Do you really know?

Why does the cold make us need to pee?

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We've all experienced it: the sudden urge to pee when it's cold is a common thing. This connection was supposedly discovered by Austrian physician Alf...

How can you save money on your food bill?

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of living crisis has seen food prices increase by as much as 65% according to the Office for National Statistics meaning that the average Bri...

Which foods will help you get a good night's sleep?

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Here at Do You Really Know, we’ve talked over and over again about the importance of getting good quality sleep. So of course, you don’t want your...

What is a caffè sospeso?

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Caffè sospeso literally translates to English as a ‘suspended coffee’. It’s an Italian tradition whereby cafe customers pay for an extra coffee...

Why do we get goosebumps?

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The term goose bumps appeared way back in the 17th century, and describes the well-known phenomenon which shows up when we’re cold, scared or simply...

Should vapes have the same restrictions as cigarettes?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the UK you can only buy vapes or e-cigarettes if you are over 18, but the bright packaging, fruit flavors and affordable prices attracts teenagers ...

Gaza: how do we recognize genocide?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged an unprecedented offensive on Gaza. What began as retaliation against Hamas attacks has escalated into relentl...

Can you get food poisoning from raw fish?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Eating raw fish like sushi and sashimi has never been more popular, whether that’s in restaurants or on supermarket shelves. The good news is that s...

Why do we need to get bored more often?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this day and age, we barely have time to be bored, what with the endless stream of notifications coming from our smartphones, music, TV shows, game...

Is sleeping naked good for you?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to a YouGov study from 2022, 20% of Brits sleep naked. Men are actually more likely to do so than women, with a rate of 25% compared to 15%....

How can I reduce damp and mould in your home?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to Dr Yasemin Didem Aktas, deputy academic director of the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB), “Mould is everywhere, all the time...

What does my urine colour say about my health?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of our lifetime, we around 34,000 litres of urine, according to Business Insider. Urine evacuates the nitrogen-containing waste prod...

Is nostalgia good or bad for us?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever noticed how revisiting films from your childhood, listening to old tunes, or flipping through cherished books can bring on a certain sen...

What happens to our bodies when we die?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2016, researchers in Vancouver, Canada observed an unprecedented phenomenon: an 87-year-old patient died while undergoing an MRI scan. It was the...

What is sad nipple syndrome?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The nipples are an erogenous zone for many people. But as it turns out, having them touched can bring on a whole other kind of feeling for others. The...

What is coffee badging in the workplace?

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the relationship many white-collar employees have with work. And that’s par...

What is intuitive eating?

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An IPSOS study from late 2020 found that 45% of people across the world were trying to lose weight at the time. In many cases, losing weight is benefi...

What is house hushing?

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

House hushing is a decluttering method that aims to create peaceful spaces in your home by reducing visual noise. Visual noise refers to anything exce...

How can I use the 80/20 method to save money?

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re like many people, you probably want to save more money but hate the idea of budgeting. Maybe you don’t like tracking every single expens...

What causes lactose intolerance?

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's becoming a more common topic of discussion. According to BUPA.co.uk, “around one in every 10 older children and adults are thought to have lact...

What is Ulysses Syndrome?

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You may remember hearing about ancient Greek hero Ulysses in school lessons. He’s the central character in Homer’s Odyssey. As legend goes, after ...

How can I beat my work addiction ?

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Being a grafter or hustler is often portrayed in a positive light when it comes to the world of work. But there are a host of negative consequences th...

How can I stop snacking?

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Snacking is a bad habit that can have a significant impact on your weight and health in the long term. It can be tricky to beat, so here are our top t...

How can I free myself from negative thoughts?

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to American neuroscientist Daniel Amen, a specialist in brain imaging, we produce 60,000 thoughts per day, and a staggering 80% of these tho...

Should I start my Christmas shopping in autumn?

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably noticed that as soon as the back-to-school season ends, stores start filling their shelves with chocolates, garlands, and Advent calen...

How can I stop smoking?

