Ask the Naked Scientists
698 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 60 ratingsHow many organs could you donate and remain alive? How many planet Earths could fit inside the Sun? How high is a giraffe's blood pressure? Why is the sea blue? To find out, Ask The Naked Scientists!
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Episodes
Can we control lightning?
October 12, 2017 23:00 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBHow does my cat open doors? Why can't I pause the radio? What is lean muscle mass? Can lightning be manipulated? Can silver iodide control the weather? Plus three blind mice, now able to see! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why is ice sticky?
October 05, 2017 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBWhen we doze off what causes that jolt? Do antidepressants cause swelling? Why is ice sticky? Can you carbon date a person? Can humans upload their consciousness to computers? What causes static shocks? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is sleep paralysis?
September 24, 2017 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBIs Earth about to be wiped out by Planet X? Do animals indulge in same-sex relationships? Are B vitamins linked to cancer? Is rainfall from a hurricane fresh or salty water? Why do smokers light up over a coffee? Why do people with hypothermia sometimes undress? What's sleep paralysis? Join Dr Chris and Eusebius for all the answers as well as news of a new therapy for multiple sclerosis... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do airplanes land safely?
September 07, 2017 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBWhy do people scream when falling from buildings? How do bombs affect the environment? How do airplanes land safely? Why do people commit suicide, and can we prevent it? Plus, how frogs avoid poisoning themselves. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can we 3D print rhino horn?
August 31, 2017 23:00 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBCan we 3D print rhino horn? What is a static shock? How do cats eat and purr at the same time? Where is the Universe expanding into? How do you recover from polio? Plus, a new treatment for leukemia. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why don't Animals Crossbreed?
August 24, 2017 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBCan we eliminate flies and mosquitoes from our ecosystem and live in peace? When will the universe end? Do eggs with double yolks mean that two twins would have been born? Why don't animals such as lions and zebras cross-breed? Why is it best for women to have babies when they are younger? Does the direction that the water goes down a plug-hole change if you are in the Northern or Southern hemisphere? Is it possible to overcome a fear? Plus, news of a new discovery that bugs in your gut may b...
Can people spontaneously combust?
August 10, 2017 23:00 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBCan people spontaneously combust? How do flowers know when it's day time? What causes static electricity? Should your blood type affect diet? Is there such thing as digital addiction? Can we get to Mars? Plus - how goldfish make their own alcohol. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why did both males and females evolve?
August 07, 2017 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBWhy are there different sexes? Why did males and females evolve? When you have been driving for a long time and then park your vehicle, why does it feel as though you are still moving? How did we evolve morality and ethics? What is the maximum current a petrol engine can produce? Can this be fatal? Plus, how night time light pollution is impacting pollination rates and fruit yields. Chris Smith answers your questions with Eusebius McKaiser on South Africa's Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast...
Is all sweat the same?
July 27, 2017 23:00 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBWhy do people wake up at 3am after drinking? Why is hot water cloudy? What drives a gust of wind? How does a coil of wire produce electricity? Is sweat from your face different to sweat from elsewhere on your body? What is diverticulitis? Does putting a remote next to your head increase the distance over which it will work? Plus, a new surgical glue inspired by slug mucus. Chris Smith answers your questions with Eusebius McKaiser on South Africa's Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please h...
Do plants hibernate?
July 20, 2017 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBCan the moon affect people's behaviour? Do you weigh less after you take a bath? Do gas heaters have any side-effects on our health? Are microwaves dangerous? Plus, new electronic batteries based on the pulley mechanism that will last much longer. Chris Smith answers your questions with Eusebius McKaiser on South Africa's Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why isn't Roger Federer's right arm twice the size of his left?
July 13, 2017 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBKicking off with a look at why coffee might make you live longer, Dr Chris and Eusebius explain why Roger Federer's right arm isn't twice the size of his left? How aeroplane wings form vapour trails around the wing tips, why babies kick in the womb but seem to do little after they are born, and how a crocheted blanket, or a string vest, keep you warm despite being full of holes. Plus, what was the giant iceberg that broke off recently from the Antarctic ice sheet, if the Universe is expanding...
Why are some people ticklish?
July 06, 2017 23:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBWhat can a person do about restless leg syndrome? Why does data expire? Why do our tummies rumble? Why are some people ticklish? Why do people grind their teeth? How do pills know where to go? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Could Your Weight Affect Your Flu Vaccine?
June 29, 2017 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBCould your weight affect how well your flu vaccine works? Is too much sparkling water bad for you? Why does head hair lose colour as you age, but other body hair doesn't? Why do spaceships have to travel so fast in the Earth's atmosphere? Is there a link between some vaccinations and autism? Why has there been a rise in fake news? And itching - what causes it and why does it sometimes seem to wander round your body? Plus, implanting magnets in the eye to help with nystagmus - so-called dancin...
Why do people have different accents?
June 15, 2017 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBHow do horses have such strong muscles if they never eat any proteins? When dogs wag their tails is this voluntary or involuntary? Does it save electricity to heat your water all day, or turn it off and on again? Why do we speak in different accents? Why did viruses arise? Why do our noses run? Plus, new insights into TB. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can White Parents Have a Black Baby?
June 01, 2017 23:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBWhat causes IBS and what can we do about it? Are there some foods you shouldn't eat if your gallbladder's been removed? Could a white couple give birth to a black child? In what simple ways can we save water? What's gluten intolerance? Plus, the condition CIDP - chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy - what is it and how can it be treated? Chris Smith speaks to Eusebius McKaiser. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can sperm survive in space?
May 25, 2017 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBHow would you have sex in zero-gravity? Are eggs viable in space? What is nuclear fall-out? What is cold fusion? How long can astronauts be in space without side-effects? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do you power a spacecraft to Saturn?
May 18, 2017 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBHow do you power a spacecraft to Saturn? Can gravity affect the telomeres inside our cells? What can be done to help people with macular degeneration? How did simple, unicellular life get more complex? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do our voices change as we age?
May 11, 2017 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBIs there a cure for flu? Can your genetic engineering make you smart? How far are we from designer genes? Can we cure HIV? Do our voices change as we get older? Plus, bioengineered bones! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What can cure a hangover?
March 24, 2017 00:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBHow do birds wake up at the same time each day? How does quantum computing work? Why do we feel hot even when the room is cooler than body temperature? Who will be the first on Mars? What's the best cure for a hangover? Plus, an anti-aging tablet. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What causes deja vu?
March 10, 2017 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBWhy do we mishear lyrics? What causes deja vu? Where have all the bees gone? Do mermaids exist? Does God exist? What causes deja vu? Plus, synthetic genomes! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do I get a stitch when I run?
March 03, 2017 00:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBWhy do I get a stitch when I run? Is there such thing as baby brain? Is exercise good for you? Do the lines on your hand mean anything? How does altitude affect athletes? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What caused the Big Bang?
February 24, 2017 00:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBWhy are tooth aches more likely at night? Can chemo affect iron levels in your body? Why is there oil beneath the earth? What caused the big bang? Can we create rain artificially? Plus, seven new exoplanets. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are cell towers bad for you?
February 17, 2017 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBWhy do chilies burn my fingers? How dangerous are cell towers to your health? Who names cyclones? Do white and black people have different body temperatures? Why do hairs reach different lengths over the body? Why is gold precious? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do wheels sometimes seem to spin backwards?
February 03, 2017 00:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBWhy is it that wheels look like they're going backwards? Why does my car give me static shocks? If you move an ant will it find its way home? Can you cool something below absolute zero? Do pigeons get itchy? Why do humans get sick when they eat raw meat? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can cannabis cure MS?
January 27, 2017 00:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBIs the earth round or flat? Can you have two snowflakes that are alike? Would medicinal marijuana help with MS and Alzheimer's? Why does your mouth heal faster than your finger? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What should I eat before an exam?
January 20, 2017 00:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBWhat are the best foods to eat before and during exams? How do you get heavy metal poisoning? Why do you develop allergies? Why would soap help clean greasy pans? Plus, a robotic heart. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can people predict their own deaths?
January 13, 2017 00:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBWhy are dreams so realistic? When should you move your babies onto solids? Can people predict their own deaths? Am I allergic to exercise? Plus, the world's smallest knot. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How does pepper spray work?
December 02, 2016 00:00 - 23 minutes - 22 MBWhy can't I eat fruit? How well do polar bears smell, and how do we know? How does marijuana affect your brain? How does pepper spray work? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How did speech evolve?
November 25, 2016 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBHow did speech evolve, why do you need bacteria and fish food for aquaponic systems, do growth factors in anti-ageing creams really work, what treatments are there for allergies and how do UV lights vaporise fat in commercial kitchens? Plus, delving into the secrets of sleeping sickness. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What are the consequences of nuclear war?
November 18, 2016 00:00 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBCould the universe be more than a coincidence, what's causing a burning skin sensation, does milk cause breast cancer, are statins effective for high cholesterol, what impact would a nuclear war have and what risk does Donald Trump pose to climate change? Plus, the science behind the supermoon. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do microwaves remove nutrients from food?
November 11, 2016 00:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBIs the Earth flat, do microwaves kill nutrients, why do eggs have whites and yolks, what advancements are there in the treatment of tinnitus and what happens if you fire a gun on the Moon's surface? And also a new vaccine which controls HIV in monkeys. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do you stop HIV spreading?
November 04, 2016 00:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBWhy do other people's fart smell worse than your own, why do storms turn swimming pools green, how do we stop HIV spreading, what's the difference between antibiotics and probiotics, why does it feel like you're moving slowly when you're inside an aeroplane and why does the smell of shower gel wear off? Plus, the people turning plants into chemical sensors. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?
October 27, 2016 23:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBHow can I find out about my biological age, how can you stop a panic attack, how can you treat Polymyalgia Rheumatica, are detoxing products just a marketing gag, can learned behaviours be passed on genetically, what would cause my brain to forget which way around to put on my shoes, how long after boiling is water still save to drink? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Where do children get their intelligence?
October 20, 2016 23:00 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBAre there increases in miscarriage rates, why are rats used in experiments, could we use developments in cartilage growth to treat scaphoid wrist fractures, is it safe to do strenuous exercise as you get older, where do children get their intelligence and what causes your stomach to flip when you go on a rollercoaster? Plus, scientists using nose cells grow new knee cartilage. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do we use all of our brain?
October 13, 2016 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBWhy does the BCG vaccine cause swelling, where does moisturiser go when you put it on your face, what are the side effects of sickle-cell anaemia medication and is it true that we only use a small proportion of our brain? Plus, a gene editing technique that could provide a treatment to sickle-cell anaemia. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do we see distant stars?
October 06, 2016 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBIs autophagy linked to autoimmune diseases, what could cause unilateral spinal dysfunction, what is adrenal fatigue and how do we see distant stars? Plus, the low down on the Nobel prizes in medicine, physics and chemistry. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How does radiation escape black holes?
September 29, 2016 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBHow do we get bright images of planets, why do distant lights appear to blink, how does radiation escape black holes, what could cause a loss of smell and why does our stomach grumble when it's hungry? Plus, news of the Rosetta Mission's final hours. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Could the Earth be a living creature?
September 22, 2016 23:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBCould planet Earth be a living creature, how do they name medicines, what's the difference between a heart attack and a cardiomyopathy, how do HIV protective drugs work and how were the Egyptian pyramids built? Plus, news of a new gene that could screen for heart disease. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why are men hairier than women?
September 15, 2016 23:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBWhy are men hairier than women, how can a cockroach survive a microwave, why is our poo brown when we eat colourful food, why is the reflection on a spoon upside down, why do we close our eyes when we sneeze, do we produce saliva at night, can you make yourself taller and is there a treatment for CIAP. Plus, the monkeys that have been writing Shakespeare to treat paralysis. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do birds sit on electric wires?
September 01, 2016 23:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBHow do birds sit on electric wires without getting hurt, why does hot weather cause nose bleeds, how do probiotics treat vaginal thrush, is there a cure for retinitis pigmentosa, are the any solutions to the problems caused by human activity and what can you do to lessen your asthma? Plus, Australian scientists have discovered evidence of the first life on earth. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why doesn't vodka freeze?
August 25, 2016 23:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBIf the ice caps are made of freshwater, how did they form from a salt water ocean? How do baby lobsters eat jellyfish without getting stung? Why doesn't vodka freeze? Does putting a spoon into the neck of a champagne bottle stop it from going flat? What causes your eye to twitch? How do we know that the Earth isn't flat? What is the role of the placenta in pregnancy? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What's it like on Mars?
August 18, 2016 23:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBWhy do we catch colds on holiday? If a fly takes off inside a car, why doesn't it get flung to the back? What are the latest treatments for macular degeneration? Is kidney infection linked to depression? Why am I choking on my saliva? Why do wheels sometimes appear to turn backwards? ... and what is it really like on Mars? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why did the Olympic swimming pool turn green?
August 11, 2016 23:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhy did the Olympic swimming pool turn green? Is it normal to get hiccoughs after eating spicy food? How accurate is carbon dating, and are there different types? Why do flying ants appear after the rain?...And what is the sun, really? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do tornadoes form?
July 28, 2016 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBWhy do I feel an electric current if I touch the wall when I'm lying on my electric blanket, is it possible to absorb vitamin D through glass, what happens to microbeads from cosmetics, how does a tornado form, with the advancement of artificial intelligence how do we know that radio presenters aren't just robots, can you use electricity to generate more electricity and what medication could be used to eradicate Staphylococcus aureus? Plus, how tomatoes hold the key to fend off plant parasite...
Why do dogs have wet noses?
July 21, 2016 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBWhy do dogs have wet noses, when a fly hits a train does the train slow down, why do our ears keep growing as we age, why don't animals die when they eat other animals which are poisonous, can Metformin be used to slow ageing and can stem cells be used to reverse type one diabetes. Plus, a data storage solution that works at the scale of single atoms. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What's the science in palm reading?
July 14, 2016 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBHow does wireless charging work, why do people have different coloured eyes, is drinking water from plastic bottles bad for your health, is there any truth in palm reading, what's the reason for different hair types and is the artificial sweetner Aspartame really bad for you? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How old is the Universe?
July 07, 2016 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBHow old is the universe? What is the big bang? How did the universe begin? What happens when you power nap? What is the science behind black holes? What is the difference between a black hole and a wormhole? Plus, news on the Juno mission to Jupiter... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Zika vaccine effective in mice
June 30, 2016 23:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBCan the vaccines that protect mice against the Zika raise the hope of a human vaccine? What are the symptoms for a disease known as lichen planus? What are genetically modified (GM) crops? Are GM crops bad for us? How can you make a genetically engineered plant? How can we improve the efficiency of the solar panels? Is aging an illness? Can we cure aging? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why are mosquito bites so itchy?
June 23, 2016 23:00 - 7 minutes - 7.03 MBCan we come up with a new way of managing mosquito infections? Can a cure for Zika virus lie in an inflammatory cream? How does the bonding process between the parents and a newborn form? Does a baby recognize a mum's voice? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does standing up make you see stars?
June 16, 2016 23:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBWhy is water's molecular composition one oxygen and two hydrogens, could strong magnets on cars stop crashes, what is the VY Canis Majoris, can salt be used to cool drinks, what is sciatica and why does standing up make some people see stars? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists