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
The Science of Time and Space
November 21, 2008 00:00 - 21 minutes - 7.44 MBCan time ever stand still? could we look back in time with a telescope? Could we see and stop a meteor in space? We tackle these questions on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. We'll also be finding ou how decaffeinated coffee is made, if guns need oxygen to fire, and why oil makes paper translucent. Plus we'll reveal how to drop bread without it landing butte-side down and how to get an egg into a bottle without breaking it! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scient...
Water, Sea Levels and Tides
November 14, 2008 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10 MBWhy do sea levels vary around the world? Why are there 2 tides? What is Autism? How were the colleges of Cambridge built along the river? We answer these questions on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. We'll also reveal how people are brainwashed,explain howdigital radios work and look into why loud music can make some people become aggressive. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Stars, Space and Flying Saucers!
November 07, 2008 00:00 - 28 minutes - 9.85 MBWhy are stars and planets round? Could a helium balloon ever continue into space? Is the moon bombarded with asteroids? Is it possible to create a flying saucer? We answer these questions on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. We'll also investigate the future of our evolution, reveal why spiders don't stick to their webs, andfind out why soap stings our eyes so much! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Forming Gems and Fighting the Freeze
October 31, 2008 00:00 - 30 minutes - 10.5 MBHow are gemstones formed? Why do we get brain freeze when eating Ice Cream? What is Renault's disease? We find out in this week's Ask the Naked Scientists, as well as discover how helicopters hover in one place, how some people avoided death during the plague, if fireworksare damaging to our environment and why we get body odour. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Fast Cars and Mysteries of our Galaxy
October 23, 2008 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.62 MBIs it possible to make a car go 1000mph? Should we believe our cars or our Sat-Navs when calculating our speed? Why can we sometimes see both the Sun and the Moon in the sky? We solve these mysteries on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists, as well as find out if wejump higher when the Moon is above us, reveal the world's oldest known vegetables, investigate the flu vaccine and discover how to create lightning in a microwave oven! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scie...
Dark Clouds and Sunlight on Your Skin
October 17, 2008 00:00 - 20 minutes - 6.9 MBWhy are some clouds dark? Why don't bees stick to their own honey? Why is UV light good for skin conditions, when we know it damages the skin? All these questions and more can be found in this week's Ask the Naked Scientists! Plus, why archaeologists think TB arose as a result of people coming together to live in early villages, and how meteorites lock away the secrets of the solar system. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Gluey Geckos and Snow in Space
October 09, 2008 23:00 - 23 minutes - 7.93 MBWhy are Geckos feet so sticky? Can it snow on mars? Is it possible for someone to spontaneously combust? We answer these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists. We also find out why lemons float more than limes, reveal the correct terminology for the himalayas and how thisregion can control weather conditions on the rest of the planet,uncover what will happen when the sun stops burning andinvestigate how magnets work. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The Science of Fusion and Nuclear Power
October 02, 2008 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.74 MBWhat is fusion? Can we achieve cold fusion? How useful is nuclear power and is it safe? We look into these questions on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. We'll also be finding out how sailing ships avoid the wind andwhy venomous snakes don't poison themselves, plus dig into how carbon dating works and reveal why ducks don't sink in water. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The Science of Flight and the Colours of the Universe
September 25, 2008 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.68 MBWhat colour will the end of the universe be? How can the moon look orange? Why can't we fly individually with jetpacks? We answer these questions on this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists. We also find out if bigger brains means dumber people, if the use of polystyrene in our soils can poison our food and reveal how to move a tin can without touching it! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Red Tongues, Intestinal Bacteria and Gut-busting Stress
September 18, 2008 23:00 - 27 minutes - 9.55 MBRed tongues, intestinal bacteria, appliances on standby and gut-busting stress levels all go under the microscope for Dr Chris's examination in this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists, when we'll also find out why an alternator connected to an electric car is a non-starter and what on Earth is nuclear fusion? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The Large Hadron Collider and Future Energy Sources
September 10, 2008 23:00 - 26 minutes - 9.14 MBWhat is the Large Hadron Collider? How can a particle accelerator simulate the big bang? What are our options for energy in the future? Dr Dave tackles these questions on this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists.We also find out why the moon doesn't rise and set like the sun, how ships can carry heavy cargo without sinking and why melting icebergs won't actually change our sea levels. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Freezing Time and The Expanding Universe
September 04, 2008 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.64 MBCould you stop yourself ageing by travelling at the speed of light? Why aren't we full of someone else's DNA after a blood transfusion? How do trees drink? All these questions and more will be answered this week on Ask the Naked Scientists! We'll also be finding out why the expanding universe is like a balloon and how you can lose weight (but not mass) in space. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Flames, Fireworks and Flies!
August 28, 2008 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.86 MBWhat is a flame? How do fireworks control their explosions? Why is it impossible to swat flies? Dr Chris tackles these question in this week's Ask the Naked Scientists as well as discovering how much heavier a tree is made by its leaves, predicting the outcome of a flu epidemic in todays society and revealing why a tea bag doesn't float in hot water. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Losing your Senses and Shadows in the Sky
August 21, 2008 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.4 MBHow do planes make shadows on the clouds? Can mosquitoes transmit HIV? Which sense do we lose last under anaesthetic? Drs Chris and Dave have the answers in this week's Ask the Naked Scientists when they also delve into cellulitis and how not to catch it, how athletes can constantly break world records, why men and women get fat in different places and why perpetual motion is a pipedream Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Weighing the Earth and Discussing Diabetes
August 15, 2008 22:43 - 29 minutes - 10 MBHow do we weigh the Earth, what's the basis of diabetes, does dandruff really trigger rain and clone alone - who would you make a copy of given the chance? Dr Chris pits his wits against these and other questions in this weeks edition of Ask the Naked Scientists. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Lightning, Poisonous Plants and White Holes
August 07, 2008 23:00 - 25 minutes - 8.65 MBWhen is wood not safe to burn? What makes poisonous plants dangerous? Could you get a satellite to orbit the moon? This week on Ask The Naked Scientists, we'll give you the answers to all these questions. We'll also find out the difference between cold and flu viruses, compare sheet and fork lightning and find whether a bluetooth headset could be used to track you down... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Nut Allergy Myths and Dogs with Hayfever
July 31, 2008 23:00 - 33 minutes - 11.4 MBIs it dangerous to feed nuts to babies? Can dogs get hayfever? Where does the static on your radio come from? All these and more are answered this week on Ask the Naked Scientists! We'll also be finding out whether blue-eyed people are more sensitive to the sun and why some people get more drunk than others after a couple of pints down the pub! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The Science of Brain Freeze and Magic of Mobiles!
July 24, 2008 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.73 MBWhy does our head hurt when we eat too much ice cream? How is it possible to communicate with people on the other side of the world without any wires? What is cellular architecture? Why do only some of us get allergies? We tackle these questions and more on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists! We also find out what causes gaut, reveal if bottled water is safer to drink than tap water, and discover how wind is created. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Forgetting Memories and Burning Rubber!
July 17, 2008 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.93 MBDo the cells controlling our memory renew themselves? Where does the rubber go when tyres wear down? What would happen if we grew plants in space? Why do we have earwax? We answer these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists.We also find out how coffees can heat themselves, discover how online streaming works, investigate what would happen to water at absolute zero and create sparks by revealing how static electricity forms. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked S...
The Power of Piezo and Sounds in Space
July 10, 2008 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBCould piezo electricity be used to supply power to the world's population? In space, can anyone hear you scream, or actually hear anything? How do dolphins direct themselves underwater? We tackle these questions and more this week on Ask the Naked Scientists! We also look into how far sound can travel, find out how the Large Hadron Collider will work and reveal how the sun manages to rise so quickly! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Starting the Sun and Rotting Remains
July 03, 2008 23:00 - 27 minutes - 9.55 MBHow was the Sun created? How are dead bodies decomposed? Does hot water freeze faster than cold water? We answer these questions and more on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists! We also find out why it's colder at high altitude even though you are closer to the Sun, reveal the sources and abundance of aluminium worldwide and discover the power of painkillers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Bouncing Bombs & Deadly Volcanoes!
June 26, 2008 23:00 - 28 minutes - 9.95 MBHow can bombs bounce without going off? Could a volcanic eruption be deadly worldwide? What is St Elmo's Fire? Are computers worse for the environment than planes? We tackle these question this week on Ask the Naked Scientists.We also find out if different parts of our body could have different DNA, investigate how to create a car that cannot be seen on radar, reveal the difference in oil found in Saudi Arabia and find out what a light year is. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting ...
Flying Loops and Fungal Tongues
June 19, 2008 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10 MBHow do planes fly upside down? How can tongues get fungal infections? Was there another civilisation before humans? Will we be able to predict the future? We tackle these questions on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. We also find out why we have solstices, if it's possible for our hearts to communcate with machines, investigate how sire temperature is measured and look into why there are worldwide water shortages when there's so much water on earth! Like this podcast? Please help us by s...
Splitting Atoms and Fires in Space
June 12, 2008 23:00 - 22 minutes - 7.64 MBCan we cut through atoms with scissors? Is it possible to light a fire on the moon? How do gyroscopes work? We answer these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists.We also lfind out how commercial text messaging works, look into how blood transfusions affect out body and how much fuel a train uses to travel. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Toning Up and Greenhouses on the Moon
June 05, 2008 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.5 MBWhy can blood vessels burst when pumping iron? Is it possible to grow plants on the moon? Can our joints predict bad weather? And do batteries work in outer space? We tackle these questions and more on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. We also find out why skin can lose pigment for individuals with Vitiligo, investigate the safety and cleanliness of quick-drying towels and analyse why it is harder to balance with our eyes closed. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked ...
