Latest news with #BigManny
The Journal
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Journal
Allianz Ireland and Spotify targeting road safety with personalised music playlists
IT'S IN ALL of our interests to keep Irish roads as safe as possible, and it turns out there's a small change you can make to help keep yourself safe while driving. Allianz has partnered with streaming giant Spotify to produce 'Seat Belters', an in-app tool which will create personalised playlists for drivers based on their listening history. The purpose of these playlists is to curate a selection of your favourite down-tempo songs that can contribute to better driving. Studies have shown that the music we listen to when driving can have an effect on many of our behaviours and faculties. Songs with over 120 beats per minute were found to have the worst impact on crucial decision-making competencies such as speed, alertness and reaction time. Indeed, one study shows that listening to high-tempo music while driving increased heart rate variability, mental workload, and produced more erratic driving patterns. In short, the more beats per minute a song has, the riskier your driving. It seems as though most adults in Ireland are aware that music impacts their driving. According to a nationally representative survey commissioned by Allianz Ireland in April 2025, over half of Irish adults believe that listening to music influences their driving. This survey also revealed that young drivers are the most likely to be streaming music while driving. Seat Belters, therefore, is designed to filter out songs with such high beats per minute and instead put together a playlist for better driving. This doesn't mean you'll be getting a random selection of someone else's favourite music, though. By partnering with one of the most trusted names in streaming, Allianz has ensured that your Seat Belters playlist will be tailored to your taste, using your own listening habits to build a set of songs that strike a balance between your usual rotation and road-safe bangers. Advertisement Allianz Ireland / YouTube Specifically, the tool will look for your most-played songs that fit into the 60-80pm range. The app can also study your past listening to let you know about your listening habits and tell you whether your listening habits are roadworthy. To bring this science to life, Allianz has also launched Dashboard Drumming, a social video activation pairing legendary drummer Stewart Copeland (The Police) with science content creator Big Manny. In a parked car, they use nothing but a dashboard and a drumbeat to demonstrate how changing tempo affects mindset, mood, and ultimately driving behaviour — making BPM instantly relatable and shareable. It's a fun but powerful way to show how we respond to rhythm behind the wheel. If you're curious about your Seat Belters safe driving playlist, visit this link or use the QR code below to access the tool through your Spotify app. Mark Brennan, Chief Marketing Officer at Allianz Ireland, said: 'This initiative is about promoting a better driving experience by influencing driver behaviour through music. The music we listen to can significantly affect our mood and actions — so why not harness this to encourage better driving habits? 'We're thrilled to partner with Spotify on this groundbreaking international campaign, offering an in-app tool that is not only practical and enjoyable but also personalised, with the potential to reduce road accidents.' Seat Belters marks an innovative partnership led by Allianz Ireland that will launch this month not only in Ireland but in the UK, Australia and Austria, and will be advertised to non-Premium users via the app itself. Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurance and financial services companies, with operations in numerous countries serving millions of customers globally. Allianz Insurance has operated in Ireland since 1902, serving more than 800,000 customers and employing over 700 people across the country.
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Spotify playlist designed to help you drive more safely
Allianz has launched a new data-driven initiative on Spotify that encourages motorists to drive more safely by changing the beat of their music. 'Seat Belters' is a free in-app experience for Spotify users that creates a personalised playlist featuring songs that have lower beats per minute (BPM). Studies show that music can have a direct influence on how we drive. Songs with a fast tempo - over 120 BPM - can subconsciously encourage drivers to speed up and change lanes more often. In contrast, music that matches the average resting heart rate - around 60–80 BPM - is associated with calmer, more focused driving. Younger adults are most inclined to stream music while driving. Studies indicate that faster music can lead to increased heart rate variability, elevated mental workload, and more unpredictable driving patterns, suggesting motorists could benefit from a more mindful music curation approach while on the road. Allianz's new campaign on Spotify aims to help drivers tune into a more mindful, more aware pace that is just as enjoyable, for better driving. Each playlist is unique, leveraging Spotify's unique streaming intelligence but filtered for music in a safer tempo range (60–80 BPM). While the specific songs will vary, tracks by some of the UK's most iconic artists fall into the 'safe category'. To launch Seat Belters, music artist Big Manny and Police drummer Stewart Copeland have been explaining more about why music is vital for safe driving – watch here. Matt Cox, Allianz UK Chief Claims Officer, said: 'The music we listen to can play a big part in changing our mood and actions, and it's no different when we're behind the wheel. Our claims data shows we can always do better when it comes to driving safe. We're excited to work with Spotify and offer an experience which isn't just personalised, but will potentially help keep the roads safer.'
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC star Big Manny's life off screen including Prince William link
TikTok sensation Big Manny is showcasing his talents in the BBC's new series, a creation from the team behind Horrible Histories. Horrible Science made its debut on CBBC on May 9, with the entire series now available for streaming on iPlayer. Much like its predecessor, Horrible Histories, this new comedy show makes education fun for kids through quick-fire sketches centred around scientific themes. Five out of the fifteen episodes even cover topics found in primary school curriculums, including outer space, motion, light and electricity. The show features a recurring cast along with guest appearances from First Dates' Fred Sirieix and social media scientist, Big Manny. While audiences may be familiar with Fred, this could be their first encounter with Manny on television. Let's take a closer look at the life of this viral star off-screen, reports the Daily Record. Who is Big Manny? (Image: Getty Images) Big Manny, whose real name is Emanuel Wallace, uses his nickname across his social media platforms. The BBC star began sharing educational science videos on TikTok in 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown when children were forced into home schooling. Fresh from graduating with a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of East London, Manny started working as a science technician in a secondary school. It was this experience that inspired him to start posting videos online. "I could see first-hand that students were struggling in science because of the lockdown," the London native revealed to Chemistry World in 2023. After four years since his debut post, the TikToker has now amassed a whopping two million followers on TikTok and another 1.6 million on Instagram. But that's not all - Manny recently scooped up the Education Creator of the Year accolade at the first-ever TikTok Awards in December 2024. Manny demonstrates scientific experiments in short videos (Image: TikTok/ @ Manny resonates with younger audiences by breaking down intricate scientific concepts using everyday London vernacular. His ultimate mission? is to show young folks from all walks of life that they too have a place in the science world. In a heart-to-heart with The Voice in 2024, he shared: "So what I am trying to do with my platform is show young people that there are scientists out there that look like you, talk like you, dress like you, come from the same background as you. "So if they can become a scientist then there is no reason why you can't as well." Manny recently collaborated with Prince William (Image: Instagram/@ Meanwhile, back in January, Manny caused quite the stir among his fans with an unexpected Royal cameo. While visiting Nature Metrics, an environmental DNA research group, none other than Prince William dropped in to collaborate with the scientist on an experiment. Proclaiming himself as "Manny's beautiful assistant," for a tutorial on strawberry DNA extraction, the Duke's cameo stunned viewers. The brief 48-second TikTok video racked up over six million views, and fans flooded the comments. One astonished viewer couldn't help but express their shock, exclaiming: "PAUSE? ? IS THAT PRINCE WILLIAM? ?" Meanwhile, another was equally taken aback, jokingly remarking: " I LITERALLY BLINKED TWICE TO CONFIRM WHAT I WAS SEEING." Big Manny guest stars in Horrible Science, streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Who is Big Manny? Meet the TikTok sensation starring in BBC's Horrible Histories spin-off
The Biomedical Science graduate boasts over three million followers on social media TikTok star Big Manny is putting his skills to the test in BBC's new series, brought to life by the team behind Horrible Histories. Horrible Science premiered on CBBC on May 9, with the entire boxset available to stream on iPlayer. Like Horrible Histories, the new comedy show makes learning accessible for children through fast-paced sketches, all related to scientific topics. Five of the fifteen episodes even feature themes that are on primary school curriculums, including outer space, motion, light and electricity. Among its reoccurring cast, the show also has guest appearances from First Dates star Fred Sirieix and social media scientist Big Manny. While viewers will be acquainted with Fred, this may be their first time seeing Manny on the big screen. Below, we delve into the viral sensation's life off screen. Why is Big Manny famous? Big Manny's real name is Emanuel Wallace, however he uses the moniker on his social media platforms. The BBC star started posting educational science videos on TikTok in 2021, when the COVID-19 lockdown had forced children into remote learning. Having just graduated with a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences, from the University of East London, Manny began working as a science technician in a secondary school. His stint at the school sparked the idea to start sharing videos online. "I could see first-hand that students were struggling in science because of the lockdown," the Londoner told Chemistry World in 2023. Four years on from his first post, he now boasts two million followers on TikTok and an additional 1.6 million on Instagram. His accolades don't stop there, Manny was recently honoured with the Education Creator of the Year award, at the inaugural TikTok Awards in December 2024. The content creator appeals to young audiences by using colloquial London slang to explain complex scientific theories. Ultimately, he aims to demonstrate to young people that anyone can pursue a career in the science field, regardless of their background. He opened up about the motivation behind his content to The Voice in 2024, saying: "So what I am trying to do with my platform is show young people that there are scientists out there that look like you, talk like you, dress like you, come from the same background as you. "So if they can become a scientist then there is no reason why you can't as well." Prince William link Back in January, Manny shocked his followers with a royal guest star. During a visit to Nature Metrics, a research group that studies environmental DNA, Prince William joined the scientist for an experiment. The royal described himself as "Manny's beautiful assistant," before showcasing a step-by-step guide on how to extract DNA from a strawberry. The short 48-second clip garnered over six million views on TikTok, and sent fans wild.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New research begins to study the effect of vaping on children
New research has been announced to look at the long-term impact of vaping on young people's health and wellbeing. Vapes are small devices that hold a liquid containing nicotine, an addictive substance found in cigarettes, as well as other harmful used by some adults to help them stop smoking, and it's illegal to sell vapes to anyone aged under 18. Despite this, NHS research last year found that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried vaping and nearly 1 in 10 vape UK government has asked for more research in this area, as well as running a new campaign with influencers to raise awareness of the harms of vaping. What will the new research look at? The landmark study is being funded by UK Research and Innovation, and will follow the lives of 100,000 young people aged 8-18 over the next 10 will collect lots of information about their biology and behaviour, so that the researchers can build up a picture of what impacts their health - including Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: "The number of non-smokers, particularly young people, taking up vaping is extremely worrying. "The long-term impact of vaping on the lungs isn't yet known, so research into its effect on young people, is really important." Alongside this, two other studies from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will be looking into the effects of UK government is also teaming up with YouTube and Instagram stars - like scientist Big Manny - to create content on social media that raises awareness of the potential harms of part of a series of measures designed to reduce the number of people using nicotine products, including the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. What is the Tobacco and Vapes Bill? The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a set of proposed new laws that would bring in more restrictions on vapes and was brought forward by the previous UK government, led by Rishi Sunak. When Keir Starmer became prime minister, his new government said it was committed to the would mean that cigarettes would be banned for anyone born after 1 January would be smoking bans outside schools and playgrounds, and some outdoor places could become vape-free, plan also aims to make vapes less appealing to children, with changes to the flavours and packaging of vaping products.
