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!

Episodes

Why do bright lights trigger sneezes?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from talk radio 702. Could gravity from my first-floor apartment impact my sleep patterm? Why do hearts beat faster when we're excited? What are the consequences of dental surgery? Is prejudice carried in DNA? How does a master-key work? Does exercise and breathing more oxygen increase the ageing process? Why do bright lights cause sneezes? Plus, the single use plastic that saved endangered snails in Bermuda. Li...

Jun 13, 201920 minEp. 469

Do anti-ageing creams really work?

For CapeTalk this week, Dr Chris explains what causes stomach butterflies, whether honey is healthier than sugar, why fog lifts, how to keep your memory in tip top condition, how much the Earth weighs, whether fish need to drink water, why cannabis makes some people feel creative, and whether anti-ageing skin creams actually make you look younger... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jun 12, 201919 minEp. 468

Why do we blush?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from Talk Radio 702. Would a brain transplant keep someone's memories? Why do we blush? Is it bad to exercise when ill? How do you lose a sense of smell? Can it return? What is the difference between IQ and EQ? Why do we have three sets of DNA? With some questions from the BIO conference in Philadelphia. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...

Jun 06, 201920 minEp. 467

Were early humans vegetarians?

Chris Smith answers YOUR questions with Pippa Hudson.... Why does temperature change food flavour? Does the full moon impact the human body? Why do car wheels move in reverse in films? Were early humans vegetarians? Can you produce electricity in a vacuum? Does Vitamin-C cure a cold? Do 5G networks affect health? Plus, celebrating 100 years of Arthur Eddington and the eclipse that made Einstein's laws of gravity famous. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...

May 23, 201921 minEp. 466

Why do we cough?

Chris Smith answers the questions you've been sending in... Could we use charged liquid for electric cars? Why do beds feel cold and not room temperature? What causes climate change? How efficient are batteries? Why do we cough? Why do chillies give me hiccups? Plus, sea explorers find plastic in the most remote part of the ocean.  Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

May 16, 201922 minEp. 465

Why do cats purr?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Africa Melanie from CapeTalk. Why can only some animals be domesticated? Why do cats purr? Can senses change after surgery? Why don't I have a runny nose during sleep? How old is moon dust? Why do scars last until old age? Plus scientists detect a black hole that's munching on a neutron star... For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to nakedscientists.com/podcasts.PLUS, you can follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and F...

May 02, 201922 minEp. 464

What causes cyclones?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio. Is the Earth flat? Does cannabis have a healing effect? Can stem cells repair skin overgrowths? What causes cylones? Why can I hear sounds when my head is against a pillow? Why do stars look stationary from Earth? Can stem cells repair eye conditions? Plus the news story that kicked off all the stem cell questions; the new technique that repairs wounds faster. For more podcasts by The Naked Scie...

Apr 25, 201918 minEp. 463

Will a comet crash into Earth?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser... Why do my nails hurt after I remove nail polish? What does GI mean? Do black holes stop the universe expanding? How are flight routes planned? Will a comet crash into Earth? Why do I get electric shocks from my car? Plus, the first ever image of a black hole! For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts You can follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Faceboo...

Apr 11, 201918 minEp. 462

Can computers develop consciousness?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio 702. Can we use energy from nuclear fusion yet? Is the water in our atmosphere the same as in a river? Can computers develop consciousness? Why do some people think the Earth is flat? Why are clouds different colours? Why is a plane's black box indestructible? Why do hot baths make me dizzy? Plus scientists strap cameras on to Great White Sharks to keep them safe! Like what you hear? Why not supp...

Apr 04, 201921 minEp. 461

Could we live on Mars?

Chris Smith takes on YOUR questions in a bumper edition of Ask! The Naked Scientists. How long do dreams last? How did Einstein measure the speed of light? Could we live on Mars? What is sleep paralysis? Could an asteroid hit and travel underground? What is a sonic boom? Can you change your subconscious? Could a falling bullet injure you? How does carbon harm our environment? Could we have wireless electricity? Why did the continents break apart? Plus, how plants can still function with less wat...

Mar 29, 201937 minEp. 460

Why do men have nipples?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from 702 Cape Talk. Why is the sun's halo hotter than its surface? Why do ice cubes crack when you add water? Why do men have nipples? How do noise-cancelling headphones work? Can you implant genes to become immune to HIV? Can batteries prevent power cuts in South Africa? Plus we say Hello Tomorrow! Chris explains the latest and greatest technology showcased at a recent conference in Paris. For more podcasts by ...

Mar 22, 201918 minEp. 459

Are horseshoes unlucky in a thunderstorm?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. What would happen if a horse with metal shoes on was struck by lightning? How was DNA code devised? Could electricity go wireless? How much calcium is in a cup of tea? Why can slime change colour with heat? Is second hand smoke from e-cigarettes harmful? Does NASA still have contact with Voyager? How can goats climb mountain sides? Plus, the new wireless technology allowing more cuddles for premature babies. For more podcasts by The ...

Mar 08, 201923 minEp. 458

How do I win the lottery?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio 702. How are buildings demolished? How do you win the lottery? Do aliens exist? Is breast milk best? Does it rain more in rocky areas? Why did life evolve and replicate? Can transplants resolve genetic syndromes? Plus, scientists turn carbon dioxide into coal. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Mar 01, 201923 minEp. 457

Are we getting smarter?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why are hail stones different sizes? Why do my palms get sweaty? Why do animals moult? What happens if you stop eating sugar? and more. Plus flicking the suicide switch on tuberculosis. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Feb 22, 201923 minEp. 456

What's CERN all about?

What's CERN all about? What is epigenetics, and how is it different to genetics? Why doesn't ice always freeze clear? How does carbon capture work? Why do my eyes go red when I'm drunk? Plus in the news, a new kind of painkiller. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Feb 15, 201921 minEp. 455

Will Japan retrieve an asteroid sample?

The Japanese mission to bring back a sample of an asteroid, are changes in Earth's magnetic field linked to climate change, what causes tip-of-the-tongue experiences when you cannot remember a word, why does the Moon look much larger on the horizon, how do farts form and can farts be harnessed to power things? And is a TV screen next to my bed bad for me? Will mobile phone use do me harm? Why flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day? Join Dr Chris for this week's crop of questions and answers....

Feb 08, 201930 minEp. 454

Can marijuana kill cancer?

Does marijuana help with cancer? How can one sibling be smart and another be stupid? Are we alone in the Universe? Can vitamin D kill cancer? Plus, male contraception. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Feb 01, 201918 minEp. 453

Why do we get butterflies?

Why do we get butterflies in our stomach? Why is singing in tune difficult? What does vitamin K do? Is aluminium foil safe? How do you measure metres above sea level? Can cold water make you wee more? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 25, 201919 minEp. 452

Is the sky really blue?

Is the sky actually blue? Does petrol go off? What causes myeloma? Why are chicken eggs different colours? If salt melts ice, why are icebergs frozen? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 18, 201918 minEp. 451

Do animals get jet lag?

Why does dog poo change colour? What happens to the brain when we're sleeping? Do animals also get jet lag? Is time travel possible? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 11, 201924 minEp. 450

How do they get the stripes into toothpaste?

How do you measure time when traveling close to light speed? How do you predict the weather? Why don't zebras look dirty? How do they get the stripes into toothpaste? Why do wheels look like they spin backwards? Why can some people move their ears? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 04, 201923 minEp. 449

Why does chilli make my head itch?

Why don't birds get electrocuted on an electric fence? Why do I want to sing along to tunes I know? Does a cut onion soak up toxins from the air? Is Everest really the tallest mountain? Why does chilli make my head itch after I've shaved off my hair? What's the prospect of terraforming Mars? And can women synchronise their periods? Plus, news of the New Horizon's probes fly-by of Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) Ultima Thule, with Chris Smith and Eusebius McKaiser... Like this podcast? Please help us by...

Dec 21, 201820 minEp. 448

Why do I appear upside down in a spoon?

Why do I appear upside down in a spoon? Is the Universe getting bigger or smaller? What would Earth be like if we had two moons? What's the atomic weight of silver? Why does my bum tingle when I get my hair cut? If water can expand why can't it compact? Why do animals never run in a straight line? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 14, 201824 minEp. 447

Can I catch germs from a cockroach?

Can I catch germs from cockroaches? How does the shape of the ear tell you where something is? If the Universe is expanding, is it being pushed or pulled? Is rain water better for crops than irrigation? What's the difference between macro and micro evolution? Do men enjoy spice more than women? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 30, 201827 minEp. 446

Can we create blood in the lab?

How do we tell where a sound is coming from? Why does wine taste differently after many years? Why can't we manufacture blood? Why was Pluto downgraded? Plus, a new blood test for cancer. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 23, 201819 minEp. 445

What is spooky action at a distance?

How do mosquitoes find you in the dark? How do muons reach the earth? Do long-term partners end up looking alike? What is spooky action at a distance? Why do things go black when they're burnt? Why can I hear rain all the time? Plus, redefining the kilogram. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 16, 201821 minEp. 444

What causes double rainbows?

What is deja vu? Why do certain magnets attract? Why do tea stains form in a ring? Can you scientifically work out someone's date of birth? How does mercury and lead stay in your body? Do mermaids exist? Do helium balloons defy gravity? What causes a double rainbows? Why does oxidised cholesterol cause heart attacks? Plus the life saving backpack for bees! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 09, 201821 minEp. 443

Can phantom limb pain be treated?

Can overhead electrical cables interfere with radio signals? Are diesel and petrol made differently? What is a vasectomy? Can phantom limb pain be treated? Are memories passed on through your genes? How much water does it take to boil an egg? Can surgery fix collapsed vertebrae? Is a woman genetically related to her child who was concieved with a donor egg? Plus, scientists help people potentially paralysed with spinal chord injury to walk again. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting t...

Nov 02, 201823 minEp. 442

Why do we need sleep?

Why do we need sleep? How do tides work? Could aliens already be here that we simply can't detect? Plus, how being bird-brained isn't such a bad thing. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Oct 25, 201819 minEp. 441

Can humans slow down time?

How do scientists calculate the mass and velocity of planets? Why does time slow down during accidents? Is table salt bad for us? Why do cockroaches end up on their backs when they die? Will other primates become human? Plus, a lumpy Earth! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Oct 11, 201823 minEp. 440
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