Ask the Naked Scientists - podcast cover

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

How big is a drop?

How 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

Feb 19, 201623 minEp. 337

What are Gravitational Waves?

What 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

Feb 12, 201617 minEp. 336

What Keeps the Sun Burning?

Could 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

Dec 11, 201519 minEp. 335

How safe is an old microwave?

How 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

Nov 27, 201522 minEp. 334

Why does Jacob Zuma giggle in parliament?

Why 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 support...

Nov 20, 201522 minEp. 333

Do Animals Have Blood Groups?

Where 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

Nov 13, 201520 minEp. 332

What is the universe made of?

What 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

Oct 30, 201523 minEp. 331

What causes stuttering?

What 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

Oct 16, 201524 minEp. 330

Do people have free will?

What 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

Oct 09, 201523 minEp. 329

Where do deleted texts go?

How 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

Oct 02, 201523 minEp. 328

Why do wires tangle?

Why 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

Sep 25, 201521 minEp. 327

Should we drink wee?

What 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

Sep 18, 201519 minEp. 326

Where did Homo naledi come from?

How 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

Sep 11, 201520 minEp. 325

How can a headless chicken run?

Does 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...

Aug 28, 201521 minEp. 324

What determines your blood type?

Is 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

Aug 21, 201524 minEp. 323

Can you microwave a cockroach?

The 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 benefic...

Aug 14, 201523 minEp. 322

How does rice fix a waterlogged phone?

How 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...

Aug 07, 201524 minEp. 321

Can you use a sonic boom as a weapon?

Why 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

Jul 31, 201523 minEp. 320

Are intelligent people more prone to depression?

Are 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

Jul 24, 201521 minEp. 319

Why does the placebo effect work?

Why 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

Jul 17, 201521 minEp. 318

Does food affect your mood?

Do 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

Jul 10, 201524 minEp. 317

How high can a fly fly?

Are 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

Jul 03, 201522 minEp. 316

Why does the Earth hum?

What 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...

Jun 19, 201521 minEp. 315

What does Botox do to your face?

Does 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...

Jun 12, 201520 minEp. 314

What happens when you swallow gum?

What 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

Jun 05, 201523 minEp. 313

Does truth serum work?

If 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

May 29, 201523 minEp. 312

Why don't babies laugh when they are born?

What 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

May 22, 201519 minEp. 311

Can you stop a yawn with a finger?

The 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

May 08, 201523 minEp. 310

Why can't my cat catch my cold?

Why 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

May 01, 201520 minEp. 309

Why can't I whistle as I get older?

Where 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

Apr 24, 201519 minEp. 308
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