Some theories in evolutionary psychology propose that men are better at spatial navigation than women due to evolutionary factors. In prehistoric times, men, as hunters, traversed long distances, while women stayed closer to the home.  

This difference supposedly led to natural selection favouring genes in men associated with better spatial navigation skills. However, these theories have been widely challenged, in particular by British philosopher Cordelia Fine. Back in 2010 she published a book entitled Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference.

Why has the misconception around spatial navigation persisted? Does education have anything to do with it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is benevolent sexism?

What are the best techniques for giving oral sex to a woman?

What is deep ecology?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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Sorry to end the week with bad news but tomorrow, January 16th, is Blue Monday, often cited as the most depressing day of the year. Blue Monday has existed since 2005, and is based on an equation which takes into account various factors. However, its detractors criticise the idea as pseudoscience and say it is driven by money.   

Since the first Blue Monday equation was devised by psychologist Cliff Arnall, there have been a few different variants, but there are common elements to each. Of course you’ve got the winter weather, which explains why Blue Monday isn’t a phenomenon in the southern Hemisphere, where January is a summer month. Blue Monday is also not well known in the United States, as it usually clashes with Martin Luther King Day.

Why does Blue Monday occur in January? Black Friday, Super Saturday, Blue Monday - why do I get the feeling this is just another marketing thing? Is there any scientific evidence backing Blue Monday ? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is the internet of senses?

What is goblin mode?

What should I eat before going to bed?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 18/1/2021

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Have you ever felt like your horoscope was written just for you? Or a fortune’s cookie advice seemed incredibly relevant? You may be surprised, but it’s actually not such a coincidence after all. This psychological phenomenon is known as the Barnum effect.

It’s a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that generic personality descriptions and statements apply specifically to them. It may explain how practices such as astrology, fortune telling and personality tests have become relatively accepted despite lacking any basis in fact. Of course, people offering such services may not be aware of the Barnum effect label, but many understand how it works and seek to exploit it for their gain.

Where does the name come from? So the professor was slacking rather than the students on that occasion! In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is astropsychology?

What is a Saturn return in astrology?

Why has astrology come back into fashion?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 1/3/2022.

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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... 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!

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What is negging, the toxic flirting technique?

Could the Pomodoro technique help me work better?

How can I reduce damp and mould in your home?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 12/6/2021

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It’s pretty common knowledge that office workers across the world have a sedentary lifestyle, which is linked with a whole host of potential health problems. But did you know that most of us also unconsciously hold our breath when staring into an electronic screen?

The phenomenon was discovered by former Microsoft executive Linda Stone back in 2008, who named it email apnea. While she did a lot of breathing exercises at home, she realised those went out the window when she was in front of her computer screen looking through her emails. Fast forward to the 2020s and it’s not just emails that cause us to hold our breath. Laptops and smartphones are now part of our everyday lives, meaning we spend more time than ever before using electronic devices.

What’s going on in our bodies when this happens? What are the health effects? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What are lucid dreams?

What are primitive reflexes?

Is it bad to drink water with a meal?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 18/10/2023

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Barbie has quite the impressive CV. She has had over 150 careers including fashion editor, surgeon and astronaut - enough to inspire any young fan. But what she has career-wise, she lacks when it comes to inclusivity.

Barbie is usually blond, perfect and impossibly proportioned - there is a reason Margo Robbie is playing her in the latest Barbie film. But this is finally going to change: Barbie is becoming more inclusive. Mattel is launching a new ‘Fashonista line’ which will include barbies with various disabilities, making it the most inclusive Barbie line to date.

What does an inclusive Barbie look like? Why has it taken so long to have an inclusive Barbie? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How can I reduce my belly fat?

What are the health benefits of algae?

Why am I getting bags and circles under my eyes?

A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 18/10/2023

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Not long ago we talked about the Pygmalion effect in an episode of Do You Really Know? Well today’s subject is pretty much the exact opposite! The Golem effect is the idea that negative words or assumptions can influence behaviours and transform those assumptions into reality. It’s another type of self-fulfilling prophecy, which sees lower expectations lead to poorer performance and behaviour in individuals.

And just like the Pygmalion effect, the term was also coined by Robert Rosenthal, this time in a 1982 paper after having conducted research along with Elisha Babad and Jacob Inbar. The name comes from Jewish folklore, and more specifically the tale of the Golem of Prague. 

What are the main areas in which the Golem effect can be observed ? What about in relationships?How can we overcome the Golem effect? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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Are women really more emotional than men?

Why are celebrities dissolving their facial fillers?

What is the Smurfette Principle?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 27/8/2023

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The subject we’re talking about today is most associated with Japan, but is also relevant in many other parts of the world. The Japanese word “Karoshi” means "death by overwork". In a broad sense, it refers to workers who die suddenly from a bodily failure like a stroke or heart attack due to extreme stress and long working hours. 

Let’s look into the causes and consequences of a phenomenon that affects millions of workers in Japan and beyond. Overworking in Japan actually became very common during the post WW2 economic boom, when the country rapidly rose to the status of the world's second-largest economy, after the United States.

Is "Karoshi" a recent issue? what can be done to prevent Karoshi? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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What is the medication Ozempic and why is it being used for weight loss?

What are subway shirts, the viral anti-harassment trend?

What is the optimism bias?

A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 10/6/2024

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According to The Cleveland Clinic, around one in four people are affected by bad breath. It’s also known as halitosis and bad breath can be a source of embarrassment. It’s sometimes caused by consuming certain well-known foods, like garlic, onion, cheese, and coffee for example. 

But it can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as pneumonia, gum recession, kidney disease and gastrointestinal disorders.

Do bacteria have anything to do with it? How can we avoid bad breath? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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Why do our stomachs rumble?

Why does hair turn grey?

What does it mean to be a seenager?

A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 21/5/2023

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The infamous little belly bulge located around the abdomen can be a source of self-consciousness for many people. Getting rid of it is often one of the main motivations for people looking to lose weight. However, reducing or shedding this abdominal fat can prove to be quite the challenge.

But belly fat, also known as visceral fat, isn't only a cosmetic concern. It’s a serious risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers.

Why is visceral fat dangerous? Why is abdominal fat so difficult to shift? What are the tips to get ride of it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Could Britain ever rejoin the EU?

What 5 foods can improve brain performance?

What is pandemic skip?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 4/8/2023

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