’s pretty clear to most of us that climate change is the most serious threat to our healt...
What are the signs you might have sleep apnea?
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to a study published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease in 2015, 10% of all people are affected by obstructive sleep apnea. That figure rise...
Should I cut the electricity at home during a storm?
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As thunderclouds gather and winds intensify, the decision to shut off the power becomes a critical one, balancing safety concerns with the practicalit...
Could the deep work technique help me concentrate better at work?
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Distractions in the workplace are almost endless, from Slack group notifications to questions from colleagues to the dozen or more tabs you’ve got o...
How has Taylor Swift changed USA?
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
She's one of the most influential women in the world. Taylor Swift, a country star in the United States who has become a global pop star, is shatterin...
How does eldest daughter syndrome affect some women?
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Female listeners; if you're the oldest of multiple siblings, you probably know the drill. Being the big sister often means being thrust into a parenta...
What is restless anal syndrome?
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is restless anal syndrome? Thanks for asking! Although the global vaccination rate reached 40% in mid-October, Covid-19 clearly hasn’t gone ...
Is cracking my knuckles bad for me?
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re asking yourself whether cracking your knuckles is a bad thing, we'll take it as a given that you do crack your knuckles. You’ve probably...
Why do dogs often look like their owners?
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Numerous archaeological findings have suggested that dogs were the first animals to be domesticated by humans over 20,000 years ago. So it’s little ...
Why are so many people suffering from AI anxiety?
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Pew Research Center survey from August 2023 found that 52% of respondents were more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, compared with jus...
Has the climate breakdown really begun?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On September 6th, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a 96-word statement in which he referred to “climate breakdown” having begun. It ...
How can you spot AI-generated text?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For most 18-24 year olds, generative AI is already part of daily life. Research, emails, translations, summaries - AI is everywhere. Its possibilities...
Can exercise snacking help me beat a busy schedule to stay fit?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's back to school! DYRK is dedicating a special week to sport. Because moving and doing regular physical activity is important for our physical and ...
Why do we blow out candles on birthdays?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a scene that plays out in millions of homes across the world every day. There’s a sense of anticipation as the lights go out, only for the ro...
Why are we so fascinated by true crime?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 21st century has seen true crime stories surge in popularity, dominating bookshelves and TV schedules. Documentaries like Making A Murderer and po...
What is broken heart syndrome?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 co...
How many calories does having sex burn?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sex can certainly make us work up a sweat; but is it enough to cancel out that burger and fries you got from McDonald’s at lunchtime? Well if you...
What is stealth wealth?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stealth wealth or quiet luxury as it is sometimes known is the practice of concealing one's wealth or not flaunting one's money or possessions, but ra...
Why is the brain our biggest sex organ?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The brain plays a central role in desire, arousal, and sexual pleasure, but we don’t always realize just how much it influences our sex lives. While...
What is class-passing?
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody loves a rags-to-riches story, but the reality is social mobility is far from easy. Class-passers are those who manage to successfully improv...
Why do we get great ideas in the shower?
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that you tend to have your best ideas in the shower? If so, you’re not alone! A 2014 study conducted by cognitive psychologist...
How can you tell if you’re stingy?
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If there’s one trait nobody wants to claim, it’s stinginess. But being stingy isn’t about how much money you have. Take Ingvar Kamprad, the foun...
Is holding back a sneeze dangerous?
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it's a matter of courtesy or preventing the spread of germs, it's not uncommon for people to hold back a sneeze. When this happens, the interc...
What is flexitarianism?
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is flexitarianism? Thanks for asking! Flexitarianism is a portmanteau word combining flexible and vegetarianism. It’s a mostly vegetarian way ...
How can I meditate without meditating?
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meditation is often sighted as a great way to relax, reduce stress and help us focus, but it can be difficult for lots of people to do in the traditio...
Does the G spot really exist?
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ah, the G-spot... An often cited but frequently elusive erogenous zone which has a reputation of being able to unlock intense female orgasms if you kn...
Do men really have a better sense of direction than women?
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some theories in evolutionary psychology propose that men are better at spatial navigation than women due to evolutionary factors. In prehistoric time...
How can I limit the effects of sugar on my health?
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of those who have high blood sugar, we tend to think of people with diabetes, as they often have to monitor their levels and sometimes u...
How should I organise my fridge?
04 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might be the kind of person that meticulously fills your fridge with your groceries ensuring that every item is in the correct spot or perhaps you...
How much sleep should I get each night?
04 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We spend over a third of our lives sleeping. It allows our mind and body to recharge, which is vital for a number of reasons. It helps our immune syst...
What are the craziest beauty ‘standards’ in history?
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In French, when someone is beautiful, you can say they’re ‘canon’. The word itself means a general law, rule, princely or criteria by which so...
Should I be cleaning my belly button?
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We talked about omplaphobia in a recent episode of Do You Really Know, which is the fear of belly buttons. Well the subject of today’s episode may m...
How often should I shower?
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it's for the sake of comfort or maintaining good hygiene, many of us opt for taking a shower on a daily basis. Studies have shown it's the mos...
What is climate optimism?
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve talked about eco-anxiety before on Do You Really Know, and it’s real. A survey published in the Lancet in December 2021 found that 75% of yo...
What does vaping do to the body?
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vaping has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among young people. A 2022 report from Action on Smoking and Health found that an e...
Is it dangerous to drink too much water?
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All our organs contain water, even our bones. In total, more than half of our body is made up of it, or 45 litres for a person weighing 65 kg. The w...
Could unfaithfulness be caused by genetics?
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No one's proud of being unfaithful, but what if some people’s cheating was actually caused by genetics, rather than selfishness? That might sound li...
