Imagine being drunk, without having drunk a single drop of alcohol, it seems completely implausible, and yet for some is a reality. South-West media shared the story of a motorist who appeared in court in Bruges in 2022 after being found to have too much alcohol in his blood twice in the same year. The man, in his forties, was eventually acquitted, proving that the tests were not the result of a night of drinking, but rather of auto-brewery syndrome. 

Self-brewing syndrome, also known as intestinal fermentation syndrome, is when your body turns into a mini-brewery. Professor Alvarez, co-author of an analysis published on the subject in December 2020. says it’s when carbs ferment into ethanol right inside your gut, thanks to yeast. Normally, our gut yeast can’t brew enough booze to affect us. But for those with auto-brewery syndrome, it’s a different story. They’ve got an overabundance of yeast, and when too much sugar is consumed, it ferments into alcohol, leading to drunkenness.

What is it? And what are the consequences? Can it be treated? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How are LGBTQIA+ people getting on at work?

Why is June Pride Month?

Where does the LGBT rainbow flag come from ?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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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 or less ignores him, in order to not seem desperate. The man gives up and leaves the woman alone, but she then feels dissatisfied that he hasn’t persisted.

It might seem like a counterintuitive approach, but according to American psychotherapist Ellnor Greenberg, it’s all too common. Writing for Psychology Today in February 2023, she explained that her female clients often tell her the same kind of story in therapy sessions.

I don’t get it - what are the similarities between a sofa and a romantic partner? Does the sofa theory really work? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Do tongue scrapers actually help with bad breath?

Do our brains really tell the whole story about us?

How can heatwaves impact our mental health?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 15/6/2024

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A small chocolate bar. A tablespoon of honey. A hummingbird. Those are a few different things that weigh around 21g. And you can add the human soul to that list, according to the 21 grams experiment from the early 20th century. That’s right; while there’s no scientific evidence that the soul even exists, a theory emerged not only suggesting that it does, but also putting its weight at the figure of 21g.

The 21g figure comes from research by British doctor Duncan MacDougall. His observations led him to believe that at the moment a person dies, they lose exactly 21 grams in weight. And he was also convinced that if the soul exists, it must have a weight, just like any other physical matter.

How did a theory like that come about? How well was the experiment received?

In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Why are some people constantly sexually aroused ?

Why are we afraid of the dark?

Why do people consider the number seven lucky?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast 6/04/2024

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The clitoris is the only organ in the human body that’s dedicated solely to pleasure. It doesn’t have any muscles or play any role in the body's other functions. And while our understanding of the clitoris has improved in recent years, there's still a lot to learn, as research in this area is relatively new.

Until recently, researchers thought that the clitoris had 8,000 nerve endings. For comparison, that's more than double the sensory receptors found on the glans of the penis.

Why is the clitoris so sensitive? I’ve heard people compare the clitoris to the penis before. Are there really similarities between the two? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Should you really drink hot drinks when it’s hot?

Could insects replace meat?

How can I stop my plants from dying?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 3/7/2024

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Although it is quite usual to find insects in markets in both Africa and Asia it is rather more unusual for people in the West to eat them.

However, with increased awareness of animal welfare and environmental concerns around eating meat people are beginning to think more seriously about insects as food rather than something to be swatted. The problem is that a lot of people find eating bugs pretty off putting, but now scientists have discovered that mealworms, traditionally used as pet food or as bait for fishing, have a rather meat-like flavour when cooked with sugar and could maybe offer new hope to the insects-as-food debate.

What are the benefits of eating insects? What are the disadvantages of eating meat? So will we be seeing insects in supermarkets soon? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

Date of first release : 27 septembre 2022

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Could hot rodent men be the new male ideal?

Why are mini animals so popular?

Why does walking through doorways make us forget things?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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The butterfly effect is the idea that a small change in one part of the world can have huge consequences in another. It is often used as a metaphor for how our actions can shape the future in unpredictable ways.

The term was coined by the American mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz, who was studying the behavior of weather systems. He discovered that even tiny variations in the initial conditions of a weather model could lead to vastly different outcomes over time. He illustrated this with the example of a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil and causing a tornado in Texas.

What kind of systems exhibit the butterfly effect? What does the butterfly effect mean for us? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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How can I know if my partner is micro-cheating on me?

What explains the rise of birth tourism?

How to exercise safely when the weather is cold?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

First broadcast 30/11/2023

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The idea might seem inconceivable to some, but these days more and more people are choosing to be in LAT relationships. The LAT part of the term stands for Living Alone Together, which means that LAT couples are in a committed romantic relationship, but each person maintains their own private life and space.

Back in 2011, a research team began a multi-method study looking into how prominent LAT couples were in the UK. They went on to publish their findings in a research briefing in 2013, showing that 9% of adults in the UK are in a LAT couple.

Just how common is that? What’s the appeal of a LAT arrangement? Are you saying people in LAT couples will automatically argue less? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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Can you train your brain like a muscle?

How often should you wash your jeans?

Should I walk 10000 steps a day?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 1/6/2024

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Our brain, much like our muscles, benefits from its own form of exercise. Through dedicated training and stimulation, we can enhance our cognitive abilities, a testament to the remarkable phenomenon known as ‘neural plasticity’.

Neural plasticity is the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt and reorganise itself. According to the Foundation for Brain Research, when we encounter a new concept, our brain responds by forging fresh neural connections. With consistent practice, these connections grow stronger and more efficient, leading to improved performance.

What is Neural Plasticity? Can Intelligence Be Enhanced? What role does a healthy lifestyle play? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

Can you train your brain like a muscle?

How often should you wash your jeans?

Should I walk 10000 steps a day?

A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First Broadcast: 6/6/2024

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When it comes to health, it’s clear that gender differences play a significant role. It's now recognized that the occurrence of diseases, their onset age, symptoms, severity, and even responses to medications differ between men and women.

The question of whether men and women perceive pain differently has been a topic of scientific discourse for quite some time. It’s an important matter too, as it could influence whether treatments should be tailored based on gender. For now, current studies haven't been able to definitively settle the debate.

Is there anything we do know for sure already? Are there other theories out there on gender-based pain perception? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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

Why do we get great ideas in the shower?

Should I cut the electricity at home during a storm?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 22/11/2023.

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When you’re feeling a little blue, eating to feel better can be an appealing proposition. But the reality is we often turn to junk food or sugary treats that are high in calories and packed with salt or saturated fats.

Of course, our mood can be impacted by a number of factors and there’s no magic fix that will instantly make us feel better. But there are actually types of food out there that have been proven to improve brain health and thereby beat mood disorders.

Which foods are proven to improve brain health? Avocados are rich in Omega 3, aren’t they? Don’t bananas also contain tryptophan? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

Do tongue scrapers actually help with bad breath?

Do our brains really tell the whole story about us?

How can heatwaves impact our mental health?

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

First Broadcast: 20/3/2023

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