Ask the Naked Scientists
698 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 60 ratingsHow many organs could you donate and remain alive? How many planet Earths could fit inside the Sun? How high is a giraffe's blood pressure? Why is the sea blue? To find out, Ask The Naked Scientists!
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Episodes
Can a Mobile Phone Unlock a Car?
December 24, 2010 03:38 - 44 minutes - 20.2 MBWhat's a light-year, why is the earliest dawn not on the solstice, is the Sun hotter in South Africa, what causes neuropathy, can batteries short out in my pocket, is there a non-surgical solution to a squeaky voice, can my cell phone unlock my car and why does tapping a cup of cocoa make the pitch go up? Join Dr Chris for this week's festive selection of scientific conundra, on Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do Oxygen Levels Go Down in Winter?
December 17, 2010 19:10 - 23 minutes - 10.7 MBHow did a lightning storm spark a glowing ball above a roof, do atmospheric oxygen levels dip in winter, does anyone naturally not have fingerprints, are humans still evolving, and what's the story behind Lorenzo's Oil? Join Dr Chris for an intellectual work out with this week's round up of brain-stretching science... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is the moon upside down?
December 10, 2010 15:47 - 21 minutes - 9.99 MBWhat can hydrogen reveal about the structure of the early Universe and what causes Alzheimer's Disease; is the moon upside down when seen from south of the equator, what causes Autism and can it be treated and why do I only need 4 hours sleep? Join Dr Chris in this discusion on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do some songs get stuck in your head?
December 03, 2010 19:08 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MBKangaroo mothercare, why we all look different, what's the capacity of the human brain and why do some songs get stuck in your head are all up for analysis this week, and Dr Chris also has news of how worms can treat inflammatory bowel diseases, a memory-erasing treatment for chronic pain, and bacteria that thrive on arsenic... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why Do We Sleepwalk?
November 26, 2010 17:35 - 24 minutes - 11.3 MBWhat's more accurate, vehicle speed according to a GPS unit, or the speedometer? Also, what causes the Earth's magnetic field to flip, why do people sleepwalk and can the shrunken state of an accidentally boil-washed jersey be reversed? Join Dr Chris as he pits his wits against this week's science question selection and also discusses news of the discovery of sugar transporters in plants and a way to age a person using just a drop of blood... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting th...
How does an astronaut swallow in space?
November 19, 2010 13:03 - 23 minutes - 10.8 MBHow do space travellers navigate, can you swallow in microgravity, does apple cider vinegar help with weight loss, is there a "gay" gene, why did a game of football come to a frosty conclusion and why do some plant pigments change colour in water? Join Dr Chris for another fact-soaked foray into the world of science... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Does Diesel Pollute More Than Petrol?
November 12, 2010 02:17 - 20 minutes - 9.59 MBThis week, how Tetris could hold the key to blocking the bad memories and flashbacks behind post traumatic stress disorder and how an old drug could provide a new answer to neuroprotection from Parkinson's Disease. Also, why dark skin is more prone to scarring, is diesel a worse polluter than petrol, and does soap just detach bacteria from the skin, or kill them? Join Dr Chris on Talk Radio 702 to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can humans get stuck together during sex?
November 05, 2010 17:46 - 22 minutes - 7.66 MBWhere do accents come from, can glass be magnetised, what's the point of males and females and can people get locked together during sex? Join Dr Chris to find out and to hear about a new way to combat cancer, a novel way to block brain damage done by a stroke and how scientistsw are boosting mathematical ability, with a dose of electricity... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How Does Deodorant Work?
October 29, 2010 15:43 - 21 minutes - 7.23 MBThe Naked Scientist, Chris Smith strips science down to its bare essentials.How does grass break concrete?is one of the questions answered in this fascinating show. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can I Crush my capsules?
October 22, 2010 13:15 - 25 minutes - 8.62 MBWhat stops water moving through a tiny hole, are ground up tablets safe to swallow, what are freckles, how fast can a human heart beat, what happens when a cataract is removed, where do fat flies come from and how does the moon influence the Earth? Join Dr Chris as he pits his wits against this week's round up of science questions from South Africa... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Am I ambidextrous?