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all know that the effects of tobacco on the human body are devastating. The World Health Organisation says that it kills more than 8 million people...

Why are most people right-handed?

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Around the age of 4, children develop a preference for using one of their hands to complete certain tasks, like drawing for example. The same goes for...

Is it really possible to disappear from the internet?

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The internet knows everything about us. Even when we think we’re discreet, traces remain, bank accounts, emails, administrative forms, social media ...

Does cold weather really make us sick?

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Wrap up warm, or you'll catch a cold!" No doubt you heard that advice a lot as a child, and you may well still hear it as an adult. For a long time, ...

Why is black associated with grief?

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A funeral is one of those rare occasions where you don’t really need to think too much about your choice of outfit. After all, everyone wears black ...

What is an endemic?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An infection becomes endemic in a population when it is constantly maintained at a baseline level. That happens when the circulation of the virus is t...

Does true crime help us fall asleep?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For some, true-crime stories have a strangely calming effect when they are tucked up in bed for the night. It’s a phenomenon that’s not gone unnot...

Could Turmeric help indigestion?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Turmeric is a plant that belongs to the ginger family. It has a bright yellow-orange color, and a bitter and peppery taste. The main active ingredient...

What happens to your online life after you die?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you die, your physical body may be gone, but your digital legacy lives on. Your digital legacy is everything you leave behind online, such as you...

Why are Gen Z “revenge quitting” their jobs?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been so fed up at work that you wanted to not only quit your job, but also make a statement while doing so? Well, that’s a workplace ...

Am I in a situationship?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes there’s a very thin line between friendship and love. You spend time with someone, you’ve got things in common, you make each other laug...

What is chromophobia?

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chromophobia is a term with Greek origins, referring to the fear of colours. Initially, it was a concept used in biology to describe cells unresponsiv...

Why do you get a stitch in your side?

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know the feeling: you’re running, cycling, or doing some other physical activity, and suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your side, just below yo...

Are you a time optimist?

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A time optimist is someone who is overly optimistic about how much time they have to do something, and therefore often ends up being late or missing d...

Why does cooking benefit our mental health?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cooking is a passion and hobby for a lot of people. They scour Pinterest for hours to pick the best recipe, dice their ingredients finely, let the foo...

What is a “performative man,” this trend that has taken over TikTok?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A matcha in hand… a tote bag slung over the shoulder… black nail polish neatly applied… a carefully styled mullet… and a copy of Sally Rooney ...

What are the health benefits of walking up stairs?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever heard ot the stairs test? Experts say it’s an excellent gauge of a person’s overall health. The idea is to run up as many flights of...

What should I do with expired medicines?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How many times have you come across expired pills in your medicine cabinet and wondered  whether they we still safe to use? It’s pretty common, and...

Is microwaving food bad for you?

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been labelled a “marvel of engineering” and a “miracle of convenience” by Harvard Health Publishing. Data published by Statista in July...

Could you be micro-flirting without realising it ?

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are plenty of ways to get the attention of someone you're crushing on. It might come very naturally to some, but for others, flirting can be an ...

What is quiet hiring?

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the emergence of ‘quiet quitting’, it's now the turn of quiet hiring. And although the term is relatively new, the practice is not. The ter...

Is intermittent fasting really effective?

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Intermittent fasting has been making waves, especially on social media, where it's often hailed as a miracle fix for weight loss. While it's no silver...

Is shaving too often bad for you?

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a lot of popular ideas out there about body hair removal. Shave too much and the hair becomes thicker. Wax, and it will gradually start thin...

Is using cotton buds bad for your ears?

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Polish-American man Leo Gerstenzang is credited with inventing the humble cotton bud in the 1920s, an item which has since gone on to be used for many...

Why are we afraid of the dark?

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fear of the dark is very common for children and usually starts between the ages of 5 and 10. At this age, children become more aware of the dangers a...

What are some of the most common phobias?

