Why do boomerangs return? How do painkillers know where to go? Are some painkillers faster than others? Why do men have nipples? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as find out why rainbows form arcs, what Menieres disease is, how sea breezes form and why we don't sing with accents. We also investigate the difference between X-rays, MRIs and other medical scans! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Apr 01, 2010•2 min•Ep. 109
How does lightning strike? Should we worry about radiation from mobile phone masts? Do our TV sets give off any radiation? Why do we see the Northern Lights? We tackle these questions in this weeks show as well as reveal how a gyroscope works, why some batteries last longer than others and if the earths core uses oil as a coolant. Plus, we compare the energy consumption of electric and internal combustion engine cars! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Mar 25, 2010•27 min•Ep. 108
Could the Earth cope without the Moon, how do safety matches work, what causes hiccups, why don't frosts form undercover, should NASA put people on an asteroid, why do nails grow faster on holiday, and what was here before the Big Bang? Join Dr Chris as he embarks ona brain-stretching scientific tour of the Cosmos for this week's Ask the Naked Scientists! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Mar 19, 2010•30 min•Ep. 107
How does fuel burn in spaceships without oxygen? Why do we see sun rays from behind clouds? Why is there often a red glow in the night sky? We take on your cosmic questions in this week's show as well as reveal how radios pick up aircraft transmissions, why solar panels work better when facing south and we investigate if the recent earthquakes have knocked the earth off its Axis! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Mar 12, 2010•29 min•Ep. 106
Why is Jupiter round and how does it hold onto its gas, how does skin thickness vary around the body, why does milk soothe the effects of chilli, how do brain sizes vary amongst animals, what makes a person blush, why don't we deafen ourselves when we shout and what makes bottoms attractive? Join Dr Chris as he pits his wits against this week's crop of questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Mar 05, 2010•32 min•Ep. 105
How do meat-tenderisers make meat more succulent, how do they get the corks into Champagne bottles, do explosions travel in space, why have golf balls got dimples, how do holograms work and what does light weigh? Find out with Dave Ansell in this week's fact-packed Ask! The Naked Scientists... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Feb 26, 2010•24 min•Ep. 104
How do we fall in love? What is our universe Expanding into? Will our universe ever be sucked back inwards? We take on these cosmic questions in this week's show as well as find out how dogs tell the time, if cracking our knuckles causes arthritis and why vegetables are less crisp once frozen. We also investigate whether the forces created by volcanes could be harnessed for energy! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Feb 19, 2010•29 min•Ep. 103
Why does the earth spin? Is the moon moving farther away from earth? What are the odds of winning the lottery twice in a row and of getting the same numbers twice? We take on these questions in this week's podcast as well as reveal the difference between blu-ray and DVD's, what will happen when the earth's magnetic poles flip, why certain materials are transparent, and if water changes composition when boiled. Plus, we investigate the potential for life in outer space. Like this podcast? Please ...
Feb 12, 2010•25 min•Ep. 102
Does being hot under the collar ever lead to spontaneous combustion? Will we ever get smellovision? Does being ill make you smarter? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as reveal if animals and humans react to drugs in the same way, whether milk is what makes mucus in our bodies and if microwaves are as good at heating water as your kettle! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Feb 05, 2010•29 min•Ep. 101
Why do buses get steamy, how do ships withstand super-waves, what's really invovled in balancing on a bike, how come Hawaii's on a hot-spot and do fluorescent tubes flash beneath power lines? Join Dr Dave as he pits his wits against your scientific conundra... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jan 29, 2010•26 min•Ep. 100
How long to bones take to heal? Are healed bones stronger than they were before? How do glow worms glow? We tackle these bright questions on this week's show as well as reveal what a headache is, how to cure a hangover, the strength of atomic bombs and how trees and coral can tell us about past climates! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jan 22, 2010•30 min•Ep. 99
At what temperature does sea water freeze? Why do aeroplanes not freeze when up in the cold air? Why can't we use sand on icy roads? We tackle these chilling questions on this week's show as well as reveal if parachutes could slow down a space ship, whether we can see stars from the moon, if smoke stacks can be harvested for energy and if wood vapourises before it burns! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jan 15, 2010•25 min•Ep. 98
Is goose fat bad for us? What food ingredients are healthy? Is soy healthier than meat? What is cellulitis? We tackle these questions to kick off our healthy eating regimes for 2010. We also explore the depths of outer space to reveal how far away our planets are, how long a rocket would take to reach Neptune and whether there are planets beyond our own solar system. Plus, we calculate how long it would have taken Santa to deliver presents to everyone! Like this podcast? Please help us by suppor...
Jan 08, 2010•30 min•Ep. 97
How the moon might make you behave badly, why snowstorms beget thunderstorms, the wrong sort of snow for trains, and whether tomato soup would be a warmer filling for radiators. Dr Dave tackles a festive crop of questions in this week's Ask! the Naked Scientists... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Dec 18, 2009•22 min•Ep. 96
How do facial scrubs work to remove spots and oil from our skin? does hot water freeze faster than cold water? Why do we not make more use of tidal power? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as reveal why we faint, how close our genes are to our ape ancestors and what legionnaires diseases is and how to prevent it. Plus we discuss the effects of obesity on our health and whether our organs are unique to each individual! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked...
Dec 11, 2009•33 min•Ep. 95
How is Gold formed? Could hydrogen be used in power plants? How small can an atomic bomb be? Could we reverse electrolysis to make water? We tackle these questions in this week's show as well as find out how the shrunken heads in Borneo are shrunk, why burnt toast goes black, and why white bread is white. Plus, we investigate if bullets can be made from custard and whether we can trap light to use as energy! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Dec 04, 2009•27 min•Ep. 94
Can we re-set our body clocks? How can we ease the effects of jetlag? Do body clocks change with age? We look into these questions in this week's show as well as investigate whether lightning can occur without clouds, the effects of head injuries, why spacecrafts need to travel at high speeds and we discuss the optimum world population. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Nov 27, 2009•29 min•Ep. 93
How can you measure how dark a place is? When do meteor showers occur and how can we see them? How do 'magic eye' paintings work? We reveal the answers to these mysteries in this week's show. We also find out whether the earth breathes, why car wheels appear to move backwards, and how DNA can narrow criminals down to a specific location. Plus, we investigate where all the hazelnuts have gone! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Nov 20, 2009•23 min•Ep. 92
What is snot? Why do we make saliva? How do babies have such sweet smelling breath? These, and other less bodily questions, get tackled in this Ask the Naked Scientists. We find out how a radio can consume batteries quickly, where to live to avoid floods and if a brain scan can spot criminal intent! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Nov 13, 2009•28 min•Ep. 91
Why are tomato skins so tough? Can you make fireworks from custard powder? What is the speed of dark? Join us as Dave Ansell takes on your science questions, explaining if satellites get dusty, how much damage the infamous Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot would have done and why you can't see stars in footage shot in space! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Nov 06, 2009•26 min•Ep. 90
Can venoms be used to treat disease? How deadly is the sting of an Irukandje jellyfish? Do all bees die when they sting? We tackle these buzzing questions on this week's show, as well as find out how our brains process pleasure, reveal where dust comes from, and investigate why cows are bad for our environment! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Oct 30, 2009•30 min•Ep. 89
Is global warming natural as well as man-made? What effect will arctic melting have on our sea levels? Why have cars not evolved past piston engines and fossil fuels? Can sugars be used to fuel cars? We tackle these energy-related questions on this week's show as well as reveal how iron ships are kept buoyant, how inkjet printers work and how many wind turbines are needed to power the UK. Plus we investigate how much of our coastline is eroding each year and how old the water is that comes out o...
Oct 15, 2009•30 min•Ep. 88
This week, Dr Dominic Ford joins Dave Ansell to take on your questions about our universe. They reveal whether it's possible to live in outer space for years on end, if we can see the flames of the sun from here on Earth, discuss what dark matter is, and investigate what existed before the big bang! Plus, we find out why snakes aren't poisoned by their own venom and explore when the modern calendar was created. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Oct 08, 2009•30 min•Ep. 87
Why is our peripheral vision so good in the dark? Why do we have goosebumps? Do UFOs exist and is there life on other planets? We explore the answers to these questions as well as investigate how bacteria know where to infect us, how our TV screens work, why we set our clocks back in winter and reveal if covering our bodies in salt would make us shrivel up like a slug! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Oct 01, 2009•29 min•Ep. 86
Why do cameras use batteries so quickly? Why does warmth help a battery last longer? How do humans survive lightning strikes? We tackle these questions as well as reveal how steel ships protect themselves from erosion, whether stainless steel really is stainless, investigate the different types of salt and discover how lie detectors work! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Sep 17, 2009•29 min•Ep. 85
Do Aliens Exist? Did Neil Armstrong really walk on the moon? What happens over the Bermuda Triangle? We take on these mysteries in this week's show as well as reveal if the earth is growing, why planes leave vapour trails and investigate whether deodorants are flammable. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Sep 10, 2009•23 min•Ep. 84
How do new elements enter the periodic table? How much does the earth weigh? Could Jupiter blow up? We tackle these explosive questions on this weeks show as well as reveal the workings of the internet and how it was created, investigate how the government could spy on our phone calls, and discover why our fingers go wrinkly in the bath! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Sep 03, 2009•24 min•Ep. 83
How do wasps reproduce? Do all spiders bite you? Why have some animals lasted many years without evolving? We take on these questions on this week's show as well as find out how helicopters fly, explain why kettles go silent before boiling, reveal how far radio signals can travel and discover how to get a boiled egg into a bottle! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 27, 2009•27 min•Ep. 82
How do glowsticks glow? Do mobile phones have limited frequencies? How do 3D films work? We tackle these questions on this weeks show, as well as discuss the causes of heart attacks, why it's less windy at night and find out why our accents aren't always reflected when we sing. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 21, 2009•35 min•Ep. 81
You ask Dave Ansell whether parallel universes are possible, how moons are formed around Saturn, what's new for car batteries, the existence of wormholesand how one might go about building an artificial brain. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 13, 2009•29 min•Ep. 80
