Do you really know?

What is telehealth?Telehealth refers to remote health services which are provided using technology. While the technologies have been around for decades, uptake has been relatively slow. That’s changed with the current COVID-19 pandemic however, as telehealth has become a must for patients and doctors alike.  The terms telehealth and telemedicine are sometimes used interchangeably, though the scope of telehealth is seen as being greater. The World Health Organisation recognises that telemedicine is “an open and constantly evolving science, as it incorporates new advancements in technology and responds and adapts to the changing health needs and contexts of societies. The most obvious example of telehealth is a medical appointment carried out by videoconference, rather than face-to-face. You simply use an online service to book your appointment in advance and then connect to the service at the agreed time.But other kinds of processes or procedures also fall under this label. For example, when one doctor contacts another in order to ask for their opinion, or receives guidance while performing a medical act on a patient.Self-monitoring enables medical professionals to follow patients remotely, using various devices. This is particularly useful for long-term conditions like heart disease, diabetes and asthma. Studies of these scenarios have shown that health outcomes are generally comparable to in-person appointments, while offering greater satisfaction and cost savings.  Teleconsultations also help with other growing challenges, like caring for an ageing population, monitoring chronic conditions and providing healthcare for residents of so-called medical deserts. Those are remote areas where a previously existing hospital may have closed, and no doctors are physically based.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are desert locusts?Desert locusts are a type of insect which have been threatening agricultural production in Africa, Asia and the Middle East for centuries. They are phytophagous, which means they feed on plants. In early 2020, these locusts have invaded several countries in East Africa, destroying vegetation everywhere they go. Experts fear the risk of famine, in a part of the world where many already live with food insecurity. To really understand what’s brought about the current upsurge, you have to go back to May 2018 and the Empty Quarter desert in the Arabian Peninsula. A cyclone and heavy rains created a warm, wet climate, which was ideal for desert locusts to breed and flourish. This area has no roads and is therefore not closely monitored by humans. A second cyclone later the same year enhanced this problem, with three generations of breeding occurring undetected. The locusts started migrating towards Yemen, where a civil war prevented any intervention, and then onto the horn of Africa. Just as countries were trying to contain the breeding in late 2019, Tropical Cyclone Pawan struck. The situation was already becoming out of control and it has only gotten worse since.Somalia has declared a state of emergency, while several other countries are already facing their worst infestation for decades. There were six major locust outbreaks in the 20th century, with the last taking place between 1987 and 1989. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, desert locusts appeared at the border with South Sudan and Uganda at the end of February 2020. That was the first time since 1944, when the insects caused a famine. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has already confirmed this is the worst locust outbreak to hit the Horn of Africa for 25 years. Many are already referring to the current situation as a plague, and there’s no telling how much worse it could get.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is male contraception?We’ve all heard of the pill and the coil for women, but did you know that male contraceptives also exist? The obvious examples are condoms and the withdrawal method, but new solutions are being developed in the form of gels, shots and even thermal underwear. Many have tried and failed in the past, with no such products yet achieving commercial success.The ideal situation would be to have a form of male birth control that’s safe, effective and reversible. Of course, there are also vasectomies for those who are looking for something more permanent. As you may know, a vasectomy is a surgical procedure which consists of sealing off the tubes which carry sperm.Male pills have already been developed. They basically rely on hormonal modifications, in the same way as female contraceptive pills. By suppressing two types of male hormones called FSH and LH, a decrease in testosterone production and sperm count is brought about. But it’s a hard sell to some guys, who feel anything that affects their male hormones will make them less of a man.Pharmaceutical companies are looking to find other ways of making sperm less mobile, and therefore less likely to fertilize an egg. They have tried gels which can be injected into the penis or the vas deferens ducts, preventing sperm from leaving a man’s body. It’s even been speculated that something as simple as a nasal spray or a pill could be used just before sex, with an immediate effect that lasts up to two days. Finally, thermal underwear can be used to raise the temperature in a man’s testicles, which has the effect of reducing sperm production.While this is all very interesting, some tests have shown unwanted side effects and the methods aren’t yet ready for large-scale production. News stories spring up every now and then promising a male pill within a few years, but nothing has been able to fit the bill.