October 15, 2010 14:00 - 23 minutes - 8.12 MBThis week Dr Chris discusses how volcanoes can cut global warming, the evidence for genes linked to race, whether ambidexterity is real, the cause of crop circles, news of a new vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) and the tale of a comet that turned into an asteroid... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Where Does Belly Button Fluff Come From?
October 08, 2010 15:49 - 25 minutes - 8.65 MBAre fat cells all made equal, why women glow while men perspire, the science of electromagnetic induction, what is emphysema, how are drug doses determined, is the Earth gaining weight and where does belly button fluff come from all go under the microscope in this week's Ask! the Naked Scientist from Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Artificial Noses, Aeroplane Toilets and Big Brains
September 30, 2010 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.71 MBWhere does the waste from an aeroplane toilet go? And could you ever really get stuck to one when pressing the flush? Do we have bigger brains than 500 years ago? And why are planets spherical? We tackle all of these questions this week, as well as finding out that researchers have created an artificial nose even more sensitive than a dog's. Plus we'll discover why onions make your eyes water... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do Dolphins Drink?
September 23, 2010 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.3 MBHow do dolphins and other marine animals hydrate themselves? Can we use nanotechnology to fight disease? How does a radio-controlled clock work? We take on this variety of questions as well as find out why tea stains our cups, whether volcanic activity hollows out the earths core and why ice sticks to your tongue. Plus, we investigate if any large land animals can survive without oxygen! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Tractor Beams, Phone Masts and Living in Space!
September 16, 2010 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.91 MBHow does a mobile phone mast work? What affect does living in space have on the human body? Could tractor beams become a reality? We take on these space age questions in this week's show as well as reveal the land area of Earth, why people in the Southern Hemisphere don't walk on their heads, why hair looks darker when wet and why alcohol makes you feel happy. Plus, we investigate what would happen if we drilled to the centre of the Earth! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the N...
Is it Safer to Kiss a Stranger or Touch the Door Handle in a Public Toilet?
September 09, 2010 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.61 MBAre we at risk when we use public toilets? What can we catch from kissing strangers? Why is it safer to eat cooked rather than rare meat? We take on these risk averse questions as well as find out how the sun burns, why children shouldn't drink coffee, the direction our blood flows around our body and how much ruminent animals and permafrost contribute to our greenhouse gases. Plus, we investigate whether it's more efficient to run our cars on a half or full tank of gas! Like this podcast? Pl...
Why do Pigeons nod their Heads?
September 02, 2010 23:00 - 24 minutes - 8.38 MBWhy do Pigeons nod their heads? How does food become body fat? What can you do with a ramjet? We take on these questions as well as discover how megapixels are formed, whether bees go into their hives at night and why we use CO2 in fizzy drinks. Plus, we sniff out why cows produce methane! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why are Cacti so Spiky?
August 26, 2010 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.88 MBOn Ask the Naked Scientists this week, we find out how cacti can survive with very little water, and why they are so well endowed with spines! We answer your questions on asteroids, the size of the universe and the correct angle to leave the Earth. Plus, we test Dave's knowledge of anti-ageing cosmetics! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
GPS, Floating Bridges and Explosions in Space!
August 19, 2010 23:00 - 19 minutes - 6.63 MBHow did we measure geographic distances before GPS? And how do GPS satellites do it now? Would floating bridges help in Pakistan? We'll tackle all of these questions this week, as well as finding out if ice would melt in space and ifall the alcohol evaporates if you use it in cooking. Plus, whether explosions in space just keep going... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Protons, Photons and Colour-changing Toys
August 12, 2010 23:00 - 23 minutes - 8.05 MBHow small is a proton? What is a photon? And how do colour-changing toys work? We'll find out the answers to all these questions this week, plus find out how new stars are born, how painkillers work and the effects of salt on our bodies! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Lasers, Atoms and our Universe!
