Ask the Naked Scientists ENHANCED PODCAST: Recent Episodes
Dr Chris Smith, Dave Ansell
Why can't I eat fruit? How well do polar bears smell, and how do we know? How does marijuana affect your brain? How does pepper spray work?
How did speech evolve, why do you need bacteria and fish food for aquaponic systems, do growth factors in anti-ageing creams really work, what treatments are there for allergies and how do UV lights vaporise fat in commercial kitchens? Plus, delving into the secrets of sleeping sickness.
Could the universe be more than a coincidence, what's causing a burning skin sensation, does milk cause breast cancer, are statins effective for high cholesterol, what impact would a nuclear war have and what risk does Donald Trump pose to climate change? Plus, the science behind the supermoon.
Is the Earth flat, do microwaves kill nutrients, why do eggs have whites and yolks, what advancements are there in the treatment of tinnitus and what happens if you fire a gun on the Moon's surface? And also a new vaccine which controls HIV in monkeys.
Why do other people's fart smell worse than your own, why do storms turn swimming pools green, how do we stop HIV spreading, what's the difference between antibiotics and probiotics, why does it feel like you're moving slowly when you're inside an aeroplane and why does the smell of shower gel wear off? Plus, the people turning plants into chemical sensors.
How can I find out about my biological age, how can you stop a panic attack, how can you treat Polymyalgia Rheumatica, are detoxing products just a marketing gag, can learned behaviours be passed on genetically, what would cause my brain to forget which way around to put on my shoes, how long after boiling is water still save to drink?
Are there increases in miscarriage rates, why are rats used in experiments, could we use developments in cartilage growth to treat scaphoid wrist fractures, is it safe to do strenuous exercise as you get older, where do children get their intelligence and what causes your stomach to flip when you go on a rollercoaster? Plus, scientists using nose cells grow new knee cartilage.
Why does the BCG vaccine cause swelling, where does moisturiser go when you put it on your face, what are the side effects of sickle-cell anaemia medication and is it true that we only use a small proportion of our brain? Plus, a gene editing technique that could provide a treatment to sickle-cell anaemia.
Is autophagy linked to autoimmune diseases, what could cause unilateral spinal dysfunction, what is adrenal fatigue and how do we see distant stars? Plus, the low down on the Nobel prizes in medicine, physics and chemistry.
How do we get bright images of planets, why do distant lights appear to blink, how does radiation escape black holes, what could cause a loss of smell and why does our stomach grumble when it's hungry? Plus, news of the Rosetta Mission's final hours.
Could planet Earth be a living creature, how do they name medicines, what's the difference between a heart attack and a cardiomyopathy, how do HIV protective drugs work and how were the Egyptian pyramids built? Plus, news of a new gene that could screen for heart disease.
Why are men hairier than women, how can a cockroach survive a microwave, why is our poo brown when we eat colourful food, why is the reflection on a spoon upside down, why do we close our eyes when we sneeze, do we produce saliva at night, can you make yourself taller and is there a treatment for CIAP. Plus, the monkeys that have been writing Shakespeare to treat paralysis.
How do birds sit on electric wires without getting hurt, why does hot weather cause nose bleeds, how do probiotics treat vaginal thrush, is there a cure for retinitis pigmentosa, are the any solutions to the problems caused by human activity and what can you do to lessen your asthma? Plus, Australian scientists have discovered evidence of the first life on earth.
If the ice caps are made of freshwater, how did they form from a salt water ocean? How do baby lobsters eat jellyfish without getting stung? Why doesn't vodka freeze? Does putting a spoon into the neck of a champagne bottle stop it from going flat? What causes your eye to twitch? How do we know that the Earth isn't flat? What is the role of the placenta in pregnancy?
Why do we catch colds on holiday? If a fly takes off inside a car, why doesn't it get flung to the back? What are the latest treatments for macular degeneration? Is kidney infection linked to depression? Why am I choking on my saliva? Why do wheels sometimes appear to turn backwards? ... and what is it really like on Mars?
Why did the Olympic swimming pool turn green? Is it normal to get hiccoughs after eating spicy food? How accurate is carbon dating, and are there different types? Why do flying ants appear after the rain?...And what is the sun, really?
Why do I feel an electric current if I touch the wall when I'm lying on my electric blanket, is it possible to absorb vitamin D through glass, what happens to microbeads from cosmetics, how does a tornado form, with the advancement of artificial intelligence how do we know that radio presenters aren't just robots, can you use electricity to generate more electricity and what medication could be used to eradicate Staphylococcus aureus? Plus, how tomatoes hold the key to fend off plant parasites.
Why do dogs have wet noses, when a fly hits a train does the train slow down, why do our ears keep growing as we age, why don't animals die when they eat other animals which are poisonous, can Metformin be used to slow ageing and can stem cells be used to reverse type one diabetes. Plus, a data storage solution that works at the scale of single atoms.
How does wireless charging work, why do people have different coloured eyes, is drinking water from plastic bottles bad for your health, is there any truth in palm reading, what's the reason for different hair types and is the artificial sweetner Aspartame really bad for you?
How old is the universe? What is the big bang? How did the universe begin? What happens when you power nap? What is the science behind black holes? What is the difference between a black hole and a wormhole? Plus, news on the Juno mission to Jupiter...
Can the vaccines that protect mice against the Zika raise the hope of a human vaccine? What are the symptoms for a disease known as lichen planus? What are genetically modified (GM) crops? Are GM crops bad for us? How can you make a genetically engineered plant? How can we improve the efficiency of the solar panels? Is aging an illness? Can we cure aging?
Can we come up with a new way of managing mosquito infections? Can a cure for Zika virus lie in an inflammatory cream? How does the bonding process between the parents and a newborn form? Does a baby recognize a mum's voice?
Why is water's molecular composition one oxygen and two hydrogens, could strong magnets on cars stop crashes, what is the VY Canis Majoris, can salt be used to cool drinks, what is sciatica and why does standing up make some people see stars?
How does light move without force, is there a connection between migraines and an electrical storm, what causes Parkinson's Disease, how do you treat Job syndrome, why would falling asleep cause leg contractions, what's the best way to boost your immune system, how does momentum affect impact in a crash, how bad is Uveitis and would it be hypothetically possible to observe the big bang? Plus, bone marrow transplants for multiple sclerosis treatment.
Do the chemicals in our food cause cancer, how do we vomit, how does the moon affect the tides, do tonsils extend vocal range, is cancer more common in certain races, how fast does electricity travel in water and could cancer be a catalyst for evolution? Plus, could we get a universal cancer vaccine?
Why do you get dark circles under your eyes, could animal blood be used for human transplants, could we dry out silica packets in the microwave, does ozone treatment work, what's the difference between a blood transfusion and a plasma transfusion, what are the new developments in cataract surgery, is there a general anaesthetic alternative in surgery and how do anti-inflammatories work. Plus, a new way of keeping time.
Is rewarming food dangerous, what does uranium look like and how do you find it, does olive oil become toxic when it's heated, how can you treat allergies, why don't aeroplane black boxes float, can laser technology be used for water purification, what causes inner ear infections, what's causing itching from exercise and should we be keeping cows near roads?
Can we 3D print teeth, how does air conditioning remove condensation from a car, how do helicopter blades carry a helicopter without breaking, why don't people wake themselves up from snoring, why do things knot themselves, how do anti-inflammatory's work and could we use a positively charged solution for fuel? Plus news from the Science on the Swan conference in Perth, Australia.
How do flu jabs really work? Should you refrain from sex before a sports competition? Why don't we sneeze when we're sleeping? Could we use stem cell therapy to cure autism? Is it better to drink beer made from natural products or fizzy drinks with sweeteners? What's crystalline folliculitis? Are all antibiotics variations of the same thing? How many blades do you need to get a clean shave?
Are waves slowed by kelp, is there a neural basis for societal differences, why is there more rain after a thunder storm, why do electric stoves keep cooking after they've been turned off, why does the sound of an aircraft change as it flies towards us, why do you shudder when you wee, what does lightning do to a tree when it hits it, how did we define a global time.
If I was on another planet would we see stars the same way? Why do we measure rain in ml? How do we get vitamin D from sunlight? How accurate are DNA tests? What is a lipoma? How long does it take to recover from malaria? Plus, is pollution harming unborn babies?
Do antioxidants prevent cancer, how does hypnosis work, how does exercise impact cancer, do girls whistle worse than boys, how does exercise affect weight from a recovery drink and are plastic cars less safe in a lightning storm? Plus, plastic eating bacteria.
Why do mosquitoes prefer me over my husband? How do they film fast moving golf balls? And if I received a kidney transplant, could I then donate my kidney to someone else when I die?
Why are there warm patches in the sea, why do we get butterflies in our stomachs, does skin absorb face cream and is a magnetic field energy? Plus in the news, immunotherapy for cancer treatment.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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...
How does sugar addiction happen? Where do deleted emails go? Plus, flowing water on Mars.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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 beneficial to take molasses if you are anaemic? What causes gravity? If evolution is true, why are we not still evolving?
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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
Will we ever be able to record dreams? Why did our brains grow over time? How much water do you need to boil an egg? How does seedless fruit reproduce? Can a damaged chromosome be repaired? Can we synthesise water? Does whiskey make soft drinks better for you? Plus, how cracking your knuckles works...
Do photons have mass? Can you control someones dreams? Can you get your kidney back after donating it to someone? What determines the colour of the sea? Plus, how the moon was formed...
What causes goosebumps? How close does lightning need to be to hurt you? Where is Voyager? What causes yawning? How do we perform automatic behaviour?
What causes thunder and lightning? Are some people resistant to HIV? Are vitamin supplements good for children? What does crystal meth do to your brain? Why do phones only give you nine minutes to snooze? Can you compress light?
How do satellites stay in orbit? Why do my fingernails grow at different speeds on each hand? What is the sun made of? Where did the liquid in my cans go? Why do some children turn mute after trauma? Plus, why people smell their fingers after shaking hands...
Is it safe to feed livestock to meat? What happens to the rubber that wears off from car tyres? Does water go down the drain in different directions? Can you rewind the radio? Why is the ocean salty? Can candles give you cancer? Plus, the ancient Homo jaw bone...
Why do I get a stitch when I exercise? What determines our body temperature? How quickly do fruit and vegetables lose nutrients after they are picked? Why do ropes get tangled up in knots? Can you get stuck together during sex? Plus, news of an edible gene therapy to control insect pests...