Episodes

  • Why is sunlight so important for the body?

    Why is sunlight so important for the body?
    Nov 22 2024
    Why are we called The Naked Scientists? Why should you get sunlight in the morning? Why does bright light make you sneeze? Does luck have a pattern? Is there really such thing as bad luck? Do people who don't get sunlight have more health problems? Did our skin colour change because of agricultural reasons? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    18 mins
  • Has it been a strange year for weather?

    Has it been a strange year for weather?
    Nov 15 2024
    Dr Chris Smith answers questions from the listeners of CapeTalk. Including, why are pregnant women told to take folic acid? What causes ears to itch? Why is vomit yellow? Is there a relationship between organs of the body and areas of the skin? How effective is carbon dating? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    19 mins
  • Why do athletes spit on the ground?

    Why do athletes spit on the ground?
    Nov 8 2024
    Dr Chris and Clarence take on another selection of topics from across the scientific spectrum: Who were the victims of the Mount Vesuvius eruption? How does one get rid of ringworm? What are the effects of a low heart rate? If our internal body temperature is 37 degrees, why do we feel warm when it's 35 degrees outside? What is an eating disorder? Can an element in the periodic table be changed into another? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    23 mins
  • What should you do if a lift cable snaps?

    What should you do if a lift cable snaps?
    Nov 1 2024
    Do animals lower their mating standards when drunk? Why do different farts make different noises? What should you do if your lift cable snaps? Were there two Earths at one point? Where do mosquitoes go during the day? Is tinnitus always a ringing sound? Is Teflon safe to use? Is there such thing as a universal frame of reference? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    22 mins
  • Do other animals see colour?

    Do other animals see colour?
    Oct 25 2024
    In this episode of Ask! The Naked Scientist, Dr Chris explains how our eyesight changes as we age, what the difference is between a brown and white egg shell, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    19 mins
  • Are ambidextrous people more intelligent?

    Are ambidextrous people more intelligent?
    Oct 18 2024
    Listener science questions from South Africa answered by Dr Chris this time include: Do you urinate more liquid than the alcohol you consume? Why do dark skinned people get pigmentation underneath their armpits and between their thighs? What are the latest developments in helping restore vision to blind people? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    17 mins
  • Why do we have car headlights on during the day?

    Why do we have car headlights on during the day?
    Oct 11 2024
    Dr Chris answers listener questions. Including, is air made up of the same proportion of stuff everywhere on Earth? What is earwax? Where is it produced and for what reason? How does time work at the North Pole? Why do strong perfumes cause sinus congestion? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    19 mins
  • What is the best way to get rid of hiccups?

    What is the best way to get rid of hiccups?
    Oct 4 2024
    Can you bring someone back from the dead? Can a special diet help flexibility in older people? What is the best way to get rid of hiccups? Are hovercrafts safe? Why is yawning contagious? Does hot water sound different to cold water? Are there tardigrades on the ISS? Dr Chris Smith and Zain Johnson have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    20 mins