Podcasts by The Naked Scientists Podcast
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.
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Fentanyl, fenlands, and Boris Johnson's COVID defence from 2023-12-08T01:00:56
In this edition of The Naked Scientists, What did we learn from Boris Johnson's appearance at the COVID inquiry? Then, we'll hear from the team that's developing a new drug in the fight against the...
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Invigorating the inactive with just one step from 2023-12-05T07:10:56
If there were a pill you could take to reduce your risk of chronic diseases like heart failure, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety and more by 20%, chances are you'd be interested in getting yo...
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COP28, Swine flu in the UK, and Bennu samples arrive from 2023-12-01T03:38:43
In this week's news pod, we preview the COP28 climate summit with Richard Black and get the latest on a confirmed case of a new strain of swine flu in the UK. Also, we speak to the researcher disco...
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Jet engines, hearts, and planets: the world of digital twins from 2023-11-28T02:56:34
In this episode of The Naked Scientists, we'll be taking a closer look at digital twins. What are they, and could they be the future of engineering, healthcare, and climate science? Like this podca...
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COVID inquiry revelations, and red wine headaches from 2023-11-24T02:35:27
This week on The Naked Scientists, A damning indictment of our politicians' grasp of science emerges from the Covid Inquiry. Also, we'll ask who is behind the high-profile cyber hacks on the Britis...
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Spinal stimuli and good vibrations: All about Parkinson's from 2023-11-21T02:42:41
This week - following the revelation that a man with debilitating Parkinson's Disease has been helped to walk again with a special implant that stimulates nerves in his spinal cord - that's what we...
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Chickenpox and weather bots from 2023-11-17T02:42:10
This week on the Naked Scientists; why, after many years, chickenpox vaccines for children finally look set to become the norm in the UK. Also, will artificial intelligence beat our weather forecas...
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Selective breeding: designing dogs, and conserving tigers from 2023-11-14T02:41:02
This week, we're taking a look at the genetics of selective breeding, how it might be dooming certain breeds of dog but saving certain endangered species. Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Breast cancer drug breakthrough, and hibernating hedgehogs from 2023-11-10T01:24:28
In this edition of The Naked Scientists, the drug called Anastrozole can help prevent thousands of cases of breast cancer among older women: but at what cost? Also, climate change expert Mark Masli...
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Faeces and phages: Moulding the microbiome from 2023-11-07T05:12:18
Today, we're helping you to get to know your microbiome, and hearing why a better understanding of it viewed by some as the next frontier in helping us to live longer, healthier lives. First, we ex...
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Flu vaccinations, and calls for AI regulation from 2023-11-03T04:02:18
As flu season starts to bite the Northern Hemisphere, we look into the efforts to develop the most effective vaccines. Also, an AI expert reviews the recent Safety Summit hosted at Bletchley Park, ...
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Halloween, and why you should love creepy creatures from 2023-10-31T02:35:50
This week, during the spookiest time of the year, we're going to look at the unfair portrayal that certain organisms get due to their reputation of being scary, dangerous, or gross, just like the o...
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Long COVID, and strengthening hurricanes from 2023-10-27T09:34:20
In this edition of The Naked Scientists, new analysis on the prevalence of long COVID. How widespread is it? Also, could climate change be causing hurricanes in the Atlantic to get stronger? And, w...
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Time to ditch daylight saving? from 2023-10-24T04:42:03
As winter creeps over the Northern hemisphere, many of us will be turning time backwards by an hour in aid of daylight saving time. But why do we do this? In this episode, we weigh up whether there...
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Head knocks and food system shocks from 2023-10-20T04:25:16
In the news pod, we speak to World Rugby's Chief Medical Officer to hear how they're making the professional game as safe as possible. Also, we explore the potential consequences of climate change ...
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The James Webb Space Telescope from 2023-10-17T03:13:12
This week, the beginning of the universe and the search for extraterrestrial life. We look at the technological marvel that is the James Webb Space Telescope. Like this podcast? Please help us by <...
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Bedbugs, pig organ transplants, and 1918 flu deaths from 2023-10-13T10:29:43
This week on The Naked Scientists, the rise of the bedbugs. Leading bedbug expert, James Logan, will tell us all we need to know. Also, could genetically modified pig kidneys soon be transplanted i...
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When not if: Preparing for the next pandemic from 2023-10-10T05:17:47
Medical professionals largely agree: the world is far more susceptible to a Covid level crisis than it ever has been. Mass urbanisation, political instability and climate change are among the facto...
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Malaria vaccine, Fukushima wastewater&Nobel prizes from 2023-10-06T06:07:36
In the news pod: the WHO have recommended the Oxford Covid jab for use - we talk to someone who helped design it. We also speak with the scientist who questions whether the Fukushima wastewater dis...
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Titans of Science: Sally Davies from 2023-10-03T02:55:05
In this edition of The Naked Scientists, it's time for the conclusion of our summer series: Titans of Science. Chris Smith chats with England's former Chief Medical Officer and the current Master o...
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COVID variant vaccines, and sinking antimatter from 2023-09-29T01:56:48
In this episode of The Naked Scientists, A future proof covid jab that combats variants that don't even exist yet. Reassuringly for theoretical physics, signs that antimatter does obey the rules of...
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Titans of Science: Robert Winston from 2023-09-26T03:19:24
This week's guest is a pioneer of IVF, award-winning broadcaster, and member of the House of Lords, Robert Winston. Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Spinal injury repair, and embryo editing ethics from 2023-09-22T01:34:23
This week on The Naked Scientists: A breakthrough in treating spinal cord injuries, worrying news about red fire ants in Sicily, we look at what it means for us in the UK. Plus, NASA is sending a s...
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Titans of Science: Anthony Fauci from 2023-09-19T04:50:26
Time for the next installment in Titans of Science! This week's very special guest is the former chief medical advisor to the White House during the pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci. He tells Chris Smith...
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Ban on cheap vapes, and farewell to Dolly's 'father' from 2023-09-15T04:02:45
On the news pod, we ask whether an outright ban is the best way to deal with the health and environmental cost of sweet shop style vapes. Also on the programme; a new device for detecting Covid on ...
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Titans of Science: Helen Sharman - part 2 from 2023-09-12T03:31:06
Part 2 of the extraordinary story of the first Briton in space. What was life like on a space station? How do you get back down? and what do you do afterwards? Like this podcast? Please help us by ...
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Concrete concerns, and pharaoh de toilette from 2023-09-08T02:52:16
In this edition, can civil engineers help rescue the UK's crumbling schools and hospitals? Also, new initiative that is hoping to improve the treatment of sepsis, and how the scent of ancient Egypt...
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Titans of science: Helen Sharman - part 1 from 2023-09-05T09:14:51
Today's guest is Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space. Our conversation ranges from her early beginnings working in a chocolate factory - Mars, would you believe - to her run in with the then l...
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London ULEZ emissions tax, and uterus transplants from 2023-09-01T12:45:21
This week, London's latest ULEZ expansion - will it make much difference to air quality? The concerning impacts of poaching, and not just to endangered species, and the curious case of a woman with...
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Return to the Moon: Why now? from 2023-08-29T04:38:34
This week, we're casting our eyes towards the brightest and largest object in our night sky: the Moon. As India becomes the 4th nation to achieve a successful soft landing on our only natural satei...
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Serial killers, and sails on supertankers from 2023-08-25T03:29:39
In the news this week, how can we understand the motivations of serial killers? Also, we ask a dermatologist to outline the early signs of melanoma, and find out about the initiative to reduce carb...
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The perfect plate of food: seasonal and well seasoned from 2023-08-22T04:24:51
Eating. We all have to do it 3 times a day and there's a lot to consider every time we do: is what I'm eating good for me? Is it sustainable for the planet? Can I afford the time or the expense to ...
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Elections in an AI age&smokers start with less grey matter from 2023-08-18T01:52:13
In the news this week, we start by asking whether we should start preparing to combat election interference in the wake of the breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. A study is out this week lin...
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The past, present and future of nukes from 2023-08-15T04:57:38
This week, we'll explore the origins of nuclear weapons and how they have changed modern warfare. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting...
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Prepping for pandemics, and pursuing Perseids from 2023-08-11T04:02:12
This week, we'll find out about preparations for the next pandemic and "disease X"; the link between a noticeably enlarged part of the human brain and obesity; and how honey sweetened the deal for ...
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Q&A: Knuth, curry and kettles from 2023-08-08T04:24:01
Another month, another brilliant panel, another romp through your mind bending questions. Physicists Tony Padilla and Toby Wiseman, archaeologist Emma Pomeroy and educator Andrew Morris help Chris ...
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Hydrogen: fuel or folly? from 2023-08-01T02:26:01
This week, we're turning to the subject of hydrogen and its potential to play a role as a cleaner fuel in future. Could hydrogen be the answer to our energy conundrum? Like this podcast? Please hel...
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Global boiling, and crashed crafts on Mars from 2023-07-28T06:26:21
Sweltering temperatures wreak havoc across Europe and North America, so what needs to be done to bring them down? We hear from the Cambridge scientist who wants to create the largest ever DNA and h...
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How AI will actually change the world from 2023-07-25T03:59:50
It's been quite the ride in the realm of artifical intelligence over the past year or so. As impressive as advancements in machine learning have been, however, few experts are worried about bots ta...
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Alzheimer's drug, and algae vegan vitamins from 2023-07-21T01:46:52
A new drug in the fight against Alzheimer's disease: how does it work? Plus, we'll also have the latest on measles cases in London, look at the calls to reset the lunar clock, and could algae help ...
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Antidepressants: the ongoing debate from 2023-07-18T03:30:45
We'll be exploring depression, what causes it, and whether antidepressants or other treatments hold the key to solving it. Amongst our guests is psychologist Gordon Harold, speaking on how depressi...
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Feeling the heat and hearing the silence from 2023-07-14T03:01:52
The mercury rises as record temperatures are recorded across the world. But what's driving them? Also ahead: the sound of silence. We'll be finding out why scientists think it's not just the absenc...
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Q&A: Love drugs and phaging superbugs from 2023-07-11T04:29:08
It's a Question and Answer special this week. You supply the questions and we pose them to a panel of expert guests. Joining us this time, biologist and author Tom Ireland, marine scientist Liberty...
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The fight to save the oceans from 2023-07-04T03:14:14
This week, we're diving into the fight to save the planet's oceans. We're looking at how humans are responsible for the effects on our planet's oceans, but also perhaps lesser known strategies that...
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AI cancer scans, and heatproof drone plans from 2023-06-30T01:59:44
How an artificial-intelligence technology from Cambridge is helping cut cancer treatment waiting times, how the James Webb Space Telescope is shedding new light on the chemical building blocks of l...
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Light pollution: time to flick the switch from 2023-06-27T04:03:38
Many people don't recognise light pollution at night for what it is: pollution. Largely, we fail to see this harmful introduction into the environment because we have been conditioned to associated...
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Polio vaccine and policy probe from 2023-06-23T01:03:29
In this week's show, we speak to a former navy commander about the Titan sub, do our decision-makers ignore evidence when making scientific policy? And the new telescope that is hoping to explore t...
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40 years of HIV from 2023-06-20T03:27:46
40 years since the identification of HIV, we look at where it came from, and how far are we from an effective vaccine... Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Space solar power and fish running fevers from 2023-06-16T02:12:48
The plan to beam-in solar power from space, ways to incentivise sharing trustworthy material on social media, and do ill fish run a fever like we do? Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
The science of UFOs from 2023-06-13T03:24:07
This time, we'll be taking a deep dive into the extra terrestrial...and exploring UFOs. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked...
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UK Covid inquiry, AI, and cat contraception from 2023-06-09T02:25:36
As the UK's Covid inquiry kicks off, will it help to transform how we tackle future pandemics? How an AI is writing its own computer code, speeding up the Internet; and using gene therapy for cat c...
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Fossil fever: scientists dig in from 2023-06-06T10:17:27
Researchers around the world are naming a new kind of dinosaur every week on average at the moment - what's behind this golden age of palaeontology? We talk to scientists, museum staff and amateur ...
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Treaties, treatments and time travel from 2023-06-02T08:41:35
Also in the news, boys vocalise more in their first year, NASA' holds a public meeting on the study of 'unitdentified aeriel phenomena', and what damage might a time traveller cause? Like this podc...
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Allergies and how they happen from 2023-05-30T02:24:10
This week, we're taking a closer look at allergies. What causes them, and what makes them so hard to cure? Along the way we find out what it's like to live with severe allergy, why the body has evo...
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Toxic vapes and Russian treason from 2023-05-27T11:00:14
Are public health officials preparing to clampdown on the sale of dangerous vapes, the Russian scientists under arrest for treason, how researchers are homing in on why some of us are magnets for m...
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Q&A: Dodgy Devices and Maths Mayhem from 2023-05-23T09:30:46
Your questions are going under our microscope and we?ll be asking our guests to give their expert insight on a number of topics. Including, Why does asparagus make your wee smell? Could plastic eat...
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How to remember everything from 2023-05-16T10:27:34
How do we remember things, why some people stuggle to remember their way around, and what does it take to be a memory world champion? Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Cancer vaccines and Commercial Space Stations from 2023-05-14T10:45:25
Scientists successfully test a promising vaccine for pancreatic cancer, why Japan is finally casting off its remaining Covid-19 restrictions, and we'll explore how a scientist is turning Yellowston...
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Building a better battery from 2023-05-09T02:22:46
With the global power supply shifting towards renewables, the battery is fast becoming one of the most vital forms of power storage. So how did we get here, how do batteries still need to improve, ...
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China's satellites and Wales' trilobites from 2023-05-05T01:31:02
What should we make of claims that China is building super weapons to hack and hijack US satellites? Also, the new app to help midwives detect health conditions in newborns, and we hear from the co...
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Did rugby give me dementia at 40? from 2023-05-02T03:58:54
How repeated bumps to the head in sport can add up to dementia later in life... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scienti...
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Ultra-processed cuisine and catch-up vaccines from 2023-04-28T01:33:33
The doctor and broadcaster, Chris van Tulleken, on why ultra-processed food is making us fat and ill, the team that think they're close to cracking the male contraceptive pill, and the WHO's drive ...
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Dealing with Diabesity from 2023-04-25T03:46:28
With 14 million new cases of diabetes each year being attributed to poor diet and half the worlds' population estimated to be overweight or obese by 2035, it's no wonder the UK's Chief Medical Offi...
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Starship explodes&soundscapes for sleep from 2023-04-21T12:54:45
In the news this week, Elon Musk's Starship experiences a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly', there's progress in developing a universal flu vaccine, and the sounds which might help your little one to...
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Taking a trip into a black hole from 2023-04-18T03:57:35
Black holes are one of the most extreme things in the universe. Their gravitational pull is so strong, they can bend light and even time. So were you to find one and fall into it...what would happe...
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Solar power milestones and bird microbiomes from 2023-04-14T03:13:37
The world crosses the threshold of 1 terawatt of energy produced from solar means, the parting gift left behind by birds meeting an unfortunate demise, and looking for exoplanets that have magnetic...
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Eco-anxiety: getting hot under the collar about climate change from 2023-04-13T09:20:44
In this bonus edition, climate psychologist Patrick Kennedy-Williams introduces us to the concept of eco-anxiety, the very real phenomenon leaving people across the UK feeling stressed about the fu...
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Bonus Episode: Mantra Meditation from 2023-04-13T09:14:26
This is a special, bonus episode brought to you in partnership with E.ON Next. If you've just been listening to our conversation with climate psychologist Patrick Kennedy-Williams, you'll know that...
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China hides Covid data, the problem with pain from 2023-04-11T04:02:55
In the news, tech experts call for AI slowdown, monkeys fail to grasp magic tricks which require opposable thumbs to pull off, and why the WHO wants China to release information on the origin of Co...
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Recharging in nature from 2023-04-04T11:03:31
This week, in partnership with BMW, we're "recharging in nature" - discovering how stepping out into wild country replenishes our wellbeing batteries. But there's a disconnect for drivers of electr...
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T-Rex lips and dating tips from 2023-03-31T02:02:31
Coming up this week, why we might need to re-draw dinosaur faces: it turns out T Rex had lips - how did we miss that? Also, as the government moves to make laughing gas illegal we look at how it wo...
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The Right to Repair: Get your fix from 2023-03-28T05:37:18
Whatever happened to make do and mend? Many of us, it seems, have lost the ability to fix the things we buy. So are manufacturers on a mission to make things impossible to fix, forcing us to buy ne...
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Nerve interfaces and infrared fossil finding from 2023-03-24T02:23:34
In the news, scientists seeking to make measuring animal welfare a top priority on farms. Machines seeing the original chemicals in the bodies of fossilised animals. And why superglue might be the ...
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Trick or treaty: the high seas agreement from 2023-03-21T03:20:39
The UN high seas treaty hopes to turn the tide on the biodiversity crisis in the ocean. Will it work, and will protecting 30% of the high seas be sufficient? Like this podcast? Please help us by
HIV case cured by umbilical cord stem cells from 2023-03-17T01:57:19
How doctors in the US have "cured" a woman with HIV, does Venus have volcanoes? Reexamining 30 year old probe footage has got scientists wondering, and signs that an artificial sweetener can affect...
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Q&A: How will astronauts shower on the moon? from 2023-03-10T03:51:02
What happens when you put a space scientist interested in looking for alien life, a geologist studying some of the earliest life on Earth, a psychologist, and a linguist in a radio studio? Well hop...
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Roman dildos and hackers targeting pets from 2023-03-03T02:06:55
Take a daily brisk walk and take 25% off your mortality rate, the northern - and southern - lights and why they've been so pronounced of late, and have scientists discovered the world's first Roman...
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What can plate tectonics teach us? from 2023-02-28T03:04:34
The news is awash with the destructive side of these geological processes, but are there aspects of these events that can help us learn more about our planet's inner workings? Like this podcast? Pl...
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Sleepy sperm and shiny shrimp from 2023-02-24T03:22:35
Are we any closer to a contraceptive for men, will a 4 day work week pay for itself, and how cretaceous caterpillars helped scientists work out when plants first opened and closed their leaves... L...
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Fusion power by 2040? from 2023-02-21T04:44:55
Today, we're asking whether UK science minister George Freeman's ambition of an operational fusion energy plant by 2040 is realistic. Scientists have their say as to whether or not this possible an...
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Gene therapy saves baby from fatal condition from 2023-02-17T02:36:28
In the news this week, a UK toddler with a rare genetic disease is saved by gene therapy: we explain how it works. Cockatoos wow scientists by taking a toolkit along to solve a problem. And a 55 mi...
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A Bird Flu Pandemic Hovering on the Horizon from 2023-02-14T04:15:07
With over a billion birds dead and signs that the influenza virus is now spreading among mammalian species in the wild, are we at risk of another pandemic, just as we thought Covid was over? Like t...
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Turkey's earthquake and China's balloon from 2023-02-10T02:03:20
As Turkey battles against the clock to find survivors of the recent Earthquake there, we look at what triggered the magnitude 7.8 quake. Also, how modern day codebreakers have unlocked secret corre...
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Cheaper food from fewer fertilisers from 2023-02-07T05:04:30
Scientists and governments are working together to turn farming, one of the foremost causes of global emissions, into a future-proof industry. We'll hear about the UK governments new sustainable fa...
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Transplanting brain cells&the Big Birdwatch from 2023-02-03T02:48:18
Brain implants grown in a lab wire themselves into the nervous system. Artificial intelligence joins the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. We take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2023. And...
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Satellites: forging metal and finding cholera from 2023-01-31T03:35:53
Much of our daily lives is made possible by the placement of objects orbiting our planet. From GPS, to weather forecasts, even your bank's ATM wouldn't be able to function without a timecode from s...
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Plastic-eating bugs&paying you to power off from 2023-01-27T03:03:04
The plan to pay people to dial down their electricity use, the bacteria eating plastic in the ocean, and why antidepressants make it harder for users to enjoy themselves. Like this podcast? Please ...
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ChatGPT: The chatbot changing how we work from 2023-01-24T05:13:49
We first chatted ChatGPT last month, and have since been keeping an eye on the incredible ways it's been responding to users from across the world. This week, we consider the implications of this v...
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Lasers lure lightning and carbon computing from 2023-01-20T02:52:35
How hair follicles might hold the key to reversing scars, but not just in skin: in hearts and other organs too. Also, scientists crack how to grow new brain cells in the laboratory dish. And what a...
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Dry January: is giving up booze beneficial? from 2023-01-17T04:25:40
It's that time of the year where we traditionally make - and usually break - resolutions to eat less, drink less, lose weight, give up meat and take up exercise during the year ahead. And in the de...
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Shouting dolphins and failed rocket launches from 2023-01-13T01:17:55
The artificial pancreas to turnaround diabetes control, what went wrong with the UK's first space launch, and the Cambridge-born process that can turn CO2 and waste plastic into fuels and valuable ...
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Q&A: How to avoid being squashed by a whale from 2023-01-10T07:13:13
How stars burn for billions of years. Can Rishi Sunak turn us into a nation of mathematicians? And how misinformation changes the shape of our brains. Plus, there'll be our customary quiz at half t...
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The best of 2022! from 2023-01-03T03:09:11
We're looking back at 2022, a remarkable year for many reasons. Whilst it is easy to be consumed by stories of conflict, climate catastrophe, and disease outbreaks, it is still important to remembe...
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A deep dive into oceanography from 2022-12-20T02:37:24
We're taking a look at our planet's oceans, and seeing how and where the important work into studying our seas takes place, as well as finding out how the data collected by marine expeditions trans...
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Nuclear fusion, and magnetic air pollution from 2022-12-16T01:22:28
A landmark achievement: nuclear fusion experiments produce a net energy output - so what does this mean in practical terms. Also, glasses that soak up infrared to auto-demist. And how magnets are h...
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Tumours and tectonics: magnets making a mark from 2022-12-13T04:51:44
This week we've found ourselves attracted by the topic of magnetism; it's what makes it possible to generate and distribute electricity to our homes, or send messages and radio broadcasts over the ...
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AI passes Turing Test, and new drug for Covid from 2022-12-09T03:38:16
In the news, the old liver drug that turns out to be able to prevent Covid-19 infection, the artificial intelligence systems that pass the Turing test and can write their own computer programmes, a...
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8 billion: an overpopulation crisis? from 2022-12-06T03:12:40
Last month, we were told, the 8 billionth person was added to Earth's human population. But despite many acknowledging that some of the biggest threats facing us and the planet, like climate change...
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New Alzheimer's treatment, and mussel memory from 2022-12-02T02:30:34
A new Alzheimer's drug shows some promise in trials, but are the risks from side effects worth it? A new contraceptive inspired by Roman history and shellfish... And the surprising discovery about ...
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Personality testing: no wrong answers? from 2022-11-29T04:13:22
If you've recently applied for a job, you may have been asked to fill out a personality test. From banks and consultancy firms to fast-food outlets, they're increasingly being used as a way to impr...
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Disease breath tests, and Perseverance papers from 2022-11-25T01:40:21
In the news this week, we hear about the novel approach to diagnosing diseases by looking at the chemical compounds in patients' breath, a new way of attacking viruses without damaging our cells, t...
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Q&A: How did we outpace the big bang? from 2022-11-22T02:56:06
This week, it is time to put your questions to a panel of excellent experts in one of our Q&A shows! We are going to be investigating how we track disease outbreaks, why our ears go pop, and wh...
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Reproducibility: science's consistency issue from 2022-11-15T05:32:35
This week, we're talking about the so-called scientific reproducibility crisis: an alarming sounding study was released earlier this year which concluded that less than one third of breast cancer r...
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Growing blood in the lab, and talking to ET from 2022-11-11T01:56:25
In this episode, How researchers are growing new blood in the lab, the scientists planning for potential alien communications, and why fertiliser may be fooling bees' ability to spot flowers... Lik...
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Tuberculosis: tackling the troubling uptick from 2022-11-08T05:14:40
Before Covid, the bacterial infection "tuberculosis" was the number 1 infectious disease killer on the planet. Every day it claims the lives of thousands, with the impact particularly marked in low...
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Gene therapy for epilepsy, and beastly botany from 2022-11-04T02:12:42
In the news this week, the novel gene therapy for epilepsy which reduces side effects, how birdsong can provide listeners with a mental health boost, we take a terrifying tour of Cambridge Universi...
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Clocks, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll from 2022-11-01T03:40:46
We mark the clocks going back with a look at our circadian rhythms: that's the mechanism by which our bodies mark time and keep our biological processes ticking over. Some drugs work better at cert...
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Charged up bees and deep, dark seas from 2022-10-28T04:05:43
In the news this week, a new health study of unprecedented scale launches in the UK to improve disease detection, CAR-T therapy is administered without tailoring it specifically to the patient, the...
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SEEMONSTER and the circular economy from 2022-10-25T03:44:33
A trip to the British seaside to see a See Monster - that's the title for the decommissioned gas platform turned art installation attempting to fuel new discussions around reuse and renewable energ...
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Neanderthals, lost nets, and net zero from 2022-10-21T02:50:17
Coming up this week... how bacteria could be supercharging cancer cells, the ghost fishing nets laying waste to our oceans, and could capturing carbon underground hold the key to our net zero ambit...
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The Latest on Long Covid from 2022-10-18T07:21:07
This week, the latest research findings on Long Covid. What did a study on over a million people reveal about who's at risk of the condition and for how long? What research is now being done to dis...
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These boots are made for walking from 2022-10-14T12:33:20
Coming up this week in the news, the advanced warning signs ten years ahead that Alzheimer's might be on the way, the exoskeleton boot that learns how you walk and helps you go faster, and the slee...
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Can fracking calm the energy crisis? from 2022-10-11T03:09
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is an industrial process undertaken to access pockets of gas locked inside rock formations underground. It's seen by its proponents as a vital part of the solutio...
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Nobel Prize Roundup from 2022-10-07T02:40:29
In the news, we dissect the achievements of the Nobel prize winners for science and medicine, ask whether paracetamol causes behavioural problems in children, and hear about the disturbance caused ...
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The Trieste Next science festival from 2022-10-04T02:11:48
This week the Naked Scientists have been in the City of Science - Trieste - to take part in their annual science festival and speak to some of the researchers pushing back the frontiers of knowledg...
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Sweeteners, seagrass, and sterilised plastic from 2022-09-27T10:46:45
In the programme this week, we look at the plastic that sterilises itself, why sweeteners are worse for you than sugar, and how will seagrass react to climate change? Like this podcast? Please help...
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Q&A: Deadly Lasers and Delicious Brains from 2022-09-20T08:35:34
This week, it is time to put your questions to a panel of excellent experts in one of our Q&A shows! We are going to be investigating if truth serum really exists, what would happen if the Eart...
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You can't teach an old dogma new tricks from 2022-09-13T04:53:34
This week's show conveys how surprisingly susceptible science is to dogma. We uncover the alarming oversights which have mitigated progress in disciplines like zoology and medicine for decades. Cor...
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First known amputation uncovered in Borneo from 2022-09-09T01:31:50
A massive archeological find has been making headlines all over the news this week. Plus, 'breakfast like a king, dine like a pauper', is there any truth to the old saying? And are video GP consult...
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The Microbiome: Trust Your Gut? from 2022-09-06T01:30:41
When it comes to treating diseases, we often think of lifestyle changes, pills and procedures. What often isn't considered is poo. But this week, the NICE guidelines - which recommend treatments fo...
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COVID Vaccines and Coffee Cups in Hot Water from 2022-09-02T11:57:23
In the news this week: mRNA vaccine giants Moderna and Pzfizer face a legal battle over potential technology infringements, and a new study explains how small talk with strangers before working tog...
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All About Drought from 2022-08-30T04:12:42
We're looking into where our water comes from, and how modern technology could help us better conserve the precious resources we have to be more prepared for future dry periods. Like this podcast? ...
