Ask the Naked Scientists

Could humans evolve to one sex, what is the difference between a hydrogen and an atomic bomb, can eczema be caused by a virus, what keeps the sun burning, are some people more prone to addiction than others, is it possible to have a stroke twice and can fingerprints ever be identicle? Plus in the news, 7 dogs born by IVF. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How does loneliness affect your health, why is it less windy in the morning, is giving blood good for you, are sugar calories different to other calories, what happens to a baby's waste in the womb, what happens when your skin burns, is it safe to use a repaired microwave, does decomposition produce worms and what are butterflies in you stomach. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the...

Why does Jacob Zuma giggle in parliament? Antimatter and Dark Matter; why snails like to eat cigarette filters; rusty water cisterns; why tupperware stays wet after dishwashing; cyanobacteria in water courses; and how gravity works. Plus, news of the antibiotic apolcalypse: evidence of human carriage with bacterial strains resistant to the antibiotic colistin secondary to farm use. Dr Chris joins...

Where does water come from, what would have happened if the dinosaurs hadn't been wiped out, does rheumatoid arthritis ever go away, do animals have blood groups, how to stop water from getting contaminated, can the ozone regenerate and why do mosquitos like humans? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What is the universe made of? Can neutrinos really travel faster than the speed of light? Will robots ever take over the world? How does wind form? What would happen if you expose yourself to outer space? Can you tickle yourself? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What happens to the rubber that comes off tyres, what causes stuttering, how do living things produce oil, why do you develop allergies in adulthood, how can one blood clot in the brain cause so much damage, are memories only stored in the brain and does taste develop in the womb? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What was before the big bang? Does turning off your heating intermittently actually save energy? Can you prove or disprove free will? Why are flies attracted to bad smells? What is the point of going to Mars? Why do I get a shock from my blanket? Why do we see the same stars at night? Plus, growing a human kidney... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How does sugar addiction happen? Where do deleted emails go? Plus, flowing water on Mars. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do wires tangle? Is borehole water drinkable? Does sea water evaporate? Why are there no more intelligent hominids except humans? How are mountains formed? What makes up non-stick linings on frying pan and are they safe? Plus, the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What causes sleep paralysis? Is urine beneficial to drink? Can we clone from fossils? How can galactic collisions occur? What is the difference between Bipolar and PTSD? Can carnivores eat other carnivores? Plus the first ever in vitro sperm genesis. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How old are the Homo naledi remains? How do nails end up in tyres to cause punctures? How did the H. naledi people see in the dark cave where the remains were found? Can vitiligo be reversed? Why were the H. naledi remains deposited in the Rising Star Cave? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Does the intensity of the sun influence water evaporation, what reasons could there be for a sudden drop in heart rate, how do fixed drug erruptions work, if you stop water from expanding will it still freeze, by keeping sick people alive are we getting weaker as a species, does a full moon energise water, as a species do we have physical limits, how does a headless chicken run and how does a grea...

Is DNA set to replace the harddrive? Chris told us about a story where DNA could be used to store digital information and preserve essential knowledge for thousands of years. We then opened the lines and invited listeners to call in with their science related questions. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientist told us about a possible universal flu vaccine that is being researched. We then opened the lines to listeners to call in with their science related questions. What happens to a full container of water when you freeze it? Why does it seem to get colder at day break? Do our bodies use 70% of the energy we consume even when we are not active? Should I eat for my blood type? How d...

How do humans generate body heat, how does rice fix a waterlogged phone, how does a thermos flask store hot water without expanding from the steam, why don't airplanes gain height when flying strait, why do people lose consciousness if the cabin pressure is lost on a flight, does a slipstream ever help the lead cyclist, why don't people bleed out if their leg is amputated and what causes corrugati...

Why do we get nosebleeds? Can you use a sonic boom as a weapon? Is it healthy to sleep under a blanket? What will happen when the sun dies? Why does staring at light help you sneeze? Can a loss of memory cause hearing problems? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are intelligent people more prone to depression? Will we ever exceed the speed of light? What can survive inside a human stomach? Can rhymes help you to learn new things? How is the brightness of a light measured? How do bikes steer? Are balding men more prone to prostate cancer? Plus, eye drops that can treat cataracts. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does the placebo effect work? Why do we get goosebumps? Why does scratching relieve itches? How can you fix bad breath? Why is it hard to wee if someone else is there? How long does food stay in the stomach? Plus, why screams are scary. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do tall people swim faster? Why is Cholera so difficult to kill and get rid of? If there's so much cell regeneration in our bodies, why do we get old and die? Does food affect your mood? Plus, new research into medical marijuana. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are polarised or non-polarised sunglasses better for your eyes? How high can a fly fly? Can botox make my face more symmetrical? Why aren't we equally hairy across our whole body? Are you more likely to get ill in cold weather? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What is the Earth made from? Has the Voyager 1 spacecraft reached the edge of our solar sytem? Why do you lose your appetite when you feel unwell? How does lemon juice affect urine? Does the day on which you are born make a difference? How do we communicate in space? What are the origins of sceintific morality? How does castor oil affect your digestive system? Plus, the mass of the smallest exopla...

Does Botox harm your face? Why is the speed of aircraft limted? Does the cause of death determine the rate of decomposition of the body? Do only green plants produce chlorophyll? Can we create false gravity in space using centrifugal force? What happens to ashes when they are buried? Do children inherit palm prints from only one parent? Plus, 75 million year-old dinosaur cells... Like this podcast...

What happens when you swallow gum? Can we use animal blood for donation? Is there intelligent life out there? Can you eat glass safely? Would you decompose in space? Is there a link between blood groups and illnesses? Plus, your virus infection history. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

If it's only female mosquitoes that drink our blood, what do male mosquitoes feed on? How do we know how old human remains are? What is truth serum and how does it affect the brain? Should we keep onions in the fridge? And why do people have accents? Plus, the latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What would happen if I ate glass? Can you stop epileptic fits by removing a section of the brain? When we lose weight, where does the fat go? If we remove our thonsils, will this stop us snoring? Why don't babies come out the womb laughing, as opposed to crying? Plus, how a new drug that could cure obesity. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists