psychobugs

psycho-bugs

Carlotta had an interesting, full life. But then the virus came along and her days were all the same, stuck in her flat with no new experiences. Boredom can lead to melancholy but can it push you to make your life better?

Boredom

Psycho Bugs

Millions of people worldwide suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), an extreme and persistent exhaustion for which there is no cure. An investigation into a little known illness focusing on the experiences of three individuals suffering from CFS: Ralf, Sonja and Aileen.

ME/CFS – A Misunderstood Illness

Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PsychoBugs

<p>Carlotta had an interesting, full life. But then the virus came along and her days were all the same, stuck in her flat with no new experiences. Boredom can lead to melancholy but can it push you to make your life better?</p>

Boredom can lead to melancholy but can it push you to make your life better?

 An investigation into little understood illness focusing on the experiences of three individuals suffering from CFS: Ralf, Sonja and Aileen.

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From a very early age, we are instilled with the idea that lying is wrong. Yet learning to lie is a normal and necessary stage in our psychological development. What if lying made the world a better place?

Is Lying Good For Us?

We are taught that lying is wrong, but what if lying made the world a better place?

42: The Answer to Almost Everything

Children are often afraid of the dark or of monsters under the bed. These fears are not only a natural part of their development, but also an opportunity to grow. But why do fears and anxiety change over the course of childhood and adolescence? And how does a phobia develop into a serious illness?

Understanding Fear

Children are often afraid of the dark or of monsters under the bed. These fears are not only a natural part of their development, but also an opportunity to grow.

Kids

Are we happier when we live a healthy life? Or does being happy make us healthy? To find out, Ronja von Rönne meets biohacker Andreas Breitfeld and international DJ Ellen Allien.

Happiness and Health

Are we happier when we live a healthy life? Or does being happy make us healthy?

Unhappy

Ex-footballer turned anti-poverty activist Neven Subotić had the world at his feet. But it wasn't enough. He knew something was missing and turned to books to help him find meaning in his life. What he read changed his outlook, his way of thinking, and his future. 

With Neven Subotic

Ex-footballer turned anti-poverty activist Neven Subotić discusses the books that changed his life.

The Book of My Life

For better or worse, fear is part of our lives. Ronja von Rönne finds out what scares Berliners the most. Fear is often distressing but can it be a positive emotion?

Have No Fear!

Ronja finds out what scares Berliners the most. Fear is often distressing but can it be a positive emotion?

Streetphilosophy

New fathers today are not just happy to change a few nappies and want to take a far more active role in day-to-day parenting than their fathers’ generation. Dad influencers are on the rise on social media and many artists are dealing with the question of how to be a good father.

What Are Fathers For?

New fathers today are not just happy to change a few nappies and want to take a far more active role in day-to-day parenting than their fathers’ generation.

Twist

Finding pleasure, understanding your body, accepting your fantasies, getting rid of guilt, feeling free in spite of the boundaries imposed by society: Desire is a complex thing. This programme explores desire in its most intimate and its most uninhibited forms, freeing it from the mental prison in which it is sometimes locked.

Sexual Desire

This programme explores desire in its most intimate and its most uninhibited forms, freeing it from the mental prison in which it is sometimes locked.

Psyche

Food intolerances are currently a hot topic - evident from the fully stocked shelves of so-called substitute products in supermarkets. Lactose, fructose, and gluten have become taboo for many consumers. Are these substances truly so intolerable, and are the respective alternative foods actually healthier?

Food Intolerance: A Modern Malady

More and more people complain of digestive disorders related to gluten, lactose, or fructose.

Agree to Disagree!

Bonuses and Extracts

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More voters chose Trump in 2024 than ever before as the republican candidate won all seven of key swing states. Who are these new Trump voters and why did they vote for him? ARTE Reportage goes to Florida, Michigan and Arizona to find out.

USA: Trump's New Voters

More voters chose Trump in 2024 than ever before. Who are these new republican voters?

ARTE Reportage

When a minor earthquake throws life coach Aaron’s world into turmoil, he tries to find out the cause of this unusual event. A musical short film that plunges into the world of conspiracy theories.

When a minor earthquake throws life coach Aaron’s world into turmoil, he tries to understand why it happened.

I Am the Architect of My Life

 It's hard to beat Cappadocia as a photo backdrop. This region of Turkey is known for its rock formations and ancient dwellings built into the rock, which attract four million tourists every year, many in search of selfies to post on Instagram. The tourism boom has brought prosperity to the region, but the unique heritage of the area is a fragile gift.

Instagram tourism is threatening the heritage of this stunning region of Eastern Turkey..

Re: Turkey - Heritage and Selfies in Cappadocia

At the far western tip of France, a champion kitesurfer has a mad idea: Brave the perilous currents and winds of the Iroise Sea to reach a legendary lighthouse.

Kitesurfing in Britanny

360° Reportage

Dancers from the Compagnie Hervé Koubi take over the Château d'Ormesson for Sur Mesure. This performance, a blend of dance and acrobatics, is brought to life by Quatuor Voce and Jasser Haj Youssef.

Sur Mesure

An encounter between dance and classical music led by the Compagnie Hervé Koubi.

Compagnie Hervé Koubi

Not all nipples are the same. On Instagram or Facebook female breasts are censured whereas the bare male torso is allowed. Some artists are challenging this double standard. 

All Nipples are Not Equal

Not all nipples are the same. On Instagram or Facebook female breasts are censured whereas the bare male torso is not. Some artists are challenging this double standard. 