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is OK Boomer?OK Boomer is an internet-born phrase which surfaced in 2019 to highlight the generational gap between certain people of different ages. It pits baby-boomers up against the millennials and members of gen-Z. It all started as a viral meme on social media, which teens used to dismiss criticism of their generation, most often by so-called boomers. In the eyes of many young people, the treatment they were getting from older generations was condescending, and they needed to retaliate. One particular clip on TikTok has been viewed millions of times, featuring a white-bearded man talking about the millennials and gen-Z having Peter Pan Syndrome.The phrase got mainstream media attention towards the end of the year, when a 25-year old New Zealand MP called Chloe Swarbrick used it in parliament. The Green Party representative was heckled by another MP while speaking about the country’s short-term politics on climate change.Some feel it’s a pejorative form of ageism, as those who use it are effectively saying all people of a certain age are not worth listening to. Others see it as a way for the snowflake generations to cut short a debate, not being able to take any criticism. In reality, it’s not that simple. Many younger people see it as fair game, after regularly having their views dismissed on serious subjects like climate change. In a way, OK Boomer is aimed at a mindset, rather than everybody born in a certain period of time.But there is definitely a sense that previous generations have created a mess which millennials and Generation Z are now having to deal with. Inequality is constantly rising and there’s a global climate crisis.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is cruelty free?Cruelty free is a label for products which don’t cause harm to animals. This kind of guarantee is designed to reassure consumers who refuse to buy products which are tested on animals. It’s most often used to describe cosmetics, but can also apply to a wide range of other household and pet products.There are many cruelty free labels around, but the main premise is generally the same: No end product or ingredient comes from or has been tested on animals. Suppliers have to prove they do not carry out animal testing and brands must agree to random testing.Cruelty-free shopping had become popular by the 1990s, but the concept was sometimes misleading and confusing. Brands were designing their own logos to certify their products as cruelty-free, according to their own definition of the term. Animal protection groups were excluded and clearly this important issue needed addressing by independent organisations.Among the many different labels seen today, two of the most strict are The Leaping Bunny Program from Cruelty Free International and Beauty Without Bunnies by PETA. Both feature extensive online databases on cruelty-free companies. Visitors can search by country, by product type and whether the company tests on animals or not. PETA require a company’s CEO to sign a statement of assurance guaranteeing they and their suppliers will never carry out any form of animal testing.If you’re wondering which cosmetics brands are cruelty-free, Lush is one of the safest options out there. The international company has had a no animal testing policy in place since it was first created. Others include Urban Decay, Too Faced and The Body Shop.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is...no, who is Alan Smithee?Alan Smithee is perhaps Hollywood’s least talented director! Let me explain…It’s not uncommon for directors to disown their projects by using a pseudonym. Most often, they are not satisfied with the movie, or feel that it does not represent their creative vision. This is often due to pressure and interference from producers or movie studios, preventing the director from keeping control of the project. Alan Smithee is one of the most used pseudonyms, as well as a few similar variants like Adam Smithee.Until the 1960s, when making a movie went badly, the director was always heavily criticised, no matter the nature of the problems. On the other hand, when a movie achieved recognition and received an award, the producer was the one to take the acclaim. That was because producers were the ones to always approve the final cut. Only in 1968 did the Director’s Guild of America change its rules to allow for directors to be credited under a pseudonym. That was specifically for the release of a movie called Death of a Gunfighter. During filming, the lead actor Richard Wildmark arranged for a change of director to finish the project. But neither director wished to be credited, as they felt Wildmark had been calling the shots all along. The DGA held a hearing and its panel agreed that neither director’s creative vision was represented. They found a compromise, and credited the movie to Alan Smithee. In fairness, the pseudonym had many fooled. Esteemed film critic Roger Ebert wrote in a Chicago Sun Times review that "Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally."See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Blob?The blob is a nickname for Physarum Polycephalum, a slime mold that can detect and digest food, move around and procreate. It’s ultra-resistant and has capacities for learning and transmitting information. While it had been largely ignored for a very long time, the blob and its distinctive features have been getting a lot of attention of late. That’s largely thanks to a public unveiling in late 2019, at the city zoo in Paris, France. Scientists in the French zoo grew the blob in a petri dish, before grafting it onto tree bark when it was large enough in size.  The Blob nickname is inspired by the 1958 movie of the same name. In the movie, a gooey alien lifeform lands on planet Earth and begins consuming everything in its path, all the while growing bigger and bigger. In reality, the Blob has been present on Earth for between 500 million and 1 billion years. But humans were unaware of it for a long time and confused it for lichen or mushrooms. The blob looks most like a mushroom, but it’s not a fungus. It produces pigments, but it’s not a plant. Finally it moves and feeds itself, but it’s not an animal either. The blob is a single-celled organism, which can be classed as a protist. That’s basically a scientific term for something that can’t be described as a fungus, plant or animal. With over 720 sex chromosome combinations, they procreate at great ease, dividing from their core and growing exponentially. A blob measuring nearly half a square mile has already been seen in the USA. There are thousands of different kinds of blob, of all colours. It is most often yellow, but can also be found in other shades like red, pink and white. Some live on land, some in water. The blob moves around using its network of veins, but it’s not the fastest of organisms. It’s average speed varies from 1 to 4 centimetres per hour.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a digital detox?A digital detox is a period of time when a person chooses to limit their use of computers and mobile devices. The aim is to reduce the stress that can be generated by technology and spend time concentrating on real-world social interactions instead. Digital detoxes are certainly in vogue - even the major internet companies are promoting it, despite the obvious role they play in facilitating our online habits.The term Digital Detox was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011. Since then, smartphones have become ubiquitous and 28% adult Americans admit to being online “almost constantly”, according to the Pew Research Center. Sometimes it gets close to addiction territory. And that’s why detox courses have been created, to get away from the internet and the smartphone.These camps originated in the United States, and were brought over to Europe in the 2010s. Dedicated coaches are employed to help cell phone addicts put their devices down. This doesn’t happen in hospitals or institutions, but rather in tourist establishments like luxury hotels or country guesthouses. The packages include relaxation treatments like massages, meditation and yoga. Costwise, you’re looking at around 300 - 500 dollars for a single night.So that’s the cushy version for office managers who overuse technology. In China, on the other hand, young digital addicts are locked up in camps where they have to follow military training. In recent years, there has been a push towards promoting digital wellbeing. Apple, for example, has added options to its iPhone devices to reduce distractions and improve concentration. You can also set up weekly reports to find out how much time you spend on your various apps. Once past a set limit, access is automatically blocked.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are hikikomori?A hikikomori is a reclusive person who withdraws from society and lives in their own home all the time. This isolation phenomenon is mainly recognised in Japan, where it’s believed there are over one million hikikomori. Local authorities are concerned about what may happen to these people, as well as their increasing numbers.The word hikikomori literally means “pulling inward” or “being confined”. Meanwhile, the Japanese government defines a hikikomori as a person who has remained isolated for over 6 months. That means they haven’t attended school or work, and have refused to leave their home or family home. In that time, they also haven’t had any real social interaction outside of their family circle. Despite being social recluses, hikikomori don’t necessarily have any mental health issues and they are rarely suicidal.Each individual has their own story. People may become hikikomori due to retirement, sickness, financial difficulties or family pressure. Sociologist Teppei Sekimizu explains that Japanese society has a tendency towards collectivism. A person’s perceived worth is often based on their ability to conform to the rules of collective life. Hikikomoris don’t fit in and this leads to their acute social withdrawal. porte de prisonWhen this particular demographic was baptised as hikikomori in the 1990s, it mainly concerned young people who were unable to find work. Since then, it’s become more common among middle-aged people, with their numbers now matching their younger counterparts. Among hikikomori who are over 40, more than half have been isolated for over five years, and nearly 20% for 20 years or more. Some live with their parents who may be in their 70s or 80s. Others live alone and end up becoming kodokushi. That means a person who dies alone and remains undiscovered, potentially for months or years.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are GINKs?The acronym GINKs stands for “Green Inclinations - No Kids”, referring to those who consciously decide to forego having children for environmental reasons. It’s inspired by the term DINKs of the 1980s, which meant “Double Income - No Kids”. Whereas childless couples have often been accused of being selfish in the past, GINKs choose not to form a family out of a sense of eco-responsibility. It’s not all that common to come across couples who openly identify as GINKs, but it is a growing trend and many are proud of their choice.  GINKs believe that many environmental issues are caused by the earth’s overpopulation. Indeed it’s likely our planet’s resources can’t provide for the needs of an infinite number of humans. So with a world population approaching 8 billion, some believe it’s time to slow down birth rates. Having a child contributes greatly to greenhouse gas emissions, especially in developed countries where an individual’s energy consumption is high. So there’s an environmental argument for a couple limiting the number of children they have, or not having any at all. But there’s more to it than just that.GINKs believe that the choice to lead a child-free life should be respected just as much as having kids. Many women get fed up with being told about their biological clock, or some kind of natural urge to have children which they are supposed to feel. They’re often asked “what are you waiting for?” by friends or family. Why shouldn’t they be able to reject this so-called duty, without feeling ashamed.Environmental journalist Lisa Hymas was one of the first women to call herself a GINK, back in 2010. She highlighted additional benefits to being child-free, such as greater financial freedom, increased leisure time and greater energy to invest in a career, friendships or romantic partnerships.See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices