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
How is eye colour passed down?
Teacher Ellie was recently asked a question by her Year 9 pupil in Manchester that she couldn't answer: "I have one blue eye and one brown eye, when I have kids, will they have one blue eye and one b…
00:03:52 |
Mon 18 Oct 2021
Would a body left in space decompose?
Daniel has been dreaming of the stars, but his dreams have been rather eerie. Now, he's on a one way journey to gain some scientific insight. He got in touch to ask 'If a crew on a mission to mars ha…
00:04:45 |
Tue 12 Oct 2021
Why do we keep catching the same diseases?
This week, listener Rick emailed us to ask "Why do we acquire lifelong immunity against some pathogens but not others?" Sally Le Page asked author and infectious disease researcher at Imperial Colleg…
00:03:20 |
Tue 05 Oct 2021
Do frogs get itchy?
Margaret got in touch to ask The Naked Scientists: "Science has now identified actual nerve endings that humans and other mammals have that send that itchy feeling to the brain. Do snakes and other a…
00:04:10 |
Mon 20 Sep 2021
What happens to light's lost energy?
Listener Mark was curious to know: "Since the Universe is expanding, and light coming across it stretches as it does so, becoming more red, what happens to the lost energy when the shorter wavelength…
00:04:03 |
Mon 13 Sep 2021
How long before the food I eat becomes 'me'?
Listener Martin wanted to know: "How long does it take the food I eat to become part of me?" Eva Higginbotham set off to find out the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Nak…
00:03:29 |
Mon 06 Sep 2021
What proportion of the brain stores memory?
Dave got in touch with The Naked Scientists to ask, "How much of the brain is memory?" This week Harrison Lewis only just remembered to get in touch with Amy Milton from the University of Cambridge. …
00:03:22 |
Mon 16 Aug 2021
Why do ladybirds have varying spot numbers?
Listener Ruomei wrote in to ask "Why do ladybugs have different numbers of spots on their backs?"Eva Higginbotham spoke with ladybird enthusiast Helen Roy from the Uk Centre for Ecology and Hydrology…
00:02:57 |
Mon 09 Aug 2021
Is lava wet?
Listener Henk wrote in to ask "Is lava wet?" Sally Le Page spoke with magmanimous geologist Brooke Johnson from the University of Oxford... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked S…
00:03:07 |
Mon 02 Aug 2021
Why don't dogs get hairballs when cats do?
Beth wrote in to ask "My dog is always licking her fur but never gets a hairball. Why don't dogs get hairballs?" Sally Le Page spoke to three animal aficionados: Nick Sutton, Science Communications A…
00:03:45 |
Mon 19 Jul 2021
If heat rises, why is it colder up mountains?
Wayne got in touch to ask: "We've always learned that heat rises but it's normally cooler in the mountains. Shouldn't their higher elevation make it warmer there?" Sally Le Page reached out to atmosp…
00:03:17 |
Mon 12 Jul 2021
Could bagpipes help you recover after Covid?
Paul got in touch to ask "If one is recovering or has recovered from covid, would playing bagpipes help to expand the lungs and be beneficial or detrimental?". Adam Murphy reached out to John Dickins…
00:03:43 |
Mon 05 Jul 2021
Why do crocodiles have such bumpy skin?
Johan aged 5 got in touch to ask: "Why are crocodiles' skin so bumpy and not smooth?" Sally Le Page reached out to James Hennessy from Ireland's National Reptile Zoo for the answer... Like this podca…
00:03:18 |
Wed 23 Jun 2021
Will a can in the ocean float or be crushed?
This week, Phil Sansom has been thinking deeply - or rather, sinking deeply - about this question from listener Richard. "Will a can of soda dropped in the ocean sink until it implodes, or float once…
00:03:45 |
Mon 14 Jun 2021
Is every snowflake unique?
This week, Charlotte Birkmanis is chilling out, as she answers Alan's cool question: "I have heard it said many times that no two snowflakes are the same. Given the billions and billions of them that…
00:03:50 |
Mon 07 Jun 2021
Can overcooking junk food make it healthy
This week, we're turning up the heat, as Adam Murphy's been looking into Kelvin's question: "We are told not to overcook our vegetables because this kills the nutrients. Now if that's the case, why d…
00:03:18 |
Mon 24 May 2021
Can dog wee dissolve rubber tyres?
This week, urine for a treat - Phil Sansom tackles this question from listener Trent. "Every time I walk my dog, it pees on the tyre of a particular trailer. It got me thinking: urine contains uric a…
00:03:52 |
Mon 17 May 2021
Can flies survive the winter?
Jeffrey got in touch to ask: "We've had a cold and snowy winter, and I've had to shovel my driveway every few days. We had a fly in our house, and I was curious if it survived the cold somehow, or re…
00:03:46 |
Mon 10 May 2021
How do ZIP files work?
Listener Ellie wanted to know: "how do ZIP files work on my computer?" Phil Sansom unzipped the question - with an answer from research data scientist Peter Foster... Like this podcast? Please help u…
00:03:55 |
Mon 26 Apr 2021
Why are electrons never in between orbitals?
Quantum hats on for this week's 'exciting' question! Listener Mejnun says: "I have learned at school that when an electron excites it jumps to another orbital around the nucleus. If an electron jumps…
00:03:39 |
Mon 19 Apr 2021
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.