Dr Xand's Con or Cure

In this programme, Ashley John‑Baptiste examines the methods used to manage pain for astronauts, while Xand van Tulliken looks into the reasons behind the high incidence of illness when people take time off work. Both segments investigate health challenges in unusual contexts.

The programme is a single episode that brings together two distinct investigations, each presented by a different reporter. Ashley John‑Baptiste and Xand van Tulliken take the lead, guiding viewers through their respective inquiries while the show maintains a straightforward, factual style. In her segment, Ashley John‑Baptiste looks at the ways pain is managed for astronauts while they’re in space. She examines the specific treatments that are being tested or used to keep crew members comfortable during missions, focusing on the unique challenges presented by a zero‑gravity environment. Xand van Tulliken, meanwhile, turns his attention to a more everyday concern: why a surprisingly large number of people fall ill when they finally get time off work. He investigates the possible reasons behind this pattern, probing the factors that might make a break from the routine trigger sickness rather than relief. Together, the two reports form the core of the episode, each shedding light on a different aspect of health—one set far above the Earth’s surface and the other rooted in the everyday lives of workers. The programme presents these investigations side by side, offering viewers a clear look at both cutting‑edge space medicine and the puzzling health effects of taking a holiday.