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all got fears. For some, it’s the dark, for others, it’s spiders, heights, or maybe even something as ordinary as a phone call. But when t...

Why do we celebrate Halloween?

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Halloween is here and if you’re anything like us, you’ll be frantically doing some last-minute pumpkin carving or stocking up on sweets for trick-...

Why do we experience the unsettling "Uncanny Valley" effect?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In November 2023, a spooky makeup trend took TikTok by storm. Users posted images of themselves with full-coverage, pale foundation for a ghostly vibe...

Why do we enjoy being scared?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ghost stories told around a camp fire, visiting a haunted house or watching a scary film are all common Halloween activities. We clearly enjoy scaring...

Why do I get an electric shock when I kiss someone?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's not uncommon for sparks to fly in unexpected ways during intimate moments; sometimes literally! You’ve most likely gone in to kiss someone only...

Could the AI bubble burst sooner than expected?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In economic terms, a speculative bubble refers to a situation in which the price of an asset becomes heavily overvalued. An asset could be anything fr...

How can you protect yourself from being mugged?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mugging is a form of robbery that involves violence or the threat of violence against a person in a public place. It’s also known as street robbery ...

What causes tocophobia, the fear of pregnancy and childbirth?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to the NHS, approximately 1,600 babies are born every day in the United Kingdom. But what often goes unspoken are the nine months leading up...

Why do our fingers wrinkle in water?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We've all experienced that strange sensation of stepping out of the bath or swimming pool, and noticing grooves which have formed on the tips of our f...

Could moon breathing help you sleep better?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this day and age, it’s common to feel stressed every day, even right through to the evening. Have you ever struggled to lower your stress levels ...

What are the dangers with being overly perfectionist?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Perfectionism is the tendency to set excessively high and unrealistic standards for oneself and others, and to evaluate one’s worth based on the abi...

Who are the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who are the Red Hot Chili Peppers? With their new album Unlimited Love having been released on 1st April, let’s talk about the famous Californian...

What are the latest advances in lung cancer treatment?

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are the latest advances in lung cancer treatment? In April 2022, findings from the large scale CheckMate 816 clinical trial were presented to t...

How can I beat Monday morning syndrome?

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the sun sets on this rainy Sunday evening, reality sinks in. You didn't quite muster the energy to venture out, and now it's back to the grindstone...

What is the Ikea effect?

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’re no doubt familiar with IKEA as the king of flatpack furniture. But you may not be aware that the Swedish company’s name is also associated ...

Can chocolate really kill dogs?

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been terrified of finding your dog munching on an Easter egg or chocolate treat during the holidays? It’s the kind of thing that can t...

What is female viagra?

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been over two decades now since viagra was first approved for use in 1998, the little blue pill from Pfizer becoming the first oral treatment f...

Is it good to have aches and pains after doing sport?

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Muscle pain generally occurs after an intense sports session. "They are due either to unusual muscular work, or to an increase in the intensity of a w...

Is there any truth that lemon water is good for you ?

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lemon water is a popular drink that many celebrities and wellness gurus swear by. But is it really as good as they claim? Or is it just another fad th...

Can plants communicate with one another?

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You might think that plants are silent and passive, but recent studies have shown that they can actually make sounds and send signals to each other, e...

What is AI inbreeding?

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Seventy-four percent of 18 to 24-year-olds use AI every day, according to a February 2025 Ipsos  study. No surprising really, chatbots now handle so ...

Why do mouth sounds drive some people crazy?

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s face it there are certain sounds that are just annoying to be exposed to, or sometimes even to think of! Someone chewing loudly with their mou...

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mistletoe is a small evergreen parasitic plant that grows in clusters on trees. It has white berries and it has been used for centuries as a symbol of...

Why are young people looking so old?

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you're aged between 30 and 40, you're part of Generation Y, also known as the ‘millennials’ You may have already said to yourself that the next...

What is the psychology behind the bystander effect?

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve probably already walked by a stranger spreadeagled on the ground. Chances are that if you saw several people already offering assistance, you...

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...