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...
Why don't you make best use of your energy reserves?
This week we find out why our bodies can't get their priorities right. We find out why we seek out food when we already have enough energy stored around our waists in the form of love handles and pot bellies. Plus we ask - will our skin soak up the…
Would you receive any warning before being squished by a meteoite?
If there were a large object, say a meteorite falling straight down where you are standing, what kind of warning would you notice? Would there be an accompanying sound? Or would you not know until it's too late? Plus we ask, can you catch cancer?…
How does a Headache Hurt?
This week I'll be getting inside your head.....with a question from Jarraryd Dunn. Plus we'll be asking is there any point in switching off your lights, TVs, and phone chargers during the winter?…
The Case of the Caramels
With New Year's Resolutions in full swing here's a sweet thermal caramel quandary for us to sink our teeth into…
Why don't umbilical cords become tangled?
Given that a foetus is essentially a swimming thing on the end of a piece of string, how is it that the two don't become tangled more often? Find out in this jelly-like QotW. Plus, we ask what would happen if two black holes met.
How can we avoid the effects of zero g?
Astronauts have to put up with living in zero gravity, so how might they go about avoiding its ill effects? Find out in this body-bending QotW. Plus, we ask if humans have whiskers.
Can we make power from poo?
Human excrement burns quite well, so why not use it to power a house? But how could this be done? Find out in this fragrant QotW. Plus, we ask why black holes don't explode.
Do pregnant women breathe more?
Does being pregnant mean you have to breathe for two? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if poo power really is possible.
Is modern medicine affecting the human gene pool?
If babies are born by caesarian and modern medicine allows many more people to survive to adulthood, will the human gene pool be affected? We explore this huge question in a very concise Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why it is that wine and cheese complement each other…
How does a calculator work?
Calculators are rather speedy at subtracting, sums and deriving standard deviations. But how do they do it? We find out how in QofW. Plus, we ask if modern medicine is affecting the human gene pool.
Why do we get circles around or eyes? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.04.11
Eye circles plague many of us at one time or another. Some of us have them all our lives! But what causes them? We have the answers... or a few of them. Plus, we ask if giraffes find it tricky to vomit…
What's the most efficient way to heat water? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.04.04
How did you go about heating the water for this morning's shower? Did you leave the boiler on all night or just heat what you needed? Find out which is the most energy efficient in this Question of the Week! Plus, we ask why people get dark circles around their…
Where on Earth is gravity the strongest? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.28
Where do you have to go on the Earth to find the strongest pull of gravity? And where might one go to find the weakest? Plus, we ask which is the most efficient method of heating water: keeping a tank-full warm or just heating what you need.
How do you calculate the distance to a star? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.21
In the absence of a giant ruler, how does one go about measuring how far the Earth is from a star? Simon Singh explains in this QotW. Plus, we ask where in the world gravity feels strongest.
Why don't potato peelers need sharpening? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.14
Potato peelers are the staple of the kitchen drawer, but why don't they ever seem to need a good honing as ordinary knives do? We have the answer(s). Plus, we ask how the distance to a star is calculated.
How do painkillers target pain? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.07
This week, how do painkillers locate the bits that hurt? Do they have an inflammatory sat-nav or do they just numb your entire body? Plus, we ask why potato peelers never need sharpening.
What are cramps and how does one avoid them? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.28
This week, we discover the reasons for those aches and pains known as cramps. What causes them and how can they be prevented?
How fast does a car have to go to lift you off the ground? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.21
If you're hanging onto the back of a car, how fast would it have to go before you were lifted off the ground? Plus, we ask about muscle cramp and how to avoid it!
Do we walk in circles if we can't see? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.14
Is it possible to walk in a straight line if one is blind or blindfolded? Are blind people better at it? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how fast a car would have to travel in order to lift an outdoor passenger from the…
Is an e-card more environmentally-friendly? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.07
Which is better for the environment: an e-card or a traditional paper card? We have the answer for you in this (not terribly romantic) Question of the Week! Plus, we ask if people still walk in straight lines when they can't see where they're going…