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...
Can you make a phone call from a black hole? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.02.15
Got an urgent call that needs to overcome virtually infinite gravity? This Question of the Week explores if mobile calls from black holes are possible. Plus, we ask if ploughing up the snow can worsen global warming.
Did the dinosaurs have the same seasons as we do? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.02.08
We discover whether life in the Cretaceous period was as seasonal as it is today. Did dinosaurs put up with leaves on the line too? Plus, we ask whether it's possible to make a call from a black hole.
Will the washing dry outside in the winter? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.02.01
We find out if evaporation works in cold weather too! Is it worth using the tumble dryer, after all? Plus, we ask if the seasons have always sat in the same part of the solar year…
Can a tanker pull birds off-course? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.01.25
We find out whether a giant hulk of steel can disrupt a bird's navigation system. Would a 350,000 ton tanker do the trick? Plus, we ask how cold it can be before hanging out the washing becomes pointless.
Do pets look like their owners? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.01.18
We find out if the old adage is true - do pets really look similar to their owners? Or is it just that we only tend to remember those that do look similar? Plus, we ask why pigeons like settling on oil tankers…
How do countries add up their CO2 emissions? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.01.11
In this environmentally-themed QotW we find out how nations across the globe add up their greenhouse gas contributions. Does everyone do CO2 accounts in the same way? Plus, we ask why it is that pets look like their owners.
Why can't dogs eat chocolate? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.12.21
We discover why delicious chocolate is deadly for dogs. Why should they be denied the pleasure? Plus, we ask how countries measure their carbon dioxide output accurately.
What would happen if you 'Tasered' an elephant? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.12.14
We find out what would happen if you tried to use a stun gun on an elephant. Would you live to tell the tale? Plus, we ask why dogs need to avoid chocolate…
How do you propagate seedless fruit? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.12.07
We find out how one makes more seedless grapes, bananas, oranges and watermelons when they don't have any seeds! Plus, we ask what would happen if you had the audacity to Taser(tm) an elephant…
How much radiation does an x-ray expose you to? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.11.30
This week's question is all about the cell-zapping power of radiation. Just how much does a standard medical scan expose you to? How does that compare to the levels radiation workers are limited to receiving? Plus, we ask how seedless fruits manage to reproduce.
Why serve white wine chilled? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.11.23
Why is it that we serve white wines and red wines at different temperatures? Does this really affect the bouquet? Plus, we ask how many x-rays are too many.
Do red skies at night mean shepherd's delight? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.11.16
We find out why it is we see red skies at all and the meteorology behind, Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning. Is it true? Plus, we ask why different wines are served at different temperatures.
How many offspring does a sperm donor create? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.11.09
We find out how many children a sperm donor will father. Is there a limit to the number? Plus, we ask whether red skies at night really do delight shepherds.
Why does holding the TV aerial improve the picture? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.11.02
Why is it that, when your mum asks you to move the TV aerial to a better position, the signal improves while you move it about and then degrades as soon as you let go? We find out what it is that makes the signal improve when you're holding a…
What are floaters? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.10.26
We find out what vitreous floaters are and how they can be removed. Will a coil of wire do the trick? Plus, we ask why holding a TV aerial can improve the picture.
Are Spiders Expert Architects? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.10.19
How do spiders make such perfect webs? Are they expert architects, mathematical geniuses or natural engineers? Plus, we ask what the floaters in our eyes are, and if we can pull them out of the way…
Is it dangerous to sit too close to the TV? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.10.12
We find out why we were told as kids not to sit too close to the television. Is there any scientific basis to the warning? Plus, we ask how it is that spiders manage to build such intricate and regular webs without geometry equipment.
How do sharks make blood? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.10.05
We find out how sharks, proud owners of cartilaginous skeletons, make red blood cells without the aid of bone marrow. Plus, we ask whether it's safe to get up close and personal with your television set.
Why do we have fingerprints? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.09.21
Just what is the point to all those ridges and furrows set into our fingers, toes, palms and soles? We do some detective work on the answer. Plus, we ask how sharks make blood when they have bones made from cartilage.
What dictates the frequency of the waves? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.09.14
We discover what it is that makes fewer or more waves crash against the shore each minute. Is it the tides, the sun or the number of surfers? Plus, we ask, why do we have finger prints?