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
What causes light to move?
June 09, 2016 23:00 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBHow does light move without force, is there a connection between migraines and an electrical storm, what causes Parkinson's Disease, how do you treat Job syndrome, why would falling asleep cause leg contractions, what's the best way to boost your immune system, how does momentum affect impact in a crash, how bad is Uveitis and would it be hypothetically possible to observe the big bang? Plus, bone marrow transplants for multiple sclerosis treatment. Like this podcast? Please help us by suppor...
How do we vomit?
June 02, 2016 23:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBDo the chemicals in our food cause cancer, how do we vomit, how does the moon affect the tides, do tonsils extend vocal range, is cancer more common in certain races, how fast does electricity travel in water and could cancer be a catalyst for evolution? Plus, could we get a universal cancer vaccine? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
A new way of keeping time?
May 26, 2016 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBWhy do you get dark circles under your eyes, could animal blood be used for human transplants, could we dry out silica packets in the microwave, does ozone treatment work, what's the difference between a blood transfusion and a plasma transfusion, what are the new developments in cataract surgery, is there a general anaesthetic alternative in surgery and how do anti-inflammatories work. Plus, a new way of keeping time. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Is rewarming food dangerous?
May 19, 2016 23:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBIs rewarming food dangerous, what does uranium look like and how do you find it, does olive oil become toxic when it's heated, how can you treat allergies, why don't aeroplane black boxes float, can laser technology be used for water purification, what causes inner ear infections, what's causing itching from exercise and should we be keeping cows near roads? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can we 3D print teeth?
May 05, 2016 23:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBCan we 3D print teeth, how does air conditioning remove condensation from a car, how do helicopter blades carry a helicopter without breaking, why don't people wake themselves up from snoring, why do things knot themselves, how do anti-inflammatory's work and could we use a positively charged solution for fuel? Plus news from the Science on the Swan conference in Perth, Australia. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do planes change the weather?
April 21, 2016 23:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBHow do flu jabs really work? Should you refrain from sex before a sports competition? Why don't we sneeze when we're sleeping? Could we use stem cell therapy to cure autism? Is it better to drink beer made from natural products or fizzy drinks with sweeteners? What's crystalline folliculitis? Are all antibiotics variations of the same thing? How many blades do you need to get a clean shave? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do you shudder when you wee?
April 07, 2016 23:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBAre waves slowed by kelp, is there a neural basis for societal differences, why is there more rain after a thunder storm, why do electric stoves keep cooking after they've been turned off, why does the sound of an aircraft change as it flies towards us, why do you shudder when you wee, what does lightning do to a tree when it hits it, how did we define a global time. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do we get vitamin D from sunlight?
March 18, 2016 00:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBIf I was on another planet would we see stars the same way? Why do we measure rain in ml? How do we get vitamin D from sunlight? How accurate are DNA tests? What is a lipoma? How long does it take to recover from malaria? Plus, is pollution harming unborn babies? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do antioxidants prevent cancer?
March 11, 2016 00:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBDo antioxidants prevent cancer, how does hypnosis work, how does exercise impact cancer, do girls whistle worse than boys, how does exercise affect weight from a recovery drink and are plastic cars less safe in a lightning storm? Plus, plastic eating bacteria. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How do they film fast moving golf balls?
March 04, 2016 00:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBWhy do mosquitoes prefer me over my husband? How do they film fast moving golf balls? And if I received a kidney transplant, could I then donate my kidney to someone else when I die? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we get butterflies in our stomach?
February 26, 2016 00:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBWhy are there warm patches in the sea, why do we get butterflies in our stomachs, does skin absorb face cream and is a magnetic field energy? Plus in the news, immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How big is a drop?
February 19, 2016 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBHow big is a drop, how do you measure gravitational waves, how do we get accents, why is there thunder after a heatwave and how do trees know when to produce tannin? Plus in the news - a breakthrough in 3D printing organs and bones. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What are Gravitational Waves?
February 12, 2016 00:00 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBWhat are gravitational waves and how were they found? What is UHT milk, why do stars look like pinpricks of light, what are shin splints, and is moving an injured body part bad for you? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What Keeps the Sun Burning?
December 11, 2015 17:09 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBCould humans evolve to one sex, what is the difference between a hydrogen and an atomic bomb, can eczema be caused by a virus, what keeps the sun burning, are some people more prone to addiction than others, is it possible to have a stroke twice and can fingerprints ever be identicle?Plus in the news, 7 dogs born by IVF. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How safe is an old microwave?
November 27, 2015 14:05 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBHow does loneliness affect your health, why is it less windy in the morning, is giving blood good for you, are sugar calories different to other calories, what happens to a baby's waste in the womb, what happens when your skin burns, is it safe to use a repaired microwave, does decomposition produce worms and what are butterflies in you stomach. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does Jacob Zuma giggle in parliament?
November 20, 2015 09:31 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBWhy does Jacob Zuma giggle in parliament? Antimatter and Dark Matter; why snails like to eat cigarette filters; rusty water cisterns; why tupperware stays wet after dishwashing; cyanobacteria in water courses; and how gravity works. Plus, news of the antibiotic apolcalypse: evidence of human carriage with bacterial strains resistant to the antibiotic colistin secondary to farm use. Dr Chris joins Redi Thlabi to answer your burning science questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supp...
Do Animals Have Blood Groups?
November 13, 2015 13:20 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBWhere does water come from, what would have happened if the dinosaurs hadn't been wiped out, does rheumatoid arthritis ever go away, do animals have blood groups, how to stop water from getting contaminated, can the ozone regenerate and why do mosquitos like humans? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is the universe made of?
October 30, 2015 15:09 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBWhat is the universe made of? Can neutrinos really travel faster than the speed of light? Will robots ever take over the world? How does wind form? What would happen if you expose yourself to outer space? Can you tickle yourself? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What causes stuttering?
October 16, 2015 12:02 - 23 minutes - 22 MBWhat happens to the rubber that comes off tyres, what causes stuttering, how do living things produce oil, why do you develop allergies in adulthood, how can one blood clot in the brain cause so much damage, are memories only stored in the brain and does taste develop in the womb? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Do people have free will?
October 09, 2015 11:39 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBWhat was before the big bang? Does turning off your heating intermittently actually save energy? Can you prove or disprove free will? Why are flies attracted to bad smells? What is the point of going to Mars? Why do I get a shock from my blanket? Why do we see the same stars at night? Plus, growing a human kidney... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Where do deleted texts go?
October 02, 2015 13:47 - 22 minutes - 21 MBHow does sugar addiction happen? Where do deleted emails go? Plus, flowing water on Mars. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do wires tangle?
September 25, 2015 11:54 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBWhy do wires tangle? Is borehole water drinkable? Does sea water evaporate? Why are there no more intelligent hominids except humans? How are mountains formed? What makes up non-stick linings on frying pan and are they safe? Plus, the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Should we drink wee?
September 18, 2015 12:00 - 18 minutes - 17.5 MBWhat causes sleep paralysis? Is urine beneficial to drink? Can we clone from fossils? How can galactic collisions occur? What is the difference between Bipolar and PTSD? Can carnivores eat other carnivores? Plus the first ever in vitro sperm genesis. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Where did Homo naledi come from?
September 11, 2015 11:43 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBHow old are the Homo naledi remains? How do nails end up in tyres to cause punctures? How did the H. naledi people see in the dark cave where the remains were found? Can vitiligo be reversed? Why were the H. naledi remains deposited in the Rising Star Cave? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How can a headless chicken run?
August 28, 2015 11:39 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBDoes the intensity of the sun influence water evaporation, what reasons could there be for a sudden drop in heart rate, how do fixed drug erruptions work, if you stop water from expanding will it still freeze, by keeping sick people alive are we getting weaker as a species, does a full moon energise water, as a species do we have physical limits, how does a headless chicken run and how does a greasy breakfast help a hangover? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What determines your blood type?
August 21, 2015 11:13 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBIs DNA set to replace the harddrive? Chris told us about a story where DNA could be used to store digital information and preserve essential knowledge for thousands of years. We then opened the lines and invited listeners to call in with their science related questions. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can you microwave a cockroach?
August 14, 2015 12:26 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBThe Naked Scientist told us about a possible universal flu vaccine that is being researched. We then opened the lines to listeners to call in with their science related questions. What happens to a full container of water when you freeze it? Why does it seem to get colder at day break? Do our bodies use 70% of the energy we consume even when we are not active? Should I eat for my blood type? How does a cockroach survive being cooked in a microwave? Why can sheep and goats not mate? Is it bene...
How does rice fix a waterlogged phone?
August 07, 2015 15:21 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBHow do humans generate body heat, how does rice fix a waterlogged phone, how does a thermos flask store hot water without expanding from the steam, why don't airplanes gain height when flying strait, why do people lose consciousness if the cabin pressure is lost on a flight, does a slipstream ever help the lead cyclist, why don't people bleed out if their leg is amputated and what causes corrugations on roads Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can you use a sonic boom as a weapon?
July 31, 2015 16:20 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBWhy do we get nosebleeds? Can you use a sonic boom as a weapon? Is it healthy to sleep under a blanket? What will happen when the sun dies? Why does staring at light help you sneeze? Can a loss of memory cause hearing problems? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Are intelligent people more prone to depression?
July 24, 2015 07:19 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBAre intelligent people more prone to depression? Will we ever exceed the speed of light? What can survive inside a human stomach? Can rhymes help you to learn new things? How is the brightness of a light measured? How do bikes steer? Are balding men more prone to prostate cancer? Plus, eye drops that can treat cataracts. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does the placebo effect work?
July 17, 2015 11:52 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBWhy does the placebo effect work? Why do we get goosebumps? Why does scratching relieve itches? How can you fix bad breath? Why is it hard to wee if someone else is there? How long does food stay in the stomach? Plus, why screams are scary. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Does food affect your mood?
July 10, 2015 11:37 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBDo tall people swim faster? Why is Cholera so difficult to kill and get rid of? If there's so much cell regeneration in our bodies, why do we get old and die? Does food affect your mood? Plus, new research into medical marijuana. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How high can a fly fly?
