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
Could man have thrived if dinosaurs still roamed?
If dinosaurs hadn't been wiped out by a mass extinction event, would there have been room for humans to grow into the successful species we are today? That's what Colin wants to know, and James Tytko…
00:05:05 |
Fri 01 Nov 2024
What is the spread of chemical isotopes on other planets?
Pamela wants to know whether the distribution of chemical isotopes is the same on other planets as it is on Earth. Take carbon, for example, 99% of which is carbon-12 on Earth while 1% is carbon-13? …
00:05:50 |
Fri 25 Oct 2024
Do spiders have to learn how to make their webs?
David wants to know whether the intricate and varied spiders' webs seen in nature are a product of arachnid instinct, or something that is cultivated across their life. To get to the truth, James Tyt…
00:05:38 |
Fri 18 Oct 2024
When I scratch part of my body, why do I tingle elsewhere?
Jim writes in to say, 'Sometimes when I pinch near my knee, I will feel a tingling or tickling sensation behind one of my shoulder blades. What's up with that?' James Tytko found him an answer, with …
00:04:37 |
Fri 11 Oct 2024
Do snails get dizzy?
Oscar asks whether the snail stuck on the inside of his car wheel while he went for a drive would have felt the effects afterwards. Jon Ablett from the Natural History Museum helped James Tytko with …
00:04:03 |
Fri 04 Oct 2024
Can dead animals poison the food chain?
Akori wants to know whether it is safe to eat vegetables and herbs grown where animals have been buried in the past. James Tytko sought the help of Professor Malcolm Bennett at the University of Nott…
00:04:27 |
Fri 27 Sep 2024
Do wind farms have an effect on the weather?
Thanks to Jim Dale for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
00:04:39 |
Fri 20 Sep 2024
Is there a cure for musical anhedonia?
This week, Carl writes in to ask whether he can be cured of specific musical anhedonia. This is a condition whereby a person can hear and distinguish between different types of music and the emotion …
00:04:26 |
Fri 13 Sep 2024
What is the shutter speed of our eyes?
When listener Suzy is taking pictures of the night sky, she makes use of longer shutter speeds to capture more light to get better images of stars. That got her thinking, do human eyes also have a sh…
00:04:17 |
Fri 06 Sep 2024
What if the Moon had never formed?
Thanks to Dana Mackenzie for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
00:05:01 |
Fri 30 Aug 2024
Why does spider silk feel so weird?
In this week's Question of the Week, listener James writes in to ask, is it just him, or does spider silk feel really strange? James Tytko took on the question with Professor of Evolutionary Biology …
00:04:42 |
Fri 23 Aug 2024
What are the carbon emissions of wildfires?
This week, Jon wants to know, in the wake of wildfires across the world in recent years, should we be concerned about their carbon footprint? James Tytko asked Jim Dale from British Weather Services …
00:03:46 |
Fri 16 Aug 2024
Do I need to keep taking probiotics continuously?
Christine emails in with this message: 'Does bacteria contained in probiotics become part of the microbiome; in other words can one stop taking probiotics after 30 days of taking probiotic-containing…
00:04:24 |
Fri 09 Aug 2024
If the Universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?
Anne writes in with this question, which James Tytko took on with the help of the University of Cambridge's Public Astronomer, Matt Bothwell... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Nak…
00:04:28 |
Fri 02 Aug 2024
What is the smell when it's raining?
Elizabeth with a transatlantic teaser for this question of the week: "I heard that people in the UK can't smell when it rains, but us Americans can. If I went to the United Kingdom, would I be able t…
00:04:27 |
Fri 26 Jul 2024
Can we extract DNA from fossils?
Join James Tytko in the hunt for ancient DNA thanks to this question from listener Phil. Jack Lovegrove from the Natural History Museum was on hand to help with the answer... Like this podcast? Pleas…
00:05:05 |
Fri 19 Jul 2024
What makes up the space when subatomic particles move?
Phil sent in this quantum conundrum which Will Tingle took on with the help of Ben Allanach, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge... Like this podcast? Please help us by su…
00:03:36 |
Fri 12 Jul 2024
Do plants get cancer from UV light?
Thanks to Garth Jenkins from the University of Glasgow for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
00:03:53 |
Fri 05 Jul 2024
Are there stars outside of galaxies?
Brian has been in touch to ask whether stars can be independent of galaxies. James Tytko asked the University of Cambridge's public astronomer Matt Bothwell to help find the answer... Like this podca…
00:04:47 |
Fri 28 Jun 2024
Why are wind turbine blades shaped the way they are?
For today's question, James Tytko takes on Janey's query on the shape of modern wind turbine blades and draws a comparison with old fashioned windmills: why such different designs? Professor of Renew…
00:05:15 |
Fri 21 Jun 2024
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of Dr Chris Smith. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.