Ask the Naked Scientists
Episodes
Spiders, Space and Skyscrapers
07 May 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How strong is spider silk? Why are some people scared of spiders? How vast is space and does it have an end? How are skyscrapers built? We answer thes...
Spotty Bottoms and Jogger's Nipple
30 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we get spots on our bottoms? What is Jogger's Nipple? What is Gangrene? Why do we have different languages? We tackle these questions on this w...
Sticky Water, Static Shocks and Solar Storms
23 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we ask how water can be both sticky and slippery, what causes static shocks and if Solar storms can take down aeroplanes. Plus, we find out...
Painkillers, Plastics and Platelets
16 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How do painkillers work and which ones are available to us? Why doesn't the plastic on ready-meals melt in the oven? How can we donate platelets inste...
Sparks, Lightning and Electricity
09 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Can horses feel electric shocks through their fur? Can we create lightning artificially? How do we send electric signals via cables to America? Can fr...
Genes and Clones
20 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Are identical twins clones of each other? Can parents with brown eyes have children with blue ones? Is it possible to have blonde hair and brown eyes?...
Electric cars and Exploding Champagne
13 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How much does it cost to run an electric car? Why does shaken champagne not explode if you wait a while before opening it? Would a car filled inside w...
Atomic Bombs, The Amazon and our Climate
06 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Can atomic bombs cause changes in our climate? Can understanding the Amazon help control the greenhouse effect? Are we likely to find life in outer sp...
Planes, Spaceships and Automobiles
27 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How do mobile phones work on planes? Is flying more environmentally friendly than driving? What is rocket fuel? Can we see the International Space Sta...
The Earth and Its Elements
20 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How does the Earth rotate? Why do we not fall off the Earth as it spins? Why is there a periodic table? Why is Oxygen written as O2? We tackle these ...
Ice, Snow and Space
13 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
What experiments can be done with snow? why is snow white yet ice is clear? How can ice be made without refrigeration? And how do Jet engines work out...
Phantom Limbs and Electric Shocks
06 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
What is phantom Limb Syndrome? Why don't birds get electrocuted when they land on power lines? Why can a tooth filling give us electric shocks? We tac...
The Science of Lightbulbs and Compact Discs
30 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Do energy saving lightbulbs give you headaches? How do LED lights work? How do CD's show us the spectrum of light? Can we see magenta in the spectrum?...
Stars, Stings and Tickles
23 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we see stars in the sky? Why do stars twinkle? Why can't we tickle ourselves? And how do stinging nettles sting? We tackle these question in th...
Space, Sciatica and Solar Power
16 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How does Solar heating work? What is Sciatica? What's the point of space exploration? We tackle these challenges in this week's show. We'll also be fi...
The Science of Sparks, Candles and Lightbulbs.
09 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Would a matchbox spark in space? How do re-igniting candles work? How does an energy-saving lightbulb work? Does the sun rotate like the earth? We ans...
Evolution and Adam's Apples
19 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we have Adam's Apples? Do other primates have them? When we find new species are they due to evolution? Why do we get sleep in our eyes? We tac...
Moons, Planets and Black Holes.
12 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Will gravity ever pull our moon into a collision with earth? Why are planets round? How big is the black hole at the centre of our galaxy? We solve th...
Spies and Satellites
05 Dec 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How do spy satellites work? Is it true the US Military can control our GPS? How do we know the centre of the earth is so hot? How can we identify coun...
Moons, Tides and Teabags!
28 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
What would happen if we didn't have tides? If our moon continues moving away from us, will it affect our tides? Why doesn't tea flow out of the bag if...
The Science of Time and Space
21 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can time ever stand still? could we look back in time with a telescope? Could we see and stop a meteor in space? We tackle these questions on this wee...
Water, Sea Levels and Tides
14 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why do sea levels vary around the world? Why are there 2 tides? What is Autism? How were the colleges of Cambridge built along the river? We answer th...
Stars, Space and Flying Saucers!
07 Nov 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why are stars and planets round? Could a helium balloon ever continue into space? Is the moon bombarded with asteroids? Is it possible to create a fly...
Forming Gems and Fighting the Freeze
31 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How are gemstones formed? Why do we get brain freeze when eating Ice Cream? What is Renault's disease? We find out in this week's Ask the Naked Scient...
Fast Cars and Mysteries of our Galaxy
23 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible to make a car go 1000mph? Should we believe our cars or our Sat-Navs when calculating our speed? Why can we sometimes see both the Sun ...
Dark Clouds and Sunlight on Your Skin
17 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why are some clouds dark? Why don't bees stick to their own honey? Why is UV light good for skin conditions, when we know it damages the skin? All t...
Gluey Geckos and Snow in Space
09 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why are Geckos feet so sticky? Can it snow on mars? Is it possible for someone to spontaneously combust? We answer these questions this week on Ask th...
The Science of Fusion and Nuclear Power
02 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
What is fusion? Can we achieve cold fusion? How useful is nuclear power and is it safe? We look into these questions on this week's Ask the Naked Scie...
The Science of Flight and the Colours of the Universe
25 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
What colour will the end of the universe be? How can the moon look orange? Why can't we fly individually with jetpacks? We answer these questions on t...
Red Tongues, Intestinal Bacteria and Gut-busting Stress
18 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Red tongues, intestinal bacteria, appliances on standby and gut-busting stress levels all go under the microscope for Dr Chris's examination in this w...
The Large Hadron Collider and Future Energy Sources
10 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
What is the Large Hadron Collider? How can a particle accelerator simulate the big bang? What are our options for energy in the future? Dr Dave tackle...
Freezing Time and The Expanding Universe
04 Sep 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Could you stop yourself ageing by travelling at the speed of light? Why aren't we full of someone else's DNA after a blood transfusion? How do trees d...
Flames, Fireworks and Flies!
28 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
What is a flame? How do fireworks control their explosions? Why is it impossible to swat flies? Dr Chris tackles these question in this week's Ask the...
Losing your Senses and Shadows in the Sky
21 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How do planes make shadows on the clouds? Can mosquitoes transmit HIV? Which sense do we lose last under anaesthetic? Drs Chris and Dave have the answ...
Weighing the Earth and Discussing Diabetes
15 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How do we weigh the Earth, what's the basis of diabetes, does dandruff really trigger rain and clone alone - who would you make a copy of given the ch...
Lightning, Poisonous Plants and White Holes
07 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
When is wood not safe to burn? What makes poisonous plants dangerous? Could you get a satellite to orbit the moon? This week on Ask The Naked Scientis...
Nut Allergy Myths and Dogs with Hayfever
31 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Is it dangerous to feed nuts to babies? Can dogs get hayfever? Where does the static on your radio come from? All these and more are answered this wee...
The Science of Brain Freeze and Magic of Mobiles!
24 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why does our head hurt when we eat too much ice cream? How is it possible to communicate with people on the other side of the world without any wires?...
Forgetting Memories and Burning Rubber!
17 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Do the cells controlling our memory renew themselves? Where does the rubber go when tyres wear down? What would happen if we grew plants in space? Why...
The Power of Piezo and Sounds in Space
10 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Could piezo electricity be used to supply power to the world's population? In space, can anyone hear you scream, or actually hear anything? How do do...
Starting the Sun and Rotting Remains
03 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How was the Sun created? How are dead bodies decomposed? Does hot water freeze faster than cold water? We answer these questions and more on this week...
Bouncing Bombs & Deadly Volcanoes!
26 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How can bombs bounce without going off? Could a volcanic eruption be deadly worldwide? What is St Elmo's Fire? Are computers worse for the environment...
Flying Loops and Fungal Tongues
19 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
How do planes fly upside down? How can tongues get fungal infections? Was there another civilisation before humans? Will we be able to predict the fut...
Splitting Atoms and Fires in Space
12 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can we cut through atoms with scissors? Is it possible to light a fire on the moon? How do gyroscopes work? We answer these questions this week on Ask...
Toning Up and Greenhouses on the Moon
05 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why can blood vessels burst when pumping iron? Is it possible to grow plants on the moon? Can our joints predict bad weather? And do batteries work in...
Future Power and Outer Space
29 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can we make our own fuel? Or provide our own power? Could there be smarter life than us in outer space? Could other planets have their own Northern Li...
Talking Monkeys and Forming Fossils
22 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can we engineer monkeys to talk? Why do parrots have the ability to say words? What happens underground to form a fossil? We tackle these questions th...
Floating Clouds and Shining Stars
15 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Why do clouds float in the sky? If Stars are so bright why is our sky dark at night? Does a ducks quack echo? We tackle these questions this week on A...
Sinking Sand and Sucking Wounds
08 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can we make a quick escape from quicksand? Is it really good for us to lick our wounds? Why do we have different accents? We tackle these questions on...
Drinking Rain and Evolving Apes
01 May 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can we drink rain water? Why do dogs prefer drinking out of the toilet? Why haven't all apes become humans? We tackle these questions this week on Ask...
The science of cancer and Teleportation.
24 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
What is cancer and how is it cured? Will humans ever be able to teleport? How are clouds made? We answer these questions this week on Ask the Naked Sc...
Digital Eyes and the Power of Chemicals.
17 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can a digital camera see as well as the human eye? Why do some chemicals stain more than others? Does our taste fade with age? We tackle these questio...
Custard Bombs and the Future of the Human Race
10 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Can custard cause catastrophic explosions? How will the human race evolve? Can we use water as a fuel? We tackle all these on this week's Ask the Nake...
Mysteries of our Universe and Overcoming our Fears!
03 Apr 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we look into the mystery of dark energy, reveal the cause of digital delay in radios and find out how to overcom...
Perfect Bubbles, Sniffing Danger and Super Animals.
28 Mar 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out the method for a perfect bubble bath, analyse across all species to find the ultimate fighting champ...
Sharing Hearts and the Science of Speed
21 Mar 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out the effects of high speed collisions, find out if our bodies are older than the universe itself and ...
The Science of Sat-Navs and Magic of microwaves!
14 Mar 2008
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists we investigate the science of sat-navs - how do they work? And how do they know where our speed cameras are? We...
Bursting Bubbles, Counting Calories and Falling to Earth!
07 Mar 2008
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists we find out how to live a healthy lifestyle. We count calories to see just how many we burn during exercise, we...
Frosty Roofs, Rocks from Space and UK Quakes
29 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Ask the Naked Scientists Dave sates your thirst for knowledge with a look at whether frozen water is safe to drink, divides fog from mi...
Breaking bones, Aching joints and the Placebo effect
22 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out how to break your bones for your own good, the truth behind the placebo effect and how your body kno...
DNA, Radio Waves and Watches
15 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out why a slipped disc can't slip out, why you forget your dreams and why digital radio is behind the ti...
Crashing satellites, Squeaking hearts and Glowing stars.
08 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out our years of sending things out into space will come back to haunt us, how some hearts produce a squ...
Tearful eyes, Musical minds and Glowing seas!
01 Feb 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out if it's possible to cry underwater, why ferocious winds can bring us to tears, how its possible to m...
Coloured Bruises, Colliding Bullets and Collapsing Bridges
25 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we find out why a beating turns us blue, what would happen in a fight between bullets and how hanging from the a...
Stings, Ripening and Asbestosis.
18 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks Ask the Naked Scientists we discuss why stinging nettles cause so much pain, why you should keep your bananas apart, and tell you about ...
Population, Fuel and Sonic Booms!
11 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we answer your questions on population, sonic booms and fuel. We'll be looking into the genes behind your eye co...
Diet, The Brain and Meteors
04 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Ask the Naked Scientists we answer your questions on diet, the brain and meteors. We'll be looking into what foods can help reduce your c...
Speed, Crashes and Oil Spills
02 Jan 2008
Contributed by Lukas
Chris, Dave and Sue Marchant tackle your questions on the speed of light, head on collisions, heartburn and much more... Like this podcast? Please hel...