
The Naked Scientists Podcast
Science with a Sense of Humour: The Naked Scientists Radio Show
The Naked Scientists · Dr Chris Smith
Show overview
The Naked Scientists Podcast has been publishing since 2005, and across the 21 years since has built a catalogue of 1,253 episodes. That works out to over 1000 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 34 min and 59 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Science show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 37 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 104 episodes published. Published by Dr Chris Smith.
From the publisher
The Naked Scientists flagship science show brings you a lighthearted look at the latest scientific breakthroughs, interviews with the world's top scientists, answers to your science questions and science experiments to try at home.
Latest Episodes
View all 1,253 episodesHantavirus outbreak: cruising for a biological bruising
Hantavirus outbreak, and salmon on cocaine
Meningitis under the microscope
Chernobyl 40 years on, and countering ash dieback disease
Giant leaps in astronomy: the telescopes taking us further
Microbiome links to Parkinson's, and a massive laser boost
What is flooding? And how do we tackle it?
Alzheimer's drugs & tackling HIV
Oil, gas & what comes next
Space travel alters the body, and chronic pain on the mind
What is time?

Ep 1242Artemis II launch, and tackling physical inactivity
Artemis II begins its mission to take humans farther into space than ever before, scientists in London unveil the first lab-grown oesophagus, the dangers of physical inactivity and why we urgently need to tackle it, and brain cells on a chip learn to play video games like humans... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1241Nature frozen in time
Across our planet, natural archives preserve the biological footprints of species long gone, from woolly mammoths at the macro scale, through plants and seeds, to dormant bacteria and viruses at the micro end of the spectrum. And one environment that safeguards some of this material in the best condition of all is the cold - in other words, in ice. So, this week, we're going to look at what is sitting in nature's deep freeze... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1240Social media addiction, and the famous honeybee dance
This week: social media's role in user harm and the plausibility of app addiction, a sunken Soviet sub revealing how nuclear materials behave deep underwater, a hidden "magnetic shadow" on the Moon that could improve space travel safety, and the science behind the famous "waggle dance" performed by honeybees.... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1239Return to the Moon
Coming up, we explore the race back to the Moon. Why are we going? How will we get there? Can we live and work on its surface? And what can we grow when we get there? We explore the science, the engineering, and the possibilities of humanity's next giant leap... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1238Meningitis in Kent, and sonic hedgehogs
Coming up, we explore an outbreak of meningitis in the English county of Kent. Will a targeted vaccination campaign bring it under control? Plus, a fast diagnostic swab test that may help diagnose schizophrenia, how thousands of old tumour samples could aid our understanding of rising bowel cancer rates in people under 50, and a new study that suggests ultrasound could help save European hedgehogs from road traffic... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1237Understanding endometriosis
For Endometriosis Awareness Month, we explore a condition which affects 10% of women around the world. Cells that form the lining of the uterus crop up in other parts of the pelvis, and elsewhere in the body. It prevents many patients from being able to carry out everyday tasks, and can also cause infertility. In this episode, we explore the condition, hear the experiences of those living with endometriosis, discuss the science behind it, and find out about the treatments of tomorrow... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1236War and the environment, and Neanderthal-human interbreeding
Coming up, we assess the environmental and health impact of conflict in the Middle East. Plus, the gene variants that affect how heavily someone smokes, a medication called ruxolitinib that could help the vitiligo community, and a fascinating new study on interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1235Eradicating polio
This week, we're exploring polio: a highly infectious viral disease that can attack the nervous system and cause paralysis, mainly in young children. Polio has been pushed to the brink of elimination thanks to global vaccination efforts - but it still persists. In this episode, we'll look at what polio is, how vaccines have helped control it, where the virus still exists today, and whether it can finally be eradicated... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ep 1234Immune reprogramming for cancer, and squeaky shoe science
Coming up, we explore how CAR-T cell therapy is revolutionising personalised cancer treatment. Plus, how NASA's DART mission tested Earth's asteroid defence, what we are learning about the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby health, and we delve into the physics behind squeaky shoes... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists