The science of explosions, including what happens when brake fluid and hypochlorite mix, and what blew up in Beirut, why lemons make you grimace, the reason that the smoke from the barbecue mysteriously seems to know where you are standing, what determines your IQ, how a fruit battery works, why we forget dreams, and how genetics controls height. Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Aug 07, 2020•21 min•Ep. 529
How supermarkets ripen fruits and vegetables, how people knew space existed before they went there, whether Covid-19 can infect birds, the advent of space tourism, why flight paths are sometimes curved rather than straight, what causes goose bumps, and are aeroplanes Covid-safe? Join Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 02, 2020•23 min•Ep. 528
Evidence for Russian Covid-19 vaccine espionage, whether minicabs spread coronavirus infection, whether Covid-19 can cling to a library book, how to spot a male ant, can birds carry Covid-19, why vaccines take so long to make, and what causes my heart to suddenly begin to race? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 27, 2020•19 min•Ep. 527
This week what is special about the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, and, more importantly, what does it mean? Also, how do viruses and bacteria differ, does growing an Afro make you thin, how does body temperature vary across the day, does clipping hair and nails make them grow faster, and how do hair loss remedies work? Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Refilwe Moloto have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jul 19, 2020•22 min•Ep. 526
This week, how blood transfusions from individuals who exercise could take decades off the brain ages of recipients, the toenails that refuse to grow, what causes giddiness, do we need to Earth ourselves to tackle unhealthy charge imbalances, and can air purifiers use UV to remove infectious diseases? Join 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 12, 2020•21 min•Ep. 525
This week, the intriguing question of how visible light, but not microwaves, can escape through the grille of a microwave oven, how far Earth and Mars are apart, the speed of a falling meteor, why parking a car in reverse is easier, the reason that oil and water won't mix, and the prospects of alien life. Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jul 08, 2020•20 min•Ep. 524
What causes phantom limb pain? How does the bladder control when it fills and empties? What the F are food E numbers? Where does medical oxygen come from and will we run out? How fast does the brain switch off after decapitation? Why don't bats suffer a rush of blood to the head when they sleep upside down? And what causes catatonia? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jul 03, 2020•21 min•Ep. 523
This week, if something could move faster than light, how would we detect its speed? Also, why do we cry, and why do the experiences of others make my feet tingle? How far from Earth is Mars, why has smoking been banned in South Africa during Covid lockdown, why are wind turbines not placed single-file, how long am I infectious with Covid-19, and can you smell in space? Join Azania Mosaka and Dr Chris Smith for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jul 01, 2020•21 min•Ep. 522
The UK eases the lockdown... a little bit, what makes our eyes move together, what makes Earth so special when it comes to supporting life, how long does a journey to Mars take, why can't I take my chemotherapy by mouth, does a mirror multiply light, and is climate change down to us, or natural temperature cycles? Join Dr Chris and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jun 24, 2020•21 min•Ep. 521
This week how birds keep warm in winter, how long to recover from ventilation for Covid-19, when do doctors need to ventilate a patient, seeing your own brain by MRI, why sunlight is warmer in summer, and can infrared light kill Covid? Join Dr Chris Smith and 567 CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jun 12, 2020•17 min•Ep. 520
How to sterilise a facemask: will zapping it in a microwave oven, or steaming it over a kettle work? What's the deal with UVC to kill coronaviruses? Are books returned to libraries an infection risk? And what about deliveries of flowers? Can garlic fend off infection? Why do fridges jolt on? And is a plane journey a risk factor for infection? Join Dr Chris Smith and Kieno Kammies for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jun 06, 2020•24 min•Ep. 519
This week where methanol comes from in home brewing, 5G and the coronavirus conspiracies, why cut flowers still need water, rice behaving bizarrely in the microwave, whether wind blows away infections, exploding jugs of custard, safe alcohol consumption, why light has the speed it does, and why weather stops a space launch. Join Chris Smith and Lester Kiewit for the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jun 01, 2020•21 min•Ep. 518
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, 2020•19 min•Ep. 517
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, 2020•26 min•Ep. 516
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, 2020•20 min•Ep. 515
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, 2020•17 min•Ep. 514
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, 2020•14 min•Ep. 513
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, 2020•13 min•Ep. 512
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, 2020•21 min•Ep. 511
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, 2020•20 min•Ep. 510
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, 2020•22 min•Ep. 509
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, 2020•18 min•Ep. 508
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, 2020•23 min•Ep. 507
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, 2020•18 min•Ep. 506
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, 2020•16 min•Ep. 505
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, 2020•14 min•Ep. 504
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, 2020•23 min•Ep. 503
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, 2020•16 min•Ep. 502
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, 2020•24 min•Ep. 501
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, 2020•24 min•Ep. 500
