Why does my right brain control my left side?
Thanks to Marc de Lussanet for the help with the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 11, 2023•5 min•Ep. 526
Question of the Week, from the Naked Scientists
Each week we set out to solve one of the world's weirdest, wackiest, funniest and funkiest scientific puzzles. And along with the answer there's a brand new question to think about for next time...
Episodes
Are rockets contributing to climate change?
James Tytko enlisted the help of the University of Cambridge's Xander Byrne to help with this question from Frank, who asks: "Have there been any studies on the effects of rocket launches on the greenhouse effect respiratory issues or general carcinogenic properties?" Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 28, 2023•4 min•Ep. 525
Do all whales come from the same ancestor?
Thanks to Dr Ellen Coombs for the answer. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 21, 2023•4 min•Ep. 524
Do tennis players have favourite balls?
Regular listener, Mike, asked: "When tennis players are about to serve, they get a selection of balls. They seem to look at them and then select two to serve with. Now these are all new and good quality balls, how do they select the ones they like to use? Do they recognise them? Do they have favourites?" Very topical, Mike. Rhys James travelled to meet the tennis coach, James Hoad in Bury St Edmunds: Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jul 14, 2023•4 min•Ep. 523
How do we track lightning strikes?
Listener Derek asked us how weather presenters know about the number of lightning strikes and the process of recording them. James Tytko got in contact with the Met Office's lightning scientist, Dr Graeme Marlton... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jun 30, 2023•5 min•Ep. 522
What decides where nipples are on mammals?
Why is it that some mammals with small broods have the baby feeding apparatus near the upper limbs like humans and elephants and some near the lower limbs like cows and horses? As it turns out, this is a very good question. What dictates where the teats are on a mammal? The short answer is, well, no one is really sure, but that's not going to stop us from a bit of deductive reasoning and speculation. And one man who is up to the task is Queen Mary University of London's Chris Faulkes.Chris - We'...
Jun 23, 2023•4 min•Ep. 521
Could a time traveller start a pandemic?
Could someone travelling into the future potentially take a pandemic disease with them, or bring back something similar upon their return? James Tytko enlists the help of Cambridge University immunologist Brian Ferguson... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jun 20, 2023•4 min•Ep. 520
Can gas be compressed into a solid?
Akula writes in to ask, 'Can we compress gas into a solid?' James Tytko seeks to provide the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jun 09, 2023•3 min•Ep. 519
How do we reduce emissions from fertilisers?
This week, are biofertilisers an answer to solving the use of chemical fertilisers? Are they more advantageous in any way? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
May 27, 2023•5 min•Ep. 518
How quickly does evolution work?
What is the speed of evolution and, apart from reproduction, what are the factors that affect this? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
May 05, 2023•4 min•Ep. 517
Why do we think clearer after taking a break?
Listener Jo asked: "Why is it so I can sit with a sudoku until I have no idea what to do next, so I leave it. When I go back to it later I always find new possibilities straight away." James Tytko spoke to Alejandro Lleras Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Apr 28, 2023•4 min•Ep. 516
Why are black holes at the centre galaxies?
Listener David wrote this cosmic conumdrum into the Naked Scientists "How are black holes formed? And why are they often at the center of galaxies?" Otis Kingsman spoke to astrophysicist and author of the book "A Brief History of Black Holes", Dr Becky Smethurst... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Sep 12, 2022•6 min•Ep. 515
Should I drink cola after swimming in river?
Listener Ed wrote to the Naked Scientists with this particular question. "Why is it recommended to drink cola after swimming in a river? And does it really reduce the risk of getting an upset stomach?" Otis Kingsman splashes around in the science of this river rumour with Dr John Tregoning from Imperial College London... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 22, 2022•4 min•Ep. 514
How can drugs change our salt concentration?
Listener Kandi wrote into the Naked Scientists to explain the science behind this major medication method. "I have Hyponatremia as a result of a medication. How does a drug stop your body from using/absorbing the salt you consume?" Otis Kingsman spoke to Gerogetown University's professor of medicine, Joseph G Verbalis to find the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Aug 15, 2022•6 min•Ep. 513
Can cat and dog poop be used as fertiliser?
Listener Lara wrote into the Naked Scientists to ask "Is there a biological benefit for cats and dogs to bury their faeces? Can it help plants grow similar to horse manure?" Otis Kingsman spoke to the primary medical care director of the veterinary medicine company Linnaeus, Dr Simon Hayes, about this question on the fascinating function of faeces... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 25, 2022•5 min•Ep. 512
How dangerous is an explosion on the moon?
Listener Neil wrote in looking for find the answer to this brain blaster. "Would an explosion on the moon be more powerful than on the surface of the earth?" Otis Kingsman spoke to University of Cambridge's public astronomer Matt Bothwell to make sense of this outer-space occurrence... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 11, 2022•4 min•Ep. 511
Why are fridges difficult to quickly reopen?
Listener Josie asked us "Why can't I immediately open my fridge door after closing it? It feels like air pressure is keeping it closed. Is this the case?" James Tytko spoke to Cambridge University's Engineering Professor Vikram Deshpande about this fascinating fridge function... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jul 04, 2022•4 min•Ep. 510
Can cargo X-ray scanners damage electronics?
Listener Alaster wrote in to ask "The electricals in my car stopped working after it was transported from Cape Town to the UK. I think there was a fault in the scanner in Cape Town. My question is, how does a car scanner work? Can it damage the electrical components within cars?" Julia Ravey presented this troublesome transport problem to Roger Worrall from the security company Westminster Group PLC... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...
Jun 27, 2022•4 min•Ep. 509
How does email and texting affect our brain?
Listener Mike presented this question to The Naked Scientists. "Does email and texting affect our brain's cognitive functions?" Otis Kingsman spoke to Dr Ravi Gajendran from Florida International University to help find the answer to this communication conundrum... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jun 06, 2022•5 min•Ep. 508
Why can't some people smell certain plants?
Tim wanted to know "Why can't my partner smell certain strong odours when in the countryside? She can smell manure but is immune to smelling certain potent flowers and herbs." Otis Kingsman spoke to Professor Sandeep Roberta Datta from Harvard Medical School to find the aromatic answers to this question... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
May 30, 2022•4 min•Ep. 507
Can acid remove a spring's potential energy?
Listener Mark wrote in to ask 'What happens to the potential energy of a compressed coil spring that is dissolved in acid?'. Otis Kingsman sprung to action in speaking with Dr Martin Buzza from the University of Hull to find the answer to this question. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
May 23, 2022•4 min•Ep. 506
Can the Earth's rotation make electricity?
Linda wrote in to ask "Can the spinning of the earth generate electricity similar to the spinning of wind turbines?" Otis Kingsman spoke to Matthew Rooney from the Insitute of Mechanical Engineers to find the answer to this head-spinner... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
May 16, 2022•4 min•Ep. 505
Does a phone weigh more after charging it?
Listener Tibor wanted to know the answer to the question, "Does potential energy have any mass? If I was to charge a phone battery, would it become heavier?" Dr Israel Temprano from the Univserity of Cambridge explains to Otis Kingsman about this battery baffler... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Apr 25, 2022•5 min•Ep. 504
Why do electric car batteries wear out?
Listener Barry wants to know, 'What causes degredation in electric car batteries, and what are the upcoming developments in EV technology?' Chloe Coates from the University of Cambridge spoke to Evelyna Wang... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Apr 11, 2022•4 min•Ep. 503
How can we identify a diseased gene?
Malcolm wrote in to ask "How can we identify a disease? When looking at a sample of chromosomes, what are scientists looking for to spot a diseased gene?". Otis Kingsman spoke to Jocelynn Pearl from the Lady Scientist Podcast to solve this mutation mystery... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Mar 28, 2022•5 min•Ep. 502
Does relativity affect the age of moon rocks?
Ranjit wrote in to ask this, "As gravity and time have an inverse relationship, at some time in the future, will astronauts bring back moon rocks that are older than the Earth?" James Tytko spoke to King College London's, Professor Ruth Gregory to help us find the answer to this lunar mystery... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Mar 21, 2022•4 min•Ep. 501
Why does an itch move when you scratch it?
Mariam has been itching to find an answer to the question of "When I scratch an itch, the itch seems to move around my body. And I want to know why this is." Dr Yvonne Couch from the Radcliffe Department of Medicine spoke to Otis Kingsman... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Mar 14, 2022•5 min•Ep. 500
Can internal voices be influenced by accents?
Fiona wrote in to ask "Why do I hear voices in my head when I'm thinking? And can this voice be influenced by accents?" In order to find answers, James Tytko reached out to Helene Loevenbruck from Grenoble Alpes University to rattle our brains... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Mar 08, 2022•4 min•Ep. 499
Does the moon affect student behaviour?
Listener Sal wanted to know the answer to the question 'Is the behaviour of school students affected by moon phases?' Otis Kingsman found 'Teresa Pavia', neurologist and the clinical director of the Sleep Medicine Centre in Lisbon, to give us a lesson on if and how the moon can impact our behaviour... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Feb 21, 2022•5 min•Ep. 498
How do we clean the Hubble Telescope mirror?
Daniel wrote into The Naked Scientists with the question of 'How do they stop the mirror on the Hubble telescope from getting dirty?' Otis Kingsman spoke to Sarah Kendrew from the European Space Agency to clear up the answers to this question. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Jan 31, 2022•4 min•Ep. 497
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