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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:

Can fingernails stop rhino poaching? Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

John asked, "I'd like to know if enough people in the world donated their finger and toe nail clippings, could enough keratin be produced to satisfy the demand and thus stop the poaching of wild animals in Africa?" Mariana Marasoiu spoke with Jon Taylor from Save the Rhino International and Simon Hedges from Asian Arks about whether rhino horn alternatives can help save them... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does pasta water boil over? Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

This week's question is a curious cooking query from Anthony. "When pasta or rice is added to boiling water, there is a sudden surge of the boiling water to the point that the pot boils over with bubbles. Why is this?" Phil Sansom got in touch with Phillip Broadwith, business editor of the magazine Chemistry World... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why is wildlife around Chernobyl thriving? Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

This week, a question from Bill. "My question is about Chernobyl and why it is that wildlife seems to be thriving there and yet we understand that humans still can't survive there. Why is this?" Phil Sansom spoke to someone who's actually been there - Victoria Gill, a science correspondent for BBC News... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Will climate change affect monsoons? Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

Saugat asked "what is the exact cause of monsoon rain, and how will it be affected because of global warming?" Ruth Geen, from the University of Exeter, works with modelling the effect of climate change on monsoons and helped Emma Hildyard pour some insight into this... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

QoTW: Can you tell if its sunrise or sunset? Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

This week, Manik from Canberra asked if it's possible to tell whether it's sunrise or sunset from looking at a photo or a painting. Ankita Anirban spoke to painter James Gurney and physicist William Livingston to shed light on the situation... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Can a huskys fur keep it cool in summer? Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

This week we are answering a question from Alex: "Are huskies (or dogs in general) able to insulate themselves from the cold of winter and from the heat of a hot summer's day as well?"Matthew Hall asks Christof Schwiening from Cambridge University's Department of Physiology... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Can a transfusion change your blood type? Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

This week we are answering a question sent in by Mark: "is it possible to have so many blood transfusions that your blood type changes?" Emma Hildyard asks Cedric Ghevaert, from the Department of Haemotology at the University of Cambridge... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Do candles really clear nasty smells? May 20, 2019

Show notes

Patrick sent us this question: "My wife wants me to light a candle after doing my number two, to get rid of the smell. Does this actually do anything?"Phil Sansom has been sniffing out an answer, with the help of Kit Chapman from Chemistry World. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How long after eating is that carbon exhaled? May 13, 2019

Show notes

Greg asked, "When I exhale, my breath contains carbon atoms. How long ago were they in my food or drink?" We were hungry for answers, so Ruby Osborn asked Fred Warren from the Quadram Institute Bioscience to break it down... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How to see faint stars Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

Sean asked "Why is it that when you look directly at a small faint star it disappears, but when you look at a point near it, you can see it again?" Ben McAllister has been searching far and wide for the answer to this cosmological conundrum... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

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