What's That Rash?

Why do some people get motion sickness?

Sea sickness, car sickness, space sickness – when it comes down to it, it’s all the same.But not everybody suffers the same. Some people are even lucky enough to grow out of motion sickness.Norman and Tegan talk about what’s going on when the world goes topsy-turvy, and what you can do about it.References: Motion Sickness Validating sensory conflict theory and mitigating motion sickness in humans with galvanic vestibular stimulation - Nature Are evolutionary hypotheses for motion sickness "just-so" stories? Three studies of motion sickness susceptibility – Federal Aviation Authority Genetic variants associated with motion sickness point to roles for inner ear development, neurological processes and glucose homeostasis Motion sickness diagnostic criteria: Consensus Document of the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society  Survey of motion sickness susceptibility in children and adolescents aged 3 months to 18 years Hopkins History Moments: Neil A. Grauer explains how Hopkins expertise helped prevent seasickness Remedies for motion sickness: What works? - Harvard Health  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Why is yawning contagious? Do glasses make your eyesight worse? Is emu oil the new snake oil? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to drive down your cancer risk

Lately there have been lots of scary headlines about cancer rates rising in younger adults.What can you do to drive down your cancer risk?Norman and Tegan offer some practical tips, and discuss what's in your control versus what isn't.References: Overview of cancer in Australia, 2025 - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Effects of diets on risks of cancer and the mediating role of metabolites Be physically active – Cancer Council Exercise packs a punch in fending off cancer – the Health Report “You do not get cancer by chance”: Communicating the role of environmental causes in cancer diseases and the risk of a “guilt rhetoric”   If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! How worried should you be about microplastics? Is your (artificial) sweet tooth killing you? What's so bad about fine particulate air pollution? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you be taking calcium supplements?

Our calcium needs can increase as we age, especially for women going through menopause.Most Australians aren’t getting enough calcium from their diet, so are supplements a good optionNorman and Tegan discuss the conflicting evidence on calcium – in particular, could it be good for your bones, but bad for your heart?References: Calcium supplements have 'very little place' in modern medicine - the Health Report Nutrient Reference Values - Calcium Effect of age on calcium absorption in postmenopausal women Biochemical Variables in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Reconciling the Calcium and Estrogen Hypotheses Calcium Content of Common Foods - Healthy Bones Australia Choosing a calcium supplement: What you should know about taking calcium to boost your nutrients Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials Association Between Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Association Between Calcium Supplementation and Recurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Population‐Based Cohort Study Calcium Intake From Diet and Supplements and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcification and its Progression Among Older Adults: 10‐Year Follow‐up of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Oral Calcium Supplements Associate With Serial Coronary Calcification: Insights From Intravascular Ultrasound If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Multivitamins: Are they a scam? Don’t Die: Is Bryan Johnson going to live forever? Can peptides keep you young and buff? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can tapping calm your nervous system?

There's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down.What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out?Norman and Tegan talk through what Emotional Freedom Techniques, or tapping is and whether there's any evidence it lowers anxiety.References: How ‘tapping’ is dividing opinion in therapy circles Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health Neural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferers Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis  Commentary: Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study Food for Thought: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Treatment of Food Cravings The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Can you train yourself to sleep less? Why everything hurts when you turn 30 MSG's messy myths and racist tropes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?

Everyone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well.So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong?Norman and Tegan breeze through the research in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.References: The Invisible College of Experimental Flatology Explainer: The chemistry of farts A widespread hydrogenase supports fermentative growth of gut bacteria in healthy people Intestinal gas production by the gut microbiota: A review Association of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife  Gut microbiome predicts cognitive function and depressive symptoms in late life  The Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Cognition in Older Australians  Chart Your Fart - CSIRO If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Why is yawning contagious? Why are some people right (or left) handed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices