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
Why does my Coke froth up when I add ice?
November 17, 2020 09:11 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBWhy does my Coke froth up when I add ice? How is an oesophageal stricture treated? Does immunity to other coronaviruses confer immunity to Covid-19? Can cats smell things that are poisonous? Why do athletes place their hands on their hips after exercise? And how do fingers help with heat control. Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702 Azania Mossaka for all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why fidgeters are less fat
November 06, 2020 09:17 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBThis week, why teenagers can feel moody, what causes restless leg syndrome, fidgeting and obesity, Covid-19 genetic risk factors, whether potatoes can prevent night cramps and arthritis, and the effects of Epsom salts. Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for this week's crop of questions and answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do named painkiller brands work better?
November 04, 2020 12:59 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBWhat's the best way to avoid mosquito bites, and a suggestion that tomatoes ward the insects off. Also, why cookers heat some parts of pans better than others, the mind-over-bladder effect when you really need to go, why generic drugs are no different to named brands, why oil makes a rainbow effect on water, if a previously transplanted kidney could be re-used elsewhere, and the toxicity of ozone. Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Koketso Sachane for the answers... Like this podcast? Ple...
Why only use big dogs as sniffer dogs?
October 30, 2020 06:52 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBVitamin D for coronavirus? Narcissism and the brain. Why use big dogs as sniffer dogs? Understanding conversations in noisy places, and why that gets harder as we age. Why does my hand itch before I receive money? Is the new coronavirus linked to type I diabetes in children? And attaching significance to coincidence! Join Dr Chris on 567 CapeTalk for all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Would a fat person last longer in a famine?
October 26, 2020 02:47 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBCan omnivores switch their diets to survive on whatever is available? Would a fat person last longer in a famine? How does serology help in the management of Covid-19? Could we use GM technology to develop a healthy form of tobacco? How and why do chameleons change colour? Why does ice stick to your skin? Why does a shop-bought chicken have tender meat and softer bones? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mossaka for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting t...
What would a brain transplant feel like?
October 19, 2020 06:58 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBThe virtual reality system for visualising molecules, where Covid-19 came from, what would a brain transplanted individual experience, where did all the dust go when Beirut blew up recently, and why is smoking addictive? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mossaka as they delve into the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How does all that web fit inside a spider?
October 17, 2020 04:22 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBHow a tiny spider can spin so much silk, how the moon's cycle affects human behaviour, the effect of body weight on bone mass, the reason people have consciences, and the way to become a scientist all get discussed this week. Join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How does body weight affect the skeleton?
October 12, 2020 01:46 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBHyenas everywhere in the Kruger, but why so many? How does the human skeleton respond to changing body weight? Why remove and dump a whale carcass when it would rot down naturally? How long does the Covid-19 coronavirus remain viable in the body? Why is the sky blue? And is there a probiotic answer to body odour? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka to find out the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Donald Trump diagnosed with Covid
October 02, 2020 11:50 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBDonald Trump diagnosed with Covid-19, SNP MP Margaret Ferrier takes two trains despite coronavirus infection, and the answers to why toddlers have potbellies? Can free-divers get the bends? How does sunscreen work? What's actually inside a black hole? And why do we itch, and what's the point? Join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies from 567 CapeTalk as they shoot the scientific breeze... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Toilet bleach: what's best, thick or thin?
September 25, 2020 02:43 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBWould a baby exposed to 5 languages from birth learn all of them? Toilet bleach: what's best, thick or thin? Are new varieties of fruits equally good for you? What's the proof for absolute zero? How are radio and TV audiences measured? What causes high pitched sounds in the ear that appear to come from nowhere? Join Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How does alcohol in hand sanitiser work?
September 20, 2020 07:27 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBHow do different tasks recruit different parts of the brain? What's the story of potential life on Venus? How long to boil the perfect egg? What's homocysteine and how much is a safe level in the blood? How does alcohol in hand sanitiser work? What's the most intelligent animal? Are smartphones changing our brains? And does same sex attraction occur in wild animals as well as humans? Join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the N...
Covid-19: Has the world over-reacted?
September 13, 2020 09:35 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBWhat causes new infections, like Covid-19, to emerge in the first place? Why does the same temperature seem to feel colder in the day than it does at night? Why have we locked down the world for Covid-19 when it seems less serious than we first thought? We also talk about the symptoms of long-Covid, and explain how the heart formed back in evolutionary history, with Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Would sea level rise if we all went swimming?
September 07, 2020 07:42 - 25 minutes - 23 MBWhy does sugar get onion smells off my skin? Are aluminium cooking pots harmful to health? Why don't hail stones make holes in leaves? What causes heart palpitations? If we all went swimming at the same time, by how much would the sea level rise? Why are covid swabs so long? How are fibre optic data transmission rates so high? Why can I hear my own heart in my ears? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalks Koketso Sachane to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked ...
Asymptomatic Covid-19, and where space starts
September 04, 2020 04:55 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBAt what temperature does the new coronavirus survive the best? Is there a tension between science and religion? Are food additives harmful? Why is covid aysymptomatic in some people, and when are we infectious? Where does the Earth stop and space begin, and do we switch off our sensation when we go to sleep? Dr Chris and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How animals eat venomous snakes and not die
August 31, 2020 07:48 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBJoin Dr Chris and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies to hear why certain sounds make us shudder, whether you should sunbathe in winter, why Donald Trump is orange, what makes a crescent moon, why animals can eat venomous snakes and not be poisoned, the evidence that we really went to the moon, how is electricity made, and what is the best way to manage insomnia? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do I look upside down in a spoon?
August 24, 2020 07:23 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBThis week climate records and snow in Australia. We also explain why reflections in a spoon are upside down? Would an astronaut adrift in space be fried, frozen, or both? How did the guy who invented a clock know the time? What links the ABCC11 gene and earwax? Why do only certain species look after their young? Is a vegan diet healthy for a growing child? And what are the bright silver sparkles when looking at a bright blue sky? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka... Like ...
Will living next to a 5G mast harm my health?
August 21, 2020 01:50 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBHow do induction loops in the road control traffic lights? Are there any health threats from 5G masts? Why do we yawn and why are yawns infectious? What guided ancient civilisations when they built landmark structures? What is tinnitus and can we treat it? Do birds fly in the rain? And what causes tennis elbow and how do I treat it? Join Dr Chris Smith on 567 CapeTalk for the answers! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What causes a dead leg?
August 17, 2020 02:20 - 21 minutes - 20 MBWhat's happening when your arm or leg goes to sleep? What is the odds that ET exists elsewhere in the Universe? Is there a "right" way to sleep? What makes eyelids twitch? What is the D614G strain of Covid-19, and is it a threat? Why do children sleepwalk? Is space mining a realistic prospect? And why might a man's resting pulse rate be lower than a woman's? Dr Chris Smith joins Azania Mosaka to answer your questions on Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Nak...
How bacteria and viruses turn drug resistant
August 14, 2020 09:51 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBWhy we love music, the reason that standing on one leg becomes a challenge with age, how bacteria and viruses become drug resistant, how plants swap chemicals underground, how old is ancient starlight, and why does Venus appear to rise so rapidly on the horizon? Join Dr Chris Smith on 567 CapeTalk to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does my barbecue smoke follow me around?
August 07, 2020 08:30 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBThe science of explosions, including what happens when brake fluid and hypochlorite mix, and what blew up in Beirut, why lemons make you grimace, the reason that the smoke from the barbecue mysteriously seems to know where you are standing, what determines your IQ, how a fruit battery works, why we forget dreams, and how genetics controls height. Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can birds carry Covid-19?
August 02, 2020 10:23 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBHow supermarkets ripen fruits and vegetables, how people knew space existed before they went there, whether Covid-19 can infect birds, the advent of space tourism, why flight paths are sometimes curved rather than straight, what causes goose bumps, and are aeroplanes Covid-safe? Join Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can I catch Covid19 from a library book?
July 27, 2020 06:45 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBEvidence for Russian Covid-19 vaccine espionage, whether minicabs spread coronavirus infection, whether Covid-19 can cling to a library book, how to spot a male ant, can birds carry Covid-19, why vaccines take so long to make, and what causes my heart to suddenly begin to race? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
July 19, 2020 09:51 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBThis week what is special about the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, and, more importantly, what does it mean? Also, how do viruses and bacteria differ, does growing an Afro make you thin, how does body temperature vary across the day, does clipping hair and nails make them grow faster, and how do hair loss remedies work? Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Refilwe Moloto have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is time travel possible?
July 12, 2020 08:25 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThis week, how blood transfusions from individuals who exercise could take decades off the brain ages of recipients, the toenails that refuse to grow, what causes giddiness, do we need to Earth ourselves to tackle unhealthy charge imbalances, and can air purifiers use UV to remove infectious diseases? Join 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why is it easier to park a car in reverse?
July 08, 2020 08:41 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBThis week, the intriguing question of how visible light, but not microwaves, can escape through the grille of a microwave oven, how far Earth and Mars are apart, the speed of a falling meteor, why parking a car in reverse is easier, the reason that oil and water won't mix, and the prospects of alien life. Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How fast does a decapitated head stop seeing?