August 05, 2010 23:00 - 26 minutes - 9.03 MBHow do lasers work? Could lasers be used to treat cataracts and blindness as well as our eyesight? Why is a hydrogen atom bigger than a helium one? Why is there no oxygen on other planets? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as find out whether South American Indians can really shrink heads, whether microwaves could be altered to cool food down, if women will survuve longer than men on earth and investigate if it's possible to make artificial gravity out in space! Like this...
Why does time speed up as we age?
July 29, 2010 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.6 MBWhy does time seem to go by faster as we get older? What do IQ tests really measure? How do probiotic yoghurts work? We get the answers to all these on this week's show, as well as finding out why hair goes lighter in the sun and how 3D televisions work. Plus, is there such a thing as a 'good' virus? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Caramel, Carbon Dioxide and the way to the Centre of the Universe
July 22, 2010 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.65 MBWhy does sugar look so different when you heat it up? How much CO2 is there in all the world's bottles of Cola? And which way is it to the Centre of the Universe? We'll tackle all these questions this week, as well as discovering what causes thunderstorms, and whether aeroplanes would work in space. Plus, does wrapping your fish and chips in newspaper make it poisonous? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do we really need 8 glasses of water a day?
July 15, 2010 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.6 MBDo we really need 8 glasses of water a day? How does a jet engine work? Where does earwax come from? Why are some apes vegetarian when we're not? We find out the answers to all these questions, as well as discover what thunderflies are, investigate if we're any closer to a malaria vaccine and discuss why bird feathers are so colourful. Plus, we find out about a newly discovered chemical that promotes cell survival in our brains! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scient...
Why do Moths Fly Towards Light?
July 08, 2010 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10.2 MBWhy are moths attracted to light? How do red-leaved plants photosynthesise? Why don't hayfever sufferers become tolerant to pollen? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as discover if our planet changes its weight, how our brains store information and whether the Sun has any gravity. Plus, we discuss if man will ever land on Mars! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Should I Drink from the Hot Tap?
July 01, 2010 23:00 - 22 minutes - 7.59 MBHow does vinegar 'cook' an egg? How does Google work? Are the colours we see really real? We'll get the answers to all of these, plus explore how giant tortoises made it to the Galapogos, and how wiping out the human population would alter the atmosphere! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Flavours, Flies, and Facial Hair!
June 24, 2010 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10 MBHow are crisp flavours created? What makes flies so resilient? Why do some women get facial hair with age? We take on this variety of questions in this week's show as well as find out how our universe began, if Aspergers syndrome is hereditary and how methane clathrates can help store gases. Plus we discover how scientists are creating lungs in the lab! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Microwaves and Mirages
June 17, 2010 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.4 MBIs microwaved water safe? Why does a mirage form? What causes that shimmer on a hot road? We tackle all of these questions this week, as well as look at how anti-dandruff shampoo works, how ships stay upright and whether humans are the only species that cry. We also find out if your laptop would survive a dunking in de-ionised water! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How Did HIV Begin?
June 10, 2010 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBHow did HIV originate? Why does anaemia occur more often in Africa? Do growing pains exist? We take on these infectious questions as well as find out how limescale remover works, how rainbows form and whether all objects expand in heat. Plus, we investigate if humans can get stronger under stress and reveal how much water we should drink for a healthy body. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Tornadoes, Bombs and Electric Shocks!
June 03, 2010 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.85 MBHow do Tornadoes form? What's a daisy cutter bomb? Why do we get electric shocks when leaving our cars? We take on these questions as well as find out why Jelly freezes in the fridge, why humans can't pickup radiowaves and how far away the moon is. We also investigate when a scientific theory becomes a fact! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Ageing and our Senses
May 27, 2010 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10.2 MBDoes our sense of taste change with age? How are horrid and pleasant smells decided by our brains? Is it harder to urinate when you're older? We tackle these time-sensitive questions in this week's show as well as find out how de-caffeinated coffee is made, whether caffeine is bad for us and how we acquire the bacteria that live naturally inside us. Plus, we investigate whether love can rule our brains! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why can't we Tickle Ourselves?
May 20, 2010 23:00 - 27 minutes - 9.58 MBWhy can't we tickle ourselves? Is deafness down to our genes? Can diabetes cause Eczema? How does deodorant prevent body odour? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as reveal if botox can be used as a medicine, why some people don't feel pain and whether it's possible to wake up with a new accent. Plus we investigate if bacteria could be used to clean the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Man-boobs, Hair Cells & Relativity in Rugby
May 19, 2010 15:13 - 24 minutes - 8.32 MBAsk the Naked Scientists, South Africa! This week we're adding a new member to the Ask! family with a new show on South Africa's flagship station TalkRadio 702. We look at man-boobs, hair cells, relativity at work in rugby, the right way round for your headphones, the getting-cold-causes-colds myth, excito-toxicity, how the immune system works, why asparagus makes urine smell and the lifespan of a fly. Don't know the answer? Then why not Ask the Naked Scientists... Like this podcast? Please h...
Bombs and Bacteria
May 13, 2010 23:00 - 23 minutes - 8.15 MBWhat effects can underground nuclear explosions have on our land? How do antibacterial cleaners work? Could bacteria be used to clean up our environment from pollutants? We take on these question in this week's show as well as find out why the colour blue is so hard to see at night, why grass can survive when covered with snow, whether tanks could be made with armoured glass and how data can be saved on non-magnetic disks. Plus, we find out how scientists are developing flexible touch screens...
Earthquakes and Volcanoes!
May 06, 2010 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBDo earthquakes shift the earths axis? If the population of China jumped at once would it cause an earthquake? How much lava is inside the earth? Would more eruptions lead to an ice age? We tackle these questions as well as find out what makes stainless steel stainless, why it is colder further out in space, and why wet towels whip harder than dry ones. Plus we investigate how ice found on asteroids could give more evidence for life in outer space. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporti...
Comets, Planets and Space!
April 29, 2010 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.88 MBCould a comet shield the earth from the sun? How do planets form around stars? Why are planets spherical? What's the temperature in space? We tackle these astronomical questions in this weeks show as well as reveal why there isn't a cure for the common cold, why 3D glasses make some of us feel dizzy and if volcanic ash can disrupt space travel. Plus, we investigate what the Hubble Telescope sees in space! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Volcanoes, Aeroplanes and our Environment!
April 22, 2010 23:00 - 24 minutes - 8.28 MBWhy are some Volcanic Eruptions stronger than others? Why can't aeroplanes fly around the ash in the sky? Is our ozone layer still a concern? Why will sea levels rise if the ice caps melt? We take on these explosive questions in this week's show as well as find out if dogs can communicate, how boats sail into the wind, how outdoor infra-red heaters work and why clingfilm expands over food in the microwave. We also investigate is silverfish are related to dinosaurs and where water goes when it...
Sun, Clouds and Rain
April 15, 2010 23:00 - 23 minutes - 8.15 MBWhy does it feel hotter when the sun is out? Why can we see clouds at night? Is the sky always grey when it rains? We tackle these question on this week's show as well as find out if a magnet could replace the wires in a pendulum, why some plugs only have 2 prongs, how it is possible to go blind only temporarily and we reveal how our blood clots. Plus, we investigate the science behind near-death experiences! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Animals, Hair and Hot Flushes!
April 08, 2010 23:00 - 26 minutes - 9.01 MBDo cats have a sixth sense? How do dogs moult? Why are some hairs longer than others? Why do women get hot flushes? We tackle these questions on this weeks show as well as find out why we form tears, how animals navigate and why our voice changes when we hold our nose? Plus, we investigate if toads can detect earthquakes! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Boomerangs, Painkillers and Nipples!
April 01, 2010 23:00 - 1 minute - 10.5 MBWhy do boomerangs return? How do painkillers know where to go? Are some painkillers faster than others? Why do men have nipples? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as find out why rainbows form arcs, what Menieres disease is, how sea breezes form and why we don't sing with accents. We also investigate the difference between X-rays, MRIs and other medical scans! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Lightning, Radiation and the Northern Lights!
March 25, 2010 00:00 - 27 minutes - 9.32 MBHow does lightning strike? Should we worry about radiation from mobile phone masts? Do our TV sets give off any radiation? Why do we see the Northern Lights? We tackle these questions in this weeks show as well as reveal how a gyroscope works, why some batteries last longer than others and if the earths core uses oil as a coolant. Plus, we compare the energy consumption of electric and internal combustion engine cars! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What if the Moon went AWOL?
March 19, 2010 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10.2 MBCould the Earth cope without the Moon, how do safety matches work, what causes hiccups, why don't frosts form undercover, should NASA put people on an asteroid, why do nails grow faster on holiday, and what was here before the Big Bang? Join Dr Chris as he embarks ona brain-stretching scientific tour of the Cosmos for this week's Ask the Naked Scientists! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Spaceships, Sun Rays and Glowing Skies!
March 12, 2010 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBHow does fuel burn in spaceships without oxygen? Why do we see sun rays from behind clouds? Why is there often a red glow in the night sky? We take on your cosmic questions in this week's show as well as reveal how radios pick up aircraft transmissions, why solar panels work better when facing south and we investigate if the recent earthquakes have knocked the earth off its Axis! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we find Bottoms Attractive?
March 05, 2010 00:00 - 31 minutes - 10.9 MBWhy is Jupiter round and how does it hold onto its gas, how does skin thickness vary around the body, why does milk soothe the effects of chilli, how do brain sizes vary amongst animals, what makes a person blush, why don't we deafen ourselves when we shout and what makes bottoms attractive? Join Dr Chris as he pits his wits against this week's crop of questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What Do the Dimples Do on a Golf Ball?
February 26, 2010 00:00 - 23 minutes - 8.1 MBHow do meat-tenderisers make meat more succulent, how do they get the corks into Champagne bottles, do explosions travel in space, why have golf balls got dimples, how do holograms work and what does light weigh? Find out with Dave Ansell in this week's fact-packed Ask! The Naked Scientists... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Love and Our Universe
February 19, 2010 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBHow do we fall in love? What is our universe Expanding into? Will our universe ever be sucked back inwards? We take on these cosmic questions in this week's show as well as find out how dogs tell the time, if cracking our knuckles causes arthritis and why vegetables are less crisp once frozen. We also investigate whether the forces created by volcanes could be harnessed for energy! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Earth, Space and Winning the Lottery!
February 12, 2010 00:00 - 25 minutes - 8.59 MBWhy does the earth spin? Is the moon moving farther away from earth? What are the odds of winning the lottery twice in a row and of getting the same numbers twice? We take on these questions in this week's podcast as well as reveal the difference between blu-ray and DVD's, what will happen when the earth's magnetic poles flip, why certain materials are transparent, and if water changes composition when boiled. Plus, we investigate the potential for life in outer space. Like this podcast? Plea...
Spontaneous Combustion and Smellovision
February 05, 2010 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBDoes being hot under the collar ever lead to spontaneous combustion? Will we ever get smellovision? Does being ill make you smarter? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as reveal if animals and humans react to drugs in the same way, whether milk is what makes mucus in our bodies and if microwaves are as good at heating water as your kettle! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do Strip Lights Flash Beneath Power Lines?
January 29, 2010 00:00 - 25 minutes - 8.81 MBWhy do buses get steamy, how do ships withstand super-waves, what's really invovled in balancing on a bike, how come Hawaii's on a hot-spot and do fluorescent tubes flash beneath power lines? Join Dr Dave as he pits his wits against your scientific conundra... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Broken Bones and Glowing Worms
January 22, 2010 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10.3 MBHow long to bones take to heal? Are healed bones stronger than they were before? How do glow worms glow? We tackle these bright questions on this week's show as well as reveal what a headache is, how to cure a hangover, the strength of atomic bombs and how trees and coral can tell us about past climates! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists