Naked Scientists

Question of the Week

Science EN ↓ 150 episodes

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...

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Naked Scientists

Episodes

Can a "random" action ever be exactly replicated? 26.04.2024 4:32

This week's Question of the Week comes in from listener David, who asks:'On the show 'Tipping Point', Often at the end they play out the final three counters as 'What would have happened.' Would the result actually be what would have happened? Thanks to Tony Padilla for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What language do the profoundly deaf think in? 19.04.2024 3:59

Thanks to Bencie Woll and Victoria Mousley for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How far can electrons get away from their atom? 12.04.2024 3:50

Thanks to University of Cambridge's Ben Allanach for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Will eating sugary foods last avert glucose spikes? 05.04.2024 4:25

Steve has written in to us to ask whether the order in which one eats their food makes a difference to whether or not they experience glucose spikes. We thought this was an interesting question for Cambridge Professor Giles Yeo to sink his teeth into... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do babies have such a strong grip? 02.04.2024 4:07

Thanks to Andrew Bremner for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How did the ancient Romans multiply their numerals together? 22.03.2024 3:57

Thanks to Ems Lord for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do radiators have two sides? 15.03.2024 3:30

Thanks to Dr John Bissell for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do you ever run out of sperm? 08.03.2024 2:10

Thanks to Rod Mitchell for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Could I undergo a full body transplant? 01.03.2024 4:56

Will Tingle takes on this head scratcher from listener David with the help of Professor Adam Taylor of the University of Lancaster... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do volcanoes or farts contribute to climate change? 23.02.2024 4:52

Thanks to UCL's Mark Maslin for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Would wearing mirrors keep me cool? 16.02.2024 3:09

For this Question of the Week, Lotus wants to know whether wearing mirrors could help us keep cool in the sun. James Tytko took on the challenge of answering... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How has sex education evolved? 09.02.2024 3:03

Thanks to Michael Reiss for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How languages evolve 02.02.2024 3:29

Will Tingle took on this linguistic query from listener Satya with the help of David Crystal... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why might stollen go floppy in the toaster? 26.01.2024 4:12

Taking on this week's question, James Tytko kneaded help from baking expert Nicola Lamb... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why might cataract surgery affect biometric logins? 19.01.2024 3:37

Thanks to ARU's Nikita Thomas for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Who cooked the food in the Palaeolithic? 12.01.2024 3:04

Thanks to Dr Emma Pomeroy for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Could we turn space junk into a moonbase? 05.01.2024 3:12

Thanks to Dr David Whitehouse for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What if Santa didn't have magical reindeer? 22.12.2023 2:35

James Tytko took on this festive themed Question of the Week with the help of the University of Cambridge's Ems Lord... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Could you destroy Jupiter with enough nukes? 15.12.2023 3:36

Thanks to Matt Bothwell for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What is a black hole made up of? 08.12.2023 4:28

Thanks to Cambridge University's Ben Allanach for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does my nose run in cold weather? 01.12.2023 2:14

Charlene wrote in to ask, 'Why does my nose run in cold weather? What are the physiological benefits of this?' To answer it, Rhys James enlisted the help of consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon, Neil De Zoysa. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How healthy are seeds? 24.11.2023 3:55

James Tytko took on this question from listener Fraser with the help of nutritionist Sarah Berry... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why isn't it possible to go faster than light? 17.11.2023 3:55

Thanks to Tony Padilla for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What's the magnifying strength of my marble? 10.11.2023 4:21

James Tytko took on this question with the help of the University of Glasgow's Richard Bowman... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Could you deflect a laser around the Moon? 03.11.2023 4:35

Thanks to Professor Michalis Zervas and Professor Simon Hooker for the answers! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists