Naked Scientists

Coming up, a world-first gene cancer database is launched. How might it help us gain a better understanding of how disease develops? Plus, the link between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory infections, Austria's back-scratching cow, and SpaceX carries out its latest launch of Starlink satellites... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Titans of Science is back with John Zarnecki, a towering figure in the UK's space community. He has played a crucial role in designing instruments for groundbreaking space missions, and has also helped shape Europe's planetary science programme. In this episode, John shares compelling stories from his career with Chris Smith - including the significance of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Titan, the...

Why does a glass of water help settle a sore throat? What are the best ways to help heal a slipped disc? Which part of the brain helps us make decisions? What causes stuttering in speech? If a fly is travelling in a fast car, is it travelling at the same speed as the car? And at what age is our brain fully developed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please he...

Why does a glass of water help settle a sore throat? What are the best ways to help heal a slipped disk? Which part of the brain helps us make decisions? What causes stuttering in speech? If a fly is travelling in a fast car, is it travelling at the same speed as the car? And at what age is our brain fully developed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please he...

Why does a glass of water help settle a sore throat? What are the best ways to help heal a slipped disk? Which part of the brain helps us make decisions? What causes stuttering in speech? If a fly is travelling in a fast car, is it travelling at the same speed as the car? And at what age is our brain fully developed? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please he...

This week, a blood finger-prick test has been developed to detect Alzheimer's disease before symptoms arise. But how accurate is it? Plus, tracking space debris reentry from their sonic booms with earthquake-detecting seismometers, what happens in our noses when we are infected by the common cold, and the plants that use heat to get pollinated by beetles... Like this podcast? Please help us by sup...

Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by member of the first crew to fix a satellite in orbit, Terry Hart. He discusses this month's Challenger 40th anniversary, and the spy satellite NASA used to check for Shuttle damage. The team also talk space emergencies with the UK Space Agency's senior exploration manager Meganne Christian, and space journalists Ken Kremer and Andrew Cook look ahead...

Why does knocking your elbow unleash a distinctive "funny bone" jolt? Are we born with a sense of thirst? What are we seeing when we see things glow under ultraviolet? Why do our minds cling tightly to bad experiences? How do phones see the Northern Lights, even when we cannot? And do the planets in our solar system all move in the same direction? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers....

Should we pull the plug on AI? Is talent inherited? Do other mammals have prostate glands? How closely have we studied the bones of fish? If nothing sticks to Teflon, then how does it stick to the pan? Do flames cast a shadow? Can some animals see colours better than humans do? Why are our brains more efficient than AI? And why do mosquitoes buzz on arrival if they don't want to be heard? Chris Sm...

Does a USB stick, or a mobile phone, weigh more once it's filled with data? What's the placebo effect, and how does it work? How does the human papilloma virus (HPV) cause disease, and how can the HPV vaccine and male circumcision protect you from cervical cancer and HIV? Does Cape Town face two oceans? Can Brazil nut proteins be present in semen and trigger subsequent anaphylaxis in a sexual part...

Today, Chris Smith tackles a whole host of health-related questions. We explore the impact of a meat-based diet, whether it's a good idea to drink fizzy pop after vigorous exercise, why we weigh less in the morning, if it's ever advisable to spend too much time talking to chatbots, and whether working from home weakens our immune systems... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked...

This week, Chris Smith and Clarence Ford tackle the big science questions of the week, including how to perform a circumcision safely; can our eyes pop out when we sneeze; how do general anaesthetics work and do we understand consciousness; is violence inherent to society; do antibiotics kill probiotics; and what would happen to us if the world suddenly stopped spinning?! Like this podcast? Please...

It's the bumper end of year edition featuring the first European Commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Frank De Winne. He joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to chat about his two missions, and the future of space exploration. We also meet Mark Craig, the director of the new Apollo 1 movie, visit a Moon museum in Pittsburgh and get emotional in a Wally Funk themed exhibition. All...

This month, compelling evidence for why some species keep their eyes closed for sometimes several weeks after birth, scientists prove that the "nocebo" effect is more potent than a placebo, researchers report what happens when fish eggs and mouse sperm mix, the signals that cells use to measure the lengths of their telomeres, and some clever physics reveals the workings of Darwin's "warm little po...

Why do dogs make a beeline for underwear and smelly socks? Also, do we really get taller at night, why do some colours reflect and others absorb light, does our skin get thinner as we age, and what's the basis of lisps and accents? Dr Chris Smith and Amy Maciver have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are any people particularly susceptible to alopecia-linked hair loss? Also, what causes eczema and why does it keep recurring, why are the progeny of different species infertile, why does hair go grey but not always symmetrically, and Is asthma a risk factor for bronchitis? Plus, are zebras actually black with white stripes, or white with black stripes?! Join Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford to As...

In Ask! the Naked Scientists, Dr Chris Smith answers listeners' medical questions. This time, what causes a black eye? How can we alleviate the pain from a trapped nerve? How can you best stop severe bleeding? Why is sickle cell anaemia more common in Africa? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is an elephant really a close relative of a hyrax? What are blood groups? Is there really such a thing as a selfish gene? How did males and females evolve? What makes us feel sleepy? And how can chickenpox be lethal? Join Dr Chris and Clarence Ford as we ask the Naked Scientist! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham get up-close with a Moon lander taking shape at Astrobotic in Pittsburgh. The first woman to pilot and command the Space Shuttle, Eileen Collins, discusses a new film about her life: Space Woman. Plus, two new space quilts, complete with UFOs, at the Royal Astronomical Society... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are some people missing arm muscles? Are there other muscles that we're losing? Can bats and moles actually see? Can the side effects of prostate surgery be reversed? Is there a cure for Dupuytren's contracture? Do we know what long COVID is? What are bluebottle jellies? Can we protect our food from microplastics? Should you get a rabies check after every dog bite? Dr Chris Smith and Saskia Falken...

John writes in wondering whether the 10,000 steps rule applies eqully to everyone, given the range of body types and fitness among the population. James Tytko wondered where the 10,000 number came from in the first place, and sought an answer to John's question with the help of Dr Raj Amarnani, Consultant in Sport, Exercise and Muscoskeletel Medicine... Like this podcast? Please help us by support...

What happens to helium balloons that float away? Are satellites safe from terrorist attacks? Why does the truth hurt? Why does some poo float after flushing? Are there any treatments for tinnitus? Do headphones contribute to tinnitus? What are restless legs? What is the best way to regulate cortisol levels? Why does the body wake us up to wee? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers....

This time on Question of the Week, James Tytko is being given a mental work-out thanks to this listener question on muscle fatigue. We learn about the biological reactions which govern intense exercise from Andy Jones, Professor of Applied Physiology at the University of Exeter... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does La Nina cause more rainfall in South Africa? How can we keep our skin moist without buying products? Is it possible to be averse to iron in your diet? What causes hot flushes during the menopause? What could cause a potential iron taste in my mouth? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener Krzysztof has written in to ask how skin is protected from potentially harmful UV radiation by sun cream products. To help him with the answer, James Tytko put in a call to Antony Young, Emeritus Professor of Experimental Photobiology at King's College London... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists