Naked Scientists Ask The Naked Scientists SA

Ask The Naked Scientists SA

Why scratch your head if you don't know the answer? What about the Earth made the dinosaurs so big? Why does the Universe spin? Is the Sun seem brighter in the morning than the evening? Are autistic people particularly at home with computers? Why do effervescent tablets fizz only in water? Why do Parkinson's patients sleepwalk without difficulty? Plus, news of a decoy molecule that can treat dwarfism and what earwax has revealed about blue whales...
Occasionally English United Kingdom Science
694 Episodes
500 – 520

Can a phone affect my fertility?

Can a mobile phone between the legs affect fertility? Why does wet cornflour stiffen when squeezed? Does light at night affect reproductive success of local animals? Can animals smell fear? And what actually is IQ? Plus, Dr Chris explores how animals are evolving in response to the influence of humans…
1 Mar 2014 21 min

Where does dust come from?

How does acid produce stem cells? Why do carpets creep across the floor? Where does dust come from? Why can't flying insects escape from the surfaces of swimming pools? Do women multitask better than men? What is andogenic alopecia? Do we sneeze when we are asleep? What's special about graphene?…
23 Feb 2014 20 min

What causes a blood red moon?

The cause of a blood red moon, is there an upper limits for temperature, where does the Sun's hydrogen come from, what does a blind person see in their mind's eye, and are e-cigarettes safer? Join Dr Chris Smith as he tackles the top questions sent in to Talk Radio…
23 Feb 2014 21 min

What accelerates light?

How does light accelerate in a less-dense medium? How do climbing plants twist around a stake? Did people share technology 5000 years ago? Why would stainless steel rust? And why does mango chutney make my underarms smell after I've eaten it?
3 Feb 2014 24 min

Would a swimmer hit by lightning be fried?

What's the difference between GM technology and cloning? If lightning hits a swimming pool, would a swimmer be fried? What happens when we get used to smells? Why does beetroot make urine red? Why do I stick out my tongue to concentrate? Where does the water in comets come from?…
31 Jan 2014 21 min

How do you size-up a CME?

How is the scale of coronal mass ejection (CME) measured? How does evolution work? Why is sole and palm skin a lighter colour? Why causes magnetic field flips? What are blood groups and do animals have their own blood groups? Join Dr Chris for this week's crop of questions from…
12 Jan 2014 15 min

Ask the Naked Scientists is BACK!

How trees tell the time, the germ potential of hot air driers in toilets, where fruit flies come from, does menstruation synchronise, why do mad people tend to run along roads, why is smoking addictive and why should a 7-year old have underarm odour? Join Dr Chris for the first…
6 Jan 2014 27 min

Do plants have sex?

Plant and tree gender, omega-3 fatty acids and cancer and the science of sous vide cooking…
5 Jan 2014 15 min

Why scratch your head if you don't know the answer? What about the Earth made the dinosaurs so big? Why does the Universe spin? Is the Sun seem brighter in the morning than the evening? Are autistic people particularly at home with computers? Why do effervescent tablets fizz only in…
11 Nov 2013 2 min

Why scratch your head if you don't know the answer? What about the Earth made the dinosaurs so big? Why does the Universe spin? Is the Sun seem brighter in the morning than the evening? Are autistic people particularly at home with computers? Why do effervescent tablets fizz only in…
3 Oct 2013 6 min

Why does the Universe Spin?

Why scratch your head if you don't know the answer? What about the Earth made the dinosaurs so big? …
20 Sep 2013 22 min

What Makes My Eyelid Twitch?

How is an electron microscope tip made to measure 1 atom thick? Why do I sound different on a recording? Why does light slow down in some media? Why is soft water slimy? How do ants home in on my handbag? What makes my eyelids twitch? Plus, how scientists are…
13 Sep 2013 24 min

Do Diamonds Melt?

How do robotic surgeons work? Do diamonds melt? What is heartburn? Can fish see colours, and what should anglers wear? What is brain plasticity? What would happen if an egg were dropped into boiling oil? What causes blushing? Why does holding the antenna of an AM radio improve reception?
8 Sep 2013 21 min

How does Digital Storage Work?

Is global warming a given? Can olive leaf extracts combat parasites? Is there a fake tanning pill? Why keep gas cylinders upright? How does digital storage work? Does reducing body temperture aid infections? How does the moon cycle affect human behaviour?
28 Jul 2013 23 min

Why is space dark?

Why is space dark; do bags of coins deter flies; why don't cats go grey; is GPS or an odometer more accurate; what was the effect of the Med drying up in the past; what does an ice-pack versus a hot-pack do for an injury; how might maternal diabetes affect…
21 Jul 2013 22 min

Why are mechanical hearts hard to make?

Why are we ticklish? What happens to blood when we die? Why are mechanical hearts hard to make? What's a burb? Can a mushroom crack tarmac? Why do helium balloons fly forwards in the car when I brake? Why does microwaved milk explode when I stir it?
14 Jul 2013 24 min
500 – 520