July 03, 2020 05:07 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBWhat causes phantom limb pain? How does the bladder control when it fills and empties? What the F are food E numbers? Where does medical oxygen come from and will we run out? How fast does the brain switch off after decapitation? Why don't bats suffer a rush of blood to the head when they sleep upside down? And what causes catatonia? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How long am I infectious with COVID19?
July 01, 2020 07:05 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBThis week, if something could move faster than light, how would we detect its speed? Also, why do we cry, and why do the experiences of others make my feet tingle? How far from Earth is Mars, why has smoking been banned in South Africa during Covid lockdown, why are wind turbines not placed single-file, how long am I infectious with Covid-19, and can you smell in space? Join Azania Mosaka and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Does a mirror multiply light?
June 24, 2020 10:32 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThe UK eases the lockdown... a little bit, what makes our eyes move together, what makes Earth so special when it comes to supporting life, how long does a journey to Mars take, why can't I take my chemotherapy by mouth, does a mirror multiply light, and is climate change down to us, or natural temperature cycles? Join Dr Chris and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why don't birds get cold feet?
June 12, 2020 04:13 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBThis week how birds keep warm in winter, how long to recover from ventilation for Covid-19, when do doctors need to ventilate a patient, seeing your own brain by MRI, why sunlight is warmer in summer, and can infrared light kill Covid? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
101 ways to sterilise a facemask
June 06, 2020 09:06 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBHow to sterilise a facemask: will zapping it in a microwave oven, or steaming it over a kettle work? What's the deal with UVC to kill coronaviruses? Are books returned to libraries an infection risk? And what about deliveries of flowers? Can garlic fend off infection? Why do fridges jolt on? And is a plane journey a risk factor for infection? Join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Where does methanol come from in home brew?
June 01, 2020 07:14 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBThis week where methanol comes from in home brewing, 5G and the coronavirus conspiracies, why cut flowers still need water, rice behaving bizarrely in the microwave, whether wind blows away infections, exploding jugs of custard, safe alcohol consumption, why light has the speed it does, and why weather stops a space launch. Join Chris Smith and Lester Kiewit for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are my muscles more efficient than a car?
May 25, 2020 01:34 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBEngine efficiency, what happens when the Earth's magnetic field flips, what is a solar minimum, why are some people shorter than others and what causes dwarfism, and how can I tell planets from stars? Join 702's Azania Mosaka and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What are the thin bones in chicken wings for?
May 15, 2020 09:02 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBAntibody tests for Covid-19, do mild Covid cases produce as many antibodies as more severe infections, what is covid viral load, where did the water on Earth come from, how do diuretics work, why does cooked fruit taste more sour, how are memories laid down, what are the thin bones in a chicken leg, and do carrots really help us see in the dark? Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can blood group affect Covid-19 risk?
May 08, 2020 10:33 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBThis week, Rasmussen's encephalitis and brain surgery, are packages safe from coronavirus contamination, do blood groups affect Covid-19 risk, why does the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus appear to spread better in some places than others, what is heart ejection fraction, and how do I disinfect my groceries? Join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies from 567 Cape Talk, for all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can a common cold confuse a coronavirus test?
May 01, 2020 02:48 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBSending children back to school, the role of different facemasks in controlling coronavirus spread, whether common colds are confusing coronavirus tests, is everyone dreaming more at the moment or it is just me, how do we prevent coronavirus spread at the office, and what's the best way to keep viruses away from your face? Dr Chris Smith and CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
UV light therapy for coronavirus? No Mr Trump
April 24, 2020 01:57 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBWhen it comes to coronavirus and the lockdown, are we at risk of a treatment worse than the disease? Also is UV the new therapy for Covid-19, as Mr. Trump proposes, or is he mistaken? Why could SARS-CoV-2 not have originated in lab? How should we dispose safely of used personal protective equipment (PPE), and why, if older people have weaker immune systems, are older people more vulnerable to Covid-19? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for all the answers... Like this podca...
Will lockdown lead to a fitter coronavirus?
April 19, 2020 10:41 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBThis week, are we breeding a fitter coronavirus? Lockdown measures suppress spread, but do they select for a virus with superior spreading power? Also, what are the half-moon shapes in finger and toenails? Do facemasks protect wearers, or third parties from viral infections? And how should I clean my shopping to keep coronavirus out of my home? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can coronavirus be carried in semen?
April 10, 2020 08:15 - 21 minutes - 19.2 MBThis week, coronavirus infection in big cats, how new diseases emerge in the first place, whether face masks work against coronavirus, can Covid-19 spread through the air, can you catch Covid from urine, and is previous TB a risk factor for severe coronavirus disease? Also, will wearing a face mask protect other people from you, is 5G a risk for Covid-19, and can coronaviruses be carried in semen? Join Dr Chris and Azania as they Ask the Naked Scientist... Like this podcast? Please help us by...
What does Earth look like inside?
April 04, 2020 09:41 - 19 minutes - 18 MBThis week, how did birds dodge the dinosaur apocalypse? Why does my rug climb the wall? How can we make a country richer? What does Earth look like inside? Is Covid-19 a conspiracy? Where did viruses come from in the first place? And will lockdown produce a baby boom? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is Covid-19 a problem in pregnancy?
March 31, 2020 00:13 - 22 minutes - 20.1 MBWhat is Covid-19? Are masks worth wearing to protect against coronavirus infection? How does flu compare with coronavirus infection? Do gloves help prevent Covid infection? Are viruses alive? Will ozone kill coronaviruses on my shopping? How does menthol clear nasal passages? And what happens if you catch coronavirus while pregnant? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Gushwell Brooks to find out! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
If I've had COVID-19, am I immune?
March 20, 2020 08:57 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBWhy are people stockpiling? Why does no one remind people not to smoke? Why are some songs music to my ears but a cacophony for others? What determines the rate of radioactive decay? Is COVID-19 an experiment in biowarfare? Can hair carry coronaviruses? Can chloroquine combat coronavirus infection? Once I've recovered from coronavirus infection, am I immune? And will Dettol deactivate coronaviruses? Chris Smith and Jeremy van Wyk answer your science questions... Like this podcast? Please help...
Cancel matches to combat coronavirus?
March 13, 2020 02:57 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBCoronavirus conundrum: how best to block to the spread of the virus. Also, we discuss insect and spider bites, why plastic is such a problem for the oceans, the Mpemba effect - why hot water might freeze faster than cold water - and whether vitamins and supplements can boost your immune system... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What else do mosquitoes eat?
February 21, 2020 08:31 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBDo blood groups affect mosquito preference for who they bite? What else do mosquitoes eat when they are not drinking blood? What is anger? How do blood groups work? Why do things like smoke and dirt seem to preferentially aim for our eyes? Is wildlife thriving around Chernobyl? And how far aloft is the sky blue? Join Kieno Kammies and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What's gut instinct?
February 14, 2020 10:21 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBThis week, we answer Paul's question about the size of a diamond you could make with the carbon in a piece of coal, we discuss where butterflies in your stomach come from, discuss the basis of gut instinct, and ask how much magnesium you need and how the body absorbs it. Join 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies and Dr Chris Smith to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Did the new coronavirus come from pangolins?
February 10, 2020 03:11 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBData on the Chinese emerging coronavirus and did it come from pangolins? Why does glassware look more shiny when wet? How does the body fight off viral infections? And what happens when you freeze breast milk? Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka and Dr Chris team up to Ask the Scientist! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How long do viruses linger in the air?
February 07, 2020 08:10 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBWhat's the latest on the coronavirus situation? Do facemasks protect against viruses? Can we use nuclear bombs to combat climate change? Are artificial diamonds valuable? How long do viruses persist in the environment? What is WiFi sensitivity? Why does the Sun resemble popcorn in photographs? And why can I hear my sonic pest repeller? Dr Chris and 567 Cape Talk's Lester Kiewit for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How many megapixels is my eye?
January 24, 2020 10:27 - 16 minutes - 15 MBThis week, what's the resolution of the human eye? Would nanobots be attacked by our immune systems? How small would a squash ball lump of coal be if you squished it into a diamond? Why do propellers look like they change speed, or even go backwards? And why do men's hairlines recede? Plus in the news, what's happening with this new coronavirus in China? Dr Chris chats with Kieno Kammies... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Only one of my bottles of water froze
January 17, 2020 09:07 - 24 minutes - 22 MBThis week, why only one bottle of water froze while others remained liquid; do hot drinks cool you down? What's phlegm and is it safe to swallow? Is human body temperature changing? How did the NASA student intern discover an exoplanet? Are fizzy drinks safe for diverticular disease? And what's the ideal healthy diet for a human? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can bacteria eat plastic?
January 10, 2020 11:56 - 24 minutes - 22 MBThis week, will a walk benefit my waistline; can bacteria eat plastic? Is it just humans that get prostate cancer? What limits the length of body hair? What's the physics of making a cricket ball swing? Can you combat male pattern baldness? And do sleep requirements change with age? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies to Ask! The Naked Scientist and find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What causes floaters in your eyes?
January 03, 2020 09:30 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBWelcome to 2020! And in our first show out of the gate this decade, we explore the science of excessive sweating; how you can get an egg within an egg; why dirty and clean water don't instantly mix; why people in the opposite hemisphere aren't upside down, what are eye floaters, and why does pressing on my eyes make me see bright lights? Join Dr Chris and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists