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
Where do road corrugations come from?
December 20, 2019 05:07 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBHow might a sore throat be linked to a hear problem? Are elevated toilet cisterns better at flushing the toilet? What's your take on aliens and the paranormal? What are diabetes and coeliac disease? Why does my husband yawn so much? And where do road corrugations come from? Join Dr Chris and CapeTalk 567's Melanie Rice to find out! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Virus vs bacterium: what's worse?
December 13, 2019 10:12 - 16 minutes - 15.6 MBWhat's an exponential dilemma? Why do copper bangles make your wrist go green? What causes hot flushes associated with menopause? Which is worse, viruses or bacteria? Why put power points at floor level? Can ketamine be used to treat mental illness? And why don't the bubbles from cracked joints cause an air embolism? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is mercury in vaccines safe?
December 09, 2019 10:08 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBWhy are preservatives, including mercury compounds like thiomersal, added to vaccines? What is "invert sugar" and is it better for my teeth? How does is "aquamation" - the alkaline hydrolysis equivalent of a cremation - work? Is crude oil the same stuff everywhere, or does the composition vary? Can you clean your teeth with bicarbonate of soda? Why do knuckles crack? And what actually is "acidity". Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies for all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by sup...
How do hard water and soft water differ?
November 29, 2019 10:50 - 15 minutes - 14 MBHow does water-based water-repellent paint work? Did a burger on top of my normally vegetarian diet cause my belly ache? Why has no one invented a silent vacuum cleaner? And if an egg yolk ruptures, does that mean the egg is bad? Also, why the obsession with electric cars: surely hydrogen is the future? How do hard and soft water differ? And can blue-eyed parents have a brown-eyed baby? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies for the answers on this week's Ask! The Naked Scientists... Like this podca...
Does Prince Andrew not sweat in nightclubs?
November 22, 2019 08:27 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBDo flu jabs really work? What's a TB gland? Can Prince Andrew really not sweat? Why does pinching your nose halt a sneeze? How old is the Earth and how do we know? If dogs have such a keen sense of smell, why get so close to a turd to sniff it? Why does tiredness cause bags under the eyes? And what's the best time of day to clean teeth, morning or night? Want to know the answer, join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scie...
Does swimming after lunch really cause cramp?
November 15, 2019 10:59 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBThis week we're exploring why swimming on a full stomach might cause a cramp, whether it's really true that joints ache more when the weather's cold, and why does tapping the top of a beer bottle make the drink explode? Plus, why do aeroplanes fly high if there's less oxygen for the engines and less air for lift? And why does a child's hair often darken as they age? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies for this week's Ask the Naked Scientist, to find out! Like this podcast? Please help us by suppo...
Are bananas sterile inside?
November 08, 2019 09:06 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBWhat are the medical risks and benefits of silver? Is what I call a smell the same experience for you? And why do some things smell appealing, but not others? Does engine oil have a best-before date? And why do metal insulin needles have a use-by date? What makes body odours attractive? Is the inside of a banana sterile? And how do scientists find the medical properties of plants? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Where would a bullet fired in space end up?
November 01, 2019 08:49 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBDoes holding a car remote to your head really improve its range? What would happen to a bullet fired off the International Space Station? How did a marble make a hole smaller than itself in my window? Are mobile phone towers safe? Why does egg white go white when whipped? Why is colour blindness more common in men? And is toast bad for you? Join Dr Chris and Kieno Kammies for the answers to these and other cool science questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Sci...
Will salt make my pasta cook quicker?
October 25, 2019 08:48 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBWhy is salt needed in an old-fashioned ice-cream maker? Are gravity and electromagnetism the same, and could we build a big enough electromagnet to repel the Moon? Are some stars no longer where we see them? Does salt make water boil hotter and hence will my pasta cook quicker? Why do distant lights twinkle? How does an air conditioner work? Why do my ear-buds make me cough when I insert them? What causes my microwave oven to interfere with my WiFi and Bluetooth? Is it possible to re-magnetis...
What actually is a shooting star?
October 22, 2019 00:56 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBIs it ethical to grow a brain organoid in a dish? What's a shooting star? Do food preservatives build up in the body? What is cancer and why is it so tricky to treat? Why doe staring at a mobile phone screen cause car sickness on a long journey? Join Dr Chris and 702's Azania Mosaka and Ask! The Naked Scientists to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can you suffocate under a duvet?
October 18, 2019 00:52 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBWhy does alcohol affect different people differently? What's the difference between white and brown sugar, and is the brown form healthier? Can you suffocate under a blanket? Why have only 28 days in February? Why do wind turbines have long thin blades but room fans use shorter wide blades? Does diluting alcoholic drinks affect how drunk you become? Why is some metal okay in the microwave but other metallic objects make sparks? Join Dr Chris and 567 Cape Talk's Kieno Kammies for this week's c...
