Question of the Week
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...
Are fingerprints unique?
This week, Tom Crawford put Helen's question under the magnifying glass to try and find out whether fingerprints really are unique and if so, whether the same applies to toeprints? We put this to Forensic Scientist, Professor Niamh Nic Daeid form Dundee University…
Why does the immune system not attack foetuses?
This week we've been sequencing Lorianna's question: if babies have different genetic sequences from their mother, and are technically foreign objects in the womb, why doesn't the mother's immune system attack? Ziyad Yehia asked Dr Lucy Fairclough, an immunologist from Nottingham University to find out…
Can I land on gassy planets like Jupiter?
This week we tackle Allana's question: If we were to travel to gas giant Jupiter, would we sink to the core? Or float straight on through? Heather Douglas put this to Dr Marc Rayman from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to see if he could clear the air…
How do black boxes work?
How do black boxes work? When a plane crashes, there's always a huge search for the elusive 'black box' to solve the mystery. But what is this, and how does it work? Heather Douglas put this to David Barry, senior lecturer in aviation safety, from Cranfield University
How are robotic voices generated?
We put this question to Dr Pierre Lanchantin from the University of Cambridge…
Why are ripe pears juicer?
Unripe pears are dry, yet ripe pears are juicy so how do they become moist? Philip Garsed put Dennis' question to plant scientist Sonia Dunbar, from Cambridge University…
Can cheese give you nightmares?
Chris wanted to know if it's true what your mum always told you. Does cheese really give you nightmares? Danielle Blackwell spoke to Max Sanderson, a neuroscientist to find out more…
Eels: A source of electricity?
Bonga tweeted us asking if we could ever use eels as a source as electricity? Would it be efficient? And how would it compare to other energy sources? Khalil Thirlaway caught up with Dr David LaVan from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to find out…
What parasites can I catch from my pets?
From worms to fleas and even microscopic single celled organisms, our pets can transfer a world of parasites to us if we are not careful. Prof Susan Little, a Veternary Parasitologist tells us what parasites we might catch and how we might prevent them.
Why do I urinate more in the cold?
Have you ever noticed that you urinate more frequently in cold weather? Why does this happen?
Are smartphones changing our brains?
It's said that taxi drivers' brains have increased growth in certain areas from navigating around cities. Is increasing smartphone use having a similar effect on other parts of our brains?
Does same-sex attraction happen in animals too?
Is homosexual behaviour seen in other species? What do they do? Why? Find out in this week's Question of the Week…
Why does petrol create a rainbow on water?
We find out why petrol creates a rainbow effect when in contact with water, and how the behaviour of light can create all these colours.
Can we vacuum up the plastics in our oceans?
Could we clean up our oceans of plastics by fitting vacuum cleaners to ships to suck them up?
Is it tiring to dream you're awake?
Different waking dream states can affect whether you feel resfreshed or not after a nights sleep.
Do we really need vitamins?
We chew over some important questions relating to vitamins, including what are they? Do we really need them? Can our bodies store them? And what would happen if we didn't consume any?
What causes the Earths plates to move?
Where does the energy in the movement of tectonic plates come from? Apparently the reason is analogous to how your porridge gets heated up in the morning. We find out why!
Can you catch a yawn from a cat?
Why do we yawn? Is it because we're short on air? Matthew Boniface wanted to know this and whether he could catch a yawn from his cat. We spoke to Dr Hugh Matthews from Cambridge University to find out what makes them so contagious…
Will flights ever get faster?
14 hour flights sound like your idea of hell? Paul Jenn wrote in asking whether it was possible to speed up plane journeys, so we went to Neil Scott, head of engineering at Airbus, to find out.
What would happen if you were swallowed by a whale?
If you were swallowed by a whale, could you swim out and up through the oesophagus or would you be digested by the stomach acid? Plus, we ask about the future of flight: Are we going to be forever stuck in this air speed? What are the constraints of aerodynamics?…