1) Weight Loss Drugs and Scurvy
Ozempic (and its variants) have been a great success in reducing weight, and also in treating Type 2 Diabetes, and as a result, in improving markers of health (such as bringing down blood pressure, cholesterol, etc). But an unexplored side effect is potential nutritional deficiencies, from not eating enough of the right foods. In April 2025, Robbie Williams (the singer) said that he had been diagnosed with scurvy, after taking a weight-loss drug and dropping 13 kg in weight.
But there is a way out.
2) Language – Kiki & Buba
In the 1920s, it was discovered that most speakers of the English language associated the nonsense word, “kiki” with a spiky shape, but the nonsense word “buba” is associated with a round shape. Maybe the letters used to write the words might influence the “mental curvature” of the words. And it seems to work with monkeys!!
(And separately, we still don’t know where “language” came from, or how it evolved
A) Bow-Wow Theory. This suggests language began through imitation of natural sounds. Early humans, according to this theory, copied the noises around them: animal cries, splashing water, thunderclaps and birdsong. Words such as “buzz,” “hiss,” “bang” and “splash” seem to support the idea because they sound like what they describe.
But there is a problem. Different languages hear the same sounds differently. English dogs go “woof” or “bow-wow,” but in Turkish they go “hev-hev,” while Indonesian dogs go “guk-guk.” Even animal noises, it turns out, are filtered through culture and language. And onomatopoeic words (words that imitate sounds) make up only a tiny fraction of our vocabularies. Most words sound nothing like their meanings. For instance, there is nothing inherently tree-like about
the word “tree.”).
B) Ding-Dong Theory suggest that sounds and meanings are naturally connected in some deeper, almost mystical way. Some words do seem to fit their meanings uncannily well. “Mini,” “teeny” and “itsybitsy” feel small and delicate. “Lump,” “rump” and “plump” sound heavier and rounder.
Modern linguists call this sound symbolism. One famous experiment asked participants to match two nonsense words, “bouba” and “kiki,” to two shapes: one rounded and one jagged. Most people matched “bouba” with the soft shape and “kiki” with the sharp one.
C) Pooh-Pooh Theory proposes that speech began with instinctive emotional cries such as “ouch,” “oh” or perhaps less publishable exclamations uttered after stubbing a toe. According to this idea, language evolved from spontaneous vocal reactions to pain, surprise, fear or joy.
Again, though, there are complications. Interjections vary widely across languages. English speakers say “ouch.” Greeks say “aou.” Czechs might exclaim “ach.”
Emotional sounds are not nearly as universal as they seem.
D) Yo- He-Ho Theory suggests language emerged from rhythmic chants used during collective labor, like sailors chanting “yo heave-ho” while hauling ropes, or workers singing together to coordinate physical effort.
The theory may sound quaint, but modern researchers do think rhythm, cooperation and social bonding played important roles in human evolution. Language is, after all, deeply social.
E) La-La Theory, links language to music. Charles Darwin entertained the possibility that speech evolved from musical calls used in courtship and emotional expression.
Before humans spoke, perhaps we sang?
Some modern theories echo this idea. One hypothesis suggests that, as early humans began walking upright, parents increasingly needed to soot