July 03, 2015 11:21 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBAre polarised or non-polarised sunglasses better for your eyes? How high can a fly fly? Can botox make my face more symmetrical? Why aren't we equally hairy across our whole body? Are you more likely to get ill in cold weather? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does the Earth hum?
June 19, 2015 02:49 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBWhat is the Earth made from? Has the Voyager 1 spacecraft reached the edge of our solar sytem? Why do you lose your appetite when you feel unwell? How does lemon juice affect urine? Does the day on which you are born make a difference? How do we communicate in space? What are the origins of sceintific morality? How does castor oil affect your digestive system? Plus, the mass of the smallest exoplanet measured. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What does Botox do to your face?
June 12, 2015 12:26 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBDoes Botox harm your face? Why is the speed of aircraft limted? Does the cause of death determine the rate of decomposition of the body? Do only green plants produce chlorophyll? Can we create false gravity in space using centrifugal force? What happens to ashes when they are buried? Do children inherit palm prints from only one parent? Plus, 75 million year-old dinosaur cells... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What happens when you swallow gum?
June 05, 2015 11:30 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBWhat happens when you swallow gum? Can we use animal blood for donation? Is there intelligent life out there? Can you eat glass safely? Would you decompose in space? Is there a link between blood groups and illnesses? Plus, your virus infection history. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Does truth serum work?
May 29, 2015 12:06 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBIf it's only female mosquitoes that drink our blood, what do male mosquitoes feed on? How do we know how old human remains are? What is truth serum and how does it affect the brain? Should we keep onions in the fridge? And why do people have accents? Plus, the latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why don't babies laugh when they are born?
May 22, 2015 12:42 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBWhat would happen if I ate glass? Can you stop epileptic fits by removing a section of the brain? When we lose weight, where does the fat go? If we remove our thonsils, will this stop us snoring? Why don't babies come out the womb laughing, as opposed to crying? Plus, how a new drug that could cure obesity. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can you stop a yawn with a finger?
May 08, 2015 11:56 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBThe Naked Scientist answered listeners' weird and wonderful questions including: why babies tummies look swollen; why we vomit if others vomit; and how effective are sleeping tablets. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why can't my cat catch my cold?
May 01, 2015 11:15 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBWhy do we develop allergies? Which tectonic plates caused the Nepalese earthquake? Could we use a car to generate electricity? Why can't my cat catch my cold? Plus, the effects of radiation in space on astronauts' brains... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why can't I whistle as I get older?
April 24, 2015 11:13 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBWhere are mosquitoes during the winter? Does light therapy work? Can you get 20:20 vision back? Why can't I whistle as I get older? Why do I cough every time I eat popcorn? Plus, a new treatment for MS... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
How does seedless fruit reproduce?
April 17, 2015 12:06 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBWill we ever be able to record dreams? Why did our brains grow over time? How much water do you need to boil an egg? How does seedless fruit reproduce? Can a damaged chromosome be repaired? Can we synthesise water? Does whiskey make soft drinks better for you? Plus, how cracking your knuckles works... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can you use sound to control dreams?
April 10, 2015 11:50 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBDo photons have mass? Can you control someones dreams? Can you get your kidney back after donating it to someone? What determines the colour of the sea? Plus, how the moon was formed... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Live and Naked at 702
April 01, 2015 23:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBChris Smith and Victoria Gill appear at 702 in the flesh to answer questions from the audience and to conduct some illuminating experiments... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do we get goosebumps?
March 27, 2015 13:41 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBWhat causes goosebumps? How close does lightning need to be to hurt you? Where is Voyager? What causes yawning? How do we perform automatic behaviour? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What causes thunder and lightning?
March 20, 2015 13:09 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBWhat causes thunder and lightning? Are some people resistant to HIV? Are vitamin supplements good for children? What does crystal meth do to your brain? Why do phones only give you nine minutes to snooze? Can you compress light? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
What is the sun made of?
March 13, 2015 13:15 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBHow do satellites stay in orbit? Why do my fingernails grow at different speeds on each hand? What is the sun made of? Where did the liquid in my cans go? Why do some children turn mute after trauma? Plus, why people smell their fingers after shaking hands... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Can candles give you cancer?
March 06, 2015 12:38 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBIs it safe to feed livestock to meat? What happens to the rubber that wears off from car tyres? Does water go down the drain in different directions? Can you rewind the radio? Why is the ocean salty? Can candles give you cancer? Plus, the ancient Homo jaw bone... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why do I get a stitch when I exercise?
February 27, 2015 12:03 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBWhy do I get a stitch when I exercise? What determines our body temperature? How quickly do fruit and vegetables lose nutrients after they are picked? Why do ropes get tangled up in knots? Can you get stuck together during sex? Plus, news of an edible gene therapy to control insect pests... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Why does stress give me knots in my stomach?
February 20, 2015 12:44 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBWhy does stress give me knots in my stomach? Why don't I gain weight when I eat? How does sun cream work? Why does wheat give me gas? If we were to compress air to the pressure of water could we then swim in air? Do any planets stay still? Plus the science of popcorn. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists