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
Why does cereal stick to the bowl?
Have you ever noticed how leaving bits of leftover breakfast cereal uneaten causes it to harden like cement to the side of the bowl? Why is this? We explore the science of cereal cement, with additio…
00:03:00 |
Sun 05 Jun 2011
When does wind chill turn to heating?
So you've felt those cold winds robbing you of your heat, but how fast do you have to go before they give it back? And why do planes stay cold when shuttles are hot? Find out in this QotW! Like this …
00:04:47 |
Sun 29 May 2011
How much Fuel is too much Fuel?
Does a full fuel tank waste cash? Is there an optimum level to which you should fill your car's petrol tank so it doesn't just use the excess energy simply to carry the petrol around? Do vehicle man…
00:03:46 |
Sun 22 May 2011
Does loud music annoy whales?
If you've been to a whale acrobatics display at a tourist centre, you probably noticed some very loud music being played. But does it actually annoy the whales? Plus, we ask how much petrol is the op…
00:04:01 |
Sun 15 May 2011
How do we keep warm?
This week: what methods does our body use to keep itself warm? What does shivering actually do? Plus, we ask if whales like music. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
00:04:04 |
Sun 08 May 2011
How do giraffes vomit?
Giraffes have very long necks indeed so how do they go about barfing? We find out how they revisit their dinner. Plus, we ask how the human body keeps warm. Like this podcast? Please help us by suppo…
00:04:21 |
Sun 17 Apr 2011
Why do we get circles around or eyes?
Eye circles plague many of us at one time or another. Some of us have them all our lives! But what causes them? We have the answers... or a few of them. Plus, we ask if giraffes find it tricky to vom…
00:03:53 |
Sun 10 Apr 2011
What's the most efficient way to heat water?
How did you go about heating the water for this morning's shower? Did you leave the boiler on all night or just heat what you needed? Find out which is the most energy efficient in this Question of t…
00:04:19 |
Sun 03 Apr 2011
Where on Earth is gravity the strongest?
Where do you have to go on the Earth to find the strongest pull of gravity? And where might one go to find the weakest? Plus, we ask which is the most efficient method of heating water: keeping a tan…
00:05:23 |
Mon 28 Mar 2011
How do you calculate the distance to a star?
In the absence of a giant ruler, how does one go about measuring how far the Earth is from a star? Simon Singh explains in this QotW. Plus, we ask where in the world gravity feels strongest. Like th…
00:03:20 |
Mon 21 Mar 2011
Why don't potato peelers need sharpening?
Potato peelers are the staple of the kitchen drawer, but why don't they ever seem to need a good honing as ordinary knives do? We have the answer(s). Plus, we ask how the distance to a star is calcul…
00:04:36 |
Mon 14 Mar 2011
How do painkillers target pain?
This week, how do painkillers locate the bits that hurt? Do they have an inflammatory sat-nav or do they just numb your entire body? Plus, we ask why potato peelers never need sharpening. Like this p…
00:03:28 |
Mon 07 Mar 2011
What are cramps and how does one avoid them?
This week, we discover the reasons for those aches and pains known as cramps. What causes them and how can they be prevented? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
00:03:10 |
Mon 28 Feb 2011
How fast does a car have to go to lift you off the ground?
If you're hanging onto the back of a car, how fast would it have to go before you were lifted off the ground? Plus, we ask about muscle cramp and how to avoid it! Like this podcast? Please help us by…
00:04:03 |
Mon 21 Feb 2011
Do we walk in circles if we can't see?
Is it possible to walk in a straight line if one is blind or blindfolded? Are blind people better at it? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how fast a car would have to travel…
00:04:30 |
Mon 14 Feb 2011
Is an e-card more environmentally-friendly?
Which is better for the environment: an e-card or a traditional paper card? We have the answer for you in this (not terribly romantic) Question of the Week! Plus, we ask if people still walk in strai…
00:05:56 |
Mon 07 Feb 2011
What does it mean when soaps claim to kill 99.99% of germs?
Some hand washes claim to kill 99.99% of all germs. What do these advertising slogans really mean? Would two hand washes kill 100 per cent of all germs? Plus, we ask if sending an e-card is really mo…
00:04:01 |
Mon 31 Jan 2011
Why does light bend under gravity?
Light is supposed to be massless so how is it that gravity makes a beam bend? Plus, we ask what the hand wash adverts mean when they claim to kill 99.9% of known germs. Like this podcast? Please help…
00:04:31 |
Mon 24 Jan 2011
How does the brain interpret Braille?
In this touchy-feely Question of the Week we find out which bits of the brain interpret text and Braille. Are they the same? Plus, we ask how it is that light bends under gravity, even though it's s…
00:03:48 |
Mon 17 Jan 2011
Are humans the only species to drink the milk of another?
When you think about it, drinking the milk of a cow is a little odd. Are we the only animal in the world that drinks the milk of another species? Why do we drink it anyway? Plus, we ask how Braille i…
00:04:26 |
Mon 10 Jan 2011
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