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January 16th is Martin Luther King Day. In the United States, this is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. King was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The fight against racial discrimination is still essential today. Listen to our rerun episode about the Black Lives Matter movement! The Black Lives Matter movement originated in the U.S., following another tragedy. In 2012, black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by security agent George Zimmermann. When Zimmermann was acquitted the following year, three female activists created the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on Twitter as a show of outrage at the verdict. It caught on, and gradually developed into a much wider movement, especially after the deaths of two more African-American men: Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Do black people really die more than others in the United States? Isn’t that just an attempt to dismiss the Black Lives Matter struggle? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: What is synthetic fuel?What is a frozen conflict?What are warming stripes?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

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! For a number of years now, we’ve been hearing that the future of transport is electric, in particular due to the impact of fossil fuels on global warming. But there are a number of drawbacks, including cost, battery life, battery recycling, charging time which mean some people are reluctant to get on board. There are also fears that the switch to electric vehicles won’t be quick enough to meet environmental objectives. Some experts believe that the fastest way to reduce CO2 emissions from transport is to use fuels synthesised from organic materials that are carbon-neutral and can power existing vehicles.How are synthetic fuels made? Why are they a good alternative to fossil fuels? Will it be available to the general public? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky?Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?What are nepo babies?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

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! It’s nearly 11 months since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, and the war has reached somewhat of a stalemate. Many observers expected a swift Russian victory, no doubt including Vladimir Putin himself, but Ukrainian resistance proved fierce. Over the summer, Ukraine launched a counter-offensive and succeeded in taking back large parts of Russian-occupied territory. As we head into 2023, there’s a distinct possibility of the war becoming a drawn-out affair, even turning into a frozen conflict. That’s a situation where fighting has ceased, but there’s no clear resolution in the form of a peace treaty or political agreement. Hostilities could resume at any moment and the climate is unstable.Why could the Russia - Ukraine war become a frozen conflict? Why would that be in Russia’s interests? Are there frozen conflicts in other parts of the world too? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky?Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?What are nepo babies?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’ve been to a climate demonstration in recent times, you may have noticed placards with a series of blue and red coloured stripes. Kind of like a barcode but in colour, with the shades varying from very light to very dark. You may have even seen them at political or sporting events, in the media, or on the cover of Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book. This set of graphics are known as warming stripes, and they’re not as random as they might first seem. Indeed, the coloured stripes have become a go-to symbol for many climate activists, given that they feature no letters and no numbers, meaning anyone anywhere in the world can understand their meaning. Warming stripes were invented by Ed Hawkins in 2018. The British climatologist is a respected figure, having contributed to several IPCC reports as an author.What is the meaning? Why are they used on social media? How can such a simple graphic get across the complexity of climate change? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: Why do we consider Friday 13th unlucky?Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?What are nepo babies?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

Today is Friday 13th, a day often seen as unlucky in Western superstition. Indeed, the tradition has become so ingrained that there’s even an associated phobia. It’s called, wait for it, paraskevidekatriaphobia! Now, it might seem Friday 13th doesn’t come around very often, but most years actually have two and sometimes even three, depending on the calendar. 2022 was an anomaly with it occurring just once. This year sees two Friday 13ths, the first today in January and the second to come in October. Interestingly, in Italy Friday 17th is actually seen as a more unlucky day, while in Spain and Greece it’s Tuesday 13th.Where does the superstition come from? There are a lot of references to Friday 13th in popular culture, aren’t there? Is it the same in every culture? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: Why has my sense of smell changed because of Covid?What are nepo babies?What is menstrual leave?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

One of the many symptoms of Covid 19 was a loss of the sense of smell It is estimated that about two-thirds of patients experience loss of smell during acute COVID-19 and around  half of these will subsequently develop parosmia.Now researchers have been investigating what might cause this loss of smell and how to treat it. Loss of smell is known as anosmia. Parosmia is not a loss of smell but a smell disorder where odours are distorted and often smell unpleasant. This can affect food, toiletries or environmental smells. It can last weeks, months or even years and can be very upsetting. What is parosmia? Why does this happen? How can it be cured? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: What are nepo babies?What is menstrual leave?Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?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

When talking about diversity and inclusion, the glass ceiling refers to an invisible barrier stopping those in minorities from obtaining upper-level workforce opportunities.The metaphor is most often used when talking about women. They may find their careers stagnating, unable to progress beyond a middle-management role, through no fault of their own. When it comes to senior positions, they are overlooked in favour of men, despite often having equal or better credentials. Where does the expression come from? Where is the glass ceiling most noticeable? How has the situation evolved since the term “glass ceiling” was invented? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: What are nepo babies?What is menstrual leave?Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?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

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! In December 2022, New York magazine ran a cover which got a lot of attention. It featured the heads of a number of Hollywood celebs like Lily-Rose Depp, Ben Platt, Dakota Johnson and Zoe Kravitz, all edited onto babies’ bodies. In the centre of the page the bright pink headline read: “She Has Her Mother’s Eyes. And Agent.” The article inside labelled 2022 the “Year of the Nepo Baby”. What those celeb babies all have in common is that they’re the children of famous, successful parents. That’s where the “nepo” part comes from, as in nepotism. Right from the get go, these kids had an advantage or arguably a sure road to success. Isn’t that obvious? That’s been the case forever, hasn’t it? What do nepo babies themselves have to say on the issue? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?What is the internet of senses?What is goblin mode?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

All week long, we’re looking into 10 new terms and concepts that are certain to be on everyone’s lips in 2023! Despite the fact that we’re in 2023, there’s still a certain squeamishness when it comes to discussions about menstruation, including in the workplace. But that might be about to change in Europe, due to a measure that was recently approved by the lower house of Spain’s parliament... In mid-December 2022, Spanish MPs voted to adopt a new bill creating menstrual leave for women suffering from period pain. That’s right, 3-5 days off work per month paid by the state. And while it’s a first in Europe, such a measure has already existed for decades in other parts of the world.Why do women need time off work during their periods? Which other countries in the world have a menstrual leave policy? Why is menstrual leave a controversial measure? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: Can a weighted blanket help you get a better night’s sleep?What is the internet of senses?What is goblin mode?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

A comfy mattress, be it firm or soft, and a good pillow are all essential for a good night’s sleep but increasingly people are also buying weighted blankets to help them relax. A weighted blanket is exactly what it sounds like, a blanket that is heavier than your usual duvet. They are normally filled with either plastic pellets or glass beads and their extra weight is designed to provide a light pressure that has a therapeutic effect, like being held, which for some,  leads to a sense of calm, reduced anxiety and better sleep. Sensory integration theory suggests that deep pressure can have a calming effect on the nervous system which can help with a host of anxiety issues, troubled sleep, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and can even help calm people with an autism spectrum disorder. What is a weighted blanket and how does it work? What are the benefits of a weighted blanket? Are there any concerns about weighted blankets? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: What is the internet of senses?What is goblin mode?What should I eat before going to bed?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