Future Power and Outer Space
May 29, 2008 23:00 - 22 minutes - 10.2 MBCan we make our own fuel? Or provide our own power? Could there be smarter life than us in outer space? Could other planets have their own Northern Lights? We find out the answer to these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists.We also find out if water really does go the other way down the plughole when down under, how water can be used to make both cars and aircrafts faster and if it's possible to create alcohol that never lets us get past that 'merry' stage! Like this podcast? Plea...
Talking Monkeys and Forming Fossils
May 22, 2008 23:00 - 30 minutes - 10.6 MBCan we engineer monkeys to talk? Why do parrots have the ability to say words? What happens underground to form a fossil? We tackle these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists.We also find out if one gene can determine your sexuality, investigate if drinking hard water can stiffen your heart, and work out what separates a piece of string from a length of rope. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Floating Clouds and Shining Stars
May 15, 2008 23:00 - 21 minutes - 7.47 MBWhy do clouds float in the sky? If Stars are so bright why is our sky dark at night? Does a ducks quack echo? We tackle these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists, as well as find out why the sky is blue, discover if there really could be UFO's out there, investigate why we produce tears in our eyes and explore why we can't start the morning without a yawn! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Sinking Sand and Sucking Wounds
May 08, 2008 23:00 - 29 minutes - 10.3 MBCan we make a quick escape from quicksand? Is it really good for us to lick our wounds? Why do we have different accents? We tackle these questions on this Week's Ask the Naked Scientists, as well as find out why having the flu gives us the shivers, whether its possible to eat you way to having a baby boy, and if fizzy drinks make for a fun flight! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Drinking Rain and Evolving Apes
May 01, 2008 23:00 - 23 minutes - 7.96 MBCan we drink rain water? Why do dogs prefer drinking out of the toilet? Why haven't all apes become humans? We tackle these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists, as well find out how big the earth would look from the moon, why it gets so cold just before dawn, why some plants have red leaves and why our body fails to heal scars. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The science of cancer and Teleportation.
April 24, 2008 23:00 - 26 minutes - 9.23 MBWhat is cancer and how is it cured? Will humans ever be able to teleport? How are clouds made? We answer these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists. We also find out how it is possible for the universe to be both finite and expanding, how urea could be used to run our cars and buses and how laser eye surgery makes your vision better. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Digital Eyes and the Power of Chemicals.
April 17, 2008 23:00 - 23 minutes - 7.98 MBCan a digital camera see as well as the human eye? Why do some chemicals stain more than others? Does our taste fade with age? We tackle these questions this week on Ask the Naked Scientists, as well as finding out if cars can run on water, if motion-sensitive lights could light our way out of darkness and discovering if our old shower heads could be spraying more than just water. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by support...
Custard Bombs and the Future of the Human Race
April 10, 2008 23:00 - 26 minutes - 9.08 MBCan custard cause catastrophic explosions? How will the human race evolve? Can we use water as a fuel? We tackle all these on this week's Ask the Naked Scientists, as well as discovering why the hair on our bodies grows differently to the hair on our heads, asking if the earth will ever run out of oxygen and finding out if a 'fat strip' could solve our weight problems... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Na...
Mysteries of our Universe and Overcoming our Fears!
April 03, 2008 23:00 - 20 minutes - 6.99 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we look into the mystery of dark energy, reveal the cause of digital delay in radios and find out how to overcome our fear of change! We also discuss the alignment of our planets, find out if body parts can set airport alarms off and meet a super duck! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Perfect Bubbles, Sniffing Danger and Super Animals.
March 28, 2008 00:00 - 18 minutes - 6.4 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out the method for a perfect bubble bath, analyse across all species to find the ultimate fighting champion and find out if humans can sniff out danger. We also look into dietary treatments to aid macular degeneration, look into evolutionary reasons for sensing the presence of ghosts, and investigate treatments to cure the awful pain associated with a trapped nerve. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this pod...
Sharing Hearts and the Science of Speed
March 21, 2008 00:00 - 20 minutes - 7.11 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out the effects of high speed collisions, find out if our bodies are older than the universe itself and reveal if hearts can be swapped between sexes. We also find out the cause of acid reflux, investigate what happens when you drop cats out of windows and see if it's possible to live on baked beans. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
The Science of Sat-Navs and Magic of microwaves!
March 14, 2008 00:00 - 19 minutes - 6.63 MBOn this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists we investigate the science of sat-navs - how do they work? And how do they know where our speed cameras are? We find out why it's so hard to get a signal on our mobile phones when we're underground and whether the light from stars changes as it reaches our eyes. We also find out why insects aren't stung by stinging nettles, reveal if water really does flush the other way in the Southern hemisphere and find out the real reason why we can't use our mobiles...
Bursting Bubbles, Counting Calories and Falling to Earth!
March 07, 2008 00:00 - 31 minutes - 10.9 MBOn this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists we find out how to live a healthy lifestyle. We count calories to see just how many we burn during exercise, we work out how to lose weight the healthy way and we discuss the difference between calories and fat. We also discover why coloured bubble bath produces white bubbles, whether removing salt from the ocean could reduce our chances of flooding and whether animals know about natural disasters before we do! All that and many more of your questions an...
Frosty Roofs, Rocks from Space and UK Quakes
February 29, 2008 00:00 - 21 minutes - 7.33 MBIn this week's Ask the Naked Scientists Dave sates your thirst for knowledge with a look at whether frozen water is safe to drink, divides fog from mist, shakes up the world of seismology with a look at how earthquakes occur in countries like the UK, works out why some roofs remain resolutely frost-free in winter and explains how rocks from Mars turn up on Earth. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scie...
Breaking bones, Aching joints and the Placebo effect
February 22, 2008 00:00 - 33 minutes - 11.4 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out how to break your bones for your own good, the truth behind the placebo effect and how your body knows when to be sensitive. Also, why some people gain weight when they have arthritis, restless legs and the importance of prostate check-ups. All that and more on this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
DNA, Radio Waves and Watches
February 15, 2008 00:00 - 29 minutes - 10.1 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out why a slipped disc can't slip out, why you forget your dreams and why digital radio is behind the times - by about 4 seconds! Also, why present day physics forbids travel to the past, and how you can carry someone elses DNA without being pregnant. We tackle these questions and more on this weeks podcast. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Crashing satellites, Squeaking hearts and Glowing stars.
February 08, 2008 00:00 - 33 minutes - 11.5 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out our years of sending things out into space will come back to haunt us, how some hearts produce a squeaking sound, and why when you look into the night sky you could see bright coloured stars shining down on you. We'll also be finding out just how many starts there are in our universe, why some of us get heart murmurs, how far our universe goes and whether the way we eat today is reducing our immunity. All that and more of your questions answer...
Tearful eyes, Musical minds and Glowing seas!
February 01, 2008 00:00 - 26 minutes - 9.22 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out if it's possible to cry underwater, why ferocious winds can bring us to tears, how its possible to make the sea light up and why it's so difficult to get annoying songs out of your head! We also find out about the creation and effects of gravity, why some of us get constant ringing in our ears, and if there are plants living deep inside the earth. All that and more on this weeks podcast. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Nake...
Coloured Bruises, Colliding Bullets and Collapsing Bridges
January 25, 2008 15:17 - 33 minutes - 11.6 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out why a beating turns us blue, what would happen in a fight between bullets and how hanging from the air is considered safe in the form of a suspension bridge. We also find out about an environmentally-friendly method of cremation, whether it's possible for humans to survive on mars and what the term horse-power actually means. All that and even more of your questions answered on this weeks podcast Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting...
Stings, Ripening and Asbestosis.
January 18, 2008 16:57 - 24 minutes - 8.4 MBOn this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists we discuss why stinging nettles cause so much pain, why you should keep your bananas apart, and tell you about the effects and symptoms of asbestosis. We also find out which of our favourite foods were discovered in the Americas, if lightning occurs on other planets, why the new digital radios use up more electricity, and how a greenhouse works. All that and more of your questions answered on this weeks podcast. Like this podcast? Please help us by suppo...
Population, Fuel and Sonic Booms!
January 11, 2008 15:28 - 26 minutes - 9.07 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we answer your questions on population, sonic booms and fuel. We'll be looking into the genes behind your eye colour, why planes are so noise when they go supersonic and how exactly we get our beloved petrol and diesel from its original source-crude oil. We'll also be investigating the best time to walk your dog, why the South Pole is colder than the North Pole and how a collision with our earth created our moon. All that and more of your questions answer...
Diet, The Brain and Meteors
January 04, 2008 21:36 - 35 minutes - 12.2 MBThis week on Ask the Naked Scientists we answer your questions on diet, the brain and meteors. We'll be looking into what foods can help reduce your cholesterol, if it's possible for our brains to shrink and how meteor showers work. We'll also be talking about dementia, smoking oils, how mountains are like sponges and how to recover if the fast-spreading norovirus gets into your system. All that and more of your questions answered on this special podcast from the Naked Scientists. Like this p...
Speed, Crashes and Oil Spills
January 02, 2008 00:00 - 21 minutes - 7.26 MBChris, Dave and Sue Marchant tackle your questions on the speed of light, head on collisions, heartburn and much more... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists