Question of the Week, from the Naked Scientists
Each week we set out to solve one of the world's weirdest, wackiest, funniest and funkiest scientific puzzles. And along with the answer there's a brand new question to think about for next time...
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 4 minutes
- Episodes
- 629
- Years Active
- 2008 - 2025
Do fish orgasm?
Fish reproduce by squirting out eggs and fertilising them, so where's the joy in that? Is there any form of pleasure that fish can experience through reproducing? We explore this fishy conundrum in Q…
00:04:09 |
Mon 12 Dec 2011
Why some noises send shivers down my spine?
Why is it that the sound of nails being dragged down a blackboard makes every muscle tense and every nerve jangle? We tackle this teeth-grittingly uncomfortable problem in QotW. Plus, we ask whether…
00:03:56 |
Mon 05 Dec 2011
Why can't I focus on a reflection?
For those who are long or short-sighted, have you ever experienced an inability to focus on objects in the mirror - even though you should be close enough to the mirror to see them clearly? Find ou…
00:04:08 |
Mon 28 Nov 2011
What happens when two black holes meet?
When two abnormalities in space time collide, what sort of mess are they likely to produce? Will we see it? Find out in this supermassive QotW! Plus, we ask why some objects stay blurry in the mirr…
00:05:26 |
Mon 21 Nov 2011
Why don't umbilical cords become tangled?
Given that a foetus is essentially a swimming thing on the end of a piece of string, how is it that the two don't become tangled more often? Find out in this jelly-like QotW. Plus, we ask what woul…
00:04:19 |
Tue 15 Nov 2011
Do our pupils let in more light if we wear sunglasses?
The pupil of the eye dilates in low-light conditions. Does this mean that the same amount is let into the eye when we wear sunglasses? Plus, we ask if babies can tie themselves in knots. Like this po…
00:04:17 |
Mon 07 Nov 2011
Do humans have whiskers?
Many people across the world are able to grow moustaches and beards, but are these the same as whiskers? Find out in this hirsute QotW. Plus, we ask if eyes overcompensate when wearing sunglasses. Li…
00:04:08 |
Sun 30 Oct 2011
How can we avoid the effects of zero g?
Astronauts have to put up with living in zero gravity, so how might they go about avoiding its ill effects? Find out in this body-bending QotW. Plus, we ask if humans have whiskers. Like this podcas…
00:04:12 |
Sun 23 Oct 2011
Why don't black holes explode?
Black holes emit Hawking radiation and gradually reduce in size, so is there a critical mass at which a black hole can no longer support itself? Find out in this QotW. Plus, we ask how much gravity…
00:03:56 |
Sun 16 Oct 2011
Can we make power from poo?
Human excrement burns quite well, so why not use it to power a house? But how could this be done? Find out in this fragrant QotW. Plus, we ask why black holes don't explode. Like this podcast? Please…
00:03:25 |
Sun 09 Oct 2011
Do pregnant women breathe more?
Does being pregnant mean you have to breathe for two? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if poo power really is possible. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the N…
00:03:51 |
Sun 02 Oct 2011
Why do cheese and wine go together?
Certain foods seem to complement each other while others grate; why is this? Is it a matter of personal taste, or is there some science behind it? Plus, we ask if pregnancy makes breathing harder w…
00:04:03 |
Sun 25 Sep 2011
Is modern medicine affecting the human gene pool?
If babies are born by caesarian and modern medicine allows many more people to survive to adulthood, will the human gene pool be affected? We explore this huuuge question in a very concise Question…
00:04:43 |
Sun 18 Sep 2011
How does a calculator work?
Calculators are rather speedy at subtracting, sums and deriving standard deviations. But how do they do it? We find out in this QotW. Plus, we ask if modern medicine is affecting the human gene pool.…
00:04:14 |
Sun 11 Sep 2011
Why do wet dogs smell?
If you've ever returned from taking the dog for a walk through rain, you'll probably be very aware of the terrible way it smells! But what is it that makes wet dogs smell so awful? We tackle this whi…
00:03:43 |
Sun 04 Sep 2011
How do solar sails work?
Given that photons are massless, how do solar sails get pushed along by light? We explore the reasoning in this Question of the Week! Plus, we ask why wet dogs always seem to smell so appalling. Like…
00:03:04 |
Sun 21 Aug 2011
Do bubbles keep your bath warmer for longer?
Do bubbles act like insulation on the surface of your bath? Will it prevent the need for that toe-burning hot water top up? Find out in this QotW! Plus, we ask how solar sails stay aloft on simple…
00:04:28 |
Sun 14 Aug 2011
Why do sandy footprints appear raised?
Why is it, that when you take photos of footprints in sand, they can sometimes appear raised? We tackle this holiday illusion in Question of the Week! Plus, we ask if bubbles in your bath can keep it…
00:03:33 |
Sun 07 Aug 2011
What does non-coding DNA do?
Ever wondered what all that junk in your DNA trunk is doing? Find out in this QotW! Plus, we ask: what's the point of two sets of organs? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Sc…
00:03:29 |
Sun 19 Jun 2011
Are there more earthquakes now?
Is it true that there are more earthquakes now than in the past, and that they are more intense? We explore the problem in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if non-coding DNA has a purpose. L…
00:02:47 |
Sun 12 Jun 2011
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