How should you get ready for your first mammogram?
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The thought of taking a mammogram is often scary for women, but it’s a highly important medical exam, and one we should bear in mind in the context ...
What is the Oosouji method of house cleaning?
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Japan, cleanliness is cultural and synonymous with well-being. That’s down in no small part to the influence of Shintoism, the country's oldest r...
Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, and it’s not for nothing. Our bodies make it from cholesterol when exposed to sunlight. The sun’...
Why do we jump when we get scared?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re watching a horror film, or exposed to a sudden loud noise, all of us have jumped at some point when scared. The body’s response to ...
Why should you be happy to see spiders in your home?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's your relationship with spiders like? Some people are pretty terrified of them, and for many their first reaction is to grab something to squash...
How does buckwheat improve your health?
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people know buckwheat as the flour used for pancakes or blinis. But it’s actually so much more than that! Even though it’s often used as a w...
Does stress really cause grey hair?
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard the saying, "This is giving me grey hair!" But is there any truth to it? Actually, yes. Several scientific studies confirm that st...
How often should I cut my hair?
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For some, a trip to the hairdresser feels like a chore, while for others, it’s a refreshing boost. Either way, getting regular haircuts isn’t just...
How can I improve my posture in the office?
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Musculoskeletal disorders, like back pain and arthritis, are recognized as occupational diseases in Western countries which have a large office workfo...
Why should you pee after having sex?
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I don’t know about your love life, but let’s be honest; for most people having sex doesn’t work out as smoothly as what you see in the movies. N...
Have you ever looked in the mirror and not recognized yourself?
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Depersonalization, a dissociative psychological syndrome, can be incredibly destabilising. It often takes years for sufferers to identify it. Charac...
How often should you wash your bedsheets?
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We spend a lot of time in bed and there is nothing nicer than snuggling up in clean fresh sheets but apparently not everyone feels the same. Accordi...
Could precrastination be affecting your productivity?
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“The enemy of success”; “the thief of time”; “the grave in which opportunity is buried”. Those are just three ways in which procrastinatio...
Are you an “ambivert”?
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert? Or maybe a bit of both? While introverts often need solitude to recharge and feel more comfortable alon...
What are the dangers of the BBL?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beauty standards are always shifting. Back in the '60s through the '90s, especially in the West, the ideal body for women was all about being slim, th...
What is the ‘Yes Man’ Technique?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like a grey cloud is hanging over you? Life seems a bit gloomy, and your days are dull. You’re craving a change, but you’re stuck in a r...
Does music really make us more productive?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
LoFi, short for "Low Fidelity," it blends elements of jazz with hip-hop rhythms, creating a relaxing soundscape. This genre has gained immense popul...
Why do we sneeze?
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all become a lot more self-conscious about sneezing since COVID-19 came along. Whether you’re out in the street or worse in crowded public t...
Can men get breast cancer?
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Figures from Cancer Research UK show that there are an average of nearly 57,000 new breast cancer cases detected each year in the country. It’s the ...
What was the Nazis' Madagascar Plan?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we talk about the Holocaust, most of us immediately think of death camps like Auschwitz or Dachau, chilling symbols of the Nazis’ “Final Solu...
Could "mouth taping" really help me sleep better?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mouth taping involves putting tape over your mouth. It's supposed to improve your sleep by forcing you to breathe through your nose rather than your m...
What is jeffing?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever found yourself swearing off sports after a grueling session, plagued by aches and pains, or feeling like you’re always lagging behind? Whethe...
How can we live without regrets?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, in his work The Joyful Wisdom, explored this through a thought experiment he called the "eternal return." He asked us...
Does your name really affect your looks?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does your face match your name? Surprisingly, researchers have scientifically proven that an Emma will never resemble a Sophie, or a Jack or an Oliver...
What is Fridgescaping?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever thought about making your fridge as stylish as your wardrobe or living room? Afterall presentation is important. Welcome to the world of fridgesc...
Who is the richest man in history?
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos… modern billionaires are in a league of their own. We’re often told that wealth comes from hustle, long hou...
Is it better sleeping with or without a pillow?
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We don’t know about you, but some nights we just can’t fall asleep without turning onto our stomach. And when we do, we seem to drift off more eas...
Is it really good to drink coffee every morning?
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If the mere smell of a good cup of coffee is enough to get you out of bed, you might want to rethink your early morning ritual. According to nutritio...
What are some of the world's best treasure hunts?
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After over three decades of relentless searching, the Golden Owl was finally found on October 3, 2024. This €150,000 treasure was hidden back in 199...
What are the dirtiest objects in your home?
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might assume that your toilet bowl is the dirtiest place in your flat or house, but in fact that’s pretty far from the truth. Our homes are ac...
How can you revitalise your relationship with 3 expert sex tips?
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might or might not be surprised to learn that warm weather naturally enhances the libido. According to a 2022 survey by the Kinsey Institute, 60%...
What's the best way to have quick sex?
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A few months ago we ran an episode on how long people have sex for, and referenced an American study from the 2000s which found that the ideal length ...
What is reverse ageing?
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, American multi-millionaire Bryan Johnson began his Project Blueprint. Then 43, his stated aim was to restore his body and organs to the state...
How do aeroplanes fly?
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been on an aeroplane and wondered how on earth a vehicle weighing tens of thousands of kilograms can even take off, let alone stay in th...
What does the popcorn index teach us about the economy?
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Figuring out how well the economy is doing might seem like the preserve of those working in big accounting firms or financial institutions, dealing wi...
What are lucid dreams?
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucid dreams are dreams in which you become aware that you are dreaming while you are dreaming. This means that you can recognise that the events and ...