Naked Scientists

Today, Rachael Ralph explores menopause and perimenopause. This episode features renowned gynecologist Heather Currie on what we know about this stage of life and who it affects; GP and broadcaster Nighat Arif on menopause-related problems and possible treatments; Uri Alon at the Weizmann Institute of Science on whether menopause involves a 'cliff-like' decline; and Lachlan MacBean at the Universi...

Who scooped Nobel Prizes at this year's ceremony in Stockholm? How concerned should we be about AI's impact on society? Why do men have larger Adam's apples? How can we make sure we eat a balanced diet? What causes floaters in your eyes? Is the expanding Universe contracting elsewhere? And is there a new fluoride-free toothpaste gel that rebuilds teeth? Dr Chris Smith and Saskia Falken have the an...

A 28-year-old Russian researcher has reportedly died after contracting pneumonic plague. What do we know about this medieval-era disease? Plus, we unpack the 2026 Nobel Prizes, the world's first self-setting nuclear clock begins ticking in Vienna, and why scientists are simulating microgravity on cells in a dish. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In this special episode, in partnership with Frontiers Science House, we launch our new Why? series by asking one of the biggest questions of our time: Why AI? Why has artificial intelligence advanced so rapidly, why does it work the way it does, and why could it fundamentally change how we think, work, and live? To explore the answers, we hear from four remarkable voices at the heart of the AI co...

New CRISPR technology tool uncovers genes that have become resistant to chemotherapy drugs. We speak with the scientist behind the cancer discovery. Plus, how butterflies use their wing patterns to confuse and evade predators; why Fiji has declared HIV a national emergency; and how SpaceX's Starship rocket launch is fuelling the race back to the Moon. Like this podcast? Please help us by supportin...

Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja explore why it's hard to reach a human in customer service. How did humans migrate from Africa, and can we trace our ancient paths? Why do people and animals have different neck sizes? Can you really hear your heartbeat when your head's on the pillow? Why is swimming in cold water easier than taking a cold shower? Why do your ears block when you yawn or blow y...

Today, in partnership with British Heart Foundation (BHF), we take on the world's biggest killer: heart disease. This episode features BHF's Ruth Goss on why this disease kills so many people; Will Watson at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge on what arterial disease looks like under a microscope; Cathy Shanahan at King's College London on attempts to stop blood vessels from becoming hard an...

Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford discuss the world's hottest creature, why antimatter matters, whether weight-loss pills can cause blindness, and why some birds die when they fly into power cables while others can perch on them with impunity. Then, what are the risks of AI, can curly hair straighten out as we age, and how does hair colour change as we grow up? Plus, whether insects are a good sour...

We're back! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been launched to investigate exoplanets and the 'dark forces' that make up the universe. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by Astropartigirl Dr Sophia Gad Nasr to give an insight into the new mission. They also speak to the UK's new space minister, Liz Lloyd, and Sue reports from Wally Funk's celebratory remembrance service in Dallas...

Coming up, scientists discover why the UK's recent men B outbreak was so severe. How did they do it? Also ahead: an international study suggests that bats originated in Europe 65 million years ago; how a tiny single-celled organism can survive at high temperatures; and the search for the resting place of Egypt's heretic queen, Nefertiti. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Sc...

Coming up, we forage for mushrooms to unearth fascinating alternative uses for fungi, from cleaning up pollution and making building materials to treating mental health. This episode, produced by Laura Verdina at Queens' College, Cambridge, features Laura and Nathan Smith at Grantchester Meadows; Joni Wildman from the University of Bath on mycelium-based materials; Magnus Ivarsson at MycoMine; and...

Coming up, we forage for mushrooms to unearth fascinating alternative uses for fungi, from cleaning up pollution and making building materials to treating mental health. This episode, produced by Laura Verdina at Queens' College, Cambridge, features Laura and Nathan Smith at Grantchester Meadows; Joni Wildman from the University of Bath on mycelium-based materials; Magnus Ivarsson at MycoMine; and...

Can sensors help keep our roads in good shape? If the Earth is round, why aren't the people at the bottom standing upside down? How efficient is the human body? Why can't periods be controlled like going to the bathroom? Do animals have periods too? Where did water come from in the first place, and why doesn't it go off? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have the answers. Like this podcast? Pl...

