BLOG

Zapping brains with electricity has long been the stuff of horror stories. From Frankenstein and Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , to the often grim history of early electroshock therapy, the associations have been… less than reassuring. But today, this idea is being explored as a treatment for depression and anxiety, and even as a way to improve cognition. Neurostimulation devices, which utilise tiny electrical currents and magnetic pulses to rebalance b

Does “more” always equal “better”? When it comes to things we enjoy – holidays, money, gadgets, convenience – it seems obvious that the answer must be a resounding “yes.” We equate “more” with progress. Businesses promise more products for their customers and more returns for their shareholders. Charities aim to provide more support to greater numbers of people. Content creators hope for more readers, views and subscribers. Politicians continually promise more economic growt

With February fast approaching, how’s that “New Year, New You” transformation shaping up? Every January, the multi-billion-pound diet and fitness industries cash in on our annual resolutions to get healthier. We dive into fad diets and sign up for gym memberships that are billed monthly whether we show up or not. The result? A cycle of optimism, guilt, and auto-renewals. But perhaps the age of best intentions being matched by vague solutions is coming to an end. Enter the sci

Certain aspects of life become so ingrained in our daily routines that we hardly notice them.   Not too long ago, this could easily have described smoking. For much of the 20th century, smoking was so widespread that many people smoked hundreds of cigarettes a week, with a cigarette often feeling like an extension of the hand.   But changes in laws, culture, and attitudes – alongside the rise of vaping – have transformed this once-common routine into something that could feel

What do you think of when you hear the words “magic mushrooms”? It’s likely that you may be picturing long-haired hippies, experimental rock bands or cross-legged gurus preaching about peace and love. Our view of psychedelic drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms is still largely shaped by events of the 1960s. In these ten years, they went from defining the art, music and politics of a generation, to being outlawed amid terrifying headlines about “bad trips” and damaged minds. It

Gym memberships, vegan diets, keeping a diary, reading challenges, Dry January… At this time of year, many of us will be in the early, optimistic days of putting into practice our New Year’s resolutions. Hopefully some might last the course, and this year you really will become that healthier, happier, more productive version of yourself that you committed to on January 1st. If experience is anything to go by, though, it’s likely that at least some of these good intentions wi

Do you often find yourself endlessly scrolling your social media feeds for no apparent reason? You may have asked yourself "Why am I doing this?" The answer to that very 21st century question is likely to be a single naturally occurring chemical – dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter – a chemical that brain cells use to communicate with each other. It is released into the brain when we experience something pleasant or new and plays a big role in motivating behaviour. In t

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a lot of talk of folk leaving their jobs in record numbers. Professor Anthony Klotz from Texas A&M University dubbed this "The Great Resignation." It sounds dramatic – but did it actually happen? My explainer video below explores this question in greater depth... I’m fascinated by what the future of work might look like (something we also considered in the iluli explainer on Universal Basic Income ). The pandemic has accelera

Thanks to social media, it has never been easier to connect with people from the past. Curious about what that old classmate is up to now? Their profile is only a couple of clicks away. What’s more, most of us now use our social media feeds as a kind of virtual photo album. If you’re of a certain age, then a scroll through the older photos will no doubt take you on a trip down memory lane which rekindles memories of long-forgotten nights out, old friends we lost touch with an

There’s arguably no emotion more powerful than shame. From an early age, we learn the discomfort brought on by feelings of having done "wrong". Without the heaviness of shame, you might not know your behavior is unacceptable. Public shaming has undergone a digital renaissance, thanks in large part to Twitter and online social media commentary. If you don’t stand corrected, then fear not – someone out there is more than happy to step up to the task. The flip side of today’s tr

Pre-pandemic, ideas to improve work-life balance were often abstractions floated by leaders, who could get away with paying them only occasional lip service. However, COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns provided a stark assessment of employees’ working conditions. "The Great Resignation" worker exodus has sent many employers into a tailspin. As businesses scramble for incentives to retain staff and attract job seekers, the idea of a four-day working week is gaining traction. A

When you think of virtual reality combat simulations, I expect you’ll picture video games. A fully immersive version of Call of Duty , perhaps? Solitary folk in their high-backed chairs barking orders from beneath their VR headsets? But we’re not talking fun and games here. We’re talking about the Royal Navy’s cutting-edge training programme. You had to be there... In January 2021, Wired published a behind-the-scenes article exploring the Navy’s futuristic training centre.

In December 2020, the BBC published an article detailing how Japan’s government plans to fund artificial intelligence matchmaking schemes to combat the nation’s tumbling birth rate.  The state taking an active interest in the love lives of inhabitants feels like something from a Black Mirror episode, but with birth rates falling to a record low it's perhaps not surprising. According to the article: “Japan's population is projected to fall from a peak of 128 million in 2017

Life expectancy in the UK has more than doubled over the course of two and a half centuries, from below 39 years in 1765 to 81.1 years in 2020. Smallpox outbreaks, World War One and the Spanish Flu epidemic contributed to dips in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive trajectory. Even since the turn of the millennium, the life expectancy rate has increased by more than 5%. But it has since stalled, with the slowdown reported as one of the biggest among 20 of the world’s leadi

In November 2020, The Times published an article exposing the downsides of so-called “green prescriptions”, whereby patients are advised to participate in outdoor activities such as exercise classes, planting trees or visiting natural beauty spots. On paper, it seems like a sensible remedy. Studies have shown that spending time in green spaces helps to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, premature death, stress and high blood pressure. Indeed, the issuing of “green prescript

In October 2020, the Harvard Business Review published an article entitled “What Health Care Can Teach Other Industries About Preventing Burnout”. It’s a topic of particular interest to me. Not just because of my line of work, but due to my own experience of burnout.  Failing to recognise the signs is something I think all of us will be guilty of at least once in our lives. It’s just a headache it will pass… Oh it’s nothing to worry about, I never sleep well… Sorry, what did

In July 2020, Leicester’s De Montfort University (DMU) published an article outlining the potential of artificial intelligence to improve school attendance. Utilising AI models, experts from DMU’s Institute of AI analysed data from Willen Primary School in Milton Keynes and identified patterns relating to pupils who were frequently absent. No prizes for guessing which day of the week saw the greatest level of absenteeism… yep, that’s right — Monday. The Mamas & The Papas had

I’m sure every human being is suffering from stress and anxiety right now to varying degrees. In this current climate of uncertainty, sleep may be the last thing on our minds but it remains as important as ever.   Spending three or four hours tossing and turning does not constitute a proper rest, and our body will be more than happy to remind us of that at the most inconvenient times.  Struggling to focus, lack of motivation, physical fatigue… these are all classic symptoms o

Many moan about the long, dark nights of January and February, yearning for springtime when the sun stays out a bit longer and the temperatures start to rise. That is until a pandemic takes holds and our way of life changes completely…   A more “typical” springtime, however, does give some in our society a reason to celebrate — fireworks season is over. As early as October all the way through to New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of excuses to illuminate the night’s sky — Bonfi

Anyone who has watched even one episode of  The Apprentice  will surely believe they can do better than some of the half-wits we see racing around London, trying to impress Lord Sugar with their sales patter, savvy-saving and new business plans. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that it’s an entertainment show, not a serious business programme — that the characters on our screens have been hand-picked by producers because of their unapologetic bravado and all-too-often misplaced