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Question of the Week, from the Naked Scientists — Natural Sciences
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…

Latest Episodes:

Has life changed on the ISS due to COVID-19? Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

We're blasting off to the International Space Station to answer this question from listener Fady: "has life changed for astronauts on the ISS due to coronavirus, and are astronauts still allowed to be sent to and from the ISS?" Phil Sansom roped in flight surgeon Filippo Castrucci from the European Space Agency... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do electrons flow in electric current? May 26, 2020

Show notes

Rakesh got in touch with this question: "Typically when electrons flow for the electric current, do they come out from the atoms and flow as electric current? Is it not true that when electrons come out from atoms light and energy is released? So why don't electric wires change their colours?" Eva Higginbotham got in touch with Dr Ankita Anirban to find out the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do we all have the same skin sensitivity? May 19, 2020

Show notes

Matt got in touch with this question: "Do all humans have the same number of nerve endings in their skin, and if so, do those of us who are bigger, either taller or fatter, have reduced sensitivity in a given area of skin?" Eva Higginbotham spoke with Professor Francis McGlone from Liverpool John Moores University to feel out the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do C-section babies get their microbiome? Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

Pavel asked us "On one of the Naked Scientists programmes it was mentioned that a newborn baby has initially sterile intestines and gets most of its microbiome during the passage through the uterus and vagina. What happens to children that are brought into this world via caesarean?" We reached out to Peter Brocklehurst from the University of Birmingham to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Can frogs survive in a sealed terrarium? Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

Listener Jon sent us this question: "I just purchased some dart frogs which need to live in high humidity conditions. In order to attain this we basically sealed off the terrariums. The question is whether a really sealed terrarium could provide enough oxygen for the frogs through plant photosynthesis alone. Who would win: the frogs or the plants?" Phil Sansom got the answer to this 'pet peeve' from plant scientist Stephanie Smith... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How much power can we get out of fusion? Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

Fusion could be the most sustainable source of energy in the future. But how much can we get out of it? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Are big dogs smarter than small dogs? Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

Dogs come in all sizes, from tiny Chihuahuas to giant Great Danes. Their head size is hugely different, as must be their brain size. Does this mean that a Great Dane is massively more intelligent than a Chihuahua? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Should I be microwaving my kitchen sponges? Feb 24, 2020

Show notes

Is a kitchen sponge full of bacteria, and will a microwave kill them? We tested this at home and asked an expert! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Can a weak immune system worsen sunburn? Feb 10, 2020

Show notes

Listener Robin asks: "I heard on the podcast, that the reason why we get a sunburn, is that the body is trying to fix cells that are damaged by UV radiation. So if one person is sunburned longer than another, does that mean their immune system is worse?" To find an answer to this burning question, Adam Murphy spoke to dermatologist Jane Sterling... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Will the poles switching cause problems? Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

Listener Ray asked us: " The Earth has apparently reversed its polarity fairly regularly, and is perhaps overdue for the next instance. Is anything known about how this will happen, and the effects? How will it affect our reliance on technology?" We put Ray's question to Richard Harrison, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge, and he gave us a flipping good answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

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