Coming up: lawmakers scramble to stop AI from being used to develop bioweapons. What has spooked the experts? Plus, we look at how childhood chemotherapy can leave genetic scars on organs, raising disease risk; why ultra-strong ice could soon be used as a construction material; and how researchers are tracking weather patterns on distant planets. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the...

Malaria kills around 600,000 people every year. Nearly three-quarters of those deaths are children under five. For decades, scientists pursued one goal: a vaccine that could prevent the disease. One scientist dedicated his career to this challenge. Sir Adrian Hill of the University of Oxford set out to develop a vaccine that could save lives where it was needed most... Like this podcast? Please he...

El Niño 2026 is predicted to be the strongest on record, and today we consider how the climate pattern can affect the weather, the economy, and our health. This episode features forecasting supremos Aidan McGivern and Peter Gibbs; leading economist Vicky Pryce on the impact on our wallets; and Rachel Tolhurst at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Teresa Zakaria at the WHO on public health....

Should we take AI warnings seriously? Do fingernails and hair grow more quickly after they are cut? How does caffeine trick the brain into making us feel less tired? Are high levels of low-density lipoprotein a concern? What is mirror life, and should we be worried? What's the attraction of an electric vehicle? Why is it so excruciating when someone scratches their nails down a chalkboard? Dr Chri...

Coming up, we hear from the scientists behind a world-first treatment to reshape the skull of a one-year-old boy. How did they do it? Also ahead, an Anthropic researcher warns that AI is advancing so quickly that it may, with a slight chance, "kill all humans" within the next decade; how narwhals are helping scientists collect data in Greenland's fjords; and a German startup launches the first com...

We've partnered with the Royal Institute of Navigation to explore driverless vehicles, also known as autonomous vehicles, or AVs. The Naked Scientists ride on a self-driving bus in Cambridge to see what makes them tick. We hear from 'driver' Nick Bailey, as well as Daniel Clarke from Greater Cambridge Partnership, Jamie Wilson from Alexander Dennis, Jim Hutchinson from Fusion Processing, Ramsey Fa...

In this special episode, created in partnership with the Royal Institute of Navigation, we hear from Alex Stewart. Alex is a founding engineer at Oxa, a leading autonomous vehicle (AV) technology company in Oxfordshire, England, and he has spent the past twenty years developing advanced autonomous systems. He recently told Chris Smith about Oxa's vision for transforming how goods move... Like this...

How might technology influence or manipulate the weather? Can aircraft affect the weather? Are we getting better at detecting cancer before it becomes problematic? How does perfect pitch work? And why does our hearing change with age? Does weight have any impact on tides? If medication can reduce HIV to an undetectable level, why is there still no cure? Dr Chris Smith and Saskia Falken have the an...

Coming up: El Niño weather phenomenon will be 'exceptional' and last months, say forecasters. What should we know about it? We also hear from the team behind a successful at-home bladder cancer test, learn about the science behind the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, and meet a Harvard researcher who has created an app to help visually impaired people get around. Like this podcast? Please help us by s...

Coming up: how chemistry is transforming 21st-century healthcare. Jeremy Nicholson from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology talks about phenomics. Gemma Sharp shares how the world's largest menstrual fluid biobank was created. David Nutt from Imperial College explains drug mechanisms, and Nobel Prize winner David Baker discusses the role of AI in treating diseases. Leilani Arrow-Smi...

Why might the shingles vaccine help prevent heart attacks? Does an eclipse affect how we sleep? Why do farts seem to stick around longer in the shower? How does toothpaste fight acidity? Can you train your brain to notice different frequencies? How does the Moon affect the tides? And why is it so much harder to stand on one foot with your eyes closed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answ...

Coming up, groundbreaking research suggests the shingles vaccine can greatly reduce the risk of heart attacks. What's the science behind it? Also ahead: the New Space Race between the US and China goes up a gear as Beijing unexpectedly delays the launch of its Chang'e 7 mission. Plus, the frozen 'poo pills' that scientists hope can help keep allergies at bay. Like this podcast? Please help us by s...