PODCAST · health
The Lab DoctoRs
by The Lab DoctoRs
We are biomedical researchers who realised that we still have so much to learn. Join us as we talk about all things science and medicine in our quest to better understand the world around us. New episodes every Monday!
Episodes
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An important update
We would like to share some important news: The Lab DoctoRs podcast is taking a break. We have deeply cherished creating and sharing content, and truly appreciate your unwavering support. We do not have concrete plans for our return yet, but you can stay connected on socials or via email for...
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Kombucha: Superfood or Super Scam?
Is kombucha just another health fad, or should we all be drinking this beverage that was historically dubbed the "Tea of Immortality"? Listen along as we discuss the origins of kombucha and the science behind how this drink gets its fizziness and flavor (spoiler: it's fermentation!). Moreover…
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JOMO: Can missing out lead to joy?
Tired of the constant FOMO? It may be time to ditch that fear embrace JOMO, or the joy of missing out. In this week’s episode, we discuss whether JOMO is linked to certain factors like social media use, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and even personality types. Discover how disconnecting can be...
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Love or hate exercise? It may be dopamine
Why do some people love exercise whilst others absolutely dread physical activity? A recent study from Johns Hopkins Medicine explored the influence of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, on perceived physical effort and motivation to complete future tasks in Parkinson’s patients. Join us as we tease…
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Aphantasia: Is your mind blind?
When someone says “Picture this,” can you actually visualize the scene in your mind, or did you think that phrase was a metaphor? If you answered the latter, you may have aphantasia, a condition characterized by the inability to conjure mental images. This week, we explore everything on the...
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(Eye) shouldn’t be lazy
Did you know that lazy eye, or amblyopia, affects 5% of the population? Whilst it is more common in children, it may persist to adulthood if untreated learning to wandering eyes, poor depth perception, or even eye strain. In this episode, we will explore the causes of amblyopia as well as...
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Blurry truth about screen time
Be honest, how much time do you really spend looking at a screen every day? As technology advances, and especially in a post-pandemic world, screen time is at an all-time high. Join us as we see what the research has to say about how screen time impacts the risk of myopia (or nearsightedness)…
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The deadline paradox: Does it increase stress?
Deadlines are an inevitable part of most people’s lives, whether you’re in school or at work. But have you ever wondered how these dreaded deadlines impact our stress levels. In this week's episode, we explore a compelling study that delves into the effects of deadlines on researchers' stress...
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The mystery behind why babies stop breathing
Breath-holding spells in infants and young children may be triggered by anger, frustration, pain, or shock. This phenomenon can be scary for caregivers, especially if the child’s face turns blue or becomes pale. This week, we look into why this happens, signs to look out for, how to prevent or...
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Mapping emotions: Where do we feel?
Have you ever wondered about the meanings behind phrases like "cold feet" and "heart swells"? This week, we explore the fascinating research conducted by a team of biomedical engineers who mapped bodily reactions to various emotions. Discover the commonalities between emotions like happiness and...
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Is ChatGPT changing the way we interact?
Artificial Intelligence, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, has become a hot button topic. This week, we hit pause and ask the question, how does AI impact social interactions? Join us as we share the findings from a recent study on how AI influences conversation speed, the use of...
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Betrayed by belief: Why people join cults
Have you wondered why people join cults? In most cases, there are many factors that may make someone susceptible to cults. These inclusde self-factors like emotional vulnerability, high levels of stress, or lack of social support. Furthermore, some cults use manipulation tactics, coercion, or...
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The skinny on drugs and weight management
Can a new "magic pill" be the solution for managing weight? Researchers at UT Health San Antonio investigated the role of magnesium, and specifically a magnesium transporter on mitochondria called Mrs2, on energy and metabolism. Find out how mice without Mrs2 fared against wildtype mice when fed…
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Navigating life with emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence, or where you fall on the emotional quotient (EQ), involves the ability to recognize and manage one’s own and others’ emotions. This week we talk about the five key components of emotional intelligence and the factors that can affect development including genetics and...
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The Last of Us: How fungi threaten our world
The premise of HBO's 'The Last of Us' may seem far-fetched, but how implausible is a fungal pandemic? Can fungi make us zombies? Should we be concerned? What role does climate change play in this? Tune in as we answer these questions and give you the lowdown on the latest research on heat-adapted...
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Sleep procrastination: Why we sabotage our rest
Picture this, it’s really late and you have to wake up early tomorrow, but your streaming platform says, “Next episode starts in..” If you’ve succumbed to the autoplay function, you’re not alone! This week we talk about revenge bedtime procrastination: what it is, why it happens and what you can…
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Are 4-day work weeks the way forward?
Do you ever feel like the weekend is too short? Would you take a pay cut to work one less day? This week we look at the largest, coordinated 4 day work week trial to date, involving 2,900 employees from various industries. Listen along as we go through the types of 4 day work weeks as well as how...
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The hangry brain: Can hunger shape our mood?
Do you ever get hangry, or is hunger purely biological for you? This week, we explore the link between hunger and emotion. Several groups have investigated different aspects of this phenomenon, from studying the effect of low blood glucose levels on stress and anxiety in rats, to using experience...
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The sleep divide: Exploring gender differences
Research suggests that women sleep slightly more than men, however, this can vary from person to person. In this episode, we explore the complex relationship between gender and sleep, including hormonal and neurological differences. We also discuss the impact of unpaid labour, varying…
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The Dark Side of Exercise: Addiction and Escapism
Can exercise be a bad thing? Enter: Exercise dependence (or in severe cases, exercise addiction). As we discuss this week’s study investigating the relationship between exercise and two forms of escapism, self-expansion or self-suppression, think about your exercise behaviour. Is it adaptive or...
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Magnesium: Miracle Mineral or Marketing Hype?
Magnesium supplements are currently experiencing a surge in popularity and sales, but is it worth the hype? This week we discuss the importance of magnesium in our overall healthand where we can get it naturally. Listen along to learn about different forms (including magnesium glycinate), and...
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Maladaptive behaviour: Is the anger I feel normal?
Think of the last time you were angry: was your response warranted and proportionate, or was it excessive? This week we talk about maladaptive behaviour, what it is and common signs, and more importantly a study investigating whether internet-delivered emotion regulation treatment reduced several...
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Dealing with muscle cramps
Muscle cramps plague many people all over the world, but what causes it and how do we deal with it? In this week’s episode, we cover the basics of muscle cramps and discuss the research available to date. Stay until the end to get some helpful tips for dealing with cramps, especially in common...
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Know your alphabet: Vitamins edition
This week we are learning our alphabet, specifically the vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K (fun fact: there are eight B vitamins including B1, B3, B6, and B12!) Listen along as we discuss the purpose of the various vitamins, what happens if your body doesn’t get enough of it, and good sources to hit...
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Celebrate for life!
Welcome back to part 2 of capitalisation celebrations and perceived social support. Listen along for how virtual celebrations stack up against in-person celebrations, whether you should plan a celebration for yourself or someone else, and finally how all these celebrations affect how we treat...
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Celebrate for what?!
As we usher in the Lunar New Year, we were wondering why do people celebrate? And that’s exactly what the researchers in this week’s episode studied, specifically whether capitalisation celebrations will leave you feeling more socially supported. Listen along to find out what capitalisation...
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Sing away the stutters
Have you ever watched a talent show where the contestant stutters through their introduction but blows away the audience with a flawless rendition of a song? This week we delve into how singing, or even just speaking with an accent or in a melodic progression, helps with stuttering and the...
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Music for the anxious soul
Did you learn to play a musical instrument and do you think it helped with your anxiety and stress? A recent study compared music training, music listening and a non-musical activity for their effects on audio visual synchrony perception as well as depression, anxiety, and stress. TLDR: Music...
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Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer?
Following last week’s episode on the potential benefits of artificial sweeteners, this week we discuss the association (read: not necessarily causation) between these sweeteners and risk of various diseases and health conditions. These include various types of cancers, gut microbiome, and...
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Are artificial sweeteners good for you?
We have learnt about sugar, let’s talk about artificial sweeteners! How do these sweeteners work, do they help with weight management and diabetes, and are there any risks linked to consuming these sweeteners? Join us as we answer these questions and more! TLDR: Artificial sweeteners are…
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DON’T shake your baby
Shaken baby syndrome is a traumatic brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking a baby, and is fatal in a quarter of reported cases. In this week’s episode, we talk about the symptoms of this syndrome, the science behind these symptoms and ways you can prevent it. Disclaimer: This episode...
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What makes one attractive… to mosquitoes?
Can excessive mosquito bites be explained away with the age-old “your blood is too sweet”? Listen along to hear how researchers tackled the question of mosquito attraction and what they found. Specifically, what distinguishes a low attractor from a high attractor, and whether we can do anything...
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The six stages of drowning
Swimming in open waters may sound exhilarating, but swimmers should be prepared as 79% of all drownings occur in open water. Listen along as we go through the six stages of drowning, interspersed with tips from the show Bondi Rescue, as well as post-immersion syndrome or dry/secondary drowning....
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Is COVID brain fog legit?
Do you believe COVID brain fog is real, or something that people are saying to justify their bad memory? Researchers from Stanford University investigated the effect of mild COVID on the brain and how this may affect cognitive function. Join us as we go through these neurological changes and give...
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Microrobots: Algae in disguise
Are microrobots the future of biomedicine? Engineers at UCSD have developed microrobots, from algae cells, to swim around the lungs and deliver antibiotics directly to bacteria in the lungs. Join us this week as we bring you through how they developed these microrobots and the mice model that…
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ASMR: More than just soft sounds
What is the deal with ASMR videos? This week, we bring you through the world of ASMR triggered by audio stimuli and more! The tingling sensation that some people reportedly feel is associated with certain physiological and neurological changes, and may have positive effects on our wellbeing.…
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Tonsilloliths and tonsillitis
Have you ever had a nasty sore throat accompanied by fever, headaches, and difficulty swallowing? It could have been tonsillitis, which may be induced by bacteria or viruses. This week, we go through the signs and symptoms of different types of tonsillitis as well as the lesser-known…
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Is coffee good for your heart?
The European Society of Cardiology states that drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day is moderately beneficial in preventing heart diseases, should we trust them? This week, we take you through the recent observational studies in Europe that studied whether the intake of various types of coffee was...
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Teeth grinding 101
Are you a teeth grinder, or the person suffering through someone else’s teeth grinding? Either way, this episode on bruxism (which covers teeth grinding and clenching, awake or during sleep) may be helpful! We give you the lowdown on bruxism, from factors linked to grinding or clenching, why you...
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Poking around acupuncture
Acupuncture, which has roots in traditional Chinese medicine, involves the insertion of thin needles through your skin at specific points in the body to treat certain conditions. Join us this week as we discuss how it works, the scientific evidence for some of the benefits associated with...
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Motivation: Lose to move
Winning is more motivating than losing, right? Seems straightforward enough, but a recent study reported that people who were close to winning gained greater motivation to succeed in subsequent tasks. Tune in this week to find out how researchers engineered the different scenarios, the outcomes,...
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The heartbreaking truth about cholesterol
Do you know what cholesterol is, and why it gets such a bad rep? Join us this week as we give you the lowdown on cholesterol, why it may be harmful at high levels, what lipoproteins are, and the new research conducted on LDL. Don’t miss out on the tips for managing cholesterol levels at the end!...
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Immortality: Can science reverse death?
Are scientists close to achieving immortality? Recent studies in pigs described the revival of major organs after death using the breakthrough technology known as OrganEx. This technology involves a machine that pumps synthetic, enriched blood around the body that resulted in some restoration of...
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Why do we yawn?
Did you yawn after reading that title, or when you just think about the act of yawning? Scientists propose that yawning increases arousal and alertness whilst also helping to cool the brain and to relieve ear pressure. Listen until the end as we discuss why yawning is contagious and why some…
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Does mental fatigue impair judgement?
Do you feel tired after using your brain a lot? New research has discovered a possible culprit for mental fatigue: glutamate. Specifically, glutamate accumulation in the lateral prefrontal cortex led to increased signs of fatigue and changes in participants’ decision-making. Tune in to learn more...
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The truth about serotonin and depression
If you’ve held the belief that low serotonin levels are a major cause of depression, you’re not alone! This week we clarify what recent research has to say about lowered serotonin levels and activity with regard to depression. We also talk about the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors...
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Antiperspirants: To sweat or not to sweat
Why do we sweat? How do deodorants and antiperspirants work, and which should you use? Join us this week as we answer these questions as well as discuss the studies that have linked antiperspirants to certain health conditions (breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and kidney problems) and the...
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Stress 101: Your body under stress
How stressed do you feel right now? What are you stressed about? This week, we go through the definition of stress (beyond psychological stress) and what happens to our body when a stress response is triggered. We also cover the potentially silent and harmful effects of stress, especially…
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High IQ: Good or bad?
Is intelligence a curse or a blessing, and while we are asking that question, how do we truly measure intelligence? In this week’s episode, we discuss studies that surveyed IQ scores against conditions including mood disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, food allergies, and asthma. Find out more...
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Earworms: Please (don’t) stop the music
Have you ever had a catchy song relentlessly play again and again in your head? You aren’t alone! Earworms affect almost everyone and can be triggered when you are unattentive, nostalgic, or sometimes even when you are stressed. Tune in this week to find out why our brain retains these catchy...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Lab DoctoRs have?
The Lab DoctoRs currently has 133 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Lab DoctoRs about?
We are biomedical researchers who realised that we still have so much to learn. Join us as we talk about all things science and medicine in our quest to better understand the world around us. New episodes every Monday!
How often does The Lab DoctoRs release new episodes?
The Lab DoctoRs publishes regularly with 133 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Lab DoctoRs?
You can listen to The Lab DoctoRs on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Lab DoctoRs?
The Lab DoctoRs is created and hosted by The Lab DoctoRs.
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