Why does the immune system differ from person to person? Why do some people seem more resistant to infections or viruses than others? New research has sought to answer these questions, and in the process shown the impact of smoking on your immune system and in particular the effects on the adaptive immune response.

Luke takes us through the new research and explains how smoking can turn off some of our internal defense systems.

An Irish research team has just had a breakthrough on their research into Long Covid. Luke recaps what we already know about the condition which causes brain fog and fatigue in roughly 1 in 3 patients infected with Covid-19.

He also explained what the brain blood barrier may have to do with it, and what potential treatments or preventative measures may come from this research.

Elon Musk's latest venture 'Neuralink' which aims to place a chip within the brain of a human has shown 'promising neural spike detection'. This means that down the line a brain implant could pick up on our thoughts and communicate them directly to a computer, allowing our thoughts to be sent as text messages without ever picking up a phone, or to move a prosthetic limb with ease.

Luke takes us through the latest developments in the world of brain implants and offers other examples of their existence already in circulation such as cochlear implants.

Could Viagra an erectile dysfunction drug, have a second function working to prevent Alzheimer's?

Luke recalls how the drug was initially created to treat angina before it's accidental side effect made it a huge success for Pfizer. He explains how the drug works and why researchers are looking at it more closely now.

Are you a night owl looking to become more of a morning person?

There are lots of health benefits to waking up earlier but is it even possible to become a morning lark if it's against your nature? Luke explains the role our genes and even the Neanderthal's play in our chronotypes.

He also offers some tips for changing your sleeping patterns and explains how your sleep patterns alter over time.

How many times should you shower each week? Or should we shower at all? The average changes depending on location and culture, ranging from 12 per week in Brazil to 5 per week in the UK.

We all know the obvious risks of not showering enough, but showering too much can also have it's downsides like overly dry skin and increased risk of infection. Luke explains how showering affects our body and why our bodies make things like sebum and sweat that we wash away.

Multiple sclerosis also known as MS is an auto immune disease that causes symptoms such as muscle weakness, pins and needles, double vision, poor balance and fatigue. There are various factors that affect your chances of developing MS including genetics, geography and according to a new study exposure to the Epstein–Barr virus. Luke explains the thought behind this new research and how it could help find a preventative measure for MS.

Although it might seem like it was just yesterday, it's already been 4 years since the first fatality as a result of Covid-19. Luke takes us back to what we knew then and shows just how quickly science reacted to the disease with things like vaccines and therapeutic remedies. He also asks what we have learned from the last 4 years and the most important question of all - Are we ready for the next pandemic when it comes along?

We might understand what causes an itch in theory: an insect bite, a healing wound, a poisonous plant. But, where does the urge come from? And what's going on within our bodies to make us scratch? Luke explains the science and the latest research which might finally result in remedies for those suffering with issues like dermatitis or eczema.

A dark tunnel with a light at the end, family and friends who have already passed on, or a religious figure are all common visions following near death experiences. But, what really happens when our hearts stop? And where do these visions come from? A new study of resuscitated patients in 3 hospitals across the world sought to answer these questions and in this episode Luke explains their findings.