Gymnastics

The latest adaptation of The Little Mermaid, with Halle Bailey in the title role, definitively buried the cliché of the blonde, blue-eyed siren. Now there are mermaids of every race, gender and body type. The Afro-American mermaids are having their fourth gathering in Miami, organised by Melanee Schneider.

Florida Mermaids: A Passion for the Waves

Mermaids in Florida are from all backgrounds, gender, and body type.

Every day, Janne Aikio travels long distances to look after the elderly, most of whom are Sami. A population whose daily life is punctuated by ancestral activities. To ensure that, even in old age, the Sámi can remain in their familiar surroundings, the Finnish government is doing its utmost to ensure that they remain at home for as long as possible.

Social Care in Lapland

Every day, Janne Aikio travels long distances to look after the elderly, most of whom are Sami. A population whose daily life is punctuated by ancestral activities.

In 2019, when a pianist was filmed on a jetty in the beautiful lakeside village of Iseltwald for a South Korean Netflix series, locals had no idea what awaited them. Now the hugely successful series has led to fans visiting the location in the Swiss Alps from around the world. Locals are not entirely happy that their peace and quiet has been disturbed by a mass influx of tourists.

Since a romantic piano scene on Netflix became world-famous, a picturesque village has been overrun by visitors.

Re: Netflix Overtourism in Switzerland

The billionaire recently revived a scandal on grooming gangs in the UK, using his social media X to amplify disinformation. He also hosted an online conversation with the far-right leader of Germany’s AfD Alice Weidel and is discussing a deal with the Italian government to use his Starlink services. What can the EU do to counter Musk’s efforts to influence European politics?

Is the EU powerless to stop Elon Musk’s influence?

Elon Musk is setting out to conquer both US politics and Mars – and is now meddling in EU politics.

ARTE Europe Weekly

The danzón is a Mexican dance that has its origins in the French contredanse. After crossing the Atlantic, it passed through Cuba before arriving in Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century. This tradition is still very much alive in Mexico City, particularly among the older generation, for whom the danzón is a celebration of life, love and community spirit.

Mexico: A Passion for Danzón

Celebrating, life, love, and community, the danzón is very much alive in Mexico City.

In 2016, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States for the first time thanks to the evangelical vote. In 2024, the billionaire triumphed again, this time thanks to support ranging from Silicon Valley figures such as Elon Musk and Peter Thiel to the most reactionary and populist currents of the American right: alliances that have more to do with opportunism than ideology.

Trump's new supporters range from big tech to the reactionary right.

What's Driving the New Trump Administration?

Iceland’s healthcare system is amongst the best in Europe where doctors and other healthcare professionals work together on an equal footing. Elisa Johannsdottir wants to introduce ways of working from her native Iceland into the German healthcare system.

Elisa Johannsdottir wants to introduce working practices from her native Iceland into the German healthcare system.

Re: Iceland's Health Care Model

Over the last ten years, the number of young farmers has risen by 13% in Italy, more than anywhere else in Europe. Many of these new farmers do not come from farming backgrounds and with enthusiasm and energy, they are making an impact on agriculture in their country.

Over the last ten years, the number of young farmers has risen by 13% in Italy, more than anywhere else in Europe.

Re: Italy's New Farmers

On Sunday 8 December 2024, Syrians woke up to the news that Bashar Al Assad had fled the country. What had seemed unthinkable for more than 13 years of brutal war had finally happened: the end of the dictatorship. Citizens of Damascus can finally get a taste of freedom.

Syria: A Taste of Freedom

On Sunday 8 December 2024, Syrians woke up to the news that Bashar Al Assad had fled the country.

According to UNICEF, a child is killed or injured every ten minutes in Gaza. Nearly 15,000 of them have died since the war began in October 2023. And tens of thousands have been injured, often seriously, leaving them without an arm or a leg for life. Many have been orphaned and are forced to work or beg.

Gaza: Children Under Attack

Orphaned, missing limbs, deprived of school or forced to work: this is the plight of children in Gaza.

Amie Blu's music is deliciously introspective. Her style lends itself wonderfully to the session format, as this sequence filmed at the ESNS festival proves.

Eurosonic Noorderslag 2025

The calming voice of Amie Blu in an intimate session.

Amie Blu

Finland may be the happiest country on earth, but it is also known as the land of a thousand sad songs. Lurking in the shadows of this Nordic welfare state are violence, alcoholism and inequality. A century after its premiere, the most Finnish of all operas is now being performed in a new production at the Helsinki Opera House.

Finnish National Opera Helsinki

A tale of love, murder and oppression – Finland's national opera turns 100!

Leevi Madetoja: The Ostrobothnians

Chinese men are suffering. There are simply not enough women to go around since China implemented its one-child policy in 1979.  This means that 1 in 5 Chinese men will not be able to find a partner in five years’ time.

Chinese men are suffering. There are simply not enough women to go around since China implemented its one-child policy in 1979. 

China: Men without Women

Every year for 45 days, Uruguay lives to the rhythm of Carnival. In Montevideo, the capital, carnival traditions are taken very seriously: Candombe, the special carnival music and dance developed by Afro-Uruguayans, is a highly prized art form and is inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Montevideo: Dancing to the Rhythm of Carnival

Every year for 45 days, Uruguay lives to the rhythm of Carnival and the country's traditional art form: Candombe.

Psycho BugsBoredom

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