Reality Check

Reality Check

News under the microscope. Visit the BBC's Reality Check website at bit.ly/realitycheck for more, or follow them on Twitter @BBCRealityCheck.

Early risers and night owls: A neuroscientist explains who is happiest

Does early to bed and early to rise really make you healthy, wealthy and wise?
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Why we need to stop stigmatising borderline personality disorder

Despite being recognised by psychiatrists for decades, the condition remains misunderstood and undertreated.
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Looking to lose weight? Here’s why exercise (probably) won’t work

Wanting to shed that spare tyre? It's not as easy as it seems. Trust me, I cycled the length of the country.
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Rewilding: is it the conservation silver bullet we need?

In mid-July, four bison were released into Kent as part of a rewilding effort to revert our land to its historical state. But is this the best way to boost biodiversity?
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Electroconvulsive therapy: Does this treatment really work?

Recent reports claim that the controversial treatment can cause brain damage and memory loss.
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Could bringing back samples of Martian rock contaminate the Earth with foreign microbes?

NASA and ESA plan to bring back samples or rock, soil and air from the Red Planet within the next two decades.
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Reality Check: Are the hottest cities in the world becoming uninhabitable thanks to climate change?

A recent heatwave in Jacobabad in Pakistan saw temperatures reaching a record-breaking 51˚C – a figure dangerously close to the limit of human survivability.
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Reality Check: What drives pathological liars and how should you deal with them?

Rather than telling the occasional white lie, pathological liars habitually and regularly tell fibs, often painting themselves as a hero or a victim. Why?
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Reality Check: How worried should we be about monkeypox?

It is unlikely the disease will become a new pandemic but cases are likely to rise over the coming weeks, virologist says.
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Reality Check: How much power do 'vampire electronics' really drain?

Can you save £££s by switching off appliances at the mains, as suggested by some headlines?
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Reality Check: What is a highly sensitive person, and how can you spot the signs?

The singers Lorde and Kanye have said they are highly sensitive. What do psychologists make of the phenomenon and what can you do if you feel the same?
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Do girls avoid physics because it’s too hard?

In late April, head teacher Katharine Birbalsingh commented that girls didn’t like physics and are put off it because of the hard maths. Is this true?
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W boson: Is the new measurement for the subatomic particle's mass the first chink in the armour of the Standard Model?

Data from an old experiment hints at answers to some of the biggest questions in physics.
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“Microbiome friendly” beauty products: Do they work?

More and more hygiene products are claiming to be ‘microbiome friendly’ but how important is our skin microbiome, and can an out-of-whack bacterial community lead to conditions like eczema and dry skin?
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Is peat-free compost better for the environment?

Compost containing peat is due to be banned for UK gardeners. What’s the debate around ending peat sales, and are there any alternatives?
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The secret is to ignore the pursuit of happiness altogether

All humans want a little of the good life, but is the sole pursuit of happiness actually making us a society of sad, selfish and solitary creatures?
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What is high-functioning anxiety? How to spot it and what you can do about it

There’s nothing wrong with struggling with anxiety, but many successful, high-achieving people are suffering in silence.
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Why can’t we find a cure for migraines?

Migraines affect 6 million people in the UK and can have devastating consequences on sufferers' lives.
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Going to the cinema vs the pub: Everyday activities ranked by COVID risk

COVID restrictions are coming to an end in the UK but the risk of infection still remains.
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Is the air on the tube filled with dangerous particulates?

Taking public transport is better for the environment – but could the air pollution on the tube be bad for your health?
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Why is the ISS being retired and what will happen to it?

NASA has set out a timeline for the last decade of the ageing space station's life that includes private occupants, movies and a watery grave.
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Why can't renewables keep UK energy prices down?

Huge increases in gas prices have sent UK energy bills skyrocketing. Renewable energy has been unable to help but there are other solutions.
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