How does the brain work?
October 10, 2019 04:38 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBWhat will phenomics do for medicine? Is the limbic system in conflict with the brain's pre-frontal cortex? How does the brain actually work? And what is consciousness? Join Dr Chris and Talk Radio 702's Azana Mosaka to "Ask! The Naked Scientists" and answer your science questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What does 2 degrees warming mean?
September 27, 2019 09:29 - 20 minutes - 19 MBWhat makes a brain creative? How do viruses, and the flu, evolve? When did ancient civilisations realise there were 365 days in a year? Has the LHC discovered new dimensions yet? Why does 2 degrees of global warming matter? Can memory be improved? Join Dr Chris and Cape Talk's Kieno Kammies as we Ask! The Naked Scientists! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why won't vaseline melt in the microwave?
September 20, 2019 11:51 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBThis week: plummeting bird populations; the global climate strike; whether blood-letting benefits high blood pressure; why vaseline won't melt in the microwave; how pilots land planes even though the Earth is spinning; how birds pattern their plumage; why your nose runs when you wake up; what causes morning breath, and why would a car use more fuel driving a journey on the outward leg compared with the return journey? Join Dr Chris and 567 Cape Talk's Kieno Kammies as we Ask! the Naked Scient...
Why am I addicted to eating toilet paper?
September 11, 2019 02:42 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBIs flying a threat to glaucoma? Do blood groups affect diet? Is 5G harmful to my health? Why do cats have vertical pupils? What is candida infection and how can I treat it? Does speaking quickly actually communicate more information? Why am I addicted to eating toilet paper? Is the new 5G data network a health hazard? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka as they strip down your science questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do wild animals snore?
September 06, 2019 01:53 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBChris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. What's the link between humidity and temperature? Is cooked meat or food healthier than the raw version? Why does the moon always have the same face pointing towards the Earth? Why do you feel like you're breathing in cold air after eating a menthol sweet? Why do we open our mouths when putting on makeup? Why are some people more susceptible to side effects of medication? Do wild animals snore? Like this podcast? Please help us by...
How long does a body take to decompose?
August 30, 2019 11:16 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBHow long does a body take to decompose? Why is spinach difficult to digest? How can you find natural water sources? Can stem cells repair retinitis pigmentosa? Does tolerance of temperatures change with race? Dr Chris answers the science questions you've always wondered about... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is the Earth's murmur?
August 23, 2019 00:52 - 3 minutes - 3.5 MBChris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do you sometimes see a half moon at sunrise? Why do some body hairs never go grey? Could a coin falling from the top of the Empire State Building kill you? What is the Earth's murmur? Why do effects from nuclear disasters like Chernobyl persist for many years? Does the amount of UV from the sun vary between different countries? Why do beans and sprouts make you pass gas? If a volcanic eruption as big as Krakatoa happened today...
Are magnets a good source of electricity?
August 16, 2019 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBChris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Can you use magnets as a source of electricity? Does chemotherapy make you lose hair from other parts of your body alongside your head? Can your brain adjust to seeing upside down by flipping your vision? Does leaving your car heater on in winter make you sick? Why does a microwave cook meat starting on the outside, but butter starting on the inside? Why does tinfoil not get hot in the microwave? Plus, the Australian National Phen...
Why do birds swoop in front of cars?
August 04, 2019 23:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBChris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do men go bald on the tops of their heads first? Do we really share 50% of our DNA with bananas? Why do birds swoop down in front of cars? Is there such a thing as tuberculosis of the spine? How is it you can tell people are looking at you out of the corner of your eye? Plus, the seagulls that are carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do dogs recognise their reflections?
July 26, 2019 11:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBChris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Do dogs recognise themselves in the mirror? Why is the sky blue? Why doesn't mitochondrial DNA recombine like other DNA, and does it run into problems with natural selection? Why did my tracksuit give me an electric shock? Would planting trees prevent climate change? Plus, Chris reflects on almost twelve years of questions on Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is the Moon a piece of planet Earth?
July 19, 2019 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBThis week, on its 50th Anniversary, Dr Chris reflects on the Apollo 11 Moon landings, explores the basis of Bell's Palsy, explains the origins of an itch, and asks if wheat is bad for you. We also discuss the microbiome and food intolerance, why burned food tastes great but could give you cancer, whether Tourette's would be a good excuse for being caught speeding, why radio signals are out of sync through different devices, and if the Moon is a piece of planet Earth. As always, if you want to...
Are we really related to Neanderthals?
July 12, 2019 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBChris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why might someone with diabetes lose a limb? How can you predict a dangerous solar flare? Are humans really related to Neanderthals? Do we love water because we evolved from the ocean? What percentage of our brains do we really use? What causes shingles, and what's the best way to treat it? Which parts of the brain are affected when you're stressed, and can cannabis help with stress relief? Plus, the 'smart' insulin that could mea...
Can local honey cure hay fever?
July 05, 2019 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions on Cape Talk. Do we need an appendix? How does the Sun burn when there's no oxygen in space? How much water is lost in tinned goods? How can damaged fingertips grow back? Does bloodtype indicate whether a tattoo will fade? Was Einstein's brain different from most? Can local honey cure hayfever? Which form of transport is best for the planet? Are the continents drifting? Plus, we successfully launched your screams into space! Like t...
Why do humans have cannabis receptors?
July 03, 2019 11:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhy do flies exist? Could sound propel a spaceship? Why do humans have receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol in their brains? How do cars calculate their fuel consumption? And is all life descended from bacteria? Plus, we report on the recent discovery of a plume of methane on Mars: what does this mean for the likelihood of finding life on the red planet? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do microwaves damage food?
June 27, 2019 23:00 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBWhy do achilles tendons snap, and can they be strengthened? Are gingers disappearing? Why does crying make your voice shake? Why can't we accurately predict the weather? Do microwaves damage food? Why does my eyelid twitch sometimes? What is burn-out? Is it normal to feel groggy some days? How important are lymph nodes? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does alcohol make me dizzy?
June 26, 2019 11:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBThis week we discuss the Naked Scientists experiment to test a scream in space, explain why some people sneeze so loudly, ask where standard weights and measures came from, hear why singing makes it easier to remember the words, and find out why the Chernoble power station exploded, why alcohol makes you drunk, and the basis of optimism... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we hum?
June 20, 2019 23:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Can contact eyes make your eyes better than perfect vision? How intense can deja-vu be? Why do we hum? Why are there more jetstreams in the Northern Hemisphere? Why doesn't armpit hair grow like head hair? Why are mushroom clouds mushrooms? Can you be allergic to electricity? And why does gravity attract mass? Plus, they say in space, no one can hear you scream, how true is that... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting t...
Why does water bubble when it boils?
June 19, 2019 11:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBJoin Africa Melane and Dr Chris for this week's round-up of science questions from the South African Cape, including why we can open the doors of a helicopter but not a passenger plane when it's flying, why water bubbles when it boils, what's the best position for sleeping, why fog rises from a lake surface on a cold day, and why boxers shouldn't blow their noses. Plus news of the world's first cannabis consumption... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do bright lights trigger sneezes?
June 13, 2019 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from talk radio 702. Could gravity from my first-floor apartment impact my sleep patterm? Why do hearts beat faster when we're excited? What are the consequences of dental surgery? Is prejudice carried in DNA? How does a master-key work? Does exercise and breathing more oxygen increase the ageing process? Why do bright lights cause sneezes? Plus, the single use plastic that saved endangered snails in Bermuda....
Do anti-ageing creams really work?
June 12, 2019 11:00 - 18 minutes - 17.5 MBFor CapeTalk this week, Dr Chris explains what causes stomach butterflies, whether honey is healthier than sugar, why fog lifts, how to keep your memory in tip top condition, how much the Earth weighs, whether fish need to drink water, why cannabis makes some people feel creative, and whether anti-ageing skin creams actually make you look younger... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we blush?
June 06, 2019 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from Talk Radio 702. Would a brain transplant keep someone's memories? Why do we blush? Is it bad to exercise when ill? How do you lose a sense of smell? Can it return? What is the difference between IQ and EQ? Why do we have three sets of DNA? With some questions from the BIO conference in Philadelphia. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Were early humans vegetarians?
May 23, 2019 23:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBChris Smith answers YOUR questions with Pippa Hudson.... Why does temperature change food flavour? Does the full moon impact the human body? Why do car wheels move in reverse in films? Were early humans vegetarians? Can you produce electricity in a vacuum? Does Vitamin-C cure a cold? Do 5G networks affect health? Plus, celebrating 100 years of Arthur Eddington and the eclipse that made Einstein's laws of gravity famous. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we cough?
May 16, 2019 23:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBChris Smith answers the questions you've been sending in... Could we use charged liquid for electric cars? Why do beds feel cold and not room temperature? What causes climate change? How efficient are batteries? Why do we cough? Why do chillies give me hiccups? Plus, sea explorers find plastic in the most remote part of the ocean.  Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do cats purr?
May 02, 2019 23:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Africa Melanie from CapeTalk. Why can only some animals be domesticated? Why do cats purr? Can senses change after surgery? Why don't I have a runny nose during sleep? How old is moon dust? Why do scars last until old age? Plus scientists detect a black hole that's munching on a neutron star... For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to nakedscientists.com/podcasts.PLUS, you can follow the team on Instagram, Twitter a...
What causes cyclones?
April 25, 2019 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio. Is the Earth flat? Does cannabis have a healing effect? Can stem cells repair skin overgrowths? What causes cylones? Why can I hear sounds when my head is against a pillow? Why do stars look stationary from Earth? Can stem cells repair eye conditions? Plus the news story that kicked off all the stem cell questions; the new technique that repairs wounds faster. For more podcasts by The Naked S...
Will a comet crash into Earth?
April 11, 2019 23:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser... Why do my nails hurt after I remove nail polish? What does GI mean? Do black holes stop the universe expanding? How are flight routes planned? Will a comet crash into Earth? Why do I get electric shocks from my car? Plus, the first ever image of a black hole! For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts You can follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Face...
Can computers develop consciousness?
April 04, 2019 23:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio 702. Can we use energy from nuclear fusion yet? Is the water in our atmosphere the same as in a river? Can computers develop consciousness? Why do some people think the Earth is flat? Why are clouds different colours? Why is a plane's black box indestructible? Why do hot baths make me dizzy? Plus scientists strap cameras on to Great White Sharks to keep them safe! Like what you hear? Why not s...
Could we live on Mars?
March 29, 2019 00:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBChris Smith takes on YOUR questions in a bumper edition of Ask! The Naked Scientists. How long do dreams last? How did Einstein measure the speed of light? Could we live on Mars? What is sleep paralysis? Could an asteroid hit and travel underground? What is a sonic boom? Can you change your subconscious? Could a falling bullet injure you? How does carbon harm our environment? Could we have wireless electricity? Why did the continents break apart? Plus, how plants can still function with less ...
Why do men have nipples?
March 22, 2019 00:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from 702 Cape Talk. Why is the sun's halo hotter than its surface? Why do ice cubes crack when you add water? Why do men have nipples? How do noise-cancelling headphones work? Can you implant genes to become immune to HIV? Can batteries prevent power cuts in South Africa? Plus we say Hello Tomorrow! Chris explains the latest and greatest technology showcased at a recent conference in Paris. For more podcasts...
Are horseshoes unlucky in a thunderstorm?
March 08, 2019 00:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. What would happen if a horse with metal shoes on was struck by lightning? How was DNA code devised? Could electricity go wireless? How much calcium is in a cup of tea? Why can slime change colour with heat? Is second hand smoke from e-cigarettes harmful? Does NASA still have contact with Voyager? How can goats climb mountain sides? Plus, the new wireless technology allowing more cuddles for premature babies. For more podcasts by T...
How do I win the lottery?
March 01, 2019 00:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio 702. How are buildings demolished? How do you win the lottery? Do aliens exist? Is breast milk best? Does it rain more in rocky areas? Why did life evolve and replicate? Can transplants resolve genetic syndromes? Plus, scientists turn carbon dioxide into coal. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are we getting smarter?
February 22, 2019 00:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBChris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why are hail stones different sizes? Why do my palms get sweaty? Why do animals moult? What happens if you stop eating sugar? and more. Plus flicking the suicide switch on tuberculosis. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What's CERN all about?
February 15, 2019 00:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBWhat's CERN all about? What is epigenetics, and how is it different to genetics? Why doesn't ice always freeze clear? How does carbon capture work? Why do my eyes go red when I'm drunk? Plus in the news, a new kind of painkiller. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Will Japan retrieve an asteroid sample?
February 08, 2019 00:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBThe Japanese mission to bring back a sample of an asteroid, are changes in Earth's magnetic field linked to climate change, what causes tip-of-the-tongue experiences when you cannot remember a word, why does the Moon look much larger on the horizon, how do farts form and can farts be harnessed to power things? And is a TV screen next to my bed bad for me? Will mobile phone use do me harm? Why flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day? Join Dr Chris for this week's crop of questions and answe...
Can marijuana kill cancer?
February 01, 2019 00:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MBDoes marijuana help with cancer? How can one sibling be smart and another be stupid? Are we alone in the Universe? Can vitamin D kill cancer? Plus, male contraception. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we get butterflies?
January 25, 2019 00:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhy do we get butterflies in our stomach? Why is singing in tune difficult? What does vitamin K do? Is aluminium foil safe? How do you measure metres above sea level? Can cold water make you wee more? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is the sky really blue?
January 18, 2019 00:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBIs the sky actually blue? Does petrol go off? What causes myeloma? Why are chicken eggs different colours? If salt melts ice, why are icebergs frozen? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do animals get jet lag?
January 11, 2019 00:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWhy does dog poo change colour? What happens to the brain when we're sleeping? Do animals also get jet lag? Is time travel possible? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do they get the stripes into toothpaste?
January 04, 2019 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBHow do you measure time when traveling close to light speed? How do you predict the weather? Why don't zebras look dirty? How do they get the stripes into toothpaste? Why do wheels look like they spin backwards? Why can some people move their ears? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists