Do you really know?

According to a study published in the Scientific Reports journal in 2017, the holiday season sees a peak in sex-related searches on Google and Twitter. The researchers behind the study also identified an increase in birth rates in late September, in other words nine months after Christmas of the previous year. So the evidence is there: for many of us, sexual desire increases at Christmas time. The study was called “Human Sexual Cycles are Driven by Culture and Match Collective Moods”, suggesting there’s something about our mood during the holiday season. And it’s not just Christmas. What’s the science behind all that then? Does it apply to other culture holidays? Christmas can also be a stressful period though, can’t it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why does Norway offer a Christmas tree to London every year?How to have an eco-friendly Christmas?Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas is almost upon us, and many of us see Coca Cola as being intrinsically linked to the season’s celebrations. That’s in no small part due to their iconic “Holidays are coming” TV adverts, like the 2019 version you can hear in the background. Indeed, it’s such a strong connection that many people wonder whether Santa Claus wears red because of Coca Cola.In fact, the idea of a kind-hearted old man known for his displays of generosity predates Santa by quite some time. Another name for Santa is Saint Nicholas, who was a 4th century Turkish bishop of the same name. He would leave coins in the shoes and stockings of poor children around the end of the year. Historians agree that Santa was inspired by Saint Nicholas, who would also have worn red robes due to his religious role. Where does Santa Claus come from? What was the link with Christmas? So what does Coca Cola have to do with all of this? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why does Norway offer a Christmas tree to London every year?How to have an eco-friendly Christmas?Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have ever been to London over Christmas then you could not have missed the lights on oxford street and of course the huge Christmas tree standing proud in Trafalgar Square. But it is a little-known fact that this tree is actually a gift from Norway. The very first tree was offered to England back in 1947 and every year since a tree is given to the British people from Norway to thank them for their support during WWII. During the war, Norway was occupied by Germany. The country, which had been at peace for over 150 years, surrendered quickly. But if Hitler thought that getting Norway to collaborate would be easy he was wrong. The king of Norway Haakon VII, in a fraught journey that nearly cost him his life on numerous occasions, fled to London. When did this tradition start? How did the UK support Norway? How does it get to  London from Norway?  In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:How to have an eco-friendly Christmas?Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Amber Minogue.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do You Really Know, Bababam's daily podcast, helps you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. This week, we're looking back at 10 words and phrases that have been on everyone's lips in 2022. From the Uber Files leak to "shrinkflation" in stores or "quiet quitting" at work, refresh your memory on some of the events and phenomena that best sum up the year gone by.Little did Eminem know when he invented obsessed super fan Stan for a track on The Marshall Mathers LP in 2000, that over two decades later the term would still be used, albeit with a twist.The fictional fan Eminem wrote about ended up killing himself and his pregnant wife when his favourite rapper never replied to his letters. Nowadays, the term mostly refers to hardcore fan communities who are extremely active on social media. How did stan culture emerge? Can you give me some examples? Stans sure are quick to jump to conclusions, aren’t they? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?Why is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas need not be a frenzy of shopping and unwanted gifts; more and more of us want to be mindful, minimal-waste consumers so here are some tips on how to have an eco-friendly Christmas. Real trees are more sustainable than artificial, but there is still a lot of waste, once Christmas is over go to recyclenow.com  to find out about drop-off points in your area, where old trees get turned into chippings for local parks and woodland areas. Alternatively, consider renting a real tree that is replanted once you are done.   The same goes for wreaths, real and if you are on a budget you can make your own from foliage, red berries, or mistletoe that you can pick up in a park or wood.  How to have an eco-friendly tree and decorations? What about gifts? What about the meal? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?Why is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Amber Minogue.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do You Really Know, Bababam's daily podcast, helps you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. This week, we're looking back at 10 words and phrases that have been on everyone's lips in 2022. From the Uber Files leak to "shrinkflation" in stores or "quiet quitting" at work, refresh your memory on some of the events and phenomena that best sum up the year gone by.Health professionals have warned against the dangers of puff bars on younger consumers for some time now. This recent phenomenon has become massively popular with young people, and especially on TikTok. Puff bars, also known as vape pens or pod mods, are flavoured electronic cigarettes designed for one-time use. Social networks have been flooded with puff bars of all different colours. Do they taste like regular cigarettes? How did this trend start? Are they as bad for you as regular cigarettes? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?Why is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week marks the start of Hanukkah, so listen to our rerun episode that looks at the history and customs related to the annual Jewish festival which falls in December each year. It's often known as the festival of Lights, and its origins go back as far as 22 centuries! The celebration is synonymous with commemorating a miracle. According to rabbinic tradition and ancient texts, Hanukkah represents the victory of the Jewish people over Greek invaders. In the 2nd century BC, Jewish peoples only accounted for a small portion of the vast territory governed by Greek king Antiochus IV. He ordered a campaign of repression against the Jewish religion, in favour of Hellenisation, meaning assimilating Greek traditions. He forbade rites and customs like circumcision, the Shabbat and even reading the Torah.What did the Jewish community do? What happened next? How is Hanukkah celebrated? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?Why is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 has seen controlled blackouts since the 1970s. The government has its Electricity Supply Emergency Code in place in case we end up in such a situation. The government plan sees rolling blackouts, with areas split into 18 different load blocks, each assigned a letter from A to U. At level one, each load block has three three-hour blackout periods per week, at level two, six and at level three, nine, meaning up to 27 hours per week without power. The National Grid warning suggested this could happen in January and February 2023. Let’s be clear; as of yet it’s not a foregone conclusion that we’ll get to that stage; but it pays to be prepared. Let’s go over some top tips to make sure you’re ready.Should I stock up on candles? What about food storage? What can I do to stay entertained? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:Why do Christmas decorations make me feel happier?How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?Why is the latest wave of Covid-19 destabilising the Chinese regime?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now if you’re anything like us, you get your Christmas tree, baubles and tinsel out before November has even ended! And as it turns out, psychologists say there could be mental health benefits to having Christmas decorations up in the house. So there’s no shame in wanting to get festive as early as possible. Improving your mood to start with. This is often linked to feelings of nostalgia. We think back to our childhood, when things were simpler. In our stressful adult lives, we have few opportunities to really feel irresponsible. Reliving the magic of Christmas by putting up colourful decorations is one way to take the pressure off, as it’s a time of innocence and joy. Bear in mind, this might not apply to people who have negative memories of the holiday season from the past. In that case, you might not feel like getting in the Christmas spirit at all. What kind of benefits are we talking about? What do Christmas decorations do to our brains? Do Christmas decorations affect our social lives? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:How to save money on your heating bill this winter?Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here we are, it’s one week until Christmas Day, meaning it’s your last chance to buy gifts for loved ones. There’s always a certain amount of pressure on givers to get their choice right, which can lead to stress. Gifts at Christmas are pretty much expected, so you have to do a little better than with a spontaneous gift at any other time of the year. Fear not, science is here to help you hit the nail on the head! In 2016, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Indiana University in the US looked at all existing studies on gift-giving and receiving to create a review. Their findings were published in the Current Directions in Psychological Science journal.What makes a gift “good” then? Should I avoid surprise gifts then? What about experience-driven gifts? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!To listen to the latest episodes, click here:How to save money on your heating bill this winter?Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian "Merchant of Death" freed by the US?What is friluftsliv, the perfect Norwegian lifestyle trend for winter?A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices