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...
Do Animals have Blood Groups? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.06
Why do we have different blood groups, such as A, B, O and rhesus positive or negative? Do animals have blood groups? If so, are they the same as humans, or do they have their own? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why songs…
Elderly Eyebrows - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.29
Why do eyebrows and other bodily hair grow out of control as we get older? We find out why we develop a post-retirement facial forest in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why humans have blood types, and if any animals share this blood system with us…
How do Smells Travel Underwater? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.22
Sharks seem to smell blood underwater from miles away in mere seconds - but how fast do smells really travel underwater? We find out in this Question of the Week, and ask why eyebrow hair gets out of control as we age…
Glow in the Dark Danger - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.15
Are Glow-in-the-Dark watches a radiation hazard? Should you store your best timepiece in a lead lined box? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how smells travel underwater, and how a shark can smell a drop of blood in an entire ocean…
Running out of Memory - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.08
Does our memory have a limited capacity? In this Question of the Week, we'll find out if learning something new pushes out old information and why your brain needs a regular workout. We'll also ask whether glow in the dark watches give off dangerous radiation and should be kept in…
Do We Drink Dinosaur Drinks? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.29
Do we drink the same water that dinosaurs drank? Has your water passed through the countless bladders of the past? In this Question of the Week, we find out if our drinking water has been repeatedly recycled. We also ask if the human brain has a limited capacity, and if…
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.21
How old is the oldest organism? In this Question of the Week we find out if any organism has found the secret of eternal life, and can truly live forever. Plus, we ask if all the water on Earth has been drunk before, and how much data can our brain…
Breathing Without Lungs? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.14
How does the Bornean Flat-Headed Frog breathe when it has no lungs? No, it's not a bad joke, it's our Question of the Week! We find out how this marvellous little frog survives, and ask if any animals live forever, and if the water we drink today was once drunk…
Remembering Your Dreams - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.07
Why are dreams so hard to remember? In this Question of the Week, we find out why your night time imagination slips away as you wake and is gone before your first coffee! Plus, we ask how certain frogs can breathe without lungs, and can anything truly live forever?
The Colourful Compounds of Copper - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.06.30
Why are copper compounds so colourful? In this week's Question of the Week we find out how one metal can have so many colourful compounds, as well as a distinctive green flame. Plus, we ask why dreams are so hard to remember, even the really good ones, and how can…
Lightning Defibrillator - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.06.23
Being struck by lightning can be a heart-stopping experience - but could a second strike re-start your heart? In this question of the week, we find out if a bolt could act as a defibrillator, and if your body could take it! Plus, we ask why copper comes in different…
Cutting Calories by Cooking - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.06.24
If you burn your Pizza to a crisp, are you're left with a low calorie (if not very tasty) meal? In this Question of the Week we find out whether cooking contributes calories to a dish, or turn your lunch into the slimmers option. Plus, we ask if a second…
Over-Salted Fish - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.06.09
Most fish live in either freshwater or saltwater, but some live in both. In this Question of the Week we find out how these fish manage to avoid becoming too salty or too watery. Also, we ask if you burn your food, do the calories go up in smoke, and…
The Science of the Didgeridoo - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.06.02
How do you make a didgeridoo do what it does do? For this week's QotW, we find out how the length and shape of the instrument and the skill of the player affects the sound of a didgeridoo. Plus, we ask how fish can cope with both fresh and salt…
How Would ET Phone Home? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.05.26
If we ever do find alien life around other stars, just how would E.T. phone home? We find out what technology we would need to communicate with our nearest stars, and the practical limitations. Plus, we seek the secrets of the didgeridoo, and ask if salt water fish have more…
Did Dinos Die Young? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.05.19
How long was a big dino's lifespan? On this week's Question of the Week, we find out how many candles a dinosaur birthday cake would have, and how we can tell from only fossilised remains. Also, we ask, what technology will we need to communicate with nearby stars (assuming we…
Earplugs Make Sounds Louder? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.05.12
Wearing earplugs may help to cut out external noises, but why does it make it impossible to eat crunchy crisps? In this Question of the Week, we find out why earbud headphones make internal noises so loud, and ask how long did a dinosaur live, and what technology will we…
Olympic Flame in Flight - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.05.05
What keeps the Olympic torch alight, in flight? To keep the Olympic spirit burning, it must need to travel on aeroplanes, but how do you keep a naked flame burning, while keeping other passengers safe? We find out from one of the designers of the Sydney Olympic Torch. Plus, we…
Running out of Oil - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.04.29
When will we run out of oil? In the 1970s, it was predicted that oil wells would run dry by the year 2000, but new reserves were discovered. So in this week's Question we find out how long we have left, and if rising oil prices will make difficult reserves…
Lightning on TV - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.04.21
Should you turn off the TV in a thunderstorm? In this electrifying Question of the Week we find out if an attached aerial attracts lightning, or if it's safe to ride out the storm in front of your set. Plus, we ask if we might find new reserves of oil,…