What's That Rash?

Could headphones be damaging our ears?

Walking down the street, most people you pass will be wearing headphones or ear buds. Chances are you are too!But is this trend of noise-cancelling harming your ears or the way your brain processes sound?Norman and Tegan sound out the evidence on headphone use and hearing damage, and what you can do to protect your ears.References: Know Your Noise - National Acoustic Laboratories Pumping loud music is putting more than 1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss - University of Melbourne  A Partial History of Headphones - Smithsonian  Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis  Hearing thresholds, tinnitus, and headphone listening habits in nine-year-old children  Do Noise-Cancelling Headphones Help or Hurt Hearing? - University of Colorado Tips for safe listening using headphones and earbuds – Hearing Australia   If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Is there such thing as TOO much sun protection? Is there a cure for jet lag? Don’t Die: Is Bryan Johnson going to live forever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer?

Many people believe that taking vitamin C supplements helps their immune system fight off colds.But there are even bigger claims attached to this supplement – that it not only boosts immunity, but fights cancer.Norman and Tegan introduce us to the Nobel laureate who pushed these theories decades ago, and whether there’s any truth to them.References: The Discovery of Vitamin C  Treatment for scurvy not discovered by Lind Linus Pauling’s Vitamin C Crusade Ascorbic Acid in Cancer Treatment: Let the Phoenix Fly A randomized trial of pharmacological ascorbate, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel for metastatic pancreatic cancer The Role of Vitamin C in Cancer Prevention and Therapy: A Literature Review  High-dose vitamin C: A promising anti-tumor agent, insight from mechanisms, clinical research, and challenges  Vitamin C reduces the severity of common colds: a meta-analysis  Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent  Vitamin C - Australian Institute of Sport Vitamin C – EatforHealth.gov.au  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Multivitamins: Are they a scam? Can consuming dairy really give you acne? Is sitting the new smoking? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can peptides keep you young and buff?

Unless you're in certain corners of the internet, you won't be aware of the peptide craze promising to grow your muscles and slow ageing.That's because your average GP won't be printing a prescription for these injectable drugs, like BPC-157 or melanotan.Norman and Tegan discuss why there's so much fan fare over unproven peptides with some potentially nasty side effects.References: Effects of Topical Copper Tripeptide Complex on CO2 Laser–Resurfaced Skin  Don’t risk using tanning products containing melanotan - TGA Melanotan‐associated melanoma Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report Melanotan-induced priapism: a hard-earned tan – BMJ case study BPC-157: Experimental peptide prohibited - US Anti-Doping Authority Effect of BPC-157 on Symptoms in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis: A Pilot Study Safety of Intravenous Infusion of BPC157 in Humans: A Pilot Study Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain General practitioner disqualified for inappropriately prescribing peptides If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Can collagen supplements keep your skin supple? Should you be flexible enough to touch your toes? Can you zap yourself buff with electrical muscle stimulation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can flossing benefit more than your teeth?

Your dentist might be nagging you to floss to avoid cavities, but does flossing have more to given than pearly whites?Interdental cleaning has been recommended for a while, but for many people it’s a habit hard to maintain.Norman and Tegan pick through the history of flossing, and whether it can improve your heart and brain health too.Terms and conditions of our World Science Festival Brisbane ticket giveaway! References: Ask the Expert: Do I Really Need to Floss? - NIH  Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries Flossing Is Associated with Improved Oral Health in Older Adults  Does flossing before or after brushing influence the reduction in the plaque index? A systematic review and meta-analysis Why would cardiovascular disease and poor oral health be connected? - Harvard Health  Oral health and later coronary heart disease: Cohort study of one million people Stronger connections made between oral health and Alzheimer's disease  Large study links gum disease with dementia  What Dentists Have to Say About Red-Light Therapy for Optimal Oral Health  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! How risky is sharing a toothbrush? Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances? Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doing nothing: the benefits of boredom

With endless entertainment at your fingertips on your phone, how often do you really sit and do absolutely nothing?It turns out that even when you’re staring into the middle distance, your brain is firing away with activity.Norman and Tegan explore why giving your brain a break might be important for learning and creativity.References: The Journey of the Default Mode Network: Development, Function, and Impact on Mental Health  Default-mode brain dysfunction in mental disorders: A systematic review   Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind - Science  The Importance of the Default Mode Network in Creativity—A Structural MRI Study   The Importance of the Default Mode Network in Creativity—A Structural MRI Study   People are increasingly bored in our digital age If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! What is the perfect nap duration? Can tattoos increase your risk of cancer? Why are people taping their mouths? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices