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Ask the Naked Scientists

How 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

Are my muscles more efficient than a car?

Engine 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

May 25, 202019 minEp. 517

What are the thin bones in chicken wings for?

Antibody 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...

May 15, 202026 minEp. 516

Can blood group affect Covid-19 risk?

This 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...

May 08, 202020 minEp. 515

Can a common cold confuse a coronavirus test?

Sending 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...

May 01, 202017 minEp. 514

UV light therapy for coronavirus? No Mr Trump

When 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 podcast?...

Apr 24, 202014 minEp. 513

Will lockdown lead to a fitter coronavirus?

This 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...

Apr 19, 202013 minEp. 512

Can coronavirus be carried in semen?

This 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 su...

Apr 10, 202021 minEp. 511

What does Earth look like inside?

This 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

Apr 04, 202020 minEp. 510

Is Covid-19 a problem in pregnancy?

What 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...

Mar 31, 202022 minEp. 509

If I've had COVID-19, am I immune?

Why 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 us...

Mar 20, 202018 minEp. 508

Cancel matches to combat coronavirus?

Coronavirus 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

Mar 13, 202023 minEp. 507

What else do mosquitoes eat?

Do 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

Feb 21, 202018 minEp. 506

What's gut instinct?

This 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

Feb 14, 202016 minEp. 505

Did the new coronavirus come from pangolins?

Data 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

Feb 10, 202014 minEp. 504

How long do viruses linger in the air?

What'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...

Feb 07, 202023 minEp. 503

How many megapixels is my eye?

This 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...

Jan 24, 202016 minEp. 502

Only one of my bottles of water froze

This 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...

Jan 17, 202024 minEp. 501

Can bacteria eat plastic?

This 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

Jan 10, 202024 minEp. 500

What causes floaters in your eyes?

Welcome 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...

Jan 03, 202025 minEp. 499

Where do road corrugations come from?

How 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

Dec 20, 201918 minEp. 498

Virus vs bacterium: what's worse?

What'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

Dec 13, 201917 minEp. 497

Is mercury in vaccines safe?

Why 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 suppor...

Dec 09, 201918 minEp. 496

How do hard water and soft water differ?

How 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 podcast?...

Nov 29, 201915 minEp. 495

Does Prince Andrew not sweat in nightclubs?

Do 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 Scienti...

Nov 22, 201921 minEp. 494

Does swimming after lunch really cause cramp?

This 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 supporti...

Nov 15, 201918 minEp. 493

Are bananas sterile inside?

What 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...

Nov 08, 201924 minEp. 492

Where would a bullet fired in space end up?

Does 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 Scient...

Nov 01, 201926 minEp. 491

Will salt make my pasta cook quicker?

Why 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-magnetise t...

Oct 25, 201920 minEp. 490

What actually is a shooting star?

Is 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

Oct 22, 201919 minEp. 489

Can you suffocate under a duvet?

Why 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 crop...

Oct 18, 201919 minEp. 488
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