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Bite-sized vaccines and familiar faces from 2022-08-26T02:41:06
In the news this week: the medical breakthrough of a potential malaria vaccine; we find out how sewage is polluting our beaches but may also help us cope with a sulphur shortage; and a way to immun...
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Spacewalk: the Scale of our Solar System from 2022-08-23T01:18:10
The scale of space is difficult to grasp: a trip to Mars would take 7 months, and for Jupiter you are talking years. But a scaled-down sculpture trail of our solar system offers a planetary tour on...
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Bivalent Covid Boosters and Unbalanced Bees from 2022-08-19T05:36:35
In science news this week: the UK has approved a new COVID-19 vaccine which hopes to tackle the omicron variant, and scientists alter the blood type compatibility of a kidney outside the body. Plus...
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Child's play: curtailing a health crisis from 2022-08-16T04:20:34
Children's wellbeing is in a state of emergency. It's a fact that has been tragically overlooked for some time now. In the UK, 41% of children are classed as overweight or obese by the time they le...
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Hitting back against heatwaves from 2022-08-12T01:33:01
In this week's news show: Chris provides an update on the polio siutation in London, and we hear what we can learn from hotter climes about dealing with the scorching weather. Plus, the robotic ant...
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Reintroduction: Bringing Species Back from 2022-08-09T05:53:18
Last month saw a first in the UK: Bison were released into a woodland in Kent. An animal of this size and nature hasn't be known to be on UK soil for milennia, but now conservationists hope they ca...
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Shorter Days and Binning Best Before Dates from 2022-08-05T02:07:20
In the world of science news this week, major supermarkets in the UK are removing their best before dates after data reveals just how much they sway our decisions to chuck food away. Plus, we dive ...
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Vaping Health Impacts: No Smoke Without Fire? from 2022-08-02T10:03:17
This week vaping, and the potential hidden health costs, go under the microscope as we also explore whether teens that would never smoke are being seduced by eCigarettes. Also, news of period impac...
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A trip down the River Cam from 2022-07-26T04:43:05
Harry Lewis and James Tytko are off on a summer science special, a jolly down the River Cam with their Captain for the day Peter of Camboats, making pit stops to check out the local wildlife, sport...
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The wine we drink and machines that can think from 2022-07-19T03:18:46
It's that time again where we round up some of the most pressing and perplexing science news stories from the past month. We analyse the first images from the James Webb telescope, discuss whether ...
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Gene-Editing: Food of the Future? from 2022-07-12T04:48:29
Could the potential food of the future be on its way to our supermarket shelves? Parliament is currently reviewing rules which would allow gene-edited food to be grown and sold in the UK, moving aw...
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Ghost pond resurrection from 2022-07-05T04:15:59
Ponds used to prosper alongside old agricultural practices. But 100 years' of modernisation has seen bodies of water on farmland disappear, although they never truly die. And this week we go in sea...
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Emerging Viruses: Monkeypox on the up from 2022-06-28T04:50:58
Emerging viral infections go under our microscope this week, including the recent surge in monkeypox, the world's largest bird flu outbreak to date, and learning points from Covid-19. Plus, in the ...
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Venus, Volcanoes&Virtual Clothing from 2022-06-21T03:17:34
In this week's programme we are going to be sharing some science highlights - sci-lights, if you will - going in depth with some of the latest science news from the past month plus some fascinating...
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Storing Energy: Watt does the Future Hold? from 2022-06-14T04:38:32
This week, should your house have a battery, the abandoned gold mine that's now pumping out power, and will your fridge talk to the grid in future to better manage your energy consumption? Continui...
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Winding up Wind Power from 2022-06-07T05:15:23
With energy prices sky high, we continue our alternative energy month with a look at wind power. We visit a traditional windmill to understand how humans have historically harnessed the wind, learn...
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Turning the Tide on Hydro Power from 2022-05-31T12:57:08
The UK harbours the leading expertise in marine renewables, but water itself remains to be a major contributor to the race for net zero. Why are these technologies lagging behind the other more fav...
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Is Solar the Solution? from 2022-05-24T04:07:37
The warmer weather is here and, with it, solar energy is on my mind. Sun-thing tells me I'm into something good. Join us in the first of our series of programmes on renewable energy sources as the ...
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Primates, Pi and (unconscious) Ponderings from 2022-05-10T08:51:53
A diverse range of expertise graces this month's "Q n May" panel show! Find out how we listen to our cosmos for signatures that herald the birth of the first stars, how gender labels help us unders...
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Madvertising from 2022-05-03T04:25:16
From skateboarding bulldogs to drumming gorillas, modern advertising is teeming with wacky characters and far-fetched fantasies, often with little relation to the product actually being promoted. B...
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The Coffee Conundrum from 2022-04-26T07:31
Stimulating isn't it. I recently came off the hard stuff and I've missed it ever since. I used to see coffee as a real treat, but that caffeine hit may soon be harder to come by. Scientists predict...
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Frankenfoods, Formula 1&Fake news from 2022-04-19T04:10:39
This week, we have an egg-cellent panel of spectacular science specialists who will be diving into their areas of expertise and sharing the goods! We hear about how formula 1 technology is changing...
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Contagious Cancers from 2022-04-12T04:05:12
Cancers are made from a person's own cells going rogue. If a cell acquires the right combination of mutations or changes in its genetic code, it can divide uncontrollably and lead to the formation ...
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Science of the Silver Screen from 2022-04-05T08:37
It's time to dress up to the nines and hit the red carpet in scientific style as we bring you The Naked Scientists Science of the Silver Screen Awards. We'll hear about the sandy planet in the sci-...
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Human Milk from 2022-03-29T04:42:16
Human milk is the special subject we're looking into this week, including how the cells it contains can jump into a baby's bloodstream - and literally make mum part of their offspring. We hear how ...
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Bonus Podcast: Naked Reflections Showcase from 2022-03-28T02:14:16
From time to time here on the Naked Scientists we showcase episodes from some of the other programme strands that are part of our Naked family. Today we're sharing an episode of Naked Reflections, ...
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Energy in crisis: nuclear goes up the agenda from 2022-03-22T04:08:12
This week, AI-based facial recognition systems go live on the front in Ukraine, ozone exposure links to teenage depression, and evidence that sleeping with the light on can adversely affect your he...
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Cyberwarfare from 2022-03-08T05:04:48
Conflict around the world is no longer simply fought on the ground, in the water or in the air but also in the airwaves. As digital devices pervade our lives, so too do they become both agents of a...
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Q&A: Defining AI, Dark Energy&Dr NO from 2022-03-01T04:18:04
It's that time again, where we compile all those lovely science questions you have sent in and form a crack squad of expertise, throw them on a panel together, and shove a mic under their noses! Th...
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Under the Microscope from 2022-02-22T03:55:32
Alongside analysing AI faces & how a heart beats, we will be putting microscopy under the microscope; from the first glimpses of life up close, to stepping inside the lens and experiencing micr...
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Xenotransplantation from 2022-02-15T03:16:51
Amidst the aftermath of COVID-19 waiting lists continue to grow for those in need of an organ transplant, whilst simultaneously in an American surgery a man recieves the heart of a pig. Animal dono...
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Q&A: Planets, Procrastination&Plastic Squid from 2022-02-08T04:19:40
This week, it is time to put your questions to a panel of excellent experts in one of our Q&A shows! We are going to be investigating what supermassive black holes do, strategies for coping wit...
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Tracing the origins of COVID19 from 2022-02-01T05:14:49
It has been almost 2 years since the COVID19 pandemic - one of the most significant outbreaks in living history - was declared. But where did the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes severe respiratory di...
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A Robotic Reality from 2022-01-18T05:43:52
2022 has been heralded as the golden era of robotics. In this episode of The Naked Scientists you'll see how futuristic machines are already employed throughout industry to make our lives better. T...
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MRSA, The Metaverse&Medical Milestones from 2022-01-11T05:31:09
We are looking into the science behind the headlines in the first week of 2022 - including a medical update on omicron and how this variant impacts disease severity, a review of some of the top gam...
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Hidden clues and wombat poos: best of 2021 from 2022-01-04T05:23:32
We're looking back on the year that's just been, and what a year 2021 was. Once again, Covid-19 dominated the headlines, alongside the climate crisis and extreme weather events. But fear not! Sally...
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Christmas with The Naked Scientists from 2021-12-21T04:49:21
Ever wondered what it's like behind the scenes at The Naked Scientists? Well, here's your chance! Grab yourself a nice warm mug of cocoa nestle down by the decorated tree and prepare for some festi...
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Nanotechnology: sci-fi or sci-fact? from 2021-12-14T04:55:14
We've seen them in movies, but how close are we to having nanorobots in reality? And what will we do with them? We'll be unpicking the tiny details of nanotechnology! Plus in the news this week: as...
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Q&A: Reefs, Robots&Rubies 'Rap'-Up from 2021-12-07T05:35:05
It is time for a festive Q&A! In this episode, we are going to be answering your questions such as, does another planet Earth exist? Can robots be as creative as humans? And why do deep sea cre...
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Plastics: climate friend or foe? from 2021-11-30T05:32:53
Surely a day doesn't go by without you using plastic. It's a marvel of material science. But hidden behind its convenience, plastic poses serious enviornmental challenges. Is this versatile and ubi...
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Would wood be good? from 2021-11-23T05:39:58
As we strive for a transition to a green future, we're asking "would wood be good" to help us build everything from better buildings to more insulating windows, from steak-cutting knives to nano-en...
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Q&A: Mars, malaria and monstrous ducks from 2021-11-16T05:01:07
It's Q&A time! In this episode we'll be answering questions from you, our listeners, such as how close are we to developing a vaccine against the common cold, what's it like to live on Mars and...
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COPing With Climate Change: The COP26 lowdown from 2021-11-09T04:02:19
This week we have the inside track on the COP-26 climate conference in Glasgow; why bird song at dawn sounds dramatically different to 20 years ago; and scientists uncover the secret to a successfu...
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Spooky spiders: silk, sex and squirting venom from 2021-11-02T05:59:10
We're wandering into the weird world of spiders! We'll be looking at spiders that can fly using little silk parachutes and the grisly and gruesome mating habits of black widow spiders. Plus in the ...
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Q&A: Mars, Mental-Health and Managing Bitcoin from 2021-10-26T05:42:51
It's that time again for another Q&A show, a chance for you to have your say! This week we delve behind the headlines as well, trying to figure out what social media platforms are doing to prot...
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Risky research: making diseases more deadly from 2021-10-19T05:27:39
As some continue to speculate that COVID came from a lab, we're looking at the scientific research being done on dangerous diseases, whether this work is safe and how it's regulated. Plus in the ne...
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Particle Problems and How to Solve Them from 2021-10-12T04:59:11
This week, we're journeying into the world of the smallest objects known to humanity: the tiny particles that make up us and the entire universe around us. Plus, in the news, getting the world vacc...
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Surprising Shortages and Shaky Supplies from 2021-10-05T04:58:30
As the UK struggles with a lack of fuel in petrol stations and fresh food shortages in the supermarket, we ask: what else are we at risk of running out of? Plus, in the news, why we might be destin...
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Q&A: Moon Landings and Making Medicine from 2021-09-28T05:45:45
In this week's programme, it's Q&A time! Coming up, we'll find out: what can we learn from invisible measurements in space, how scientists discover potential new medicines made by plants and wh...
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Making sense of the menopause from 2021-09-21T05:18:18
This week we're looking into a topic that almost never gets mentioned at school but affects almost all of us, one way or another. It's the menopause. And we'll hear why it happens and when it happe...
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Sepsis: From Infection To AI from 2021-09-14T05:04:10
In recognition of World Sepsis Day on the 13th, we're unpicking the science of this dangerous syndrome - from the infections that cause it, to the genes that make us more susceptible, and how artif...
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COVID Immunity: The Road Ahead from 2021-09-07T06:14:02
This week, we are boosting our knowledge on what "immunity" against COVID-19 really means and what our strategy heading into winter should be. We'll also hear about a new generation of coronavirus ...
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Capturing Carbon: Beyond Woodland from 2021-08-31T04:30:32
This week we're taking a deep dive into the world of carbon sequestration and how we can use nature to help us solve climate change. We'll be wading through peat bogs, getting serious about seaweed...
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Q&A: Foxes, Physics, and Fluffy Insects from 2021-08-24T10:48:43
It's Q and A time! Can animals really sense impending dangers like storms and earthquakes? What is the universe expanding into? And how can we prevent the insect apocalypse? We've assembled a panel...
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Long COVID: What we now know from 2021-08-17T06:07:39
This week, long COVID: we're 18 months into the pandemic and there are thousands of people with long-term health consequences of having caught the infection. We're asking the experts to find out wh...
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Environmental DNA: Seeing the Unseen from 2021-08-10T05:54:13
This week, we'll be delving into the world of environmental DNA: what did researchers find when they went looking for the Loch Ness monster? Plus, in the news, with an autumn "booster" on the cards...
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Electric vehicles: are we nearly there yet? from 2021-08-03T05:48:06
From collecting cobalt to installing infrastructure, what's the latest on how we're getting ready for the electric vehicle revolution? Plus, in the news, with numbers of COVID cases falling across ...
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Going for Gold: Our Olympic Science Q&A from 2021-07-27T10:17:02
Why are billionaires racing for space? What is the UK's Covid-19 strategy since freedom day? And how will Covid-19 affect the Olympics? This week it's QnA time, and with us to explore where weightl...
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The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition from 2021-07-20T05:04:23
It's the Royal Society's annual Summer Science Exhibition, but with a digital difference. We go behind the scenes to hear whether bees have favourite flowers, and discover smelly science of your ar...
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Psychedelics In Medicine from 2021-07-13T05:58:55
Are you feeling it? We're taking a hallucinatory trip into the world of psychedelic drugs. These substances are going through a medical renaissance - we'll learn how they work and how they might he...
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Lyme Disease: Ticks, Trends, and Treatment from 2021-07-06T06:17:34
This week we're exploring Lyme disease, looking at the science behind the ticks that carry it, the bacteria that cause it, how we treat it, and why the condition is on the rise in the UK. Plus, in ...
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Q&A: Diets, Duct Tape&Dark Matter from 2021-06-29T07:50:24
It's Q and A time! Does counting calories really work? Could the universe ever implode? And what makes duct tape so sticky? We've assembled a panel of powerful people to answer your science questio...
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Mouse plague in Australia from 2021-06-25T12:32:05
Eastern Australia is currently in the grips of a mouse plague. Mice live everywhere people do, often undetected. Right now though, highly favourable conditions have caused mice populations to explo...
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Secret Lives of Sharks from 2021-06-22T05:33:41
This week, fetch your swimmers, or maybe not, because we're diving into the secret lives of sharks, including hearing how some of them live for hundreds of years. Plus, in the news, antibody treatm...
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Vaccine Hesitancy from 2021-06-15T06:29:15
We're looking at the world of vaccine hesitancy: why are some folks unsure about getting a COVID vaccine, and how we can help? Plus, in the news, home, or away - should we be able to get away for a...
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The Sun and Us from 2021-06-08T05:48:26
Fetch your sunglasses because we're looking into the science of sunlight: from the past to the future, what has the sun meant to humanity? Plus, in the news: a global update on COVID, toxic mercury...
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Oxygen Shortages, UFOs&Nuclear Waste from 2021-06-01T06:32:09
We're diving into the science behind the latest headlines - including the oxygen shortages occurring in the wake of COVID outbreaks; the nuclear waste deep inside the wrecked Chernobyl reactor thre...
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The Science of Songbirds from 2021-05-25T04:32:44
This week we're tuning in to the science of birdsong, including parents who talk to their eggs to warn them of high temperatures, and how traffic noise means young birds are taking longer to learn ...
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Unpacking ADHD from 2021-05-18T06:30:36
This week, we're discussing ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It can lead to difficulty concentrating and focusing on tasks, and many adults don't actually realise they have it. So wh...
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Fermented food: tasty myth or healthy option? from 2021-05-11T04:50:13
This week we get our teeth into the science of fermented foods: are they a tasty health myth, or are the claimed medical benefits rooted in reality? From DIY sauerkraut and artisan cheeses, to the ...
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Malaria Vaccine, Net Zero&Project Hail Mary from 2021-05-04T02:55:24
It's a look at the science behind the headlines! Including the latest on COVID-19; a successful vaccine for malaria; the abuses of forensic science to send down the wrong people, and is 'net zero' ...
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Green Spring Clean: Greener Homes from 2021-04-27T04:44:45
As the UK announces the world's most ambitious target for cutting carbon and enshrines it in law, we're looking at how to improve the green credentials of one of the country's largest carbon contri...
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How Does My Radio Work? from 2021-04-20T06:05:56
How is it that you can listen to signals on your radio? We delve into the science of radio. From how one is made, to listening out for alien broadcasts. Plus in the news, we look at the potential f...
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The Secret Life of Seeds from 2021-04-13T05:07:13
This week, with the northern hemisphere firmly in Spring and new growth bursting out all around us, we're talking about the science of seeds. Plus, in the news: the latest on the Astrazeneca COVID ...
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Bitcoin Decrypted: Cash, Code, Crime&Power from 2021-04-06T06:46:40
Meet the digital phenomenon that's worth in the trillions of dollars, that uses more power than the nation of Sweden, but that very few people - including those involved - even understand. Cryptocu...
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The Hospital of the Future from 2021-03-30T04:23:50
As England embarks on a multi-billion pound healthcare redevelopment initiative, we're asking, "what should the hospital of the future look like?". Plus, we reflect on the recent UK Covid lockdown ...
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Earthquakes: Science on Shaky Ground from 2021-03-23T07:01:49
This week, 10 years on from the earthquake that caused the Fukushima disaster, we're looking at the science of earthquakes, new techniques to protect ancient buildings from quake damage, and are we...
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Ancient Egyptian Mysteries from 2021-03-16T05:57:33
This week, solving the mysteries of ancient Egypt: we delve into the discovery of secret chambers hidden inside pyramids, and if glowing bones reveal antibiotic use was going on thousands of years ...
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Flu Seasons to Solar Storms: Science Round Up from 2021-03-09T05:28:26
This week, we're looking at the science behind the headlines. From the latest with COVID-19, to weather in space, we'll be taking a closer look behind some of the biggest stories of the moment. Lik...
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The Future of Fertility from 2021-03-02T02:21:10
This week, the good news on vaccines for Covid-19, the helicopter taking to the sky on Mars, and the birds that make alarm sounds to scare females into mating with them. Plus, is the world facing a...
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Learning In The Time Of COVID from 2021-02-23T06:17:58
What has happened to learning in the era of COVID-19? In this episode: the people living through the psychological consequences of future mass unemployment and what the government and higher educat...
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COVID Vaccines Explained from 2021-02-16T06:21:31
As the UK surpasses its goal of vaccinating 15 million people by the 15th of February, we're taking an in-depth look at COVID vaccines: how they work, what efficacy really means, and will they prot...
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Stories of Self-Experimentation from 2021-02-09T06:41:12
What happens when the scientist... becomes the subject? We're examining the strange world of self-experimentation, from the history of martyr medics and kooky romantics, to the modern biologists do...
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Do we Need Nuclear Power? from 2021-02-02T07:18:45
This week, we're looking at nuclear power and asking, in today's world, whether we really need nuclear power? Are the alternatives really practical alternatives, or are we just kidding ourselves? P...
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X-ray to MRI: Unpacking Medical Imaging from 2021-01-26T05:23:02
This week, we're unpacking ultrasound, imagining MRI and pondering PET scans, as we ask - how does medical imaging actually work? And what future innovations are waiting in the wings? Plus, we hear...
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Fabulous Fabrics and Nifty Knitting from 2021-01-19T06:21:47
This week, looking for a new hobby? We're exploring the science of handicrafts, including why knitting boosts wellbeing, the first textiles from 27,000 years ago, and the project that's knitting hu...
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Vaccines&Space Voyages: 2021 In Science from 2021-01-12T06:13:33
We're looking ahead to the science coming up in 2021! From the Large Hadron Collider restarting, to the USA likely rejoining the Paris climate agreement, to - hopefully - an end to the pandemic. Pl...
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Animals, astronauts, and an ancient ice bird from 2021-01-05T04:00:17
In this week's episode, we're going to take you on a journey through some extra special science stories we reported on in 2020 - from chatting with a space shuttle astronaut to a 46,000 year old i...
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Showcasing Naked Astronomy: Dark Matter from 2021-01-04T11:17:03
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2021. To get the year started we've got a special bonus sneak peek at one of our other programmes for you this week. In our Naked Astronomy series, one of the sector's le...
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Cake, Cows, Climate Change: Best Of 2020 from 2020-12-29T04:52:13
In this week's special episode, we're reflecting on some of the science we've reported on this year. Of course, the Covid crisis means that throughout 2020 we've brought you many interviews and upd...
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Video Games on the Brain from 2020-12-22T07:34:24
Grab your controllers, we're diving into the world of videogames, how the music can get into your head, the psychology of games, and how they might have helped during lockdown. Plus in the news, sh...
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Bonus episode: Highlighting Naked Reflections from 2020-12-21T08:15:21
Merry Christmas! Here's something for your stocking: another bonus episode showcase for you this week. It's our weekly Naked Reflections strand. In this series, world-leading thinkers debate some o...
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Scroll Over Beethoven: Machines Making Music from 2020-12-15T05:58:07
It's Beethoven's 250th birthday! What today's tech tells us about his music? And have computers have become powerful enough to take the same creative steps as he once did? Plus, in the news: the pr...
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HIV Under the Microscope from 2020-12-08T07:11:34
This week, for World AIDS Day, we put HIV under the microscope, and talk to someone who's actually been cured, and the doctor who cured him. Plus, in the news, the UK becomes the first western coun...
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Bonus episode: Showcasing Naked Gaming from 2020-12-07T10:24:34
From time to time, we showcase here on the Naked Scientists feed some of the other programmes we make across our Naked Network. So, this week, we're bringing you the latest episode of the Naked Gam...
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Movement Science: Devotion to Motion from 2020-12-01T04:36:36
Through November we've been musing over the science of movement, from enormous planetary scales to tiny cellular ones. And so this week, to celebrate our devotion to motion, we bring you our Move n...
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Cells On The Move from 2020-11-24T06:34:33
From strange-looking sperm to cancers that spread, we're looking at the light, and dark, sides of cell movement. Plus, a second Covid vaccine approaches the finishing line, but who are the also-ran...
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People On The Move from 2020-11-17T07:42:01
From ancient past to global present, us humans are a migratory bunch. But with climate change redrawing maps of the world, what does the future hold? Plus, the science behind Pfizer's coronavirus v...
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Earth On The Move from 2020-11-10T06:23:35
This week, will mass COVID testing in Liverpool get us out of lockdown? Antibodies to defend the brain; and why we've evolved to laugh! Plus we look at the Earth on the move: from our journey throu...
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Animals on the Move from 2020-11-03T06:22
This month (November 2020), we're theming our shows around movement. From cells moving at one extreme, to planetary movements at the other! And this week we're kick-starting the series by talking a...
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Controlling Covid-19: lockdown, or let rip? from 2020-10-27T07:30:28
This week, news of the people catching coronavirus on purpose; those waiting-out the pandemic in an old nuclear bunker, and the good news that lullabies send babies to sleep regardless of what lang...
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Talking Trees: Science in the Forest from 2020-10-20T06:46:12
This week, we're talking trees! From how they grow, to the oldest ones on Earth, to how they die, and what trees can do for our cities. Plus in the news, can you catch COVID twice? How microwaving ...
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Trump's Treatments&Nobel Prizes from 2020-10-13T09:47:15
This week Chris is joined by top palaeoanthropologist Lee Berger and BMJ executive editor Theo Bloom to dissect the science behind the headlines. As Donald Trump recovers from his coronavirus infec...
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Menstrual Science: periods, pills, poverty from 2020-10-06T04:57:42
This week - we're pondering periods. With about 800 million people menstruating each day around the globe, we're re-visiting the biology, musing over menstruation and mental wellbeing, and asking w...
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Should You go Vegetarian? from 2020-09-29T06:17
With an eye on World Vegetarian Day we're looking at the feasibility of a reduced meat diet: What can cutting down calories from meat do for our health, and the health of the planet? Plus, in the n...
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Big Data, Big Problems? from 2020-09-22T05:46:52
Do algorithms run the world? Nowadays we measure the amount of data we generate in zettabytes - that's 1 followed by 21 zeroes. This data, in turn, powers algorithms that are getting more and more ...
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Covid to Climate: Dissecting Science News from 2020-09-15T04:31:57
This week - a show with a difference! Space journalist Richard Hollingham and space scientist Katie Mack join Chris to probe the science behind the headlines, talk to other guests along the way, an...
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Telescopes Through Time from 2020-09-08T06:59:05
This week, the story of how humankind has gazed into space, from the first basic telescopes to what gravitational waves are now revealing about the workings of black holes. Plus, in the news, evide...
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Where Did COVID Come From? from 2020-09-01T06:07:25
Where did the coronavirus come from? The story we've been told is that it started off in bats, and then jumped into humans some time late last year at a seafood market in the city of Wuhan. It's a ...
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Gardens, Plants and Climate Change from 2020-08-25T05:58:12
This week, with our climate changing, will the traditional "English country garden" become a thing of the past? Will pests and diseases surge? And how will flowers and food crops, and the pollinato...
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Can You Understand Me? from 2020-08-18T06:22:34
This week, How do we understand each other, from infants to adults how do we go about relating to one another. Plus, in the news, A Russian COVID vaccine, the perks of prosecco, and stopping swarmi...
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Sick of COVID: The Long Haulers from 2020-08-11T06:26:30
Meet the COVID-19 patients who are still suffering the after-effects of the disease, months after catching the virus. They weren't ill enough to be hospitalised, and thought they'd recover after a ...
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Sizzling BBQ Science! from 2020-08-04T05:50:19
This week, we're getting stuck into some sizzling science! It's BBQ time, and we're going to explain the chemistry of cookery, the science of tastes and flavours and we're also going to try to cook...
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Science Pub Quiz: From Cosmos To G&Ts from 2020-07-28T04:47:43
It's quiz time! Three fabulous listeners take on our questions - on everything from physics & space to the natural world. Who will emerge victorious and be crowned Big Brain of the Month? Plus,...
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Rosalind Franklin: the hidden story of DNA from 2020-07-21T07:48:16
This week we're celebrating the hundredth birthday of DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin and how her work helped to unravel the DNA helix. Plus, in the news: COVID causes heart damage, water shortages i...
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Meet the Neighbours: Venus and Mars from 2020-07-14T06:44:41
This week, we're meeting the neighbours. Our planetary neighbours that is, to take a look at Mars and Venus, and the new missions heading their way. Plus, in the news, COVID as an airborne disease,...
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Covid Science: Test, Track, Trace from 2020-07-07T04:54:15
This week, testing, tracing and monitoring. How does a covid test actually work? Do antibodies to covid mean immunity? And the tech to monitor covid symptoms from home. Plus in the news, as lockdow...
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Bail Out The Planet from 2020-06-30T04:21:01
Forget banks, forget airlines - can we bail out the planet? As the world begins to reopen from lockdown, we're asking whether the present 'reset' is a golden opportunity to tackle climate change. C...
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Let's Get Quizzical: Summer Science Pub Quiz from 2020-06-23T08:09:13
This week, lockdown may be easing, but the pubs still haven't flung open their doors yet, so this week, we're bringing a little of the pub to you, with a Naked Scientist Pub Quiz. It's a QnA show w...
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Under Our Feet: What's Inside Earth? from 2020-06-16T05:19:16
This week, put on your hard hat and steel capped boots: we're journeying to the centre of the earth! From the soil at the surface to the magnetic molten iron at the core, we're delving into what's ...
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The Fifth State of Matter from 2020-06-09T11:00:26
Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of some Nobel-prize-winning science: the fifth state of matter, a strange quantum soup known as a Bose-Einstein condensate. What is it, and why is it at the cutt...
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COVID-19: How to Vaccinate a Planet from 2020-06-02T06:22:15
This week, the search for a vaccine for COVID-19: will we succeed, and when? Plus, in the news, the search for a chemical fingerprint for severe COVID-19, bacteria that live inside cancers, and cou...
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Life in the New Normal from 2020-05-26T06:08:40
This week, we're asking what will the "new normal" look like? We delve into the future of healthcare, education and transport. Plus in the news, loss of smell is added to the list of coronavirus sy...
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Publishing&Politics: How Science Gets Made from 2020-05-19T02:17:13
What's a scientific paper? What's peer review? And when governments say they're "following the science" during this pandemic, what does that actually mean? We're figuring out how science goes from ...
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The Science of World War Two from 2020-05-12T05:00:40
This week, we're bringing you a special episode, diving into the science and technology of World War Two, to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day... Like this podcast? Please help us ...
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Science Pub Quiz! from 2020-05-05T05:52:57
This week, pull up a chair, a drink, and get your pens and paper ready, because it's time for The Naked Scientists science pub quiz! Playing along are climate scientist Ella Gilbert from the Britis...
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COVID-19: Beyond the Virus from 2020-04-28T06:47:40
This week, we're looking at the impacts of coronavirus beyond the virus: how is it hitting economies, universities and our mental wellbeing? Plus, researchers come up with a way out of the lockdown...
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Eyes on the Skies from 2020-04-21T05:16:13
Welcome to a voyage of discovery using only the view from your window. From cloudspotting to birdwatching to stargazing, you're never going to look at the sky the same way again. Plus, news of how ...
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Bubbles, Balloons and Blooms: April Q&A from 2020-04-14T04:57:43
Today, we're taking a step back from talking about coronavirus, to bring you a QnA show with a difference! We're answering some of the questions you've been sending in, and we're also getting stuck...
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The Rise of Radioactivity from 2020-04-07T07:55:05
This week, we are looking at radioactivity, from its uses in medicine to its uses in war. Plus, a sneak preview of a new film due out soon all about radioactivity pioneer Marie Curie. Plus, a new 9...
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Boom! Naked Scientists LIVE! from 2020-03-31T04:45:39
This week - from genetics to geoscience, chemistry to komodo dragons, an explosive hour of science fun! Hear what went on at our live event recorded back on 11th March for the 2020 Cambridge Scienc...
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Audience Questions: Naked Scientists LIVE! from 2020-03-30T04:21:40
Here are a few extra bits from our live show as part of the Cambridge Science Festival, recorded back on 11th March 2020 before the rest of the festival was cancelled, that we couldn't fit into thi...
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Coronavirus Explained: How COVID-19 Works from 2020-03-24T12:12:12
We take a detailed look at the coronavirus pandemic that's sweeping the globe. How does it affect the lungs? What can doctors do about it? And meet some of the teams working on solutions, from new ...
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Secrets of sustainable cities from 2020-03-17T06:49:12
With billions of people moving to cities in the next few decades we are looking at the secrets for making cities sustainable, from a virtual world to a World War 2 air raid shelter. Plus in the new...
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Q&A: COVID-19, Solar Storms&Ancient Teeth from 2020-03-10T06:34:40
What happens if you overwater a plant? How does gravity actually work? And should we be cancelling mass events to contain the coronavirus? It's Q&A time on the show, and this week Phil Sansom i...
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Electric Cars: Worth the Charge? from 2020-03-03T05:20:58
This week, we're talking electric cars: we get someone to drive one for a few days to find out how easy the switch to electric might be. And news of the brainy computer that's made a breakthrough a...
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Artificial intelligence in medicine from 2020-02-27T10:20:56
For many, the term Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a phrase straight out of sci-fi, conjuring up visions of utopias or dystopias, from films ranging from the Terminator to I Robot. But what was pre...
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Time: It's all relative from 2020-02-25T05:31:32
With the leap year upon us, and the rare appearance of Feb 29th, we're "marking time" to find out how time works: from why time seems to go faster when we're older, to the mind-bending warping of t...
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Prostate Cancer: Detection and Diagnosis from 2020-02-18T06:34:31
This week we delve into the disease that accounts for a quarter of all cancer diagnoses in men: prostate cancer. We'll be finding out how it's picked up and diagnosed, as well as speaking to someon...
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Eat, Sleep, Repeat: Body Clock Science from 2020-02-11T05:14:26
This week - tick tock! We're talking body clock science! Whether it's eating, sleeping, or coming down with something - we're taking a look at the biology of our daily rhythms. Plus in the news, do...
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Q&A: Soy, Slingshots and Cyanide from 2020-02-04T07:36:12
What's a white hole? Why don't we use brain scans to diagnose mental health and why was cyanide Agatha Christie's poison of choice? All this and more as our panel of experts answer your questions. ...
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A Burns Night Celebration of Science from 2020-01-28T06:12:58
This week we're donning our kilts and raising our whisky bottles to celebrate Burns Night! The two-century-old Scottish holiday honours the memory of the great poet Robbie Burns, and in this episod...
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Food Waste: Slimmer Waste-line from 2020-01-21T05:53:32
This week: food waste. Worldwide, a third of the food we buy ends up in the bin. Why? And what can science do to help? Plus - will 2020 be another climate record-breaker, and what are the climate-c...
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Know When to Fold 'Em: Origami Science from 2020-01-14T06:38:32
This week we're unraveling the science behind the ancient art of origami - paper folding - and how scientists are even doing it now with DNA. The new virus that's appeared in China, news of the Aus...
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Lottery Numbers and Banana Skins from 2020-01-07T07:33:19
It's Q&A time! We've picked a selection of the best science questions from listeners, like: are lottery numbers really random? Is there still a hole in the ozone layer? And crucially - why do s...
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A Year of Naked Science! from 2019-12-31T04:03:04
In this week's special episode, Katie Haylor, Adam Murphy and Phil Sansom take a trip down memory lane, month by month, reflecting on some of our favourite moments from a whole year's worth of sens...
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Get Gaming: Naked Scientists Christmas 2019 from 2019-12-23T06:29:31
Merry Christmas! In this special edition of the show, discover how many presents are really coming your way on the 12th day, hear which medical specialists are most likely to get caught speeding, a...
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Fly Me to the Moon from 2019-12-17T07:59:36
NASA have stated that they are heading back to the Moon in 2024. This week we're finding out why, and what's in store for us as we head up there. Plus, in the news, cave paintings dated to 40,000 y...
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How to survive an avalanche from 2019-12-10T06:45:56
This week we're exploring a terrifying force of nature: avalanches. Why do they happen? How do you avoid them? And if you encounter one, how could you survive it? We speak to Lawrence Jones, who 20...
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Why Do I Stress Eat? from 2019-12-03T06:30:53
This week: Is fat worse than sugar? Can you die of a broken heart? Is the universe really expanding? We've assembled a panel of experts to take on your science questions: diet and genetics guru Gil...
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Print me a new liver! from 2019-11-26T04:54:48
This week, artificial organs! How close are we to growing life-saving hearts, kidneys and livers in the lab? Plus in the news, how hospital computer systems can save lives by spotting subtle signs ...
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Custard unflustered from 2019-11-19T10:54:36
This week, the deadly serious science of custard, including the chemistry of eggs, sports bra tehcnology, custard powder explosions, and that most important question of them all: is custard better ...
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Phenomics: A Medical Revolution from 2019-11-12T05:57
This week, we're looking at the future of medicine, phenomics! Including the toilet that analyses what you put down it! And in the news, sending wine to space, new insights into the origin of life,...
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Computer Models: Welcome to the catwalk from 2019-11-11T10:41:37
Computer models are everywhere and we use them to gain an understanding of the world and make predictions about the future, such as the spread of diseases, whether a rocket will get into orbit, and...
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Eggs, eyes and quantum - November QnA from 2019-11-05T05:29:21
This week - How do glow worms glow, and can they do so indefinitely? Why don't birds fall out of trees when they sleep? And space tourism: when can I book my ticket to orbit? We've assembled an exp...
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Does recycling work? from 2019-10-29T05:26:21
This week we're diving into the bins and sorting through the rubbish to figure out: what's going on with recycling? Many countries like the UK produce far more recyclable waste than they can deal w...
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Blood Under a Microscope from 2019-10-22T04:30:42
This week, we're taking a look at blood, from regenerating blood vessels, to one of our team going to their first blood donation! Plus in the news, concerns that Ebola might be back with a vengean...
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Sport Special from 2019-10-21T11:31:30
The Rugby World Cup is taking place in Japan, and FIFA 20 has just been released, so this month it's a sport special! Including Virtual Reality Go Karting... yes really. And we meet the author who ...
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Inclusive Computing from 2019-10-15T03:48:50
This week, computers are supposedly there to help us - but how easy are they to use and programme if you're disabled? We're looking at how to make computing as inclusive as it can be. Plus, news of...
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Quadrillions: Sequencing the UK Biobank from 2019-10-14T06:26:48
Half a million genomes. That's how many the UK Biobank has, stored as blood samples in freezers up in Manchester. And in September 2019 they announced a project to sequence every single one of them...
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October Q&A from 2019-10-08T04:38:57
It's Q&A time! This week - is AI a threat to humanity? What's a panic attack? And why does being scared make your legs wobble? We're answering your questions about science, technology, and medi...
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Getting to Grips with Gene Therapy from 2019-10-01T05:42:57
This week - gene therapy. We talk to researchers using DNA technology to prevent blindness, halt muscular dystrophy, and even potentially cure HIV. Plus, what climate change means for the state of ...
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Astronauts, geese and realistic retinas from 2019-09-26T05:12
This month, doctors doing U-turns: the medical practices without much evidence to prop them up, wind-tunnel experiments reveal how geese fly at extreme altitudes, why mating makes bees go blind, st...
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Crystal Clear About Glass from 2019-09-24T04:56:33
This week, we're taking a look through the window, or rather, at the window: we're looking at glass! Coming up, how do you make glass, how does stained glass work, and is bullet-proof glass really ...
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Code Making and Breaking from 2019-09-17T07:10:05
We're making codes and breaking ciphers this week as we look at the world of cryptography! Coming up, Cold War spy rings, and how does your computer keep your data secure? Plus in the news, why it'...
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Creepy crawlies, quarks and counting from 2019-09-10T04:25:46
This week: How long can someone hold their breath and can you train for this? Who are fitter - footballers or rugby players? And what's the most intelligent insect? We've assembled an expert panel ...
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Stripping down STIs from 2019-09-03T03:39:34
We're stripping down sexual health and sexually transmitted infections! Coming up, will we soon have a vaccine for chlamydia? And what happens in a sexual health check up? And in the news, the fire...
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Are You Safe Online? from 2019-08-27T05:02:48
This week: How does the internet affect us? What does it mean for our security, our wallets, and ourselves. We're taking a deep dive into the world of all things cyber... Like this podcast? Please ...
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Marvellous Materials in Medicine from 2019-08-20T05:25:39
This week, Chris Smith and Izzie Clarke explore the helpful materials that keep us healthy. How are dental implants made and fitted? Bacteria-resistant plastic coatings; and what hip implants have ...
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QnA: Fridges and impossible food from 2019-08-13T12:00
In this month's QnA show we're asking: why are fridges harder to open again after you just closed them? What's the best way to wipe the memory of a smart phone? And what might climate change mean f...
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A Spin Around the Electron from 2019-08-06T12:00
This week we're taking a spin around the electron! How does a fridge magnet stay stuck? And how can quantum physics help us in battling cancer? We'll find out. Plus in the news, the chemistry of br...
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Flying into the Future from 2019-07-30T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists are taking off into the future of aviation: will flights get faster? Could we see a fully electric plane? And can a Naked Scientist land a commercial aircraft? Izzie...
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The Moon Landing: 50 Years Later from 2019-07-23T00:00
This week a special show celebrating 50 years since man first walked on the Moon! How did we get there, what happened on the Moon, and will we ever go back? Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Simulation Science: Living in The Matrix? from 2019-07-16T00:00
This week, could we be living in The Matrix? We're talking about the power of computer simulations, and we're asking are we all living in one! Plus, in the news  - making diabetes treatmen...
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Alzheimers Disease: Facts and Fiction from 2019-07-09T12:00
This week, Alzheimer's Disease goes under the microscope: What is it? Why do people get it, and can we cure it? Plus in the news, why the planet needs more trees, a breakthrough in storing computer...
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Extremely High: Sky high science from 2019-07-02T12:00
We're rounding off our month of extreme shows with some extremely high science - coping with altitude, flying over Everest, high energy physics and screaming in space! Plus, sniffing out Methane on...
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Extremely Deep: Mining for gold from 2019-06-25T00:00
Extremes month continues, and this week we're going extremely deep; Chris Smith takes a trip to one of the world's deepest mines in search of gold. Plus, in the news, the GM mosquito that wipes out...
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Extremely Curious: QnA from 2019-06-18T12:00
For extremes month we have an extreme QnA! This week we're joined by astronomer Carolin Crawford, nanoscientist Colm Durkan, Haydn Belfield from the Centre for Existential Risk, and chemist Ljiljan...
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Extremely Cold: Cool Science from 2019-06-11T12:00
This week, we're continuing our month of science at the extremes, by looking at extreme cold. Including expeditions to the poles, what happens at absolute zero, and the animals that can survive tem...
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Extremely Fast: The Science of Speed from 2019-06-04T00:00
This week, we're kicking off a month of science at the extremes. From fast acting venom to vehicles, speedy space to tennis serves... We're getting up to speed on Extreme Speed. Plus, in the news, ...
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Ultimate destination: building better roads from 2019-05-28T12:00
Safer, cleaner, and more efficient. That's the aim for the roads of tomorrow, but are we there yet? This week, Katie Haylor hits the road on a journey to discover how science is helping us build th...
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The Power of Vaccines from 2019-05-21T00:00
This week we're putting on our swimsuits and diving deep into the choppy waters of the world of vaccines, how do they help us, and why are people becoming so hesitant to get them. Plus in ...
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Why does dark matter matter? from 2019-05-14T00:00
This week - the mysterious stuff that's passing through you right now, and it literally holds the galaxy together... but we have no idea what it is. We talk to the scientists trying to find out. Pl...
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That May Q&A! from 2019-05-07T00:00
It's Q&A time: We've got a panel of scientists ready and waiting to tackle the questions you've been sending in. Izzie Clarke was joined by plant ecologist Howard Giffiths, chemist and writer K...
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Vets Beyond Pets from 2019-04-30T00:00
This week; horse racing, equine flu, a hedgehog hospital and a trip to the local zoo - we're looking at how vets keep animals healthy and why that's good news for humans too. Plus, how a dose of ca...
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Naked at Edinburgh Science Festival! from 2019-04-23T00:00
Chris Smith and Adam Murphy head to Edinburgh Science Festival to bring you the best - and the bizarre - from the wonderful world of science. Joining them are Chris Johnson, Head of Computer Scienc...
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Cooking with a Conscience from 2019-04-16T00:00
This week a Naked Scientists exclusive: we're putting a brand new type of oven to the test - can it really, as the inventors claim - roast a raw chicken in 35 minutes? Plus, the brave scientists wh...
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Q&A Space Surgery in Scotland from 2019-04-09T00:00
It's time for our Q&A, this time from Edinburgh! This week, what happens if you get pregant in space? How do chemists make new molecules? And how do antidepressants work? Chris Smith is joined ...
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Modelling and Microbes: Science of Birth from 2019-04-02T00:00
Spring has officially sprung! There are newborn lambs prancing around in the fields in the UK, and we've recently celebrated Mothering Sunday. To celebrate, we're taking a trip down the road of pre...
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Say Hello to Tomorrows Tech from 2019-03-26T00:00
Bonjour! This week we've been to Paris; we've been attending Hello Tomorrow, the summit that showcases world-changing emerging technologies that are about to make it big. This week: A tiny micropho...
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A New Material World from 2019-03-19T00:00
This week, Chris Smith and Izzie Clarke are taking you to the cutting edge of materials science including how blacksmiths made incredibly tough swords to how defence scientists make bullet-proof ar...
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Q&A: Atoms, Avalanches&Armpits from 2019-03-12T00:00
This week, could we colonise a planet beyond our own galaxy? What's the greenest way to heat my home? And why do bright lights make some people sneeze? It's QA time! Chris Smith is joined by a pane...
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The Issue of Invasive Species from 2019-03-05T00:00
This week, we're being invaded! Izzie Clarke and Katie Haylor explore invasive species: how they sneak in, why they disrupt nature, and how to fight back! Plus, in the news, scientists turn carbon ...
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Born to Run: Sprinting Science from 2019-02-26T00:00
This week we get off the couch to talk about the science of running. What does it do for our bodies, and our minds? Why did we ever evolve to do it in the first place? Can a man outrun a horse? Plu...
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Periodic Table: 150 Au Years from 2019-02-19T00:00
This week we're celebrating 150 years of the Periodic Table - we'll find out how scientists uncovered the elements in the first place and what other mysterious materials may be waiting to be discov...
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Zoo&A: Why cant dogs eat chocolate? from 2019-02-12T00:00
It's QnA time, or should we say ZOO and A? We're pondering about pets and inquiring about insects as Jacob Dunn, Eleanor Drinkwater, Jason Head and Stuart Eves join Chris Smith to answer the animal...
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How to hijack a brain from 2019-02-05T00:00
This week, how hypnosis works, the parasites that hijack brain and behaviour, why we're all being manipulated 24/7, and how to build remote-controlled rodents. Plus news that we're a step closer to...
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Cars of the Future: Are We Ready? from 2019-01-29T00:00
This week, we're getting revved up about the cars of the future! What needs to change for future car travel to be sustainable? And in the news, as Hitachi pulls the plug on a UK nuclear deal, could...
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Art: From colours to counterfeits from 2019-01-22T00:00
From finding forgeries to creating colours, we explore the science of art. Plus, in the news, turning cancer cells into fat, a threat to one of our favourite beverages, and is there really a Dark S...
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Microbes: From Farm to Fork from 2019-01-15T00:00
We're making a meal out of microbes, Geogia Mills and Chris Smith meet the little helpers that get food onto the table. Plus, in the news, the intelligent material that help wounds to heal, scienti...
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Why is There Always Room for Dessert? from 2019-01-08T00:00
Do astronauts get WiFi in space? What is the speed of gravity? Why is there always room for dessert? Giles Yeo, Anne-Laura Van Harmelen, Richard Hollingham and Francesca Day gather round the microp...
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A Naked Year! from 2018-12-31T00:00
From talking whales to training astronauts, creating life to reversing life-threatening allergies, Georgia Mills, Izzie Clarke and few other familiar voices re-visit their favourite moments and th...
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The Science of Surviving Christmas from 2018-12-23T00:00
Here is The Naked Scientists' guide to surviving - and thriving - at Christmas, including our top scientifically-tested tips for cooking turkey and making the best roast potatoes. Plus, a healthy h...
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Regeneration: Healing Revealed from 2018-12-18T00:00
This week, we are getting to grips with regeneration: how does your body heal itself, and what can science do to help? Plus, in the news, the tech set to change our lives in 2019, the hidden per...
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Regeneration: Healing Revealed from 2018-12-18T00:00
This week, we are getting to grips with regeneration: how does your body heal itself, and what can science do to help? Plus, in the news, the tech set to change our lives in 2019, the hidden per...
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Space Talk: Missions Through Time from 2018-12-11T00:00
Izzie Clarke and Katie Haylor are blasting through a brief history of space exploration and find out how humanity's quest towards the stars has inspired their guests; space journalist Dr Stuart Cla...
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QnA: Earthworms and wormholes! from 2018-12-04T00:00
This week: Is everything in the universe spinning? How do lazy dogs keep fit? And is it safe to heat our dinner in plastic tubs? We've recruited 4 experts to tackle your science questions - astrono...
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Teeth: Brushing up on Dentistry from 2018-11-27T00:00
This week, Chris Smith and Izzie Clarke are filling the gaps in their knowledge of teeth; we also meet the microbes in our mouths and test the battle of the toothbrushes. Plus, in the news, researc...
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Can Science Create Superhumans? from 2018-11-20T00:00
This week - Humanity 2.0! Can we use genetics, drugs and technology to become superhuman? We speak to experts on the science that can push us to our extremes, and meet the world's first cyborg. Plu...
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The Great British Make Off from 2018-11-13T00:00
This week, from posters to pancakes - how do the objects we see around us every day actually get made? We're uncovering the science of manufacturing - from the very big, to the very small and the v...
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QnA: Temperature, Tech and Testicles from 2018-11-06T00:00
This week, we've assembled a panel of experts to tackle your science questions, including: Are there plastics in the fish we eat? Can electrical devices affect your fertility? And how does Earth's ...
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Scientific Shimmy: Why we Dance from 2018-10-30T00:00
This week the Naked Scientists are hitting the dance floor with a look at the science of the shimmy. Why do we do it, what makes a dance look good, and how can it be used to help people? Plus, in t...
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Catalysts: Our Tiny Chemists from 2018-10-23T00:00
From brewing beer to cleaning up car emissions and even making less polluting fuels. We're asking - what exactly are catalysts, and how do they work? Plus, in the news, scientists discover the mech...
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Meet the Neolithic from 2018-10-16T00:00
This week we go back thousands of years to meet our Neolithic ancestors, and discover how their innovations paved the way for all life as we know it. Explore the origin of farming and wine making, ...
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QnA: Sperm Races and Monkey Business from 2018-10-09T00:00
This week, can science help us to quit our vices? Do any animals have accents? And how big can a planet get? Joining Chris Smith to tackle your sci-curious questions was physicist Jess Wade, planet...
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How Do I Look? from 2018-10-02T00:00
This week - from skin care to going under the knife, we're lifting the lid on the science of looking good. Plus in the news, a DNA repair kit that can fix genetic diseases and a UK project launches...
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Flu Do You Think You Are? from 2018-09-25T00:00
In 1918, Spanish flu wiped out more people than World War 1. Now, a century on, we're asking why this pandemic packed such a punch, where flu came from in the first place, and how flu vaccines are ...
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On the Flip Side - Earth's Magnetic Field from 2018-09-18T00:00
This week we're looking at the magnetic field keeping our planet safe, finding out how it's generated and whether some animals can actually see it. Plus, news of a technique to read out the time of...
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QnA: Diabetes, Driving and Dodgems from 2018-09-11T00:00
It's Question and Answer time! The Naked Scientists tackle the medical musings and chemical queries you've been sending in. Joining Chris Smith in studio was Astrophysicist Matt Bothwell, Chemist P...
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Biomimicry: Borrowing from Biology from 2018-09-04T00:00
This week, we explore the field of biomimicry and how nature can help inspire technologies of the future, including the crickets that are showing scientists how to make better hearing aids, dragonf...
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Naked on a Punt! from 2018-08-28T00:00
Join the Naked Scientists for a leisurely ride on a punt, past Cambridge's picturesque riverside colleges. At each stop the boat picks up some of the brightest brains from the University and hear ...
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Music Science: from Mozart to Marketing from 2018-08-21T00:00
Mozart or Motown, most of us love music. We're digging into the science behind this much-loved pass time, be it listening to your favourite tunes, or playing them for yourself. Plus in the news - t...
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Waterloo Uncovered: Veterans Excavate Old Conflicts from 2018-08-14T00:00
This week we're on the historical Waterloo battlefield where veterans of modern wars - often with disabilities, PTSD and other mental scars - are joining archaeologists to excavate remains of one o...
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Medicinal Cannabis: Weeding Out The Hype from 2018-08-07T00:00
This week, medical uses of cannabis. What's the hype and what's the reality? We hear from the people who grow it, and the people who want to use it. Plus in the news, scientists grow replacement lu...
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Life in the year 2100 from 2018-07-31T00:00
We follow a day in the life in 2100, exploring the cities, transport, workplaces and health of the future. Plus, astronomers find water on Mars, a magnetic wire which could screen for cancer and wh...
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The First Test Tube Baby at 40 from 2018-07-24T00:00
On 25th July 1978, 40 years ago, the first baby conceived using in vitro fertilisation - IVF - techniques developed to help people who couldn't have children naturally, was born. Her name was Louis...
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Fighter Flight: The Skys The Limit from 2018-07-17T00:00
We hope you've got your boarding passes at the ready! To celebrate 50 years of the jumbo jet, 100 years of the Royal Air Force and the recent arrival of the brand new F35 fighter jet in the UK, The...
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QnA - Should you wee on a jellyfish sting? from 2018-07-10T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists are swinging into summer! Guests Jane Sterling, Jim Bacon, Laurence Kemp and Howard Griffiths take on your holiday themed questions, including: Why do we get heat wa...
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The A-Z of addiction from 2018-07-03T00:00
This week, addiction! Why do we get hooked on things? Are video games addictive? And evidence that the gambling industry use artificial intelligence to make you more likely to keep playing. Plus, i...
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Venting About Volcanoes from 2018-06-26T00:00
This week - we're exploding the science of volcanoes. Why do they erupt? What threat do they pose to aeroplanes? And what impact do they have on us and our environment? Plus, news that marriage cut...
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Beating Heart Disease from 2018-06-19T00:00
The Naked Scientists are delving into the science of heart disease; we've been to the UK's leading heart conference in Manchester. Hear from the researchers trying to discover the causes and new tr...
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Q and A: Disney, Dark Matter, and Deja Vu from 2018-06-12T00:00
What is dj vu? Why do I get angry when I'm hungry? Why do I remember every Disney lyric, but can't remember how to set my oven? Materials physicist Jess Wade, neuroscientist Philipe Bujold, animal ...
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Football Under the Microscope from 2018-06-05T00:00
This week we're taking a look at the science of football, from physics to psychology. And in the news, can being social stave off dementia and what new features have been found on the surface of Pl...
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Planet B: Can We Colonise Space? from 2018-05-29T00:00
This week we're leaving planet earth in search of a new home. Is there a Planet B? How could we get there? And presenter Izzie Clarke takes a spin at astronaut training. Like this podcast? Please h...
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Allergy Science: from antibodies to anaphylaxis from 2018-05-22T00:00
Hayfever causing you havoc? Is asthma proving to be an annoyance? This week, we're talking allergies. What causes them, and can we reverse them? We talk to one specialist who's making great strides...
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Q&A: Martian sunsets and submerged sloths from 2018-05-15T00:00
Why don't we get invisible animals on land? What's at the centre of a gas giant? Did we really land on the moon? Astronomer Matt Bothwell, marine biologist Kate Feller, palaeontologist Jason Head a...
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Water: Drips, Drains and Droughts from 2018-05-08T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists are dipping their toes into water; where does it come from, could we ever run out, and we take a stroll through a local sewage plant. Plus, in the news, scientists l...
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Senses Month: Tackling Touch from 2018-05-01T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists' senses month comes to a close as we tackle touch: how we develop a sense of touch, getting tactile when shopping and the secret to the perfect hug. Plus, making gre...
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Senses Month: Scents and Scent Ability from 2018-04-24T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists get right up your nose! We find out how smells work, explore if stenches could help people give up smoking and sniff out the scent of nightmares. Plus, the science o...
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Senses Month: A Taste of Science from 2018-04-17T00:00
This month we're exploring the science of our senses. So far we've heard how our ears work, looked the visual system in the eye, and this week, we're getting our teeth into the science of taste. Pl...
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Senses Month: The Science of Sight from 2018-04-10T00:00
From ancient fossils to cutting edge surgery, we're bringing you the lowdown on the science of vision. Plus in the news, a drug that might aid stroke recovery, and what you can learn from taking a ...
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Senses Month: Can you Hear Me? from 2018-04-03T00:00
Are we headed for a hearing-loss epidemic, and can science step in when the world starts to go quiet? This week, The Naked Scientists go on an odyssey into the science of hearing, listen in to fi...
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Q&A: Greedy Guts&Useless Numbers from 2018-03-27T00:00
It's QnA Time! The Naked Scientists gathered a panel of experts to tackle your sci-curious questions; geneticist and food neuroscientist Giles Yeo, biologist and insect expert Chris Pull, material ...
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A Brief History of Stephen Hawking from 2018-03-20T00:00
On Wednesday March the 14th, the world was shaken by the death of one of our greatest scientists, Professor Stephen Hawking. Joined by some of his Cambridge colleagues and the new generation of sci...
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What's Inside Your Computer? from 2018-03-13T00:00
This week - we use them everyday - at work, at home, to chat to our friends or listen to music - but how do computers actually work, what's inside them, and what will the computers of tomorrow look...
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Before they're Gone: Fighting the Illegal Wildlife Trade from 2018-03-06T00:00
It's one of the largest criminal industries in the world, worth billions and responsible for thousands of murders, but can we win the fight against the illegal wildlife trade? We speak to the foot ...
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What The Heck Is Xenobiology? from 2018-02-27T00:00
The Naked Scientists meet the biologists who are inventing a new form of genetic information: this strange science is called xenobiology. Plus, in the news, a breakthrough in the treatment of cance...
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How High Can We Build? from 2018-02-20T00:00
This week, we put your questions to our expert panel of scientists - What's the tallest possible building? Do female animals flirt? And what can we do if an asteroid ends up heading for earth? Like...
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The Art of Science from 2018-02-13T00:00
The Naked Scientists ditch the lab coats for artistic overalls. From coding musical compositions to the jeans that remove air-pollution, we take a look at how art has helped science. Plus, in the n...
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Turning the Tide on Plastics from 2018-02-06T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists probe the plastic problem: can science help turn the tide on our rising consumption? Plus, the killer whale that can talk, and some groundbreaking research reveals w...
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Why Bother Being Nice? from 2018-01-30T00:00
This week, we're asking would you risk your life to save someone else? Plenty of people do, and so do other animals and even bacteria. But why? And how did altruistic actions like this evolve? Plus...
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James Webb: Gazing at Early Galaxies from 2018-01-23T00:00
This week, how astronomers are planning to see the beginning of our Universe: we talk to the team behind the telescope that's about to be blasted into deep space to make it happen. Plus, scientists...
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Why does snoring exist? from 2018-01-16T00:00
Is it possible to stop snoring? Is there a difference between running outside and on a treadmill? Which food group really is the worst for us? Chris Smith is joined by exercise expert Dan Gordon, s...
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Criminal Chemistry: What's the Perfect Poison? from 2018-01-09T00:00
This week - from adrenaline to arsenic, The Naked Scientists delve into the sinister science of poisons! Plus, what space tech is on the horizon in 2018, and the science of New Year's resolutions. ...
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The Science of 2017 from 2018-01-02T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists raise a glass to 2017 as they look back at their favourite science moments of the year, including: bees playing football, ghost busting, and removing farts from a ca...
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A Very Naked Christmas from 2017-12-22T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists are spreading festive cheer as they get ready for Christmas, all in one hour! Joined by psychologist Philipe Bujold, tech expert Alex Farell, vibrations engineer Hug...
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The Science of Social Media from 2017-12-19T00:00
Social media use is more common than ever, with over 2 billion of us signed up, but do we know what it's doing to our brains? We're exploring how this exploding trend is influencing our opinions an...
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Star Wars: The Science Strikes Back from 2017-12-12T00:00
This week we delve into physics in a galaxy far far away as we probe the science of Star Wars! Plus in the news, evidence that London air is stunting the growth of developing babies, and scientists...
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Can a Shrimp Punch Through Glass? from 2017-12-05T00:00
Are black holes really holes? Is there such thing as a genetic love match? Why do clouds move? The Naked Scientists are joined by marine biologist Kate Feller, astrophysicist Matt Middleton, geneti...
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Forever Young: Can Science Reverse Ageing? from 2017-11-28T00:00
Is ageing inevitable, or can science help stop or even reverse the process? From young blood to diet fads, and stem cells to dancing, we explore what the experts think will keep us healthier for lo...
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Tomorrow's Tech: Biomedical Breakthroughs from 2017-11-21T00:00
This week, new ways to spot cancers much sooner, repair nerve injuries and fix hip arthritis: we're looking at four major medical breakthroughs waiting to happen. Plus in the news, how advertisers ...
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Palaeo Ponderings: Can You Dig It? from 2017-11-14T00:00
Did dinosaurs live in herds? Why are mountains pointy? And what's the best preserved mummy? Plus we had a giant snake, a few skulls, a couple of "feet" and one of the oldest rocks on Earth in the s...
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Are we Working Ourselves to Death? from 2017-11-07T00:00
We devote up to 50 years of our life to it, yet it might just be getting us down. This week The Naked Scientists programme examines work, hearing how our behaviour and our buildings can change to b...
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The paranormal: Why do we believe? from 2017-10-31T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists delve into the paranormal. We'll be asking why so many of us have supernatural beliefs, exploring the scientific origins behind our favourite monster legends, and br...
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Under Your Skin from 2017-10-24T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists get under the skin of skin. Hear about the new method to treat burn victims, the electronic tattoo that can tell if you've got flu and how to keep your skin in good ...
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The Countdown to Artificial Intelligence from 2017-10-17T00:00
The Naked Scientists are joined by an expert panel to discuss the seven most significant questions people are asking about AI. We explore the risks and positive outcomes of AI, and Chris finds out ...
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DNA Decoded: Past, Present and Sausage from 2017-10-10T00:00
This week we delve into DNA and what it can tell us about our past, present and future. And, what happened when we decided to read the DNA sequence of a local sausage. Plus, in the news, what won N...
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What makes the best breakfast? from 2017-10-03T00:00
Can your intestines grow back? How can you measure your own stress levels? How do electric eels work? Scientists David Rothery, Sarah Madden and Gareth Corbett team up to answer an eclectic and ele...
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Is The Future Bionic? from 2017-09-26T00:00
This week a look at enhancements for future humans: wearable robots, an artificial pancreas, and a replacement retina, as well as limb and head transplants. Plus, in the news, a new hope for global...
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Memories: Making Them&Faking Them from 2017-09-19T00:00
This week, we take a trip down memory lane. How scientists can implant false memories, wipe memory away, and the link between head injuries and Alzheimer's disease. Plus, in the news, farewell to C...
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Drug Discovery: The Future of Pharma from 2017-09-12T00:00
This week; from Big Pharma to Little Pharma, we look at how new drugs are discovered. Plus, in the news - what powers the Northern Lights on Jupiter, why cuckoos have the last laugh, and 3 decade...
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Fidget Spinners in Space? from 2017-09-05T00:00
In the latest Q and A show from The Naked Scientists, we answer your questions with the help of an expert panel - plant scientist Beverley Glover, mathematician James Grime, physicist Jess Wade and...
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Can Science Mavericks Save the World? from 2017-08-29T00:00
This week, we're exploring the end of the world. From robotic AI takeovers to global floods, when it comes to the extinction of our species, is science really set up to predict or prevent such even...
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Diet: Can we be healthy and sustainable? from 2017-08-22T00:00
This week, food is on the menu! Do any of the diets that you hear about actually work? What's best to eat for the health of the planet? And will the steak of the future grow in a test tube? Plus, s...
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Black Holes in Sight from 2017-08-15T00:00
This week we're exploring the cosmos through your senses. How scientists are attempting to see a black hole for the first time, what Saturn sounds like, and what will the surface of Mars feel like....
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Whats the Best Way to be Happy? from 2017-08-08T00:00
The science questions that you've been sending in get scrutinised and analysed by biologist Sarah Harrison, statistician Simon White, mental health expert Olivia Remes and machine learning guru Pet...
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Whats the Best Way to be Happy? from 2017-08-08T00:00
The science questions that you've been sending in get scrutinised and analysed by biologist Sarah Harrison, statistician Simon White, mental health expert Olivia Remes and machine learning guru Pet...
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Can Nature Clean up Nuclear Contamination? from 2017-08-01T00:00
Chernobyl was 31 years ago, but as nuclear power is one of the few reliable and low carbon energy supplies, how long before it happens again? We meet the scientists who are are preparing for when t...
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Marine Month: In too Deep from 2017-07-25T00:00
This week we round off Marine Month with a trip to the bottom of the ocean, meeting underwater robots and using maths to hunt for sunken treasure ships. Plus, a way to predict organ failure in hosp...
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Marine Month: All at Sea from 2017-07-18T00:00
Our marine month continues as we swim out from the reef into the open ocean, where we'll be meeting one of the deadliest creatures on Earth. Plus, some good news about the Zika virus, how the cordl...
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Marine Month: Making Waves from 2017-07-11T00:00
Marine month continues with the Naked Scientists as we move out from the beach to the coastal waters in search of the world's biggest fish and the corals that glow in the dark to survive. Plus, in ...
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Marine Month: Lifes A Beach from 2017-07-04T00:00
Here at The Naked Scientists HQ, it's marine month! Throughout four programmes in July, come dip your toes into all things aquatic as we work our way down to the bottom of the deepest ocean. From b...
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Would You Trust a Robot? from 2017-06-28T00:00
Would you trust a robot to grow your food, to operate on you, to fight a war on your behalf, or to save your life in an emergency? We look at how robots are on course to alter our lives. Plus, new ...
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Hearts in the Extreme from 2017-06-20T00:00
The Naked Scientists report back from the British Cardiovascular Society's annual conference, finding out how our tickers deal with extreme exercise and environments, from deep under the sea right ...
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Can we talk to dolphins? from 2017-06-13T00:00
The Naked Scientists are joined by marine biologist Danielle Green, physicist Stuart Higgins, psychologist Duncan Astle and astrophysicist Carolin Crawford, to tackle your questions. This week, fin...
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Cyber Security: When Crime Goes Online from 2017-06-06T00:00
As life moves increasingly online, so do crime and fraud. This week, we uncover some personal secrets from a supposedly blank hard drive, find out how hackers can use baby monitors to spy on people...
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Biology's Biggest Mystery: The Origin of Life from 2017-05-30T00:00
Journey back 3.7 billion years to the young earth, as we try to find out how life first began. Was it in a soup of colliding chemistry, a deep-sea hydrothermal vent or did life rain down on the e...
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Why Bother Going to the Moon? from 2017-05-23T00:00
The Naked Scientists are joined by biologist Kate Feller, physicist Jess Wade, biochemist Andy Holding and Space Boffin Richard Hollingham, to field your science questions. This week, find out what...
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Would Aliens Understand Maths? from 2017-05-16T00:00
Love it or loathe it maths is everywhere... from counting bees to interstellar trade with aliens, we explore how maths earned the title of the language of the universe. Plus, getting to know our ne...
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How language affects the brain from 2017-05-09T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists go global as we explore language - can speaking more than one exercise our brain?; and is our ability to save money purely down to the way we talk? Plus, the rodents...
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Zooming in on Cancer from 2017-05-02T00:00
Cancer is a devastating disease, and one of the largest killers in the Western world. This week, in a special show, Kat Arney investigates how scientists are fighting back, from building tumours in...
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Gut Bugs: Friend or Foe? from 2017-04-25T00:00
The Naked Scientists go on a tour of the intestine, from top to bottom, in search of the good and bad germs that lurk there and what they mean for our health. Plus, why touchscreens may be harming ...
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Should I Sequence My Genes? from 2017-04-18T00:00
What surprises might you find lurking in your DNA, and can that information be used against you? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting ...
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How to Grow a Human from 2017-04-11T00:00
We speak to scientists turning embryonic cells into nerve cells to treat Parkinson's disease and growing an entire system of organs in the lab. Plus, how antibiotics taken during pregnancy may affe...
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Do Those Pollution Masks Really Work? from 2017-04-04T00:00
The Naked Scientists are joined by cosmologist Andrew Pontzen, biologist Sarah Shailes, neuroscientist Philipe Bujold and biochemist Sarah Madden to pit their wits against your science questions. T...
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Inside the Atom from 2017-03-28T00:00
100 years since Rutherford split the atom, we investigate the secrets of the building blocks of our Universe. How can we harness the energy locked inside these particles, how have scientists been e...
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Is Modern Life Affecting Fertility? from 2017-03-21T00:00
Are trends in modern living helping or harming our ability to reproduce? And how do factors affecting fertility differ between men and women? Plus, fighting brain tumours with artificial antibodies...
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A Crash Course in Space Junk from 2017-03-14T00:00
There is a floating museum above our heads: millions of fragments from past space missions are hurtling round the earth and could destroy our current satellites. We find out how spacecraft are cop...
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What is the cause of Brain Freeze? from 2017-03-07T00:00
Why are we looking for earth-sized planets? Can I unshrink a woollen jumper? What does a black hole actually look like? Chris Smith is joined by David Rothery, Anna Ploszajski, Aimee Eckert and Mic...
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Conversations about Climate Change from 2017-02-28T00:00
This week, a crash course in climate change: we meet one strange fish already feeling the pinch, ask if humans are wired to ignore the threat, and look at one way we could all reduce our carbon f...
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Preventing HIV with PrEP from 2017-02-21T00:00
This week, we investigate the HIV preventative measure PrEP, which could be turning the tide on new infection rates - but is it safe to buy online? Plus, the toughest ever spider's web, a journey b...
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Meteorites: Space Invaders from 2017-02-14T00:00
What's the difference between a meteorite, meteoroid, a comet and an asteroid? We tell you how to find your own space rock here on Earth, and hear from a scientists tracking where space rocks come ...
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Can we Create Artificial Gravity? from 2017-02-07T00:00
Do giraffes get struck by lightning? What's the highest number a person could count to? How do animals have sex underwater? Chris Smith teams up with Tim Revell, Richard Hollingham, Chris Basu an...
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Optogenetics: Lighting up the Brain from 2017-01-31T00:00
Could a light in your brain cure epilepsy, or send you to sleep? The Naked Scientists investigate the mysterious field of optogenetics, and the treatments it promises to bring. Plus, news of a ca...
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The LED Lighting Revolution from 2017-01-24T00:00
The light bulb is a hundred-year-old technology whose time is finally up. This week, we shine a little light on its replacement to find out what makes it such a compelling alternative and look to t...
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The Science of Laughter from 2017-01-17T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists take a look at the science of laughter, asking why we like to laugh, hearing what babies find funny and meeting a joke-building robot. Plus, news of a gene editing t...
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Are more crimes committed during a full moon? from 2017-01-10T00:00
Does being angry increase your risk of a heart attack? What's a psychopath? And how much does a single cell weigh? This week, Chris Smith answers your questions with Stuart Higgins, Maud Borensztei...
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2016: A Year in Science from 2017-01-03T00:00
The Naked Scientists celebrate the dawn of 2017 with a look at their best bits from 2016, including: the science breakthrough of the year, how to use psychology to get a date and why it pays to l...
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Our Search for Extraterrestrials from 2016-12-27T00:00
This week: is there anybody out there or are we alone in the Universe? Graihagh Jackson ponders one of the fundamental questions of humanity, from flying saucers and UFOs to why we haven't found an...
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The 12 Scientific Days of Christmas from 2016-12-20T10:48:32
Supported by an all-star scientific cast of luminaries and willing volunteers the Naked Scientists celebrate the holidays with the 12 scientific days of Christmas. From why 9 ladies like to dance t...
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What's the Healthiest Way to Eat an Entire Cake? from 2016-12-13T00:00
Chris is joined by Giles Yeo, Roger Buckley, Andrew Pontzen and Kerstin Goepfrich, and they enjoy a mince pie or two while answering listener questions, including: why isn't love blinding; are glas...
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When The Drugs Don't Work... from 2016-12-06T00:00
Antibiotics are chemicals that kill bacteria but leave us unharmed. However, bacteria are evolving so that our drugs no longer kill them. If this trend continues, the treatable are going to become ...
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Is DNA the Basis for all Life in the Universe? from 2016-11-29T00:00
This week: alien hunting! Life here on Earth uses DNA, but why, and would aliens be made of the same stuff? Plus, news of how your gut microbes are controlling your genes, a new way to fight phobia...
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Navigating the Future from 2016-11-22T00:00
This week the show comes to you from the Royal Institute of Navigation's annual International Conference, with a look at the future of navigation. From the trousers that can track your every move t...
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What's between my internal organs? from 2016-11-15T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, we've gathered the bright and the brainy to answer your science questions, from why ants are stealing your toenail clippings to what's between your internal organ...
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The History of Hominins: Are Humans Special? from 2016-11-08T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists we're exploring our human story, from the use of tools and fire, to ritualistic behaviour. Where did we come from and what makes us special? Chris Smith is joined ...
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Your Brain on Horror from 2016-11-01T00:00
Have you ever wondered why some people enjoy being absolutely petrified by horror films? This week, The Naked Scientists investigate the spooky science of the genre: what does fear look like in the...
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The End of Night from 2016-10-25T00:00
Kat and Chris are turning the lights down low in search of darkness. 80% of Europeans and Northern Americans now can't see the Milky Way. But does this extra light pollution matter? It doesn't harm...
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Hospital Health Check from 2016-10-18T00:00
This week we step out of the lab and into the hospital to celebrate one of our most treasured institutions. We find out about the technology that could be changing the future of healthcare and Conn...
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Will We Beat Alzheimer's Disease? from 2016-10-11T00:00
Alzheimer's: A third of the population may be destined to develop this form of dementia, which robs people of their memories and independence. So what causes it, and what can we do about it? Plus i...
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Why do Cats Have Vertical Pupils? from 2016-10-04T00:00
Why do cats have vertical pupils? Do clouds defy gravity? What is the brain basis of road rage? The Naked Scientists team tackle these and many more science questions, with help from an all-star gu...
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A Little Light Relief from 2016-09-27T00:00
This week we're in for a little light relief, as we explore how light-based technologies are delivering a brighter future, in medicine and beyond. Plus, in the news, a new gene therapy for spinal m...
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Mapping the Milky Way from 2016-09-20T00:00
This week - Cambridge's key role in the mission to map the milky way! We learn how the Gaia space telescope is pinpointing the positions of a billion stars in our galaxy.Plus, news of a net which w...
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Moulding the Minds of Tomorrow from 2016-09-13T00:00
This week, we don our uniforms for a lesson in the science of education: what's the best way to mould the minds of the future? Plus, a new drug that could cure malaria with a single dose and we fi...
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How Old is the Average Atom? from 2016-09-06T00:00
Can we see the lunar landing sites with a telescope? Why is it cooler at altitude despite being closer to the Sun? Why is there no salt in sea ice? Was it windier when the Earth turned faster? What...
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Scrutinizing Science from 2016-08-30T00:00
This week, The Naked Scientists are celebrating their 15th birthday and so Graihagh Jackson puts science under the microscope and questions its importance in today's world. Like this podcast? Pleas...
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Animation: The Reel Deal from 2016-08-23T00:00
This week, we find out how science can help you get from script to screen in animated movies, from the physics of balancing a giraffe on a tightrope to the researcher putting voice actors in a brai...
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Drugs: Time for a Change? from 2016-08-16T00:00
100 years since the first UK drug law, we explore the controversial and confusing science behind the drugs debate. From the brain basis of addiction to how ecstasy could treat anxiety, what are the...
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Do Fish Fart? from 2016-08-09T00:00
From farting fish to the link between diet and cancer, Kat Arney and Chris Smith take on your questions with Matt Middleton, Giles Yeo and Eleanor Drinkwater... Like this podcast? Please help us by...
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The Science Too Hot To Handle from 2016-08-02T00:00
The Olympics is finally upon us and from going for gold in the tropical Rio climate to boosting the efficiency of jet engines, our ability to cope in high temperatures could make the difference bet...
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Fuels Of The Future from 2016-07-26T00:00
This week we'll need you to fasten your seatbelts because we're taking a trip into the future of fuels. We're asking if biofuels are really that brilliant and finding out how one lab is attempting ...
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A Dog's Life: Intelligence and Inbreeding from 2016-07-19T00:00
The Naked Scientists bring you a 'ruff' guide to dogs! We chart the ancient origins of our favourite pets, examine how smart dogs could provide clues into human disease and explore the science behi...
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Concrete Jungles from 2016-07-12T00:00
The 11th of July was world population day and at current figures there are over 7.4 billion of us living on the planet. That number continues to grow and at the same time the proportion of people l...
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Can toads predict earthquakes? from 2016-07-05T00:00
This week, we're answering the science questions that you've been sending in, including: is the Earth's core cooling down, how do messages from space probes get back to Earth and why sleeping on yo...
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Science meets MasterChef! from 2016-06-28T00:00
The Naked Scientists are hosting their very own dinner party, and the guests include a master distiller, a MasterChef finalist and a master of chocolate, all on hand to help reveal the science behi...
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Autopsy: A Matter of Life and Death from 2016-06-21T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, we observe a post-mortem. The patient was in his seventies but the coroner ordered an autopsy because the cause of death wasn't clear. Chris Smith observes pathol...
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How to Keep your Heart Healthy from 2016-06-14T00:00
This programme comes to you from the British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester, where leaders in the field have been presenting their latest research on preventing heart disease: one ...
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Your Home in 2050 from 2016-06-07T00:00
A growing global population means we are facing a considerable housing shortage and it has been estimated that by 2025, as many as 1.6 billion individuals will face crowded substandard housing.But,...
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Stressed? You're not the only one... from 2016-05-31T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, are we more prone to struggle with stress and if so why? Graihagh Jackson is probing the state of our mental health by taking a stress test to unearth how the hum...
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The War on Salt from 2016-05-24T00:00
This week we delve into the science of salt: what does it do in the body, how can it cause problems for farmers, and what avenues are scientists exploring to desalinate sea water and keep us all re...
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Does Telepathy Exist? from 2016-05-17T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, your questions go under the microscope. Do women have a superior memory? What is the evidence for climate change? Can plants get cancer? Why do we sometimes see s...
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Phosphorus: Essential to All Life But Are We Running Out? from 2016-05-10T00:00
If you've followed environmental stories over the years, you'll know this tune. Scientists have long been singing off the same songbook when it comes to fossil fuels, deforestation and pollution. B...
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Can Science Prove Whodunnit? from 2016-05-03T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, we've got science on trial! We look at real case studies, finding out how forensics can both help and hinder criminal investigations, including the insects who ar...
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The Secret World of Shipping from 2016-04-26T00:00
This week we're taking a look at the industry that transports 90% of global trade but most of us know very little about - shipping! We're all at sea as we navigate our way through driverless ships ...
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What happened to Tutankhamun's heart? from 2016-04-19T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, we've gathered a panel of pollies, pundits and professors to answer your science questions: from how prevalent was tooth decay in the neanderthals, to how Neil Ar...
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Conflict in Conservation from 2016-04-12T00:00
Would you care about conserving an animal if it threatened your job, your food supply or even your life? This week, we unpick the hidden conflicts and controversies inside conservation, including t...
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Can You Boost Your Memory? from 2016-04-05T01:00
Exam season is around the corner, so this week the Naked Scientists take a walk down memory lane to find out what's going on upstairs when you learn and remember things, and investigate if it's pos...
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Will an artificially intelligent robot steal your job? from 2016-03-29T01:00
With the recent rise of the machines and robots - could an artificially intelligent robot take your job any time soon? And could they then take over the world, terminator-style? Join Graihagh Jacks...
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Do you burn more calories when thinking? from 2016-03-22T00:00
This week: you asked the questions, we have the answers. Our expert panel take on queries like: why don't whales get the bends, does chloroform work like it does in the movies, and would a spinning...
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Cambridge Science Festival: Battle of the Brains from 2016-03-15T00:00
This week is a Cambridge Science Festival special with the Naked Scientists coming straight from the Cambridge Science Centre alongside a very lively audience!But that's not all, it's battle of bra...
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The A - Zika of viruses: Preventing Pandemics from 2016-03-08T00:00
With infectious diseases wiping out millions each year, we look at how we can predict pandemics, whether scientists should be allowed to engineer super viruses, and how war and politics could prev...
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Gravitational Waves: Discovery of the Decade? from 2016-03-01T00:00
This week, the discovery rocking the world of physics: gravitational waves! But what are they, and why are they set to change how we see the Universe in the future? Plus we take a look at the week'...
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Could The Internet Die? from 2016-02-23T00:00
From why spicy isn't a taste, to how long it takes a comet to form, we've gone in search of the answers to the questions you've been sending in. We investigate whether the Internet is immune to a b...
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Rules of Attraction: The Science of Sex from 2016-02-16T00:00
The Naked Scientists have turned the lights down low for a stimulating odyssey through the science of dating and romance, including; which chat-up lines are most likely to get you talking, what st...
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Caffeine: Friend or Foe? from 2016-02-09T00:00
Caffeine is one of the only legal psychoactive stimulants but is it good or bad for our health? This week, the Naked Scientists are delving into the science to find out. Plus, the latest on Zika vi...
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Food Security: Insects for Dinner? from 2016-02-02T00:00
By 2050 the global population is set to rise to more than 10 billion people. But right now, 1 in 10 people are suffering from chronic hunger. So how do we reconcile a rising population with an alre...
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Black holes: the inside story... from 2016-01-26T00:00
What's dark and so massive that not even light can escape its clutches? The answer is one of the most enigmatic phenomena known to physics: the black hole. And this week we explore the workings of ...
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The Hidden World of Hibernation from 2016-01-19T00:00
Does midwinter make you want to eat all the food in your fridge, curl up in a duvet and sleep until spring? You're not alone, many plants and animals feel the same way, but you might not be so keen...
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Why do we have pubic hair? from 2016-01-12T00:00
In this week's podcast, we're taking on your questions! From how we make decisions to why do we go temporarily deaf when we yawn and if light wears out, these are some of the many conundrums you as...
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Do You Have Skinny Genes? from 2016-01-05T00:00
With the New Year, there's often a resolution or two to make a new you. But what makes you, you? Given that we share over 99.9% of our genes with each other, there's a lot of variety in that 0.01%....
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Top Scientific Moments of 2015 from 2015-12-29T00:00
Remember that time that Ginny made Kat eat chocolate spread from a nappy? Or when Georgia broke the drone? It's the end of 2015 and what a year it's been for science! Whilst Chris and Kat take a we...
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Cracking the science of Christmas from 2015-12-22T00:00
The Naked Scientists have Christmas unwrapped with a look at the science behind our favourite festive traditions, including how to pick the perfect present, the psychology behind board games and ho...
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Dishing the Dirt on our Soils from 2015-12-15T00:00
This month, the United Nations published its much-anticipated report on the state of the world's soils and the results are not good. We'll be asking why, and taking a down-to-earth look at the cons...
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Music Technology: Do or Die? from 2015-12-08T00:00
How will you be receiving your presents this year - a CD, a voucher for iTunes or maybe even a Spotify membership? In 2014, streaming services made more money than CD sales for the first time ever ...
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Fighting Floods: Who Gets Hit? from 2015-12-01T00:00
Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and sea levels are set to rise. So could we be about to find ourselves in very deep water? This week we're exploring how to spot where and when floo...
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Sugar Tax: Answer to Obesity? from 2015-11-24T00:00
This week, is sugar the enemy? Difficult as it is to digest, one person in every four in the UK is obese, and treating the condition as well as its knock-on effects, costs the health service 5.1 bi...
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Big Data, Big Deal? from 2015-11-17T00:00
More pieces of data have been produced in the last five years than in all of human history put together before then. But what's driving this big data revelation? We'll discover what opportunities i...
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Do squirrels ever forget where they hid their nuts? from 2015-11-10T00:00
The Naked Scientists and some special guests team up to tackle your science questions head-on. Do squirrels ever lose their nuts? Is cracking your knuckles bad for you? And could your gut bugs turn...
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Electric Cars: Pollution Solution? from 2015-11-03T00:00
London and many other European cities face the prospect of a 300 million penalty every year over bad air. Engineers say part of the solution lies with electric transport, so this week the Naked Sci...
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Should I Stay, or Should I go... to Mars? from 2015-10-27T00:00
The Naked Scientists have been on a trip to Mars but we forgot to ask one BIG question, should we even be going at all? We complete the series with a debate featuring a space politician, a geologis...
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Could We Ever Colonise Mars? from 2015-10-20T00:00
In episode three of our series Destination Mars, we finally arrive at the Red Planet - but what is waiting for us when we get there? We examine possible solutions to the challenges of building a ho...
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Mars: Are we nearly there yet? from 2015-10-13T00:00
To rocket engineers, the idea of transporting humans to Mars is a one colossal headache. Compared to inert satellites and probes, humans are highly unpredictable, needy and fragile. Radiation is ou...
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Could you be an astronaut? from 2015-10-06T00:00
Destination Mars: this month we're launching a series of programmes to probe what it's going to take to send people to the Red Planet. We'll be looking at rocket technology, how to keep people fed ...
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Why don't spiders get stuck on their webs? from 2015-09-29T00:00
We take on your science questions: Can animals feel guilty? Could drones detect landmines? What's the furthest a paper plane could fly, and why don't spiders get stuck on their webs? Plus, a look a...
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How to Save a Life from 2015-09-22T00:00
This week we find out what it takes to save a life, from doctors performing open chest surgery in the street to helping people recover in the longer term from severe brain injuries. Plus, news of a...
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Climate Change: Making Waves? from 2015-09-15T00:00
Climate change - and concerns about rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - are often in the headlines. However, looking back in the history of the earth, it's clear that this isn't the...
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Hands-on, Minds Open: The Changing Face of Science from 2015-09-08T00:00
This week we're asking whether scientists and technologists are in short supply, and how the way that we teach science in schools is changing: some classrooms are pumping out published papers! Plus...
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Pluto, at Long Last... from 2015-09-01T00:00
This week is a very special, edition of the Naked Scientists as we dedicate a whole hour to the world's favourite dwarf planet - Pluto. But how did it get there in the first place? What has the New...
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Truth and Beauty: The Hidden World of Symmetry from 2015-08-23T00:00
On the face of it, symmetry may seem simple, but diving beneath the surface reveals a whole new world. Over the last 100 years, the mathematical idea of symmetry has proved to be a guiding light fo...
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The Yuck Factor: Why We Find Things So Disgusting from 2015-08-18T00:00
We delve into the disgusting to discover the emotion of disgust and how it affects our lives. From cockroaches dipped in juice to the importance of sanitation, no topic is off limits as we find out...
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Meet your Sex Hormones from 2015-08-04T00:00
Hormones are the driving force behind reproduction and are what make us keen to go make babies. We follow some of these hormones to hear how they have an influence from birth to death, and also the...
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Why do Scientists say "So"? from 2015-07-28T20:17
From why scientists so often use the word "so" to the feasibility of charging a human by USB, how much Silly Putty it would it take to cover the entire Earth, and whether we could genetic engineer ...
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The Seven Million Dollar Maths Mystery from 2015-07-21T00:00
This week, we're investigating the Millennium Prize Problems - a set of mathematical equations that, if solved, will not only nab the lucky winner a million, but also revolutionise the world. Plus,...
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Make it Digital! from 2015-07-14T00:00
This week, broadcasting live from the centre of Cambridge, the Naked Scientists delve into the digital age we live in. We look at new, exciting ways to get kids into coding, how big data is changin...
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BOOM! The Bang behind the bomb, and how to stop it from 2015-07-07T00:00
Things get a little dangerous as we don our body armour and head out into the battlefield. How do explosives work and what can we do to protect against them? We take a sneak peek at AnUBIS, a devic...
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Caesium: The Element that Redefined Time from 2015-06-30T00:00
It's 60 years since the world's first atomic clock was created. But what is time? When did time begin, and how accurate is timekeeping today? We'll be asking why we need leap seconds, we cook up a ...
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Bring out your Dead: Plague and Fire from 2015-06-23T00:00
Tens of thousands of Londoners developed painful, apple-sized, pus-filled boils before dying from the dreadful disease within days. But just as the ordeal of the Black Death seemed to be subsiding,...
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What does Falling into a Black Hole Feel Like? from 2015-06-16T00:00
What's the point of mosquitoes? Do your eyes pop out if left open when sneezing? Is the Universe infinitely big? Are birds really related to dinosaurs? What is quantum entanglement? If the space st...
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Behind Blood donation from 2015-06-09T00:00
For World Blood Day we've been delving into the history of blood letting, getting stuck into blood donation and exploring exciting new possibilities for making blood that's safe for everyone. Plus,...
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Dark Matter: A Massive Mystery from 2015-06-02T00:00
Are we on the verge of solving one of the longest standing puzzles in physics? Physicists think we're close to discovering the identity of Dark Matter, the mysterious, invisible substance that acco...
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How many geckos to hold up a human? from 2015-05-26T00:00
Colour-switching sticklebacks, geckos with enough adhesive power to hold up a human, bats with built-in sonar and moles with amazing noses - this week we go in search of the world's most incredible...
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Can astronauts shower in space? from 2015-05-19T00:00
This week, can we colonise Mars? What's causes that smell after it rains? Can genetics inform skin care? And how do astronauts shower in space? Chris Smith, Richard Hollingham and Max Sanderson joi...
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Safety at 40,000 Feet from 2015-05-12T00:00
This week, endoscopies for jet engines, how the aviation industry could have us cruising for an infectious bruising, the workings of radar, and whether cheap flights actually cost the Earth. Plus, ...
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Violent Volcanoes from 2015-05-05T00:00
Celebrating two hundred years since the devastating eruption of Indonesia's Mount Tambora, this week, accompanied by music from Michael Levy, we explore the science of volcanoes. We find out what c...
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Game on! The Science of Video Gaming from 2015-04-28T00:00
This week, the science at play in an industry that dwarfs both Hollywood and the music world: computer games. We hear how video games are altering the brains of players, why lovers of the shoot-em-...
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Could Earth be Knocked Out of Orbit? from 2015-04-21T00:00
This week, you pit your wits against the Naked Scientists team and challenge us to answer your science questions. Is there an evolutionary reason why humans have rhythm? Do people sneeze in their s...
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Defying Death... from 2015-04-14T00:00
The impact of modern medicine is drastically changing our concept of death. Increasingly, people are being resuscitated successfully, sometimes hours after they first died. So this week we toe the ...
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Egg-cellent Easter Science from 2015-04-07T00:00
The Naked Scientists take a special holiday look at some egg-cellent Easter science, including a breakthrough in how to unboil an egg, the genetically modified chickens that can't catch bird flu an...
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Whodunnit? Fascinating Forensics from 2015-03-31T01:00
From crime scene to court room and all the evidence in between. Join Chris Smith and Ginny Smith at our reconstructed crime scene to find out how science is used to help solve a forensic investigat...
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Brain on fire from 2015-03-24T00:00
This week, how rogue antibodies turned one woman's existence into a living nightmare of delusions, hallucinations and paranoia, we examine the evidence that ME - or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) -...
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Chasing Rainbows: The Quest to Understand Light from 2015-03-17T00:00
Is it a particle? Or is it a wave? This week we're looking at light. From its earliest origins and what it can reveal about the Big Bang, to why Newton prodded his eye with a needle to probe the or...
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The Life Parasitic from 2015-03-10T00:00
This week, the world of parasites. We find out what's living in you and on you, how these invaders hijack your immune system and how they can even control the behaviours and body shapes of their ho...
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Eureka Streaker: Experiments that Changed the World from 2015-03-03T00:00
From Archimedes leaping from his bath shouting Eureka, to Isaac Newton's falling apples and Volta's piles that produced electricity on tap, this week we recreate some of the scientific experiments ...
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Marijuana: Risk or Remedy? from 2015-02-24T00:00
Cannabis is as controversial as it is complicated. Does smoking it cause schizophrenia, and can chemicals from the plant cure cancer? Plus in the news, the new breed of chemicals that are putting o...
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Your Smartphone: What's it Saying to Cyber-Criminals? from 2015-02-17T00:00
This week, how we're haemorrhaging personal information through our smartphones. We hear how snoopers can eavesdrop on your mobile signals while you're out in public to track down your home address...
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Meet the Doctors of Love! from 2015-02-10T00:00
This week, how to hack online dating, the way to maximise your chances on that crucial first date, what makes couples compatible, and the giveaway signs of fertility in the female voice. Plus, in t...
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Outnumbered: Are your bacteria controlling you? from 2015-02-03T00:00
This week, why we're passengers in our own bodies, outnumbered by our resident bacteria. We explore how these bugs can alter your brain and behaviour, and "trans-poo-sion": the poo-transplant proce...
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Lifting the lid on Plastic from 2015-01-27T00:00
Last year, 100 million tonnes of plastic were produced by industry. At the same time sufficient waste plastic was found floating in the world's oceans to make a string of bottles long enough to mak...
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The Secrets of Sleep from 2015-01-20T00:00
Most people spend around a third of their lives asleep, and yet we know almost nothing about what goes on in the land of nod. So this week we're going "under the covers" to investigate the science ...
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Fighting Fat with Science from 2015-01-13T00:00
Are you sitting comfortably? You might want to stand up, because we'll be hearing why, in health terms, sitting is the new smoking! We're also taking a look at the science behind weight loss and wh...
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Dissolving teaspoons: Naked in Wellington from 2015-01-06T00:00
Dissolving teaspoons, plants that sunbathe, stopping multiple sclerosis, the ARGO floats that monitor the oceans, global warming in Antarctica, and using computers to find Kiwis. Chris Smith and Si...
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Voices in the Dark from 2014-12-30T00:00
We all have an inner voice. Most of us know they're not real. But, for up to 15% of the population at some points in their lives, they can take on a different tone, as a terrifying experience that ...
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The Science of Christmas from 2014-12-23T00:00
Seasons Greetings from the Naked Scientists! We invite you to spend the next hour with us as we explore the Science of Christmas. We'll be looking at why crackers are, or aren't, all that funny, th...
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Total wipe out: Mass Extinction from 2014-12-16T00:00
Mass Extinction! 250 million years ago nearly all life on Earth ended. Back from the brink, history then repeated itself with the disappearance of the dinosaurs 60 million years ago. So are we next...
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Good Vibrations from 2014-12-09T00:00
From the honking of cars to music blaring out of someone's bedroom window, the world around us is saturated with sound. But what exactly is sound, and how do we hear it? From mimicking an owl's win...
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The Internet: the good, the bad and the ugly from 2014-12-02T00:00
This week we delve into the Dark Web, a hidden arm of the Internet where Google doesn't dare to search and where drugs, guns and hitmen are offered up for sale. We explore how the World Wide Web wo...
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Does Airport Security Really Make Us Safer? from 2014-11-23T00:00
Travel by air has increased by over 60% in the last decade and annual global air traffic is expected to reach 3.6 billion passenger journeys by 2016 meaning that there are at least 1 million people...
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Inside the Ebola Epidemic from 2014-11-18T00:00
Ebola has rocked the world in 2014, but why has this outbreak been so devastating? This week we get inside Ebola to find out about the virus itself, and how it causes disease and spreads. We talk t...
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Combating Cancer from 2014-11-11T00:00
This week, the latest breakthroughs in cancer including blood tests to pick up the disease much earlier, new genetic treatments to trigger tumours to kill themselves, and a laser technique to zap c...
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Supernatural Science from 2014-11-04T00:00
Do you believe in ghosts? For Halloween the Naked Scientists take a look at the spooky science of the supernatural. Is there evidence that paranormal beings exist and why do so many people believe ...
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Transport of Tomorrow from 2014-10-28T00:00
Over the next 50 years, getting to work on time or heading out to the hinterlands for your family holiday will become much, much easier - and perhaps, even pleasurable. We're journeying into the no...
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The Cities of Tomorrow from 2014-10-21T00:00
Continuing the theme of the future of humanity, this week we take a look at what we can expect from our towns and cities in the years to come. Will we be living in wooden skyscrapers, amongst crime...
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Will Climate Change Cost the Earth? from 2014-10-14T00:00
What does climate change have in store for the future? What will it mean for the man, or woman, in the street? How will it hit the global economy, and what can businesses do to fight back? This wee...
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Powering the Future from 2014-10-07T00:00
For years we have relied on fossil fuels to produce the light, heat and energy we need to live and work. But these supplies are diminishing, and polluting our environment. So can renewable resource...
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Alien Hunters: The Search for ET from 2014-09-28T00:00
This week, is there anybody out there? We're pushing at the boundaries of science in the search for ET. We take a magnifying glass to the big questions: what is life, where can we find it and could...
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Can you 3D-print me a new kidney? from 2014-09-21T00:00
This week, are we on the verge of being able to print a new kidney or liver? And will every home soon have a machine in it to make medicines so we don't need to head off to the chemist for a dose o...
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Hack Attack! from 2014-09-16T00:00
Have you been hacked? This week we examine the risks from public WiFi, why the Internet of Things is jeopardising the security of your home, the threats frequently lurking inside innocent-looking d...
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Does nature do it better? from 2014-09-09T00:00
This week we're looking to nature to solve some of today's biggest problems - from climate change to water shortages. We hear how spiders hold the key to making the strongest material known to man ...
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Nuclear Fusion from 2014-09-02T00:00
This week, we're exploring Nuclear Fusion, the power source of the sun. What is it and how can it help us on Earth? We visit the JET fusion facility to watch a test firing, we hear how lasers can b...
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The Naked Scientists in New Zealand from 2014-08-26T00:00
Dr Chris Smith goes down under for this special report from New Zealand. In this podcast we discuss lasers that are helping us understand how molocules are formed, using viruses as antibiotics and ...
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Personalised Medicine from 2014-08-19T00:00
This week we're talking about gene sequencing and how to keep that information safe. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Sc...
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Food for Thought! from 2014-08-12T00:00
The Naked Scientists have food on the brain this week, as we hear about how sound can affect taste, why our mood can be changed by what we eat, and we try out some unusual flavour combinations. And...
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The brightest light in the Universe from 2014-08-05T00:00
This week, we hear how one of the brightest lights in the Universe is helping scientists to build better jet engines, fight off antibiotic resistant bacteria and read the biochemical make-up of lon...
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A trip to the seaside from 2014-07-29T00:00
This week why whales get dandruff, what seabirds think of wind farms, the plight of coral reefs, we take a look at some giant sea spiders and look at water that can stay liquid below freezing tempe...
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The End of Extinction? from 2014-07-22T00:00
Will wooly mammoths roam the tundra once more? This week we ask whether improvements in genetic technologies mean extinction is no longer the end, as well as meeting moss that came back to life aft...
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Returning to the Moon - A giant leap for mankind? from 2014-07-15T00:00
We celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission by asking, should we return to the moon? We discover what scientific knowledge is still to be gained by going back, what robot missions ar...
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Saddle Up: The Science of Cycling from 2014-07-08T00:00
Chimps use gestures, climate change stops fish finding friends, gut cells reprogrammed to make insulin, and people prefer shocks to thoughts! Plus Saddle Up! - we look at the science of cyling as t...
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Engineering the Impossible from 2014-07-01T00:00
From levitating trains and humans to giant, climate-altering balloons, super-steels and earthquake-proof buildings, this month's live show panel reveal the latest advances in extreme engineering. P...
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Ready for Kick Off... from 2014-06-24T00:00
England might be out of the World Cup this week, but thousands of fans are still cheering their teams on across Brazil. But how does chanting change the behaviour of a football crowd? Why do free k...
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Untangling Alzheimer's Disease from 2014-06-17T00:00
Alois Alzheimer, who described the first case of the disease now named after him, would have been 150 years old this week. But what have we discovered about the disease since he presented the first...
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Freeze Dried Blood! from 2014-06-10T00:00
Freeze Dried Blood! Every day the likes of probiotic "good" bacteria in yoghurts, and even the enzymes in washing powder, give us a helping hand. This week we investigate how scientists are designi...
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Learning to Learn from 2014-06-03T00:00
Making brainwaves: from how babies' brains develop, to how children learn language and even unravelling the adolescent mind, this month's live show panel of guests walk us through how we learn to l...
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The Cost of a Life from 2014-05-27T00:00
We often hear about amazing new medical developments which could improve disease treatment. But what about the ethical considerations involved in deciding how to use these advances? Hannah Critchlo...
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Natural born cleaners from 2014-05-20T00:00
This week we investigate green clean ups. Can nature's recyclers, bacteria and fungi, help us clean up man-made environmental problems from oil spills to mining slag heaps? Plus in the news, how th...
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Powering up the National Grid from 2014-05-13T00:00
This week we look at how our power grids are going to be transformed. From technology which hopes to reduce our energy prices to new ways to include wind and solar power in the grid. Plus, in the n...
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Fascinating Fossils from 2014-05-06T00:00
In front of a live audience at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith is joined by three paleontologists to discuss fascinating fossils! Alex Liu explains where the first animals evolved from, S...
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Building the Future from 2014-04-29T00:00
With the demand for new homes ever increasing, we ask what will the buildings of the future be like? Will new materials like bamboo or plastic take a bigger place in our houses? And how can we make...
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Huntingtons Disease from 2014-04-22T00:00
In a special show from Cambridge and New Zealand, Hannah Critchlow investigates the research into Huntington's Disease. How has the search to correct a single gene enhanced our understanding of how...
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Why do we laugh when tickled? from 2014-04-15T00:00
In this question and answer special, the Naked Scientists get stuck into your queries, like why are planets round? Why do we laugh when tickled? Does wearing glasses make your eyesight worse? And h...
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Power to your Elbow: Better Batteries from 2014-04-08T00:00
Bigger, better and longer lasting - this week we go in search of the battery technology that will power the future as well as consider the shortcomings of our present technologies. We also try to t...
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Right Hand, Left Hand from 2014-04-01T01:00
How handedness spans the scientific world, from the smallest particles in the Universe to the drugs that cure disease and even the way you hold a pen, goes under the microscope this week as we expl...
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Devouring Raspberry Pi from 2014-03-25T00:00
2014 is the Year of Code, with the UK even becoming the first major economy to introduce computer programming to the school timetable. This week we investigate why coding, and getting kids into com...
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Pit your Wits... from 2014-03-18T00:00
Pit your wits against the combined brain power of the Naked Scientists, in this question and answer Special as the team try to find out the truth behind the age of the Milky Way? Whether plants die...
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Turning the tide on flooding from 2014-03-11T00:00
With climate change expected to bring more bouts of extreme weather and longer periods of drought and flooding, this week we take a look at ways to turn the tide on the looming water crisis. Plus, ...
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AUTOMATE: The World of Robots from 2014-03-04T00:00
Robots are under examination this week. Engineer Blaise Thomson, from Vocal IQ, designs speech systems for smartphones, Neil Bargh builds robots for science labs, and Airbus systems engineer Paul M...
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The Noro Show from 2014-02-25T00:00
Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, affects 1 million people each year in the UK. But what is it, and how can you best protect yourself? Plus, in the news, how stress hormones depress the stock mar...
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Brainy Babies! from 2014-02-24T00:00
Should you raise your baby to be bilingual? Are video games rotting or rejuvenating children's brains? We find out! Plus in the news, personalised breast milk, modelling the brain with computers, h...
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David Willetts AAAS Audio Blog from 2014-02-20T00:00
UK Universities and Science Minister, David Willetts, becomes his own radio presenter; here, on a tour organised by the UK's Science and Innovation Network, he charts his meetings with scientists a...
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NAKED at the AAAS from 2014-02-14T00:00
Do scientists resort to propaganda to defend climate change? How do we deal with evolution unbelievers? How do governments and policy-makers decide what science should be funded? Where will the nex...
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Green Food from 2014-02-11T00:00
We're chewing over the topic of food footprints: How green is your lunchbox? What's the environmental impact of your weekly food shop? Plus, in the news, the prosthetic hand that has allowed an amp...
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Nanosized Science from 2014-02-04T00:00
This week we we zoom in on the subject of nano-particles to examine how tiny objects, smaller than the wavelength of light, can be making such large waves in the fields of health, optics, and elec...
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Exorcist, or Exercise: what's healthier? from 2014-01-28T00:00
Live on location at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith is joined by exercise scientist Dan Gordon, who also holds the world record in tandem cycling, epidemiologist Nita Forouhi, who studies...
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And now for the weather, in space... from 2014-01-21T00:00
This week we investigate why the UK is investing in space weather forecasts. Plus how could changes in the Sun's activity affect us here on Earth? In the news, conservationists supporting the sale ...
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Are old habits hard to break? from 2014-01-14T00:00
This week we want to hear how you're doing with your New Year's Resolutions as we investigate the psychology of willpower and how long it takes to form a new habit. In the news, does drinking a...
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Why don't microwaves spark off themselves? from 2014-01-07T00:00
The Naked Scientists tackle your questions, from how hail storms come about to why the Mediterranean Sea has such small tides. And why do people often favour walking on one particular side of the r...
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Hydrogen-powered Party Poppers from 2013-12-24T00:00
It's Christmas, and we're celebrating in style with a look at the science behind the things that grace the festive period. In a special programme recorded live in the kitchen, we produce our own ho...
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Super-shape me! from 2013-12-17T00:00
How balls of cells assemble into a baby, why cell shape is crucial in cancer, telling cells where to go in an embryo, and getting a handle on how limbs develop: this week's Naked Scientists explore...
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Diving into Ocean Conservation from 2013-12-10T00:00
The bid to create the world's largest marine reserve, diseases threatening corals in the Caribbean, what is the best way to conserve coral reefs in Fiji, and why fish microbes matter too. Plus news...
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Life, The Universe and Everything from 2013-12-03T00:00
Live on location at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith is joined by guests Didier Queloz, who discovered the first exoplanet, Alan Tunnacliffe who investigates organisms which might be able ...
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Sniff! Sniff! from 2013-11-26T00:00
This week, smells, pheromones and anosmia. We talk to a patient with no sense of smell, hear why odours might be more down to the way molecules vibrate that how they are shaped, we look at the role...
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Restore, repair, retain! from 2013-11-19T00:00
This week we discover how we repair and restore everything from ancient manuscripts to the human heart! The team visits the BBC to find out how recently re-discovered episodes of the classic sci...
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Stopping Multiple Sclerosis from 2013-11-12T00:00
What is multiple sclerosis (MS), what causes it, why do some people suffer from it, and how can we treat it? This week we hear about a drug that can halt the disease in its tracks for some patients...
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Cutting Edge in Cancer from 2013-11-05T00:00
From detecting tumour DNA in our bloodstreams to making cancer cells stand out in an MRI scan, this week, coinciding with the NCRI Cancer Conference, we explore how best ways to detect cancer and m...
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Extreme Geology from 2013-10-29T00:00
Live on location at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith, Dave Ansell, Ginny Smith and guests James Jackson, an Earth Scientist, Tehnuka Ilanko, a volcanologist, and Arwen Deuss, a seismologi...
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Stopping Superbugs from 2013-10-20T00:00
What is the scale of the superbug problem? How much is antibiotic resistance costing? Can new antibiotics be made that cannot be bypassed by bacteria? And what new drugs are already in the pipeline...
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Tunnelling Under London from 2013-10-15T00:00
How do you dig a 26 mile tunnel beneath a city and below the water table? This week we drop in on Crossrail, who are busy constructing a new commuter line below the UK capital, to discover how mass...
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Science Centre Showoff from 2013-10-08T00:00
Live on location at the Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Smith, Dave Ansell, Ginny Smith and guests Rod Jones, an atmospheric chemist, Margaret Stanley, an HPV cancer researcher, and Caroline Godda...
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Science of Sleep from 2013-10-01T00:00
What's the best way to catch 40 winks? We investigate the science of sleep, including why we need it and why do some people fall asleep at the wrong times? Jason Rhiel tell us how he investigates w...
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Citizen Science: Research You can Do from 2013-09-24T00:00
What's the best way to get involved in scientific research from home? Chris Smith and Dominic Ford investigate some of the best citizen science projects which are looking for your help. From catego...
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Shedding Light on the Brain from 2013-09-17T00:00
We expose how electricity powers the nervous system. Chris Smith and Hannah Critchlow speak to a panel of experts about why chillis taste hot and mint feels cool, how ion channels could tackle diab...
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Get the Frack Out of Here... from 2013-09-12T00:00
Will fracking bring down energy prices and keep our lights on, or could it be an environmental disaster? Kate Lamble and Ginny Smith speak to a panel of experts about whether fracking could really ...
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Can you dehydrate in a bath? from 2013-09-05T00:00
Another special question and answer edition of the show where the team get to grips with your queries, including, cna you dehydrate in a bath? What is tinnitus? What chemicals leak from batteries? ...
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Shark Camouflage in Australia from 2013-08-29T00:00
This week, we have a final show from Perth in Western Australia. Chris Smith and Victoria Gill find out how camouflage wetsuits might help protect surfers from sharks, hear about a new development ...
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Australia's First BBQ from 2013-08-22T00:00
This week, we have another special show from Perth in Western Australia. Chris Smith and Victoria Gill go in search of dolphins, find out how DNA sequencing technology has allowed us to find out wh...
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Naked in Australia from 2013-08-15T00:00
This week we have a special show from Perth in Western Australia. Chris Smith finds out whether importing nitrogen fixing legumes could hold the answer to Perth's poor soil fertility and Victoria ...
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Mapping out the Milky Way from 2013-08-08T00:00
We hear from the astronomers who are mapping out the Milky Way to work out where its stars came from. Like this podcast? Please help us by suppor...
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The Science in Sport from 2013-07-25T00:00
How has new technology changed the face of sport? This week we delve into the science behind the tennis rackets that professional players use, the diets that top athletes follow, and how systems li...
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The Science of Schizophrenia from 2013-07-18T00:00
What do sufferers of schizophrenia experience, and why? Might the immune system be to blame? And could an avatar be the answer to treatment? This week we delve deep into the brain circuitry behind ...
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Souping up Solar from 2013-07-11T00:00
This week, the latest innovations in solar power technology including a Cambridge team racing from Darwin to Adelaide in a solar car, community co-operatives empowered by solar panels, and how alga...
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The Last Organism Alive on Earth from 2013-07-04T00:00
This week, the latest from the UK's National Astronomy Meeting in St Andrews Scotland including what will be the last organism living on Earth when the end-of-life Sun swells, why space science pro...
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Modelling Diseases in Dishes from 2013-06-27T00:00
Miniature lungs, breasts and other organs are being grown in dishes so scientists can study how they form, why they succumb to disease and how toxins, drugs and poisons affect them. Organ models li...
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Fascinating Fungi from 2013-06-20T00:00
Fungi go under the microscope this week as we explore how they barter minerals and carry chemical messages in return for sugars from plants; we also hear from someone who nearly died after consumin...
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Extreme Physiology: Everest to Ocean Floor from 2013-06-13T00:00
How can an ascent to the top of Everest help to save lives in intensive care? This week we're exploring physiology at the extremes: altitude, depth and cold. How does the human body adapt and cope ...
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Can GPS systems be Spoofed? from 2013-06-06T00:00
The science of satellite navigation and how it can be fooled or "spoofed", a new system to pinpoint a person within a building to within a metre, and how GPS signals can probe and track volcanic du...
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Shedding light on LEDs from 2013-05-30T00:00
The next generation of LEDs, how LED lighting affects health, a new way to fight flu, treating schizophrenia with avatars and bringing 400-year-old frozen plants back to life. Like this podcast? Pl...
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Do plants get jetlag? from 2013-05-23T00:00
This week, how plants keep track of time, how scientists are breeding cereal crops with ancient varieties to boost diversity and yields, how insects carry viruses between plants, and the chemical i...
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Will it rain tomorrow? from 2013-05-16T00:00
How are weather forecasts made? Are they accurate, and if not why not? And how do we know when extreme weather is on the way? Also, what about on other planets and moons? To find out, we talk to th...
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Gone Viral: Germs under surveillance from 2013-05-09T00:00
Under the microscope this week, where new flu viruses including influenza H7N9 come from, the threat from extensively resistant tuberculosis and how doctors keep tabs on how bugs are spreading and ...
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Art&Antiquities: Conservation and Preservation from 2013-05-02T00:00
The conservation and restoration of great art once relied on only a good eye and talent with a paintbrush. Now though, scientists and art conservationists are working together to develop new techni...
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Testing Legal Highs from 2013-04-25T00:00
What are legal highs, and how do scientists, doctors and law-makers keep up with new drugs entering the market? Plus, biofuels and why they cost the Earth, the cause of LED droop, a neutron star pr...
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Stem Cells and Gene Therapy from 2013-04-18T00:00
We visit the annual British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy conference to explore the latest in this exciting area of medicine... Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Meet the ancestors from 2013-04-11T00:00
Fossilised dinosaur egg embryos, fish fats on 15,000 year old Japanese pots, who put the arsenic in the beer, and we tour the Malapa cave site where Australopithecus sediba was discovered... Like t...
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The SKA and Radio Astronomy from 2013-04-04T01:00
We take a tour of the two Australian precursors to the Square Kilometre Array - the Murchison Wide Field Array and the Australian SKA Pathfinder - to discover how big radio astronomy projects will ...
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Naked Genetics Special Episode from 2013-03-28T00:00
The genetic basis of autism goes under the microscope in this special Easter edition of Naked Genetics, from Kat Arney. One per cent of UK children have autism, a complex range of disorders that ca...
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The Future of Digital Storage from 2013-03-21T00:00
What the future holds for digital data storage goes under the spotlight this week - how can we ensure that what we record today - on film, discs or up in the cloud - remains readable for years to c...
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BANG! Naked Science Festival from 2013-03-17T00:00
Breasts, bazookas, bosons and bombs: The Naked Scientists take to the stage for the Cambridge Science Festival 2013. An explosive mix of fertile conversation and kitchen science... Like this podcas...
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John Snow and Cholera from 2013-03-14T00:00
We celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the epidemiologist John Snow by looking at the historic and modern fight against Cholera. Also, news of what 4000 year old mummies are revealing a...
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Dining Out on Food Security from 2013-03-07T00:00
How Internet searches can give clues to drug side-effects, the science of sink holes, flame-retardant DNA, brain stimulation for anorexia, and feeding the planet in future: why flies might hold the...
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Extreme Engineering from 2013-02-28T00:00
This week, research at the extremes: We find out how the new Halley VI station was engineered to withstand Antarctic conditions, and how scientists tackle some of the harshest environments on Eart...
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Supersenses: Extraordinary Animals from 2013-02-21T00:00
New drugs for flu, bees read electrical fields, why moles are sensitive to seismic vibrations and how good is a sharks sense of smell...? Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
What is Love? from 2013-02-14T00:00
Love is... neurochemistry? This week, we look at love from a scientific perspective. We go looking for love in the brain and explore the chemistry behind falling, and staying, in love! Plus, how ...
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Analysing Asteroids from 2013-02-07T00:00
We're analysing asteroids in this edition of the Naked Scientists, as Earth is due a very near miss next week! We'll also meet the asteroid miners - companies looking to go prospecting in outer sp...
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I'm a Tasmanian Devil, Get Me Out Of Here! from 2013-01-31T00:00
How can science save the Tasmanian Devil? New research reveals why an infectious cancer that's spreading amongst the animals isn't attacked by the immune system. Plus, the quantum basis of smell,...
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We're Back! Transparent Electronics from 2013-01-24T00:00
WE'RE BACK! And in this first episode of our new series, a sponge for soaking up oil slicks, how dung beetles navigate by starlight, the world's largest jelly, the rebound effect, how dogs came to ...
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What's Living in Your Loo? from 2012-12-30T00:00
As we gear up to launch a new series of the Naked Scientists, here's a taste of things to come with a recording of the second hour of the Naked Scientists 'Science Night' aired on BBC 5 Live, Decem...
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Does a Frozen Body Shatter? from 2012-12-23T00:00
Can a frozen body be shattered with a hammer, how can speedbumps diagnose appendictis and why are reindeers' noses red? For Christmas 2012 we talk to a host of scientists doing seasonal research, f...
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The Science Behind Broadcasting from 2012-12-16T00:00
How does radio reach out of the studio? This week, we tune in explore the science and technology of broadcasting to find out how a voice hits the airwaves. We discover the difference between AM, ...
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Unravelling Epigenetics from 2012-12-09T00:00
Epigenetics controls the activity of genes inside cells and holds the key to new treatments for old diseases. We explore the impacts of epigenetics on embryonic development, cancer, and stem cell ...
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Protecting Our Oceans from 2012-12-02T00:00
How should we protect marine ecosystems? We examine the science behind Marine Protected Areas and find out how a new plan could protect the oceans around England. In the news, the sub-zero bacter...
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Investigating ISIS - The Neutron Source from 2012-11-25T00:00
This week, join us on a tour of ISIS, the STFC's Neutron and Muon source. We find out how neutrons can probe the properties of materials, help to protect electronic circuits from failure and shed ...
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Can Gravity Leak from Alternate Universes? from 2012-11-18T00:00
Why does biro ink smell? How can you reset your tolerance to caffiene? Why can't my sat nav and my speedometer agree? We take on your science questions, as well as discover a lonely rogue planet...
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Bed Bug Biology from 2012-11-11T00:00
Bed bug cases are on the rise after a 50 year absence from much of the Western world. But why now? We explore the genetics and bizarre biology of these parasitic pests. In the news, we examine t...
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The Cutting Edge of Cancer Research from 2012-11-04T00:00
How does cancer spread? How can we target our immune system to take out tumours? This week we visit the National Cancer Research Institute's annual conference to explore the cutting edge of cancer...
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Ugly Animals Need Love Too from 2012-10-28T01:00
It's not just pandas, great apes and big cats - ugly animals need our attention too. This week, we find out why some of nature's least attractive species are under threat and explore the arguments...
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Is there a Googol of anything in the Universe? from 2012-10-21T00:00
Are vegetables intelligent? Is Pi a "normal" number? Are humans the only picky eaters? We take on your science questions, including why women generally don't go bald and how fingers can feel cold...
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Listen Up! The Science of Hearing from 2012-10-14T00:00
How do we tell where sounds are coming from? What does life sound like through a hearing aid? Can we cure tinnitus? We try to answer all these questions and more in our show on hearing. Like this p...
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Tricks of the Mind from 2012-10-07T00:00
The tricks your mind plays on you are up for analysis this week as we explore the science of taste including why noise diminishes food flavour aboard an aeroplane and how much affects your choice o...
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Dodging Death: Growing Old in Good Health from 2012-09-30T00:00
How can we stay sharp as a senior citizen? This week, we explore the different biological approaches to understanding healthy ageing, discover a protein that may prevents age-related nerve degen...
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What shape web does a spider spin in space? from 2012-09-23T00:00
Can spiders weave webs in microgravity? Can shampooing cause hair loss? How much brain do we use at once? Can a person survive on raw food alone? This week we're answering your science questions, p...
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Silicon Sailors - Robots take to the waves from 2012-09-16T00:00
Would you set sail with a robotic skipper? This week, the World Robotic Sailing Championships grace the waters of Cardiff Bay, and we meet the teams to find out how this could lead to a sea chan...
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Is there life under Antarctica? from 2012-09-09T00:00
Will we find life in a lake trapped under 3 kilometres of ice? How can living above an abandoned mine cut your heating bills? What is the future for diet foods? This week, we bring you the best fro...
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Cybersecurity: how safe are we online? from 2012-09-02T00:00
How is data sent safely online, and how can we keep prying eyes away? This week we investigate the basis of cybersecurity, ask if chip and pin is safe and talk to a team of hackers who attempt to ...
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The Brain Uncovered: Naked Neuroscience from 2012-08-26T00:00
How nerve cells make decisions, how genes control behaviour, using light to interrogate neuronal circuits, anxiety attacks, deep brain stimulation to bust addiction, how the immune system can cau...
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The Hydrogen Economy: Fuelling the Future from 2012-08-19T00:00
Is hydrogen the fuel of our future? As fossil fuel reserves run out, this week we ask whether hydrogen can fill the energy void? We look at work to harness bacteria to transform everyday waste into...
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Do Dogs Understand People? from 2012-08-12T00:00
What happens if you're exposed to the vacuum of space? Is using a mobile phone on a flight safe? Which is more contagious - a cough or a sneeze? This week we answer your sticky science questions, ...
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Curious about Mars... from 2012-08-05T00:00
Publishing early in recognition of the arrival on the red planet of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover, this week we talk to members of the mission team, revisit some previous su...
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How Science Goes for Gold from 2012-07-29T00:00
How can science, technology and engineering aid the world's elite athletes? In this special edition of the Naked Scientists, we discover how physiology, psychology and technology help get us acros...
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How Powered Flight got off the Ground from 2012-07-22T00:00
From the first flight to supersonic air-travel was achieved in under 50 years. To discover what made it all possible we look at the advances in technology, engineering and materials that were neede...
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Better to blow up an Earth-bound Asteroid? from 2012-07-15T00:00
Should we blow up objects on a collision course with Earth? Or will they do less damage left intact? More importantly, is there a gene for hating marmite? And what makes copper such a good conducto...
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Super Bainite: Super Strong Steel from 2012-07-08T00:00
Super bainite, a surprisingly-strong steel, is the subject of this week's Naked Scientists. We discover how it's made in the metallurgical equivalent of a pizza oven, why it makes the best bearings...
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An Olympic Effort - Keeping Crowds Safe from 2012-07-01T00:00
Later this month, the 2012 Olympics kicks off in London. With hundreds of thousands of people expected from overseas, is this the perfect trigger for a pandemic? This week we're looking at the publ...
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Exposing Explosives from 2012-06-24T00:00
Science and technology can catch criminals and tackle terrorism. This week, we're exploring two ways to sniff out concealed explosives and a new technique to lift fingerprints from surfaces that h...
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Why Do I See Stars when I Stand? from 2012-06-17T00:00
Why does a head injury, or standing up too quickly, make us see stars? Are slug pellets painful? How do flies fly in an elevator? We take on your science questions this week, and find out why we...
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SETI, Aliens and the Origins of Life from 2012-06-10T00:00
How do we look for life beyond Earth? And how did it first get started down here? To help us take on these big questions, we explore the science of SETI and the chemistry of creating life. Plus,...
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Getting Inside your Genes from 2012-06-03T00:00
This week, we're introducing the new Naked Genetics podcast - This time, Kat Arney takes a look at the world of top models - not the kind that won't get out of bed for less than ten grand, but the ...
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Making a Meal out of Microbes from 2012-05-27T00:00
This week we explore the role of microbes in drug development, food production and soil fertility. We investigate how bacteria such as Streptomyces are used and improved to make antibiotics, discov...
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From PC to Plane - Making New Metals from 2012-05-20T00:00
How do you make a new metal? This week, we follow a novel alloy from PC to plane, finding out how computer modelling and design can help us create new metals with exciting new properties. We also d...
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Cracking Chronic Fatigue from 2012-05-13T00:00
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) sufferers describe symptoms of severe exhaustion, weakness, muscle pain and fatigue. But why, and what is science revealing about the underlying causes of the conditi...
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Naked in Norway from 2012-05-06T00:00
This week we get Naked in Norway as we visit the University of Oslo to reveal the remains of ancient plesiosaurs and investigate their migration into water, discuss a new concept for more efficient...
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Is there such a thing as a "girls' throw"? from 2012-04-29T00:00
Does exercise lead to a more muscular heart? Why can an unfit cyclist cycle faster than an olympic runner runs? How do kinetic watches work? We answer your questions in this week's Naked Scienti...
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Clock This! - The Science of the Circadian Rhythm from 2012-04-22T00:00
The body clock goes under the Naked Scientists' spotlight this week. We unpick the mechanisms that enable human cells, plants and even bacteria to track the time of day and alter their activities a...
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Saving Submariners and Studying Deep Sea Species from 2012-04-15T00:00
How can we save the occupants of stricken submarines? What species survive in the deepest depths of ocean trenches? Recognising the centenary of the Titanic tragedy, we're diving deep to meet the R...
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Naked Oceans - From Plastics to Poo from 2012-04-08T00:00
This week we bring you a special look at marine pollution from the Naked Oceans team, going from plastics to poo to explore some of the many ways we pollute the seas. We find out the truth behind t...
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Why did my Dishcloth Detonate? from 2012-04-01T01:00
Why does sunlight make me sneeze? What causes air turbulence? Why do energy-saving lights take time to warm up? In this week's question and answer show we also investigate why microwaving a dishclo...
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Why Viruses Don't Infect the Same Cell Twice from 2012-03-18T00:00
Immune-manipulating parasites, bacterial genomes married to disease processes and viruses that bounce off already-infected cells make for an infectious episode of the Naked Scientists this week. Al...
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Sensors and Sensibility from 2012-03-11T00:00
Smart sensors can open a window into the environment. In this week's Naked Scientists Podcast we find out how networks of sensors around Heathrow airport can study how planes alter the atmosphere,...
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Wattage from Waste and Watching Our Water from 2012-03-04T00:00
How can we extract energy from waste? In this week's Naked Scientists we explore the technology that turns muck into methane and consider the fertile issue of nutrient overload resulting from retur...
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Can a Mobile Phone Compromise your Sperm Count? from 2012-02-26T00:00
What's the point of earwax? Does WiFi damage the brain? Can a mobile phone in a trouser pocket dent a man's fertility? In this week's science Q and A show we also brush up on how they get the strip...
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ZAP! Lasers on trial... from 2012-02-19T00:00
A new liquid crystal laser that can dial-up any wavelength of light you need, a laser-powered projector technology that turns any surface into a touch-screen, and a laser that fires salvoes of X-ra...
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Reclaiming Wasted Watts - Thermoelectric Generators from 2012-02-12T00:00
Over two-thirds of the energy in the fuel you put into your car is wasted, most of it in the form of heat that exits along the exhaust pipe. The same is true of large-scale power stations, which ar...
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Do Diet Foods Make You Fat? from 2012-02-05T00:00
Could diet foods be making you fatter? How do we learn to like the foods we eat? This week, we indulge in the science of appetite, diet and diabetes. We'll find out how our early experiences of ...
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Are any viruses good for you? from 2012-01-29T00:00
Has all the air in the world been breathed before? Are any viruses beneficial to health? Can naked farts transmit diseases? You set the agenda in this Naked Scientists Question and Answer show i...
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Vitamin D: Shedding light on diabetes, MS and cancer from 2012-01-22T00:00
Could a ray of sunshine hold the key to preventing MS, diabetes and even bowel cancer? Vitamin D - made naturally in skin exposed to strong sunlight - appears to reduce the risk of developing these...
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Mind Meets Machine from 2012-01-15T00:00
Where do you stand on becoming part person, part machine? This week we hook up with three pioneers in the field of cybernetics including walking cyborg Kevin Warwick, who volunteered his own nervou...
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What's Inside Your Nappy? from 2012-01-08T00:00
Do stars form outside galaxies? What causes ringing in the ears? How fast does force propagate? Why do spectacles still work when worn backwards? Is the expanding universe tearing galaxies apart? A...
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What Colour is a Dead Chameleon? from 2011-12-18T00:00
Are candles environmentally unfriendly? Why does tinfoil touching a filling set my teeth on edge? What colour does a dead chameleon go? Does antiperspirant deodorant make you sweat more elsewhere? ...
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Monitoring Moods with Mobiles from 2011-12-11T00:00
Can new technologies probe human thoughts and feelings without us even realising? This week we talk to a researcher who's using mobile phones to tap into peoples' emotions to provide new insights i...
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Underwater Archaeology and Underwater Welding from 2011-12-04T00:00
How do archaeologists locate, conserve and recover historical treasures from old shipwrecks? What is erosion revealing on the foreshores of the River Thames? And how do you weld up an oil or gas pi...
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Imaging the Invisible from 2011-11-27T00:00
This week, how immune cells can be caught on camera as they exit blood vessels, a new design of lensless microscope and one that sees cells in 3D, how sound and heat can be used to find faults in m...
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Is Technology Altering Your Brain? from 2011-11-20T00:00
Is modern technology changing your brain? How fast does flu fly? Can you build a lightsaber? Your questions are the stars on the Naked Scientists this week, as we discuss the implications of fas...
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Flu Vaccines from Tobacco? from 2011-11-13T00:00
In a show not to be sneezed at, we look at the evidence that coughs and sneezes are linked to heart attacks. We also probe the Flu Survey, a new citizen science initiative to gather data on the in...
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NCRI Cancer Conference from 2011-11-06T00:00
This week Kat Arney joins us live from the National Cancer Research Institute's conference in Liverpool. We find out how mistakes in cell signalling can cause cancers and why DNA repair pathways of...
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Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Therapy from 2011-10-30T00:00
This week's podcast is live from the British Society for Gene Therapy (BSGT) conference in Brighton, UK. Some of the world's top gene and stem cell therapists explain how we can manipulate genes t...
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Why Is Ice Slippery? from 2011-10-23T00:00
Can moonlight and a magnifying glass be used to start a fire? Why do bananas go brown and does it happen faster in the fridge or the fruitbowl? Why are ice and snow slippery? And how does flyspray ...
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Plant Pests and Plant Pathology from 2011-10-16T00:00
This week, Plant Pests and Plant Pathology - we find out what happens when plants get ill, how to understand and prevent the spread of plant disease, and how they can call up an insect army to defe...
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Outpacing Petrol - Biofuels and Hydrogen from 2011-10-09T00:00
This week, we're investigating alternatives to petrol. We'll board a biofuel powered bus to meet the plant scientists who are using algae to make biodiesel. We'll find out how to turn household w...
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Would a Siphon Work in Space? from 2011-10-02T00:00
Could a Siphon be used in orbit? Why do leaves change colour in Autumn? How is immunity passed from mother to baby through breastfeeding? Why do earthquakes happen away from plate boundaries? How d...
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Cheese Making and Cake Baking: The Chemistry of Cookery from 2011-09-25T00:00
We've whipped up an appetising take on the science of food and cooking for you this week. With a main course of cookery in the kitchen served up by a cake-baking physicist followed by a microbiolog...
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Chilling Out - The Science of Cryogenics from 2011-09-18T00:00
This week, we're chilling out in the world of cryogenics, the science of the super-cold. We'll find out what happens to living tissue when it freezes, and how we can use low temperatures to keep or...
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Supercomputers&Super Computing from 2011-09-11T00:00
This week, we seek the science of supercomputers! We find out how they work, and how they can answer some of the biggest questions in science. We also hear about the World Community Grid, which o...
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Australopithecus Sediba Special from 2011-09-08T00:00
Reader in evolution at Wits University, Lee Berger, made a life-changing discovery when he uncovered the remains of a new species of hominid, Australopithecus sediba, in South Africa. Here, Chris S...
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Why do some animals dump indiscriminately? from 2011-09-04T00:00
Why do some animals poo wherever the fancy takes them, whilst others are more fussy about the locations of their lavatory actions? What triggers pins and needles? How do some fish survive in both f...
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Science in Scotland from 2011-08-28T00:00
This week, Chris explores some of the cutting edge research taking place in Aberdeen. We meet a scientist making new cannabis-like chemicals that lack the side effects of the real thing, talk to a...
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Do planes trigger rains? from 2011-08-21T00:00
The rain in Spain falls mainly on the "plane". Or so the saying goes, but new research has confirmed that aeroplanes do cause clouds to dump their contents prematurely, often around airports, and i...
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Chemistry By Design from 2011-08-14T00:00
Are designer molecules poised to take us into a new chemical dimension? This week, we explore how, long before the bunsen burner gets lit, computer aided chemistry can enable us to create in silic...
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Do bubbles help washing up? from 2011-08-07T00:00
Do bubbles help or hinder when doing the dishes? Can we find evidence of material from Earth on the Moon? Can camera lenses cause fires? And is fluoride in drinking water safe? In this Question and...
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The Year in Ocean Science from 2011-07-31T00:00
This week, we take a dive beneath the waves to look back at the last year in Ocean science. We call in on deep sea microbes, spawning corals and even a seahorse surgery. Plus we hear how the Census...
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The Year in Astronomy from 2011-07-24T00:00
This week, we look back over the last few months of space science. We'll hear how scientists search for planets in the glare of their parent star, why a simulated mission to Mars will help us to u...
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Digging up the Year in Archaeology from 2011-07-17T00:00
This week we take a look back at a year's-worth of Naked Archaeology including a dig through some Pomepiian poo for clues about the Pompeiian lifestyle, the art of spear throwing with an atlatl and...
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Bouncing Bombs and Blacksmiths from 2011-07-10T00:00
This week, we bring you the best bits of technology from the world of engineering including a guiding light into the workings of a retroreflector, the dual life of bi-stable structures, and a new ...
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Pushing Back the Pain Barrier from 2011-06-26T00:00
This week, we explore the problem of persistent pain. We find out how chronic pain is currently treated, and look to our DNA for the genetic clues that could lead to future painkillers. In the n...
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Coal Gasification and Carbon Capture from 2011-06-19T00:00
This week, we find out how to get useful gas from useless coal, and make money from waste carbon dioxide! Underground coal gasification could allow us to access huge amounts of energy in inaccessi...
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Passengers in a Bacterial Body from 2011-06-12T00:00
The good side of microbes goes under the microscope this week as we explore how the 100 trillion bacteria that thrive on us and in us, and even outnumber our own cells ten times over, work with the...
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Do My Eyes have Anti-Shake Vision? from 2011-06-05T00:00
What would we see at the edge of the universe? Are there long term health effects of eating spicy food? Why doesn't diesel need a spark to ignite? It's another Naked Scientists science question and...
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Metallurgy - Metals at the Molecular Scale from 2011-05-29T00:00
What happens when a blacksmith meets a metallurgist? This week we explore what's happening at the molecular scale when the smithy works a piece of iron, we meet the superalloys that survive tempera...
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Scratch 'n Sneeze - Science of Allergies from 2011-05-22T00:00
This week's Naked Scientists is not to be sneezed at - we're looking at the science of allergies! We explore what happens to cause your body to overreact to harmless things, and find out how poten...
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Wet But Not Wild - Farming Fish from 2011-05-15T00:00
We cast our nets wide this week to catch the science of aquaculture or fish farming! We'll find out how farming marine life can reduce reliance on disappearing wild stocks, and explore the effect ...
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Should I Lie Down to Tan? from 2011-05-08T00:00
Is standing or reclining best for the perfect suntan? Can we see atoms? Why add pennies to Big Ben's pendulum? It's a question and answer show so we shoulder your scientific conundra! We'll fin...
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Brains, Batteries and Nuclear Fusion from 2011-05-01T00:00
Computers that can lip-read, a robot that follows your brain waves, prosthetic arms controlled by thinking about fingers that have been amputated, the future of nuclear fusion, Bandaids for batteri...
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Diamond Light Source Special from 2011-04-24T00:00
For Easter this week, we explore how synchrotron radiation can be used to probe and find answers to a variety of scientific questions as we bring you a special programme of highlights from the Diam...
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DNA-away Disease: Gene Therapy at Work from 2011-04-17T01:00
Two pioneers in the field of gene therapy join us to discuss how they're developing modified viruses to deliver healthy copies of genes to save patients afflicted by lethal genetic diseases. We als...
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Are Dogs Ticklish? from 2011-04-10T01:00
Do dogs get ticklish? What wakes up mosquitoes at meal times? Do animals use weapons? In this fast-paced Question and Answer show we also focus on the nuclear threat from Fukushima and hear how gut...
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Keeping the Conversation Flowing from 2011-04-03T01:00
This week, we go wireless to explore the science of mobile phones. We hear how new error-correction techniques are promising to put an end to poor quality communications, we meet a new system that ...
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Life Where the Sun Don't Shine... from 2011-03-27T00:00
Life in inaccessible places - including in caves sealed off from the Sun and around deep-sea vents - is the subject of this week's Naked Scientists. In these intriguing environments, bacteria repl...
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Beyond the Universe - Multiverses and More from 2011-03-20T00:00
This week, we find out what lies beyond the limits of our Universe as we discuss multiverses, higher dimensions, string theory and supersymmetry. We find out how these ideas develop from basic prin...
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Why did a Laser Make My Nuts Glow? from 2011-03-13T00:00
Can you electrocute weeds? Why do teeth go wobbly? And which cells last a lifetime? In this bumper edition of the Naked Scientists, we tackle your pressing science questions and find out how the sh...
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Aspirin's Anniversary from 2011-03-06T00:00
From anti-ague to anti-Alzheimer's agent: over the 112 years since it was first trademarked, Aspirin has evolved from popular painkiller to powerful preventative against heart attacks, strokes and ...
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Boosting Your Bones from 2011-02-27T00:00
Just the bare bones this week as we find out how exercise strengthens the skeleton and how new scanning techniques can help to pick up osteoporosis earlier and inform its management. We also try o...
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Checking the Atmosphere and Changing the Climate from 2011-02-20T00:00
We look to the skies in this week's Naked Scientists show, to uncover ways to monitor and change the chemistry of the atmosphere. We join researchers on board an air-sampling aeroplane to discover ...
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What Makes Mucus Green? from 2011-02-13T00:00
How do magnets multiply? What keeps an aeroplane in the air? How do wild animals avoid incest? It's open season on science questions in this week's Naked Scientists. We'll find out if oil extra...
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Low Energy, High-Power Processing from 2011-02-06T00:00
This week we're getting inside the workings of the next generation of chips that are set to pack a bigger computing-punch but at a fraction of the energy-expenditure of todays' models: CTO Mike Mul...
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Leprosy: The Low Down from 2011-01-30T00:00
Leprosy goes under the microscope this week as we uncover the origins of one of the oldest known human diseases, recognised this week on World Leprosy Day. A quarter of a million new cases are diag...
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Analysing Antimatter from 2011-01-23T00:00
We're analysing the matter of antimatter this week to find out what is antimatter, how is it made and why's it so rare in the Universe? We talk to researchers at CERN who are capturing anti-hydroge...
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Do Metal Spinal Implants Lure Lightning? from 2011-01-16T00:00
Does a metal implant turn a person into a living lightning-conductor or radio receiver, is eye-size important, why is frost bad for freezers, where did the first organic molecules come from, what h...
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Would you donate your body to science? from 2011-01-09T00:00
We're discussing human dissection in this week's Naked Scientists. Chris visits the dissection room to find out how trainee doctors benefit from dissecting real bodies, and why many medical school...
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National Pathology Week 2010 from 2011-01-02T00:00
In this special podcast we focus on the highlights of this year's National Pathology Week. We'll be going behind closed doors for a tour of the pathology labs at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and ...
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Back in the Saddle: Getting Paralysed Patients Riding and Rowing from 2010-12-26T00:00
In this special episode of the Naked Scientists podcast, we explore the world of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), a technology allowing people paralysed from the waist down to row and cycle...
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Blowing out Candles Round Corners from 2010-12-19T00:00
In this festive episode, can you get drunk through your feet, the chemistry of cocktails, twelve marine critters of Christmas, the best food and drink combos to eschew indigestion, does a carbon fi...
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Why's Graphene Great? from 2010-12-12T00:00
Graphene is the focus of this week's Naked Scientists, including how it holds the key to the super-flexible touch screen displays of tomorrow, super-light composites and the next generation of comp...
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Electrifying the Future from 2010-12-05T00:00
Current breakthroughs in electricity generation and distribution go under the spotlight in this week's sizzling edition of the Naked Scientists. We talk to the team with the electrical equivalent o...
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Why do Men's Bits Shrink in the Cold? from 2010-11-28T00:00
How heavy is the Earth? How do snakes digest huge meals? Should I fear falling bullets? We take on these questions and more in this Naked Scientists Question and Answer show! We'll discuss the i...
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Smart Pills: Drugs to Boost Brain Power from 2010-11-21T00:00
IQ-elevating agents that can boost brain power are being used by over 10% of university students. But how do these cognitive-equivalents of anabolic steroids for the brain actually work, what are t...
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The Science of Sustainable Shipping from 2010-11-14T00:00
We set sail to discover the science of sustainable shipping in this week's Naked Scientists. We visit an enormous wave tank to find out how the sea swell can impact on damaged ships, and look at t...
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Cancer - Hallmarks and Hit and Run Viruses from 2010-11-07T00:00
We catch up with cancer research this week including evidence that cancers subvert stem cells to suppress the immune system and how covert "hit and run" viral infections may be triggering a lot mor...
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Where does Phlegm come from? from 2010-10-31T01:00
It's National Pathology Week 2010 and to celebrate the launch we're joined by pathologist Dr Suzy Lishman to take on your science questions! We'll find out where phlegm comes from, how petroleum je...
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AIDS to conquering HIV from 2010-10-24T00:00
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) goes under the microscope this week. We find out how the virus hijacks cells to construct new HIV particles and hear how close scientists are to developing a ...
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The Science of Turbulence from 2010-10-17T00:00
It's a bumpy ride on this week's Naked Scientists, as we explore the science of turbulence. We'll find out what turbulence is and why it needs some of the most powerful computers in the world to s...
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Neuromarketing - The Brain Basis of Buying Behaviour from 2010-10-10T00:00
How do advertisers get inside your head? This week we explore the field of neuromarketing - how a knowledge of your brain and behaviour can help marketers to manipulate your buying habits. We'll fi...
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Would an Antimatter Magnet Attract a Normal Matter Magnet? from 2010-10-03T00:00
Why do you see flashes and patterns when you press your eyeballs? Would an antimatter magnet attract normal matter magnets? What is the hardest human bone to break? We take on your science question...
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Neuroimaging from 2010-09-26T00:00
This week we delve deep into the secrets of the brain. We'll find out how MRIs could be used to read your mind, and how they could help unlock what is going on in the brain of a person suffering fr...
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The British Science Festival from 2010-09-19T00:00
We explore the history of Pi, examine rheumatoid arthritis and seek the science of sleep in this roundup of the British Science Festival. In the news, we hear how to read the history of the solar ...
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What Happens to a Tankful of Fish in Orbit? from 2010-09-12T00:00
Why are there two high tides a day when there's only one moon? Would a planet made of glass be transparent? Does dreaming about exercise burn more calories? And what would happen to a tankful of fi...
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Science Down Under 2010 from 2010-09-05T00:00
This week, we go back down under to explore the latest science from the land of kangaroos, bandicoots and the world's largest radio telescope - the square kilometer array. Chris goes on a tour of...
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Diving into Naked Oceans! from 2010-08-22T00:00
To celebrate the launch of the brand new Naked Oceans podcast, we venture beneath the waves to investigate the impacts of oil spills on the marine environment. We hunt down the hidden world of mic...
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Digging in the Dirt and Looking at the Stars from 2010-08-15T00:00
This week, we've got a roundup of recent news and interviews from the Naked Astronomy and Naked Archaeology Podcasts. Digging into Archaeology, Diana O'Carroll will be looking into Bronze Age buri...
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The Tour de France from 2010-08-08T00:00
The Tour de France is the subject of this week's summer special as we look into the science and engineering of professional road bikes, training the human physique to endure thousands of kilometres...
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The Science of Glastonbury from 2010-08-01T00:00
In this Special edition of the Naked Scientists, we explore the science of the Glastonbury Festival. We find out what it takes to turn a farm into a city and back every year, and how to keep clean...
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How do Ants Count? from 2010-07-25T00:00
How do we know that ants count their footsteps? We'll find out in this Naked Scientists Question and Answer show, as well as ask if rubber soles really protect you from electric shocks, if hair wi...
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Going Nuclear from 2010-07-18T00:00
We go nuclear this week to investigate the future of atomic energy, the issues surrounding nuclear waste management and how a proposed new breed of hybrid fission-fusion reactors might help to boos...
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Lasers in Medicine from 2010-07-11T00:00
The role of lasers in biomedicine goes under the spotlight this week as we explore the workings of photodynamic cancer therapy, find out how laser tweezers can be used to force-feed bugs to white b...
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How do you Weigh a Volcano? from 2010-07-04T00:00
We explore the explosive science of volcanoes this week! We find out what you can learn from drilling into a restless volcano, how gravity is used to "weigh" volcanoes and watch them fill with magm...
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What's the point of eyebrows? from 2010-06-27T00:00
Why do we have eyebrows? Can we taste food if we can't smell it? What's a cold sore? This week, we take on your science questions, as well as explore the world of social gaming, and find out how...
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Seriously Small Structures from 2010-06-20T00:00
Seriously small structures are the focus of this week's Naked Scientists, as we look at nanostructures and their role in future energy technologies. We'll find out how nanostructures could enable ...
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50 years of Lasers from 2010-06-13T00:00
We celebrate 50 years of Lasers on the Naked Scientists this week, by looking into the history, and future, of laser science. We'll hear how lasers have revolutionised manufacturing and could be t...
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Creatures in Colonies from 2010-06-06T00:00
The science of social species goes under the microscope this week. We hear what radio-tagging individual ants is revealing about the way they organise their nests to decide who goes hunting and who...
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Do Bacteria Grow on Bars of Soap? from 2010-05-30T00:00
In this Naked Scientists Question and Answer show, we find out if bacteria will grow on a bar of soap, why bird poo is white and whether or not a moon can have its own moon. Also, do sweeteners al...
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Transmissible Tumours from 2010-05-22T00:00
Cancers you can catch go under the Naked Scientists microscope this week. We find out how a transmissible facial tumour is devastating devil populations in Tasmania and also hear how the Human Papi...
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Synthetic Biology from 2010-05-16T00:00
We explore synthetic biology in this Naked Scientists Show, finding out how to learn from, and improve on, the structures and systems we find in nature. We'll meet the team of students who designed...
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Does Beer Kill Brain Cells? from 2010-05-09T00:00
Is there a cure for spots? Why do we cry? Does alcohol really kill brain cells? It's a Question and Answer Extravaganza on this week's Naked Scientists! We find out what makes a Chameleon chang...
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GPS - Where in the World Are We? from 2010-05-02T00:00
Where in the world am I? We're looking at the science of the Global Positioning System, or GPS, this week. We find out how satellites can tell you your location, as well as communicate with the b...
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Archaeogenetics - The Past in Our Genes from 2010-04-25T00:00
We explore the marriage of archaeology and genetics in this week's Naked Scientists, finding out how modern genetic techniques are helping to reveal more about our past. We ask what archaeogenetic...
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The National Astronomy Meeting from 2010-04-18T00:00
We bring you the highlights from the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting. We discover the top priorities for the next generation of space exploration, find out what the echoes ...
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What do worms do in the rain? from 2010-04-11T01:00
We take on your science questions - If there's something that's been puzzling you, on any scientific topic - get them in now! Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
Can you Steer a Hurricane...? from 2010-03-28T00:00
Can you steer a hurricane? In this week's weather-focused Naked Scientists, we find out how aeroplanes are creating clouds, get the low-down on how insurance companies size up storm risks and hear ...
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The Science of Farming from 2010-03-21T00:00
We dig into the science of farming this week with a look at how agriculture can adapt to a changing climate, how scientists are striving to produce a perfect pea and a new initiative to turn native...
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How Do Jellyfish Reproduce? from 2010-03-14T00:00
How do odour-killing insoles stamp on smelly feet? Do submariners' ears pop? How do Portuguese Man o'War jellyfish reproduce? We take on your science questions this week as well as hearing the high...
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The Science of Solar: Photovoltaics from 2010-03-07T00:00
Shedding some light on new advances in solar technology, this week's Naked Scientists explores how nanotechnology can boost solar cell efficiency and how flexible photovoltaics can be rolled up - a...
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The Science of Water Security from 2010-02-28T00:00
We dive into the science of water security in this week's Naked Scientists. We find out how building a dam alters the local weather, and how simple interventions can help bring safe water and sani...
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Winds, Wings, Whale Fins and Wind Power from 2010-02-21T00:00
How can we make the most of the wind? In this week's Naked Scientists, we find out how Humpback whales have inspired a new, more efficient design for turbine blades and stall-resistant aeroplane wi...
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Do animals use toilet paper? from 2010-02-14T00:00
We investigate the toilet habits of the animal kingdom this week as well as taking a pot shot at which way a dirty golf ball swings in mid air, answering whether warmer waters attract more sharks a...
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Pollution&Plastics from 2010-02-07T00:00
Could plastics be polluting your body? This week, we hear how hormone-mimicking chemicals leaching from plastics can cause coronaries, strokes and diabetes. Even the plastic mineral water bottle is...
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Augmenting Reality from 2010-01-31T00:00
The high-tech scanners that can home in on chemicals produced by cancers, how bats and dolphins share genes for echolocation and why barefoot runners have a smoother track record. Also this week, ...
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Explosive Science! from 2010-01-24T00:00
On this explosive Naked Scientists, explore the science of explosions, looking at what happens when a landmine explodes and how to study shockwaves. Plus, how to make safer 'insensitive' munitions...
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Does Farting make you Weigh Less? from 2010-01-17T00:00
Can sea water keep roads frost-free? Why does the LHC need to be so cold? How does antifreeze work and what's the freezing point of beer? This week we run the risk of frostbite to tackle the cooles...
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Listen Here! The Science of Sound and Hearing from 2010-01-10T00:00
We open our ears to the science of sound and hearing this week with a look at the genetic causes of deafness and how a deaf person's brain decodes sign language. We also hear how auditory illusions...
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Launching Naked Astronomy from 2010-01-05T00:00
Thrusting space science into the audio dimension, this week the Naked Scientists unveil a new series for 2010 - Naked Astronomy. Hosted by Ben Valsler together with Cambridge space scientists Carol...
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Dissecting Christmas Dinner from 2009-12-20T00:00
In a festive mood, this week the Naked Scientists meet their meat and dissect Christmas Dinner, but not with a carving knife! We also hear how scientists are able to re-create the acoustics of long...
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Was Swine 'Flu Man-Made? from 2009-12-13T00:00
Where did the 2009 H1N1 swine influenza pandemic come from? This week we hear the evidence that this new 'flu may have escaped from a laboratory. We also explore rising rates of resistance to the a...
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Understanding Hepatitis C from 2009-12-06T00:00
Join us to explore the virus behind Hepatitis C. We'lle be investigating the causes, prevention and treatment of this often masked but serious disease. Like this podcast? Please help us by Listen
What if a Meteorite Destroyed the Moon? from 2009-11-29T00:00
How wide is the universe? What makes steak tough? Why does beetroot give me red urine? These tricky questions get stripped down in this Naked Scientists Question and Answer show. We'll be hearing a...
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Science Down Under from 2009-11-22T00:00
This week, we head down under to explore the latest Australasian science - we'll discover the new, state-of-the-art facility where high-tech lasers and cameras breed the best plants; explore a new ...
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Producing Planets from 2009-11-15T00:00
On this week's Naked Scientists, we seek the start of the solar system. We'll be finding out how clouds of gas and dust can clump and diversify to become stars, asteroids and the planets we know s...
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Investigating Infertility from 2009-11-08T00:00
This week, we investigate infertility and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We find out how a new high resolution temperature monitor conceived in Cambridge can help couples get pregnant, and explore n...
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Where do lost socks go? from 2009-11-01T00:00
The most distant object ever discovered as well as the events of National Pathology week feature in this week's show as we take on your science questions! We investigate whysocks go missing in the ...
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Introducing - The Diamond Light Source Podcast from 2009-10-29T00:00
This week we're showcasing a new bimonthly programme strand which we're making in collaboration with the folks at Diamond, the UK's Synchrotron Light Source. In this episode, we dig deep into the w...
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The Diseased Brain from 2009-10-25T00:00
We explore the basis of brain diseases on this week's Naked Scientists. We find out what happens to the brain in Huntington's disease, discover the genes behind Alzheimers and a potential treatment...
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High Altitude Adventures from 2009-10-18T00:00
We reach for the skies on this week's Naked Scientists, with High Altitude Adventures. We find out how the body reacts to the low oxygen at high altitudes, and join Laura Soul testing the theories...
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Why does Water Expand when it Freezes? from 2009-10-11T00:00
The Nobel prizes feature on the Naked Scientists this week alongside a bumper crop of your science questions! We find out why water expands when it freezes, whether animals have regional accents, a...
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Catching Up with Cancer Research from 2009-10-04T00:00
This week, we catch up with the latest from the front line of cancer research. Kat Arney reports from the National Cancer Research Institute's annual conference, we find out how proton therapy is ...
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Researchers Revealed! from 2009-09-27T00:00
We bring you the highlights from European Researchers Night 2009, which filled the Great North Museum with explosions, music and laughter. We meet Brainiac's Jon Tickle to discuss the physics of c...
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Life in the Branches from 2009-09-20T00:00
Join us in a peek at the secret lives of birds. We find out just how a cuckoo convinces others to care for it's young, and the tragic outcome for the cuckoo chick when the rouse is discovered. We...
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Building Bodies and Mending Broken Hearts from 2009-09-13T00:00
This week we find out about bionic bodies. We discover whether it's possible to mend a broken heart with stem cells as well as investigate if soft nanobots could soon be delivering drugs around ou...
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Can you run faster on the moon? from 2009-09-06T00:00
This week we're taking on the questions you've waited all summer to find the answers to. We find out whether humans can run faster on the moon than here on Earth, if tea tastes better in china cups...
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Diana and Meera's Best Bits from 2009-08-30T23:00
Diana and Meera select their favourite bits of Naked Science, including parajetting over the Himalayas, digging up Greek brothels and making the perfect cup of tea scientifically. Plus, Dr Hal blow...
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Ben and Dave's Best Bits from 2009-08-23T00:00
Ben and Dave select their favourite bits of Naked Science: from taking an MRI of outer space to orange fireballs and chocolate teapots. We explore the boys' best Naked capers. Plus, we join Dr Hal ...
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Helen's Best Bits from 2009-08-15T23:00
It's big, it's blue, it's where life began and life certainly wouldn't be the same without it: yes, that's right, it's the sea. This week Helen Scales is taking the show underwater to explore her f...
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Kat's Best Bits from 2009-08-09T00:00
This week, Kat Arney has been through the archives and picked out her personal Naked highlights, including making experimental jelly, sneezing at computer screens, stabbing potatoes and Ben dancing...
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Peeing on an Electric Fence from 2009-08-02T00:00
What happens if you urinate on an electric fence? We find out the answer to this and some of your other science questions on this week's Naked Scientists, including why chilli peppers are red, how...
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Rubbish! from 2009-07-26T00:00
We dig deep into the science of rubbish, refuse, waste and recycling... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Making Babies - Pregnancy and Fertility from 2009-07-19T00:00
The latest in the science of fertility, IVF and pregnancy... We find out how pre-implantation tests could improve the success of IVF and how stress during pregnancy affects foetal development. Plu...
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The Rap Guide to Evolution - Darwinian Hip Hop from 2009-07-16T00:00
Award winning Canadian hip hop artist Baba Brinkman brings us his Rap Guide to Evolution, an hour of clever, witty and scientifically accurate rhymes that will have you seeing Darwin from a whole n...
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Here's Looking at You - the Science of Vision from 2009-07-12T00:00
We seek the Science of Sight on this week's Naked Scientists, discovering how deep sea fish use clever bioluminescence and biological mirrors to cope with the darkness of the deep. We hear how our...
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Why Does Toothpaste Make Food Taste Funny? from 2009-07-05T00:00
This week, we're taking on your science brainteasers! We find out why toothpaste ruins other flavours, whether humans have a mating season and why food goes in multicoloured, but comes out brown......
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Driving into the Future from 2009-06-28T00:00
This week, we look into new ways of putting a tiger in your tank! We find out how pond life could help make eco-friendly biodiesel and how new types of batteries can power electric cars for furthe...
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The Future of our Food from 2009-06-21T00:00
This week we dig into into the science of farming and food production. We find out how transgenic plants can help us dispense with the need for chemical pesticides and how giant greenhouses at the ...
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Your Science Questions from 2009-06-14T00:00
On this Naked Scientists Question and Answer show, we discover how storms create slow earthquakes and how a local star, betelgeuse, could explode very soon. We also hear of an accurate way to date...
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The Science of Architecture from 2009-06-07T14:41
This week, we seek the science of Architecture. We find out how rapid prototyping technology could help us print out entire houses, and how natural light and ventilation could cut our energy bill...
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Bioengineering from 2009-05-31T00:00
How does nature inspire technology and engineering? We find out how bamboo may make effective wind turbines, and how the material that makes up locust tendons could soon be in your shoes and electr...
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Getting Under Your Skin from 2009-05-24T00:00
Science gets under your skin on this week's Naked Scientists, where we find out how human skin colour evolved to make the best of our sunlight. We explain why albino people have no skin pigment at...
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Science Questions and Answers from 2009-05-17T00:00
We're open to your questions on the Naked Scientists this week, finding out how photosynthesis works underwater, exploring the sex lives of barnacles and discussing if rockets punch holes in the oz...
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Clean Water and Alien Invasions from 2009-05-10T00:00
This week, we're diving into the science of clean water, finding out why rivers and ponds are essential for wildlife, and how alien invaders are colonising our waterways. Plus, how a diet of glyce...
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Tackling Transport from 2009-05-03T00:00
On this week's Naked Scientists, we explore the engineering and materials science that will give rise to the future of transport! We find out how jet engine parts grown as a single crystal of supe...
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Cleaner City Air from 2009-04-26T00:00
In this week's atmospheric Naked Scientists, we're putting the air that we breathe under the microscope. We find out how air quality is monitored, how new technology could help you plan the least p...
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SciFest Africa from 2009-04-05T17:45
This special Naked Scientists comes to you from the MTN Sciencentre in Cape Town, South Africa, with some of the highlights of SciFest Africa. Meera goes on safari to find out how the Born Free Fo...
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History of Medicine from 2009-03-29T00:00
This week we hark back to the days before NHS patient records and find out how illnesses in ancient Rome, Victorian London and 17th century Italy were treated. We also explore how the modern histor...
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Computer Science from 2009-03-22T00:00
This week, we'll strip computer science down to it's components and find out what we should expect to see in the next 5 years. We find out about the thinking behind artificial intelligence, what th...
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Your Questions and the Science of Sword Swallowing from 2009-03-08T00:00
We get to the point of cutting edge Naked Science this week, answering your science questions and exploring the science of sword swallowing. We find out how the Amazon rainforest could become a ca...
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Inspired by Science from 2009-03-01T00:00
This week we're seeking the science of laughter and music. We're speaking to comedian Robin Ince about how geneticists and astronomers can inspire stand up comedy, listening to the music of the wo...
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The International Year of Astronomy from 2009-02-22T11:17
On this week's stellar Naked Scientists we're staring out into space. We find out how technology developed to see inside your body can give a whole new dimension to pictures of deep space, we cele...
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The Science of Love from 2009-02-15T00:00
Happy Valentines Day! We may not be sending you a card, flowers or chocolates, but we love all our listeners. This week's show is all about the science of love and bonding, we'll be exploring the m...
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Stripping Down your Questions from 2009-02-08T00:00
On this weeks snow-bound Naked Scientists, we're taking on your science questions! We discover the caterpillar that tricks it's ant hosts into treating it like royalty, find out why fish get lost i...
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The Science of the Seriously Small from 2009-02-01T00:00
This week, we're studying the science of the seriously small - nanotechnology. We'll find out how tiny, flexible electronics could be implanted under the skin to restore lost sensation, and how tin...
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Material, Heal Thyself from 2009-01-25T00:00
We get Smart on this week's Naked Scientists with the science of self-healing, self-sensing and self-cleaning materials. We hear how carbon fibre polymers could lead to self-healing spacecraft, wh...
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Obesity in your Genes from 2009-01-18T18:00
Is obesity in your genes? This week we find out how hormones, genetics and even your mother's diet contribute to your chances of becoming obese and succumbing to obesity-related diseases. We also t...
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New Year, New Naked Science from 2009-01-13T18:48:27
Happy New Year! For our first show of 2009, we take on your science questions. We find out how earthworms can get airborne, why people get cramp and why Dr Chris' hypnic jerk frightens people on th...
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Why not "Ask the Naked Scientists?" from 2009-01-06T00:00
There's no Naked Scientists show this week, so why not try "Ask the Naked Scientists" - our weekly phone in show with Sue Marchant. This week, we answer qustions like why do we have Adam's Apples? ...
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Introducing - Naked Archaeology from 2008-12-30T00:00
There's no Naked Scientists Show this week, but we're proud to introduce a new series of podcasts, starring our own Diana O'Carroll: Naked Archaeology This episode features the tale of TB's earlies...
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Merry Naked Christmas! from 2008-12-22T17:29:40
We look back on the greatest science news of the year, discuss our top science facts and take on your festive questions in this festive edition of the Naked Scientists. We find out how scientists ...
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Emerging Diseases from 2008-12-14T00:00
New and Emerging diseases go under the microscope in this week's Naked Scientists, as we discover how new diseases arise, cross species barriers and spread throughout the population. We hear about...
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The Science of Sight from 2008-12-07T00:00
The science of sight submits to the scrutiny of the Naked Scientists this week as we look at lens replacement surgery, the genetics of degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration, and fi...
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The Naked Scientists in LA from 2008-12-02T16:46:22
The Naked Scientists hit Hollywood for a special show all the way from California. We meet the cream of Californian scientists from the University of California at LA and at San Diego to find out w...
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Would a Helium Balloon Float on the Moon? from 2008-11-23T00:00
This week we hear how lasers might replace X-rays as a way to see inside the body, we delve into the genetic code of the extinct woolly mammoth and hear about a government competition to exploit th...
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Archaeology from 2008-11-16T00:00
We dig into the world of archaeology this week to uncover what DNA is revealing about how humans domesticated plants and livestock. We also delve into the story of stonehenge and hear how scientist...
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National Pathology Week from 2008-11-09T00:00
This week's Pathological programme brings you a glimpse into the world of the pathologist. We attend a real autopsy to discover how a pathologist uncovers a cause of death, and hear how Cambridge s...
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Should we fill Tyres with Nitrogen? from 2008-11-02T00:00
It's been cold in the UK this week! So what better way to spend your time than to stay in the warm and find the answers to all of your nagging science questions... So if you've ever wondered how fi...
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The Psychology of Drinking and Dancing from 2008-10-26T00:00
Disco Psychology - the science of drinking and dancing feature in this week's Naked Scientists. We find out what your dance moves say about your genes and why drinking alcohol or smoking cigarette...
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Fusion - The Real Solar Power from 2008-10-19T00:00
Nuclear fusion is the power source inside the Sun - so can we copy the physics of the stars to generate energy here on Earth? This week, we find out how nuclear fusion works, and how to mimic a sta...
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How Does a One-way Mirror Work? from 2008-10-12T00:00
New techniques to test for Down's Syndrome and oesophageal cancer feature in this week's Naked Scientists, along with the nanotechnology that may let you climb walls like spider man! We also take ...
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Catching Up with Cancer from 2008-10-05T00:00
We catch up with the latest on cancer this week including an update from the National Cancer Research Institute conference in Birmingham. We hear how computers are helping doctors to read mammogram...
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Young at Heart - Healthy Ageing from 2008-09-28T00:00
This week, how to live longer and look younger with the science of ageing! We discover how repairing damage to DNA could prevent the diseases associated with old age, and find out how to keep your...
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Superbugs - MRSA and C. diff from 2008-09-21T00:00
Superbugs and hospital acquired infections go under the microscope on this weeks Naked Scientists. We find out why Clostridium difficile has become such a problem, how to keep bacteria away from s...
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Why do we Stop Noticing Smells? from 2008-09-14T00:00
There's a bulging mailbag of science questions for the Naked Scientists this week, as we find out why we stop smelling smells, whether we can use viruses to kill cancer and why crisp and sweet pack...
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The Large Hadron Collider from 2008-09-07T00:00
The biggest science experiment in the world - The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, will start on September 10th. So this week we peer inside a proton and discover how the LHC works to help scientis...
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The Science of the Sea from 2008-08-31T00:00
Before Chris and Co get back for the start of the new series, Ben and Diana dive deep into the science of the sea. We find out why cold water corals can act as a climate calendar, how fish feminis...
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The Sounds of Science from 2008-08-17T00:00
The hunt for Bigfoot, how a beer or two can boost attractiveness and the brain basis of imagination go under the lens this week when Ben and Diana also meet the chemist-turned-rapper behind the con...
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The Final Frontier from 2008-08-10T00:00
Diana and Ben take the bridge this week for a journey around the world and out into space, with a selection of the best science from the Naked Scientists worldwide travels. We find out how planets...
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A Punt down the Cam from 2008-08-03T00:00
Science on the River - A Punt Down the Cam. The river Cam runs through Cambridge, past the colleges that have been home to influential scientists for hundreds of years. This week, we drift down t...
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Can you Flavour Breast Milk? from 2008-07-27T00:00
It's an Extravaganza of Questions and Answers on the Naked Scientists this week as we take on your questions, including whether dogs can sniff out a seizure, what is fire made of, and how do glow i...
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Discovering Drugs from 2008-07-20T00:00
Drug Discovery: On this week's Naked Scientists, drug development goes under the microscope as we explore two new ways to find the treatments of tomorrow. We find out why size is important when it ...
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Olympic Science from 2008-07-13T00:00
We're going for gold on this week's Olympian Naked Scientists, by discovering the sporty science of performance enhancement. We find out how drugs can help boost an athlete's performance, and how ...
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Body Clocks and Circadian Rhythms from 2008-07-06T00:00
Give yourself the time to listen to this week's Naked Scientists Show, where we find out about the Body Clock! We discover the constant chemical cascade that keeps your clock in check, and how not...
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Naked Evolution from 2008-07-01T18:22:19
It's 150 years since Darwin's theory of Evolution was presented to the Linnean Society, and so we've Naturally Selected the Science of Evolution! We find out why scientists have revisited a textbo...
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How do Atoms make Colours? from 2008-06-22T00:00
Mirrors, Magnets and Meteorites make an appearance in this week's Naked Scientists Question and Answer Show. We find out how the immune system could be convinced to fight skin cancer, how future M...
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Fire and Mud from 2008-06-15T00:00
Get Red Hot and Dirty with the Naked Scientists as we explore the science of volcanoes. We discover how the heat from hot rocks can be used to work out what gases are emerging, how likely a volcano...
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The Secrets of Odysseus from 2008-06-08T00:00
Ancient Greece is on the naked scientists' menu this week as we travel back in time to 1200 BC to discover how modern science and a 3000 year old poem have solved an ancient riddle. A team of class...
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Questions and Answers from 2008-06-01T00:00
Footballs in space, mind-controlled machines and long-lasting bubbles join your questions on this week's Naked Scientists Question and Answer show. We discover the feminine side of prostate cancer ...
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Life on Mars from 2008-05-25T00:00
Hours before NASA's phoenix mission was due to land on Mars, the Naked Scientists took our own tour of the Martian landscape. We discuss how looking in valleys could tell us what shaped the Martia...
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Your Bacterial Body from 2008-05-18T00:00
Come with us on a tour of your body to discover how the bacteria that live on and in you play an important role! Bad breath bacteria, good gut bugs and the ones that escape through the other end al...
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Repelling Pests - Mosquitoes, Moths and Weeds from 2008-05-11T00:00
Using nature's own tricks, we find out how to avoid mosquito bites, grow more crops and keep the weeds away in this week's Naked Scientists. We find out why mosquitoes prefer some people to others...
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Clothed Questions, Naked Answers from 2008-05-04T00:00
Black holes, bright birds and ice evaporating in the freezer all come under scrutiny in this week's Naked Science Question and Answer Show. We also find out why space is so cold, what happens when ...
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Diamonds and Gemstones from 2008-04-27T00:00
Stunning sapphires, dazzling diamonds and red rubies abound in this week's sparkling edition of the Naked Scientists in which we find out how gemstones are formed, what makes them so beautiful and ...
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Houses of the Future from 2008-04-20T00:00
Sustainable Solar power in Sydney, home-generated electricity and green-housing developments go under the microscope this week as we explore the science of sustainable living. Meanwhile Dave goes f...
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The Science of the Sun from 2008-04-13T00:00
Solar Flares and the Sun's influence on our climate are the burning issues of this week's show. We discover an explosion on the Sun so large that it cut global communications all over the world an...
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Q&A and the Edinburgh Science Festival from 2008-04-06T00:00
Can cold water cause weight loss, is my mother-in-law turning into a reptile and why doesn't a mobile phone interfere with itself are all answered in this week's Naked Science Question and Answer E...
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TB and Magnetic Bacteria from 2008-03-30T00:00
This week we visit the Historic city of Edinburgh to put Scottish science under the microscope! We discover the incredible magnetic bacteria and find out how their bio-nano-magnets could help trea...
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The Cambridge Science Festival from 2008-03-16T00:00
This week, we catch up with the action from this year's Cambridge Science Festival. We find out what you could learn from a plasticine brain and how your next holiday could be literally out-of-thi...
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Science of Music from 2008-03-02T00:00
This week we're exploring the science of sound and music. We sound out the human voice, hear why we all talk differently, and probe the origins of accents and the means by which impersonators mimic...
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Virtual Life from 2008-02-24T18:00
This week the Naked Scientists go virtual! We'll be hearing how a new computer system can accurately gauge your age from a mugshot, we come face to face with the painting fool, a computer that can ...
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Boston T-ransplant Party from 2008-02-17T00:00
On this weeks Pan-Continental Naked Scientists we bring you the latest science news from the AAAS conference in Boston. We hear about why cholesterol-lowering drugs are good for us but bad for bac...
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Wet and Wild from 2008-02-03T00:00
Get Wet and Wild with the Naked Scientists! We don our wellies and wade into the science of wetlands, discovering the species you might see and why wetlands are vital for wildlife on land and at se...
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Viruses and Vaccines from 2008-01-27T00:00
In this week's not-to-be-sniffed-at infectious episode of the naked scientists, we find out the facts of flu, including how the virus hijacks your cells, how new strains of the virus emerge to trig...
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Combating Climate Change from 2008-01-20T00:00
On this week's Naked Scientists, We look at ways to tackle the problem of climate change - including capturing carbon at sea, trapping carbon dioxide in coal to release a useful fuel, and a way to ...
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Addiction and Dieting from 2008-01-06T00:00
Hooked on the Naked Scientists? This week we're looking into the science of addiction, finding out how smoking alters the teenage brain, why a mixture of brain chemistry and psychological habits ma...
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Climate Change and more Ask the Naked Scientists from 2007-12-30T00:00
Happy New Year! We celebrate the arrival of 2008 with a second special edition of our new podcast, Ask The Naked Scientists, followed by a 25 minute round up of the top climate change stories featu...
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Ask the Naked Scientists from 2007-12-26T00:00
Happy Christmas! To keep you entertained while we're off tucking into Turkey, this week and next we've got special editions of a new series of programmes we're launching in 2008 called Ask The Nake...
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Naked Science Christmas Party from 2007-12-16T00:00
Ho Ho Ho! This week on the Naked Scientists we're celebrating the festive season in style, with a party right here in the studio. From Christmas crackers to Brussels sprouts, we'll be looking at s...
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Alzheimer's, the Brain and Memory from 2007-12-02T00:00
This week we learn about Alzheimer's disease, how it changes the brain and may be caused by the virus which causes cold sores. We probe your grey matter to find out how memory works, what goes wro...
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Science in South Africa Special from 2007-11-25T00:00
This week, we bring you the highlights of the Naked Scientists trip to South Africa. We explore what life is like in the poor regions of Johannesburg, and how the frightening reality of HIV and AI...
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The South Africa Space Special from 2007-11-18T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists we cross hemispheres to explore galaxies far far away. Chris presents live from Johannesburg to discuss the South African Large Telescope whilst back in the studio...
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Human Origins and Migration from 2007-11-04T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists, we're probing the origins of man and pursuing the spread of humans around the world. We find out how to date a hobbit, discover how an enormous flood formed the E...
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Stem Cells and Cloning from 2007-10-28T17:05
This week on the Award Winning Naked Scientists we find out about stem cells and cloning. We discuss the elusive 'stemness' that allows cells to specialise, and learn about cloning in the post-Doll...
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Particle Physics Show from 2007-10-21T00:00
This week, we delve inside atoms to find out what matter is made of, and how smashing them together can tell us about the birth of the universe. We learn about quarks, antimatter and the 'god part...
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Beer&Brewing from 2007-10-07T00:00
This week, we're quenching our thirst for knowledge with the science of Beer and Brewing! We learn about how beer is made, why nitrogen is vital for the perfect pint of Guinness and why professors...
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Smart Materials from 2007-09-30T00:00
This week, we're exploring the science of Smart Materials - we discover a Super-Non-Stick coating that even honey wont stick to and flexible plastic paper with E-Ink that we-writes itself on demand...
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Robots and Artificial Intelligence from 2007-09-23T00:00
This week, robots have taken over the Naked Scientists! Okay, not really but we are looking into the world of robotics to find robots that can clean your floor, disarm bombs and wage war on our beh...
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The Best of the BA Festival from 2007-09-16T00:00
This week we're bringing you the very best bits from the BA Festival of Science in York. We discover a chewing gum that dissolves in the wash but still keeps your breath fresh, get some good news a...
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Naked Science Q&A&the BA Festival from 2007-09-09T00:00
This week, we look at the latest science news and tackle more of your questions. We uncover the source of the asteroid that finished off the dinosaurs, find out how moray eels eat like aliens, and...
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Naked Science Q&A from 2007-09-02T00:00
This week, Chris and Co are back from their holidays! So they're tackling their bulging mailbag of your questions. We discuss how scientists have been given the green light to cross human DNA wit...
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The Best of the Naked Scientists 2 from 2007-08-26T00:00
This week, we look back at more of the very best bits of Naked Science. We find out why scientists are swollen with success after discovering spider venom with Viagra-like properties, We meet a cow...
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The Best of the Naked Scientists from 2007-08-19T00:00
This week, we look back at some of the juiciest bits of Naked Science from the last series. We find out how an iPod became an iRod to conduct lightning, discover an electrifying bikini and find ou...
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Summer Special Q&A Show from 2007-08-12T00:00
This week, do diet foods make children fat? Could a space screw save us from catastrophe collisions? Have we seen the last of the Yangtze river dolphin? And should we look to the Simpsons for our s...
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Venoms and Toxins - Natures Arsenal from 2007-08-05T00:00
This week, mind reading children, scientists find a new gene in the lung cancer cocktail, and satnav or map-nav - what's greener? Plus we become biological weapons inspectors and explore nature's a...
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Naked Science Q&A Show from 2007-07-29T00:00
This week, clean coal technology - how to get the energy from coal without digging it up, why GM goats are helping to combat nerve gas attacks, and how scientists have found the 'itch' gene. We als...
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Extreme Survival Show from 2007-07-22T00:00
This week, we find out about survival in extreme environments. We find out how free divers descend hundreds of feet underwater without air, how life thrives beneath the ice in Antarctica, how fight...
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The Brain, Epilepsy and Out of Body Experiences from 2007-07-08T00:00
This week news that men talk as much as women, cosmetics from jellyfish, songbirds "greatest-tits", a breathtaking asthma breakthrough and a gene-screen for bowel cancer. We also uncover the cause ...
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ARMAGEDDON - Super Volcanoes, Meteorites and Earthquakes from 2007-06-24T00:00
This week a rabies-based Trojan Horse that smuggles drugs across the blood-brain barrier, why first-borns are brighter, progress with Parkinson's and a lunar telescope more powerful than Hubble. Pl...
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Forensic Science Show from 2007-06-17T00:00
Under the microscope this week, the science of forensics. We find out how scientists have exploded the myth about old aged whales thanks to a piece of shrapnel, about a new rice-based vaccine for c...
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Question and Answer Show from 2007-06-10T18:00
This week, why some people have green blood, how radiation-hungry fungi will feed astronauts of the future, and how a cider a day keeps the doctor at bay. We discuss corrupt chemists, what happens ...
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Animal Behaviour - Feathered Einsteins, Mischievious Meerkats and Monkey Vision from 2007-06-03T00:00
This week, will a hot mint still taste cold? Also how skimmed milk could come straight from the cow in future, and why we walk upright without dragging our knuckles. Nicky Clayton discusses clever...
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Planets and Cosmology from 2007-05-27T00:00
This week, Drs Chris and Helen find out how your fingers can reveal whether you're mathematically minded, and bridge-building ants that quite literally let themselves be walked over. Also, Astrono...
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Volcanic pollution, the Ozone Hole and the Greenhouse Effect - The Atmosphere Show from 2007-05-20T00:00
This week, scientists recreate hair follicles, we uncover a means of making hydrogen in a hurry, hear about a stealthy way to destroy cancer and find out why a dose of herpes could be good for you....
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Germs, Fungi and Viruses - The Microscopic World from 2007-05-13T00:00
This week, Dr Chris and Dr Helen explore the microscopic world, finding out why diarrhoea and projectile vomiting make cruise ships the perfect culture vessel for noroviruses, and asking why fungi ...
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Naked Scientists Question and Answer Show from 2007-05-06T00:00
This week Drs Chris, Dave and Phil find out how a venomous spider has got scientists swollen with excitement because it's bite has Viagra-like properties, how maggots are fighting off MRSA from ulc...
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Migrating Genes, Surnames and Y Chromosomes from 2007-04-29T00:00
This week we're exploring how populations come by their genes including the surprise finding of African DNA in a remote village in Yorkshire. Oxford University's Bruce Winney explains how studying ...
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Oceans and Marine Conservation from 2007-04-22T00:00
This week on the Naked Scientists an invitation to come and dive beneath the surface of the sea, to find out what is happening in the world's oceans. Your guides will be Marine Biologist Dr Annelis...
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New Ideas in Cancer from 2007-04-15T00:00
This week we look at new developments in the science of cancer with Fiona Watt and Andy Futreal, we will see how new gene technologies could be key to understanding cancer, and knowing the role of ...
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Heart Disease and Repairing the Damaged Heart from 2007-04-01T00:00
This week we explore the science of Heart Disease. Dr Niall Campbell joins us to explain what heart attacks are and how theyre treated, Dr Anthony Mathur discusses how stem cells might hold the key...
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The Science of Flight from 2007-03-25T00:00
This week we explore the science of flight. Dr Graham Taylor from Oxford University talks about the aerodynamics of insect flight and how video camera back-packs allow him to see how eagles fly, an...
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National Science and Engineering Week from 2007-03-18T00:00
Every year the Cambridge Science Festival celebrates some of the best and most exciting science and engineering going on in the UK - and the Naked Scientists were there! Find out about the cool sci...
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Peruvian Mummies and Animal Domestication from 2007-03-04T00:00
This week we unwrap the secrets of ancient mummies from Peru with the help of London Universitys Lawrence Owens, find out where domestic animals and pets came from with Keith Dobney from the Univer...
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Parasites and Clean Water Supplies from 2007-02-25T00:00
Clean water is something that many of us take for granted, but Mark Booth describes how in many parts of the world dirty water can lead to life-threatening disease and parasitic infections. To talk...
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Naked Question and Answer and Venomous Vipers from 2007-02-18T00:00
Dr Chris and Dr Helen answer all your burning science questions, including why frost can form even when the air temperature is above zero, why hair looks darker when it is wet, why sunlight looks r...
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Nuclear Power and Radiation in Medicine from 2007-02-11T00:00
Nuclear energy is always in the news, but how much do you know about nuclear fission and what happens to nuclear waste? To find out how it works, Anna Lacey and Dave Ansell visit Sizewell B power s...
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Science of Pain and Phantom Limbs from 2007-02-04T00:00
The science of pain is our hot topic this week. David Julius reveals the molecular mechanisms of pain and what a chilli pepper has in common with a tarantula, Geoff Woods describes the genetic muta...
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Extreme Organisms and Hydrothermal Vents from 2007-01-28T00:00
This week we take a look at extreme environments and the organisms that live in them. Crispin Little talks about hydrothermal vents and the fastest fossilisation on the planet, Steve Scott explains...
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Climate Change and Renewable Energy from 2007-01-21T00:00
Following this weeks crazy weather we have a look at Climate Change with Eric Wolff from theBritish Antarctic Survey, who will be talking about secrets about the climate locked away in ancient ice,...
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Naked Science Question and Answer and the World of Chemistry from 2007-01-14T00:00
With a new year comes a whole new stack of science questions to challenge Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Kat. This week they explain where the sand in the Sahara comes from, whether mirrors can reflect x...
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Red Wine, Caffeine and Bugs in Your Guts from 2007-01-07T00:00
In the first show of 2007, Drs Chris, Dave and Helen find out why red wine is better for you than white wine or grape juice, and explore the science of healthy living with with London University re...
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Christmas Question and Answer and the Star of Bethlehem from 2006-12-17T00:00
In the final show of 2006, Chris, Dave and Kat answer all your science questions including why poppadoms curl upwards in the pan, how seedless grapes grow, and if lightning really does strike twice...
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Dark Matter, Northern Lights and Mars in 3D from 2006-12-10T00:00
Shedding light on the deepest depths of the universe is Gerry Gilmore, who talks about the Big Bang and the mystery of dark matter. We also hear from Peter Muller and Giulio del Zanna about 3-D ima...
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Naked Science Question and Answer and Polonium Poisoning from 2006-12-03T00:00
Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Phil answer all your questions on science, technology and medicine, including why spiders do not run out of silk, what the universe is expanding into, what a flame looks li...
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Repairing the Retina and Spinal Cord from 2006-11-26T00:00
Repairing damage in the nervous system is incredibly challenging, but our guests this week have some promising solutions. Consultant ophthalmologist Robert MacLaren and colleagues at University Col...
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Science in Antarctica from 2006-11-19T00:00
As winter approaches, we take a trip down south to look at some of the cool research going on in Antarctica. Jane Francis talks about six-foot penguins and a time when Antarctica was warm and ice-f...
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The Sound of Music from 2006-11-12T00:00
This week we explore the science of sound including the mathematics of music and the geometry of jazz with mathematicians Tim Gowers, from Cambridge University, and Robin Wilson from the Open Unive...
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Naked Science Question and Answer and Record Breaking Fireworks from 2006-11-05T00:00
Why scratch your head at science when Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Kat are here to answer all you questions?! In this weeks question and answer special, we discover why liquid washing tablets don't dis...
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Superconductivity and Cooling Devices from 2006-10-29T01:00
This week we take a look at some super cool science, as Tim Jackson describes how superconductors work, what they are, and how superconductors are helping astronomers get a clearer view of the univ...
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How We Hear, Echolocation and Giant Whoopee Cushions from 2006-10-22T00:00
Helping us tune into the science of sound this week is Bob Carlyon, who explains how we hear, how we can concentrate on one voice in a noisy room, and what it sounds like to have a cochlea implant....
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Science of Sight, Eye Diseases and Animal Vision from 2006-10-15T00:00
Taking a look at the science of sight is consultant ophthalmologist Nick Sarkies, who will discuss eye diseases and how we can treat them, and Ron Douglas provides insight into colour vision and ho...
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How Cancers Form, Cancer Biology and Future Therapies from 2006-10-08T00:00
Cancer biology goes under the microscope this week, as Gerard Evan talks about the causes of cancer and how cancer spreads around the body. Also on the show, and joining us live from the National C...
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Naked Science Question and Answer and New Horizons from 2006-10-01T00:00
Answering all your cosmic conundrums this week are Drs Chris, Dave and Phil who discuss why blood is red, the size of the ozone hole, how to make magnets, the best way to get rid of excess mucus, ...
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Catalysts for Cleaner Environments and Future Energy from 2006-09-24T00:00
Chemistry and lightning quick reactions are under discussion this week as Emma Schofield explains what a catalyst is, how catalytic converters work and how catalysts can help to clean up the atmosp...
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Peruvian Mummies, Ancient Environments and the Sahara from 2006-09-17T00:00
Explaining how science can help us dig up the past is Lawrence Owens, who uses teeth and bones to uncover the life and sometimes gruesome death of mummies in Peru and Bolivia, and Harriet Allen des...
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Hot Nectar, Warming Weather and Birds Missing the Spring from 2006-09-10T00:00
In the hot seat this week is Beverley Glover, who will describe how flowers warm their nectar to entice passing pollinators, real life weatherman John Law discusses weather predictions and how to c...
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Crowd Control, Football Hooligans and Singing Mosquitoes from 2006-07-30T00:00
I predict a riot... or not. This week we're joined by crowd control experts Dr Clifford Stott, from Liverpool University, and Dr John Drury, from Sussex University, wholl be discussing why violence...
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Exploding Jellyfish, Marine Conservation and Sharks-3D from 2006-07-23T00:00
Marine biology and conservation specialist Dan Laffoley, from English Nature, and Chris Lynam, from the University of St Andrews join us to dissect the state of the worlds oceans and marine protect...
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The Science of the Sun, Sun Tanning, Nuclear Fusion and Fission Power from 2006-07-16T00:00
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory astrophysicist Chris Davis joins us to shed light on the structure and workings of the sun and the newly-launched STEREO mission, Cambridge University engineer Jeffer...
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Allergies, the Immune System and Parasites from 2006-07-09T00:00
In honour of the annual hoards if bleary-eyed hayfever sufferers, we are joined by Carrock Sewell who describes how the immune system works, what causes allergic reactions and how we might be able ...
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Sex Chromosomes, Genetics and Food Webs from 2006-07-02T00:00
Breaking things down to the building blocks of life this week is Mark Ross, who discusses the evolution of sex chromosomes, genetics and genomes, Michael Traugott describes a novel way of using gen...
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Naked Question and Answer and The Life of Benjamin Franklin from 2006-06-25T00:00
Answering all your questions on science, technology and medicine this week are Drs Chris, Dave and Kat, who will be revealing why spicy foods make you sweat, the highest possible temperature, the c...
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Social Insects and Locust-Inspired Car Safety from 2006-06-18T00:00
Scratching the itch of curiosity this week is William Foster, who will be talking about the evolution of social insects and his quest for social beetles in Thailand, Claire Rind flies in the face o...
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Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi from 2006-06-11T00:00
This week we focus on the science of the very small - the microbial world of bacteria, viruses and fungi with Nottingham Universitys Liz Sockett and Cambridge Universitys Stacey Efstathiou and Ali ...
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Oil, Fuel Cells and Alternative Energy from 2006-06-04T00:00
Powering the generators for the show this week is Nicky White who describes how oil is formed, how we find and extract oil and how long oil supplies will last, Lynne Macaskie discusses how fuel cel...
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Naked Science Question and Answer and the Science of Happiness - Naked Scientists 06.05.28 from 2006-05-28T00:00
Answering all your science questions this week are Chris, Kat and Dave, including why some people are so prone to static electric shocks, whether humans will exceed the speed of light, how pain kil...
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Music Technology and the Science of Sound from 2006-05-21T00:00
Bringing music to our ears this week is Hugh Hunt who discusses the science of sound, how harmonics work and how to play music in a tea cup, Jez Wells describes the frontiers of music technology in...
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BSE, Cervical Cancer and Toxoplasmosis from 2006-05-14T00:00
As the ten-year ban on British beef is lifted, Tony Minson joins us to discuss what causes BSE, how it is spread and why it is such a problem, and with another example of how animal diseases pass t...
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Dinosaurs and Fossils - Jurassic Science set in Stone from 2006-05-07T00:00
This week we return to the lost world of the dinosaurs. Cambridge University palaeontologists Leslie Noe and Matt Wilkinson discuss the origins, life and demise of the dinosaurs including how they ...
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Naked Science Question and Answer from 2006-04-30T00:00
Brightening up the darker corners of your science knowledge this week are Chris, Phil and Kat, who look at colour-blindness in dogs, harnessing heat energy from the centre of the Earth, how glow in...
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Coral Reefs and Creatures of the Deep Sea from 2006-04-23T00:00
Delving into the dark depths of science this week is Ron Douglas who describes the fascinating world of deep sea fish, bioluminescence and the sights from a deep sea sub, Jason Hall-Spencer talks a...
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Forecasting Weather and Climate from 2006-04-09T00:00
Bringing a ray of sunshine to the studio this week is Alex Hill from the London Met Office, who will be describing how meteorologists predict the weather on a daily basis, Tim Palmer reveals how un...
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Brainwashing and the Science of Pain from 2006-04-02T00:00
Picking apart the inner workings of our brains this week are Irene Tracey, who discusses the neurological origin of pain and how we can reduce pain, Philip Shaw reveals why having a bigger brain do...
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Naked Science Questions and Answers from 2006-03-26T00:00
Answering all your burning science, technology and medicine questions this week are Drs Chris, Dave and Phil, who will be looking at why purifying seawater is not the answer to water shortages, how...
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Invasive Species, Conservation and the Last Giant Tortoise from 2006-03-19T00:00
Conservation and saving species go under the spotlight this week as Henry Nicholls draws attention ot the plight of Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his kind, David Aldridge discusses th...
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Body Clocks, Circadian Rhythms and Time from 2006-03-12T00:00
Time is very much the essence of this weeks show, as Russell Foster discusses the human body clock, where the body clock is and how it gives our bodies a daily rhythm, Karl-Arne Stokkan describes h...
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Recycling, Water Use and Problem Plastic from 2006-03-05T00:00
The recycling revolution and the whereabouts of our waste are hot topics this week as David Butler describes a new technique for recycling water, Rebecca Weymouth lifts the lid on what happens to o...
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The Science of Nanotechnology from 2006-02-26T00:00
Picking apart some miniature morsels of science this week are David Carey, who provides the big picture on the world of nanotechnology, Donald Fitzmaurice describes how DNA may be used as scaffoldi...
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Chinese Medicine and the Healing Power of Plants from 2006-02-19T00:00
Unlocking Natures medicine chest are doctors orders this week as Monique Simmonds reveals the research behind old herbal remedies, Tai-Ping Fan describes how Chinese medicine is being used for illn...
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Science of Seduction, Pheromones and the Food of Love from 2006-02-12T00:00
Love, seduction and sexual attraction are in the air this week as Peter Brennan woos Chris and Kat with a discussion of pheromones and the science of smell, Charles Wysocki suggests how farmers can...
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Your Questions, Infectious Cancer and Louisiana Wetlands from 2006-02-05T00:00
This week we hand the show over to you, as Chris, Kat and Phil answer all your burning questions on science, technology and medicine. Anne-Maree Pearse joins us to describe the hellish plight of th...
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Meteorites, Satellites and Avoiding Asteroids from 2006-01-29T00:00
This week we look to the solar system as Ian Sanders discusses where meteorites come from and how we can find them, astronaut Dr Stan Love describes how to avoid Armageddon asteroids, Maggie Aderin...
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Geology of Natural Disasters, Volcanoes and Earthquakes from 2006-01-22T00:00
This week we shake up the world of science as Janet Sumner describes the dynamics of volcanic eruptions and the strutcure of the Earth, Tamsin Mather talks about how the gases from volcanoes affect...
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Plant Science, Composting and Mosquito Repellents from 2006-01-15T00:00
This week we go green as Alison Smith discusses how algae get their vitamin B12, Tim Upson reveals the science behind composting, Heather Gorringe and Richard Fishbourne dish the dirt on what worms...
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Obesity, Appetite, Exercise and Weight Loss from 2006-01-08T00:00
With the indulgences of Christmas behind us, Steve ORahilly sheds some light on shedding a few pounds as he discusses the science of appetite, obesity and weight loss, Len Almond describes the role...
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The Coriolis Effect and Christmas Questions for Dr Chris Smith from 2005-12-18T00:00
This week we put our heads in a spin as listeners across the world test whether it is possible to detect the Coriolis Effect from your bath tub, Karl Kruszelnicki provides the answer to the Corioli...
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Animal Communication, Sexual Signalling and Emotions from 2005-12-11T00:00
This week we learn about animal communication straight from the horses mouth. Dr Gillian Forrester, from the University of Sussex, describes how gorillas use tactile signals to communicate, Dr Kati...
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Forensics, DNA Fingerprinting and Human Origins from 2005-12-04T00:00
This week we take a foray into forensics, as DI Alan Cook talks about how DNA is used to solve crime, Alec Jeffreys helps us brush up on how DNA fingerprinting works, Tamsin OConnell describes how ...
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Stars, Cosmology and the Beginning of the Universe from 2005-11-27T00:00
This week we dive into deep time as cosmologist Mike Hobson explains how we measure the universe, the distance of the nearest galaxy, how scientists calculate the life span of the sun, and the defi...
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Naked Scientists - 05.11.20 - Genetics, DNA Extraction and the Human Genome Project from 2005-11-20T00:00
This week we unravel the secrets of DNA as Darren Grafham discusses the importance of sequencing genomes and how the Human Genome Project has improved medicine, Mike Majerus reveals why we look dif...
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Parasites, Hookworms and Allergies from 2005-11-13T00:00
This week Prof. David Pritchard gets to the bottom of why parasites may help to get rid of allergies, Elizabeth Bernays describes how caterpillars acquire a taste for plants containing toxic chemic...
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Fireworks, Explosions and Chemistry from 2005-11-06T00:00
In this explosions extravaganza, John Emsley and Jacqueline Akhavan describe the chemistry behind the bangs on bonfire night, George Pendle talks about Jack Parsons and the history of rocketry, Mar...
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UFOs, Mars and Space Science from 2005-10-30T00:00
This week we delve into the unexplained as Nick Pope discusses Britains biggest UFO case, the Rendlesham Forest Incident, Anna Lacey visits Rendlesham Forest to talk to Vince Thurkettle and Brenda ...
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Social Insects, Biting Bugs and a Potted History of Honey from 2005-10-23T00:00
This week we get bitten by the bug as Ian Burgess talks about the nasties that nibble us in the night, William Foster discusses social insects and how individuals in colonies communicate, Bee Wilso...
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Avian Flu, How Flu Spreads, Anti-Flu Drugs, and how to avoid Influenza from 2005-10-16T00:00
As the flu season and the threat of avian flu comes closer, Professor John Oxford from the Royal London Hospital discusses what the flu is, where flu comes from and whether drugs and vaccines can p...
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Stem Cells, Brain Repair and Tricks of Light from 2005-10-09T00:00
Stretching our grey matter this week is developmental biologist Dr Adrian Pini, who describes how our brain grows, how our brain works, and how it can become damaged, and Dr Huseyin Mehmet, who dis...
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