Ask the Naked Scientists

What will phenomics do for medicine? Is the limbic system in conflict with the brain's pre-frontal cortex? How does the brain actually work? And what is consciousness? Join Dr Chris and Talk Radio 702's Azana Mosaka to "Ask! The Naked Scientists" and answer your science questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What makes a brain creative? How do viruses, and the flu, evolve? When did ancient civilisations realise there were 365 days in a year? Has the LHC discovered new dimensions yet? Why does 2 degrees of global warming matter? Can memory be improved? Join Dr Chris and Cape Talk's Kieno Kammies as we Ask! The Naked Scientists! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week: plummeting bird populations; the global climate strike; whether blood-letting benefits high blood pressure; why vaseline won't melt in the microwave; how pilots land planes even though the Earth is spinning; how birds pattern their plumage; why your nose runs when you wake up; what causes morning breath, and why would a car use more fuel driving a journey on the outward leg compared with the return journey? Join Dr Chris and 567 Cape Talk's Kieno Kammies as we Ask! the Naked Scientists... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is flying a threat to glaucoma? Do blood groups affect diet? Is 5G harmful to my health? Why do cats have vertical pupils? What is candida infection and how can I treat it? Does speaking quickly actually communicate more information? Why am I addicted to eating toilet paper? Is the new 5G data network a health hazard? Join Dr Chris Smith and Talk Radio 702's Azania Mosaka as they strip down your science questions... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. What's the link between humidity and temperature? Is cooked meat or food healthier than the raw version? Why does the moon always have the same face pointing towards the Earth? Why do you feel like you're breathing in cold air after eating a menthol sweet? Why do we open our mouths when putting on makeup? Why are some people more susceptible to side effects of medication? Do wild animals snore? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How long does a body take to decompose? Why is spinach difficult to digest? How can you find natural water sources? Can stem cells repair retinitis pigmentosa? Does tolerance of temperatures change with race? Dr Chris answers the science questions you've always wondered about... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do you sometimes see a half moon at sunrise? Why do some body hairs never go grey? Could a coin falling from the top of the Empire State Building kill you? What is the Earth's murmur? Why do effects from nuclear disasters like Chernobyl persist for many years? Does the amount of UV from the sun vary between different countries? Why do beans and sprouts make you pass gas? If a volcanic eruption as big as Krakatoa happened today and filled the atmosphere with ash, how long would planes be unable to fly? Could a person survive in... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Can you use magnets as a source of electricity? Does chemotherapy make you lose hair from other parts of your body alongside your head? Can your brain adjust to seeing upside down by flipping your vision? Does leaving your car heater on in winter make you sick? Why does a microwave cook meat starting on the outside, but butter starting on the inside? Why does tinfoil not get hot in the microwave? Plus, the Australian National Phenome Centre - a project that could revolutionise healthcare... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do men go bald on the tops of their heads first? Do we really share 50% of our DNA with bananas? Why do birds swoop down in front of cars? Is there such a thing as tuberculosis of the spine? How is it you can tell people are looking at you out of the corner of your eye? Plus, the seagulls that are carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Do dogs recognise themselves in the mirror? Why is the sky blue? Why doesn't mitochondrial DNA recombine like other DNA, and does it run into problems with natural selection? Why did my tracksuit give me an electric shock? Would planting trees prevent climate change? Plus, Chris reflects on almost twelve years of questions on Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week, on its 50th Anniversary, Dr Chris reflects on the Apollo 11 Moon landings, explores the basis of Bell's Palsy, explains the origins of an itch, and asks if wheat is bad for you. We also discuss the microbiome and food intolerance, why burned food tastes great but could give you cancer, whether Tourette's would be a good excuse for being caught speeding, why radio signals are out of sync through different devices, and if the Moon is a piece of planet Earth. As always, if you want to know the scientific answer... Ask the Naked Scientists! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why might someone with diabetes lose a limb? How can you predict a dangerous solar flare? Are humans really related to Neanderthals? Do we love water because we evolved from the ocean? What percentage of our brains do we really use? What causes shingles, and what's the best way to treat it? Which parts of the brain are affected when you're stressed, and can cannabis help with stress relief? Plus, the 'smart' insulin that could mean the end of insulin pens... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions on Cape Talk. Do we need an appendix? How does the Sun burn when there's no oxygen in space? How much water is lost in tinned goods? How can damaged fingertips grow back? Does bloodtype indicate whether a tattoo will fade? Was Einstein's brain different from most? Can local honey cure hayfever? Which form of transport is best for the planet? Are the continents drifting? Plus, we successfully launched your screams into space! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do flies exist? Could sound propel a spaceship? Why do humans have receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol in their brains? How do cars calculate their fuel consumption? And is all life descended from bacteria? Plus, we report on the recent discovery of a plume of methane on Mars: what does this mean for the likelihood of finding life on the red planet? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do achilles tendons snap, and can they be strengthened? Are gingers disappearing? Why does crying make your voice shake? Why can't we accurately predict the weather? Do microwaves damage food? Why does my eyelid twitch sometimes? What is burn-out? Is it normal to feel groggy some days? How important are lymph nodes? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week we discuss the Naked Scientists experiment to test a scream in space, explain why some people sneeze so loudly, ask where standard weights and measures came from, hear why singing makes it easier to remember the words, and find out why the Chernoble power station exploded, why alcohol makes you drunk, and the basis of optimism... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Can contact eyes make your eyes better than perfect vision? How intense can deja-vu be? Why do we hum? Why are there more jetstreams in the Northern Hemisphere? Why doesn't armpit hair grow like head hair? Why are mushroom clouds mushrooms? Can you be allergic to electricity? And why does gravity attract mass? Plus, they say in space, no one can hear you scream, how true is that... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Join Africa Melane and Dr Chris for this week's round-up of science questions from the South African Cape, including why we can open the doors of a helicopter but not a passenger plane when it's flying, why water bubbles when it boils, what's the best position for sleeping, why fog rises from a lake surface on a cold day, and why boxers shouldn't blow their noses. Plus news of the world's first cannabis consumption... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from talk radio 702. Could gravity from my first-floor apartment impact my sleep patterm? Why do hearts beat faster when we're excited? What are the consequences of dental surgery? Is prejudice carried in DNA? How does a master-key work? Does exercise and breathing more oxygen increase the ageing process? Why do bright lights cause sneezes? Plus, the single use plastic that saved endangered snails in Bermuda. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

For CapeTalk this week, Dr Chris explains what causes stomach butterflies, whether honey is healthier than sugar, why fog lifts, how to keep your memory in tip top condition, how much the Earth weighs, whether fish need to drink water, why cannabis makes some people feel creative, and whether anti-ageing skin creams actually make you look younger... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from Talk Radio 702. Would a brain transplant keep someone's memories? Why do we blush? Is it bad to exercise when ill? How do you lose a sense of smell? Can it return? What is the difference between IQ and EQ? Why do we have three sets of DNA? With some questions from the BIO conference in Philadelphia. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith answers YOUR questions with Pippa Hudson.... Why does temperature change food flavour? Does the full moon impact the human body? Why do car wheels move in reverse in films? Were early humans vegetarians? Can you produce electricity in a vacuum? Does Vitamin-C cure a cold? Do 5G networks affect health? Plus, celebrating 100 years of Arthur Eddington and the eclipse that made Einstein's laws of gravity famous. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith answers the questions you've been sending in... Could we use charged liquid for electric cars? Why do beds feel cold and not room temperature? What causes climate change? How efficient are batteries? Why do we cough? Why do chillies give me hiccups? Plus, sea explorers find plastic in the most remote part of the ocean.  Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Africa Melanie from CapeTalk. Why can only some animals be domesticated? Why do cats purr? Can senses change after surgery? Why don't I have a runny nose during sleep? How old is moon dust? Why do scars last until old age? Plus scientists detect a black hole that's munching on a neutron star... For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to nakedscientists.com/podcasts.PLUS, you can follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook; @nakedscientists. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio. Is the Earth flat? Does cannabis have a healing effect? Can stem cells repair skin overgrowths? What causes cylones? Why can I hear sounds when my head is against a pillow? Why do stars look stationary from Earth? Can stem cells repair eye conditions? Plus the news story that kicked off all the stem cell questions; the new technique that repairs wounds faster. For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts.PLUS, you can follow the team on... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser... Why do my nails hurt after I remove nail polish? What does GI mean? Do black holes stop the universe expanding? How are flight routes planned? Will a comet crash into Earth? Why do I get electric shocks from my car? Plus, the first ever image of a black hole! For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts You can follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio 702. Can we use energy from nuclear fusion yet? Is the water in our atmosphere the same as in a river? Can computers develop consciousness? Why do some people think the Earth is flat? Why are clouds different colours? Why is a plane's black box indestructible? Why do hot baths make me dizzy? Plus scientists strap cameras on to Great White Sharks to keep them safe! Like what you hear? Why not support The Naked Scientists by leaving a review. For more chatty science head to... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith takes on YOUR questions in a bumper edition of Ask! The Naked Scientists. How long do dreams last? How did Einstein measure the speed of light? Could we live on Mars? What is sleep paralysis? Could an asteroid hit and travel underground? What is a sonic boom? Can you change your subconscious? Could a falling bullet injure you? How does carbon harm our environment? Could we have wireless electricity? Why did the continents break apart? Plus, how plants can still function with less water.For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts.... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from 702 Cape Talk. Why is the sun's halo hotter than its surface? Why do ice cubes crack when you add water? Why do men have nipples? How do noise-cancelling headphones work? Can you implant genes to become immune to HIV? Can batteries prevent power cuts in South Africa? Plus we say Hello Tomorrow! Chris explains the latest and greatest technology showcased at a recent conference in Paris. For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts.PLUS, you can follow the... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. What would happen if a horse with metal shoes on was struck by lightning? How was DNA code devised? Could electricity go wireless? How much calcium is in a cup of tea? Why can slime change colour with heat? Is second hand smoke from e-cigarettes harmful? Does NASA still have contact with Voyager? How can goats climb mountain sides? Plus, the new wireless technology allowing more cuddles for premature babies. For more podcasts by The Naked Scientists, head to nakedscientists.com/podcasts. PLUS, you can follow the team on Instagram,... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKaiser from Talk Radio 702. How are buildings demolished? How do you win the lottery? Do aliens exist? Is breast milk best? Does it rain more in rocky areas? Why did life evolve and replicate? Can transplants resolve genetic syndromes? Plus, scientists turn carbon dioxide into coal. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why are hail stones different sizes? Why do my palms get sweaty? Why do animals moult? What happens if you stop eating sugar? and more. Plus flicking the suicide switch on tuberculosis. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What's CERN all about? What is epigenetics, and how is it different to genetics? Why doesn't ice always freeze clear? How does carbon capture work? Why do my eyes go red when I'm drunk? Plus in the news, a new kind of painkiller. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

The Japanese mission to bring back a sample of an asteroid, are changes in Earth's magnetic field linked to climate change, what causes tip-of-the-tongue experiences when you cannot remember a word, why does the Moon look much larger on the horizon, how do farts form and can farts be harnessed to power things? And is a TV screen next to my bed bad for me? Will mobile phone use do me harm? Why flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day? Join Dr Chris for this week's crop of questions and answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Does marijuana help with cancer? How can one sibling be smart and another be stupid? Are we alone in the Universe? Can vitamin D kill cancer? Plus, male contraception. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do we get butterflies in our stomach? Why is singing in tune difficult? What does vitamin K do? Is aluminium foil safe? How do you measure metres above sea level? Can cold water make you wee more? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is the sky actually blue? Does petrol go off? What causes myeloma? Why are chicken eggs different colours? If salt melts ice, why are icebergs frozen? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does dog poo change colour? What happens to the brain when we're sleeping? Do animals also get jet lag? Is time travel possible? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do you measure time when traveling close to light speed? How do you predict the weather? Why don't zebras look dirty? How do they get the stripes into toothpaste? Why do wheels look like they spin backwards? Why can some people move their ears? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why don't birds get electrocuted on an electric fence? Why do I want to sing along to tunes I know? Does a cut onion soak up toxins from the air? Is Everest really the tallest mountain? Why does chilli make my head itch after I've shaved off my hair? What's the prospect of terraforming Mars? And can women synchronise their periods? Plus, news of the New Horizon's probes fly-by of Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) Ultima Thule, with Chris Smith and Eusebius McKaiser... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do I appear upside down in a spoon? Is the Universe getting bigger or smaller? What would Earth be like if we had two moons? What's the atomic weight of silver? Why does my bum tingle when I get my hair cut? If water can expand why can't it compact? Why do animals never run in a straight line? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Can I catch germs from cockroaches? How does the shape of the ear tell you where something is? If the Universe is expanding, is it being pushed or pulled? Is rain water better for crops than irrigation? What's the difference between macro and micro evolution? Do men enjoy spice more than women? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do we tell where a sound is coming from? Why does wine taste differently after many years? Why can't we manufacture blood? Why was Pluto downgraded? Plus, a new blood test for cancer. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do mosquitoes find you in the dark? How do muons reach the earth? Do long-term partners end up looking alike? What is spooky action at a distance? Why do things go black when they're burnt? Why can I hear rain all the time? Plus, redefining the kilogram. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What is deja vu? Why do certain magnets attract? Why do tea stains form in a ring? Can you scientifically work out someone's date of birth? How does mercury and lead stay in your body? Do mermaids exist? Do helium balloons defy gravity? What causes a double rainbows? Why does oxidised cholesterol cause heart attacks? Plus the life saving backpack for bees! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Can overhead electrical cables interfere with radio signals? Are diesel and petrol made differently? What is a vasectomy? Can phantom limb pain be treated? Are memories passed on through your genes? How much water does it take to boil an egg? Can surgery fix collapsed vertebrae? Is a woman genetically related to her child who was concieved with a donor egg? Plus, scientists help people potentially paralysed with spinal chord injury to walk again. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do we need sleep? How do tides work? Could aliens already be here that we simply can't detect? Plus, how being bird-brained isn't such a bad thing. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do scientists calculate the mass and velocity of planets? Why does time slow down during accidents? Is table salt bad for us? Why do cockroaches end up on their backs when they die? Will other primates become human? Plus, a lumpy Earth! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is our galaxy moving around? How did life begin? Why do my feet only sometimes sweat? How do you explain the big bang? Why do people think the moon landing was faked? Where does foam on the sea come from? Plus, the Nobel prizes! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do serious hurricanes only occur in the Northern hemisphere? Is the Y chromosome a mutated X chromosome? Does a blood transfusion change your DNA? Plus, the gene drive on the most dangerous animal in the world; the mosquito. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists