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!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
What is on the dark side of the Moon?
July 21, 2023 11:48 - 20 minutes - 18.3 MBHow high a temperature can human's survive? Why does cleaning your ear make your eyes roll? How do astronauts make it back from the moon? What is on the dark side of the Moon? Should we put parachutes on aeroplanes? How long can DNA samples last? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer?
July 14, 2023 03:15 - 20 minutes - 19 MBWhy do we itch ourselves? How do kidney stones form? I've started sleeping on a more comfortable mattress - why am I getting back pain? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is causing climate change?
July 08, 2023 08:34 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBWhat is causing climate change? Does pumping out oil leave a hole behind in the Earth? What does an Adam's apple do? What causes temperature differences from day to day? How does throat singing work? What would happen to Twitter's data if it collapsed? What is the spring tide, and why is it dangerous? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What causes ocean swell?
June 30, 2023 09:54 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBIf there was nothing before the big bang, who created nothing? When egg shell falls into the pan, why is the rest of the egg shell the most effective way to fish it out again? And what's going on with the James Webb space telescope? Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Clarence Ford take a look... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How much pressure was on the Titan sub?
June 23, 2023 09:08 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBWhat are the benefits of cold water swimming? How much pressure was on the Titan submersible? How big are protons and electrons? Why do all babies have straight hair? Why are orcas sinking sailboats? Why does a glass hob's heat not move laterally? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why is a cold called a cold?
June 09, 2023 09:39 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBWhy do my eyes burn when raindrops run into them? Why can eye and hair colour change? Why do I cry when I go to the loo? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why disinfectants kill only 99.9% of germs
June 02, 2023 07:22 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBHow do flysprays work, and are they harmful for humans? What's "muscle memory" and where are these memories stored? Why do disinfectants "only" kill 99.9% of germs? How do I cleanse domestic rainwater tanks to kill microbes? How does freefall - as described by orbiting astronauts - work? If I let my pet cobra go, will it survive in the wild? What's the basis of sweating, and why do some people sweat more than others? Dr Chris Smith and CapeTalk's Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this po...
Why do my flowers only smell nice at night?
May 27, 2023 09:46 - 19 minutes - 4.83 MBThis week,?What makes an appendix burst? Why do we blush??Do carrots really improve our eyesight? What other foods can we eat to regenerate our organs? Can lions survive on seafood? Can studying the arts impact on my health? And why do some flowers only release their scents at night, a how? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do bright lights make spots in my vision?
May 15, 2023 10:07 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBWhat are hiccups and what's the medical term for the phenomenon? How far to the horizon and why does it always appear to be at eye-level? What are lectins and are they harmful? What is pulmonary fibrosis, why does it happen and can it be cured? Why do bright lights make spots on my vision, and why does the colour change when I close my eyes? And as a 65 year old in good health and with 4 Covid-19 vaccines and one mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, do I need another Covid-19 booster?? Like this podcas...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
May 14, 2023 01:51 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBWhy do we always find cockroaches on their back? How does medicine know where it hurts? Why do we dream? Why is the Earth still so hot? What came first, the chicken or the egg? Why did Chernobyl explode? How much energy does a seed need to grow? Can we work out how much energy there is in the world? Why do most of us look different? Chris Smith and Clarence Ford answer questions from the students of the International School of Cape Town... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the N...
Is JWST disproving the big bang theory?
April 28, 2023 10:19 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBWhy do I feel phantom pain? What is the sleep in my eyes constituted of? Why are things we drop into our eyes poisonous to ingest? What is fibromyalgia? What is aquamation? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do we have two sets of DNA?
April 21, 2023 10:08 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWhat makes the brain age? Why don't ice skaters get dizzy? Do we have two sets of DNA? Where does all of the burned fuel go? Do dogs get headaches? Why are dogs so good at pattern recognition? Does someone carrying a donor egg provide any of the child's DNA? Would watering your lawn increase the chance of rain? Dr Chris Smith and Amy MacIver have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can we control AI?
March 31, 2023 11:14 - 19 minutes - 18 MBThe dangers of mains electricity. Are computers helping or hindering our lives? What if I shine a torch while travelling at the speed of light? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we cry when we laugh?
March 24, 2023 11:06 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBWhy is TB so drug resistant? How do nature drugs fit the lock and key in our brains? Why are some family members less fussy eaters than others? Why do we cry when we laugh? Is a love of public speaking from nature or nurture? What's the point of going to Mars? Dr Chris smith and have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Does red really make bulls angry?
March 17, 2023 09:37 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBHow do we get a transplanted heart to start pumping in someone's body? Is it possible to have a stomach transplant? Is Earth's crust displacement likely to have occured in the past? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What would T-Rex taste like?
March 17, 2023 09:15 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBCan pain medicines go off? Why is mouldy cheese ok? What is the James Webb Space Telescope looking at? How long would it take someone to adapt to living in a different climate? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can mosquitos get drunk off blood alcohol?
March 03, 2023 11:15 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBHow can I bulk up my muscles? Where does candle wax disappear to? Why don't pigs eat onions? Do women take on male DNA when they're pregnant? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can you sing one song to the tune of another?
February 06, 2023 03:26 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBWhy do we teach kids nursery rhymes? How do we know how anatomically modern humans populated the world? What is cataract surgery, how is cataract surgery performed, and is there an upper age limit? Is most human behaviour innate, or learned? Why does water boiled in a microwave sometimes explode when you add sugar or coffee? Join Dr Chris and TalkRadio 702's Relebogile Mabotja to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are mobile phone microwaves dangerous?
January 27, 2023 10:21 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhy is earth's magnetic field changing direction? Why can I sense when someone is looking at me? How might the world come to an end? Why does time seem to be going past more quickly as I get older? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What would a solar flare do to Earth?
January 20, 2023 11:04 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBWhat would a large solar flare do to Earth? Why do stars appear to flicker, or move? Can animals experience regret? How does AI work? What are probiotics? Dr Chris Smith has all the answers for the listeners on Radio 702 and 567 CapeTalk... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is the carrot top safe to eat?
January 13, 2023 10:21 - 19 minutes - 18 MBDo scientists know how many stars are in the galaxy? Why do some ailments only affect us at night? Should I get a petrol or diesel car? Are we drinking the same water as our ancient ancestors? What's the difference between intelligence and creativity? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are there any advantages to having a disease?
January 06, 2023 10:37 - 23 minutes - 22 MBDoes flash photography harm baby's eyesight? What is ocular myasthenia gravis? Can having a disease give you an advantage against another disease? Why are soldiers so prone to PTSD? Why is it so difficult to predict the weather? What does it mean to be double-jointed? Are we susceptible to certain rhythms? Why is water so important? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is cellular data and what do we pay for?
January 04, 2023 01:24 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBIs carbonated water better for you than still water? Why are some dogs scared of fireworks, and being touched? Is there a cure for tinnitus? Do energy drinks actually give you energy? Why does the second cup of tea never taste as good as the first? What is electronic data? What is a melanoma? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Will identical twins die of the same thing?
December 16, 2022 11:02 - 20 minutes - 19 MBChris answers an eclectic crop of science questions including: why do we appear to have superhuman strength in high stress situations? Are science and religion at odds with one another? What's the cause of grid outages and blackouts? Will identical twins die of the same illness/disease? Why are manufactured goods so prone to breaking despite technological advancements? Are coal mines on the verge of becoming obsolete? Why do we hold our heads in exasperation? Like this podcast? Please help us...
How does our brain coordinate our body?
December 09, 2022 11:26 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWhat role do cockroaches play in our ecosystem? What would happen if all of Earth's gases combined? Why is the universe expanding? What is the most flammable gas? Why does the Earth look flat from the ground? How does the brain co-ordinate the body? How were the pyramids built so long ago? What happens to our body during a heart attack? In this 'Classroom Edition' of Ask The Naked Scientists, Dr Chris Smith and are answering the questions set by pupils at John Graham Primary School... Like t...
How do we know how old the Earth is?
December 02, 2022 09:57 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBWhen is the next comet? What is past the milky way? Which animals have been sent into space? Did the moon come before the Earth? What lifts up the moon? What are all the dents in the moon? How did the moon form? How do we know how old the Earth is? Why are Neptune and Uranus blue? Why is the sun the only star we can see in the daytime? How fast do you need to go to escape a black hole? Is there other life in the universe? In this 'Classroom Edition' of Ask The Naked Scientists, Dr Chris Smith...
How do animals survive in the deep sea?
November 25, 2022 09:12 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBWhy is nearly everyone right handed? How do genetically modified crops work? Why do some animals bob their head as they walk? How did stem cells restore people's sight? Why are people so hesitant to use CRISPR? How big are Qatar's air conditioners? Why doesn't honey go off? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do I cry when I trim my nose hairs?
November 11, 2022 01:03 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBAre we the only animals that do maths? Why are we still driving vehicles with high emissions given our climate concerns? Could volcanoes pose a threat to earth? Are animals susceptible to malaria? What causes bees to get angry? Why are there more dinosaur fossils than those of people? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do I get drunk quicker after Sober October?
October 25, 2022 09:11 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBNeanderthal genetics and what DNA can tell us about ancient societies, no evidence for telekinesis, whether low blood pressure is a bad thing, the reason why humans cry, human DNA diversity in Africa and beyond. Also, do I get drunk quicker after "Sober October", can a team of cyclists solve the energy crisis, is Earth gaining or losing mass, will nature eventually deal with invasive species, and are electric cars a good thing? Dr Chris and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast?...
How do planes fly upside down?
October 14, 2022 09:36 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBHow do planes fly upside down? Why do sheep eat so much grass? What is outside of the universe? How does hypnotism work? What does anaesthetic do? Why don't the colour stripes in toothpaste mix? Why don't we keep primates as pets? What is the cold shiver? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why are bad habits so hard to kick?
October 07, 2022 10:07 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBWhy are bad habits so hard to drop? Are we in a new industrial revolution? Why don't islands have snakes? How do drugs know where to go? Would fireworks work on Mars? Which foods cause inflammation? Why can't we harness power from. The Earth's magnetic field? How does sepsis get into the body? Should you avoid steroids? Do masks affect learning development in children? Dr Chris and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do birds fly in formation?
September 30, 2022 10:59 - 18 minutes - 17 MBWhy is Pluto not considered a planet anymore? What is the possibility of there being more than one universe? Why do birds not get electrocuted when they stand on electrical wires? Is the universe finite or infinite? If it is finite, what is it expanding into? What is the actual measurement of a lightyear? How do meteors form? Why do birds fly in formation? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why Doesn't Super Glue go Hard in the Tube?
September 19, 2022 09:30 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBWhat's the difference between mist and fog? Would 1 kilometre on our orbit make the difference between life and death on Earth? How do washing powders get clothes clean? How does sunlight and seawater lighten hair? How deafening was the Big Bang? Will rainwater wash clothes better than tapwater? Why does water issuing from a tap when you first turn it on, look white with tiny bubbles? Why doesn't Super Glue go hard in the tube? Are gravitational waves audible? Like this podcast? Please help u...
Why do some people learn languages so easily?
September 14, 2022 03:39 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhat is the difference between 93 and 95 octane petrol? Why is the sea salty? What is at the end of the universe? How can we cure epilepsy? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are diet supplements a scam?
September 02, 2022 09:10 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBCould we slow down light to see backwards in time? Why does the moon appear not to rotate? Why don't some melting icebergs lead to sea level rise? What are the problems with Newtonian physics? Do acupuncture and fish therapy work? Are supplements a scam? How did our solar system form? Does light therapy work? Lester Kiewit and Dr Chris have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Should we want to stop feeling pain?
August 05, 2022 03:09 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBDid the Earth just have its shortest day ever? Should we ever stop feeling pain? Why are different areas of hair on our body different colours? Is your car's speedometer correct? Are orcas evil? Why don't woodpeckers get brain damage? How do pigeons navigate? Lester Kiewit and Dr Chris have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does time only move forward?
July 29, 2022 02:05 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBHow do we know that white light contains every colour? Why does time only move forward? Why aren't birds electrocuted by power lines? How do aeroplanes manage to stay airbourne? Why can't different species reproduce? How do X-Rays work? Why do antibiotics work against bacteria, but not viruses? Lester Kiewit and Dr Chris have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can we Still see the Big Bang?
July 22, 2022 10:26 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBCan the James Webb telescope see the origins of the Universe? Does freezing your jeans remove stains and preserve the colour? What are the effects of tumours in the adrenal glands? How many people have ever lived on Earth? Does a drink stop a cramp? Will the James Webb Telescope unlock new physics for us? Why is AM frequency affected by power lines? Lester Kiewit and Dr Chris have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is time?
July 08, 2022 10:48 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBWhat's better to injest after antibiotics treatment, yoghurt or probiotics? What makes milk and snow so white? Why does being exposed to cold water make one breathe so heavily? Is time really a human construct? This and more are the subject of Lester and Chris' weekly science QnA session... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do we sneeze in our sleep?
July 01, 2022 11:39 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBWhy chainsaw's blunt over time, planet rotation, Star Trek's on the money with scientific accuracy, mathematical conundrums, sneezing in your sleep, the kinetic energy of a sneeze and our perception of flavour. Lester and Dr Chris have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Counting all the stars in the known universe
June 24, 2022 11:39 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBConsumption of energy in the brain; the role of my adam's apple; seed anatomy; why there are so many planets; body components that suck oxygen from the air; NASA predicts the number of stars in our universe; why do flowers bloom in spring; measuring the milky way; the chemical properties of bromine; pursuing the origns of life; if the moon isn't cheese, what is it made of? Dr Chris Smith joins 567 Cape Talk's Lester Kiewit to talk the answers through... Like this podcast? Please help us by su...
Drinking alcohol as you soak?
June 17, 2022 10:59 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBSoap on the bathroom mirror with a hot shower running; sedatives acting unusually; coffee reduces tiredness but also provides a lick of energy; does a glass of sherry warm you up on a cold night; how do you contract shingles; asian flush; water density experiment for you to try at home; is the conflict in Ukraine speeding up climate change. Dr Chris Smith joins 567 Cape Talk's Lester Kiewit to talk the answers through... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
DNA fingerprints after an arm transplant!
June 03, 2022 08:45 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBThe Platinum Jubilee; aerodynamics and physics of tailgating vehicles; why planets and the moon are all in the same orbital plane; how ants lead their nest-mates to a food source; animal extinction; how light can reveal what something is made of; do transplant recipients inherit genetic diseases from their donors; and would someone with an arm transplant leave a different DNA fingerprint with their new hand? Dr Chris Smith joins 567 Cape Talk's Lester Kiewit to talk the answers through... Lik...
How do ants breathe?
May 28, 2022 08:29 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBWhat are stars made of? How do ants breathe? How does a person catch chickenpox? Why are sunsets and sunrises red? What are planets made of? How many bones in a human body? How do Earthquakes occur? IF the Earth's round, why don't we fall off? Why doesn't sand dissolve? How does a bird fly? This week Lester and Dr Chris are with the kids at the AKA snapshot study group to find out what they want to know... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do boats have round portholes?
May 20, 2022 01:14 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBShortages of cooking oil, risks of being hit by lightning and can lightning travel through your plumbing; why boats have round portholes; what's the memory capacity of a human brain; can we measure happiness; do animals feel happy and sad like we do; what gives farts their unique characteristics, and why do stars twinkle? Lester and Dr Chris have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why doesn't our own snoring wake us up?
May 02, 2022 10:37 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBWhy do some animals sleep standing up? And do fish sleep? Why are elderly voices higher pitched than younger voices? Why does the outside temperature drop just before the sunrise? Why do I feel pain in my ears during a plane takeoff, and why does chewing gum help? Do cats and dogs recognise their siblings? Why is yawning contagious? Do dogs get depressed? And why doesn't our own snoring wake us up? Dr Chris and Abongile Nzelenzele have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by suppo...
How are some children geniuses?
April 08, 2022 08:05 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBCan trees produce more than 1 type of fruit? Why do some flowers only have a scent at night? What makes fruit taste sweet? How does the Google search engine work? How do motorcycle tyres grip the road? How are some children geniuses? What is myasthenia gravis? What's the difference between a sickness, a disease, an illness, an affliction, a malaise and a disorder? How does reverse swing work on a cricket ball? And how do tides work? Dr Chris Smith and Lester Kiewit have the answers... Like th...
Will a cold onion make me cry less?
April 04, 2022 08:37 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBWhy are humans still born with bits we don't need - will evolution do away with them? Did an onion make me cry less because it was cold from the fridge? Do animals get diabetes like humans do? What is the physics of a rainbow? Where does lightning come from? What did cloning Dolly the Sheep mean for me? And is Covid-19 nature redressing the balance? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Smoking causes cancer but cures salmon?!
March 18, 2022 08:39 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBNominative determinism; can cold showers ward off coughs and flu; what's von Willebrand's Disease; if smoking causes cancer how does it cure salmon; why can some people roll their tongues; what's "Agent Orange"; in television, how does a green screen work; do crocodiles age more slowly than we do; what is Helicobacter pylori? Chris and Lester have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Blessed Algorithms
March 14, 2022 01:03 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBWe have Alexa, we have drones in the sky, killer robots on the battlefield and creepy algorithms designed to anticipate our every need. But do we lose sight of the potential benefits of A.I? Beth Singler and Hope McGovern throw some light on a much discussed subject... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists