5th Feb 2010
- Spontaneous Combustion and Smellovision
Does being hot under the collar ever lead to spontaneous combustion? Will we ever get smellovision? Does being ill make you smarter? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as reveal if animals and humans react to drugs in the same way, whether milk is what makes mucus in our bodies and if microwaves are as good at heating water as your kettle!
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Why do buses get steamy, how do ships withstand super-waves, what's really invovled in balancing on a bike, how come Hawaii's on a hot-spot and do fluorescent tubes flash beneath power lines? Join Dr Dave as he pits his wits against your scientific conundra...
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22nd Jan 2010
- Broken Bones and Glowing Worms
How long to bones take to heal? Are healed bones stronger than they were before? How do glow worms glow? We tackle these bright questions on this week's show as well as reveal what a headache is, how to cure a hangover, the strength of atomic bombs and how trees and coral can tell us about past climates!
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15th Jan 2010
- Water, Snow and Icy Roads.
At what temperature does sea water freeze? Why do aeroplanes not freeze when up in the cold air? Why can't we use sand on icy roads? We tackle these chilling questions on this week's show as well as reveal if parachutes could slow down a space ship, whether we can see stars from the moon, if smoke stacks can be harvested for energy and if wood vapourises before it burns!
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8th Jan 2010
- Food, Fats and Healthy Eating!
Is goose fat bad for us? What food ingredients are healthy? Is soy healthier than meat? What is cellulitis? We tackle these questions to kick off our healthy eating regimes for 2010. We also explore the depths of outer space to reveal how far away our planets are, how long a rocket would take to reach Neptune and whether there are planets beyond our own solar system. Plus, we calculate how long it would have taken Santa to deliver presents to everyone!
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18th Dec 2009
- The Wrong Sort of Snow?
How the moon might make you behave badly, why snowstorms beget thunderstorms, the wrong sort of snow for trains, and whether tomato soup would be a warmer filling for radiators. Dr Dave tackles a festive crop of questions in this week's Ask! the Naked Scientists...
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11th Dec 2009
- Soap, Water and Tidal Power
How do facial scrubs work to remove spots and oil from our skin? does hot water freeze faster than cold water? Why do we not make more use of tidal power? We take on these questions in this week's show as well as reveal why we faint, how close our genes are to our ape ancestors and what legionnaires diseases is and how to prevent it. Plus we discuss the effects of obesity on our health and whether our organs are unique to each individual!
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4th Dec 2009
- Gold, Hydrogen and Atomic Bombs
How is Gold formed? Could hydrogen be used in power plants? How small can an atomic bomb be? Could we reverse electrolysis to make water? We tackle these questions in this week's show as well as find out how the shrunken heads in Borneo are shrunk, why burnt toast goes black, and why white bread is white. Plus, we investigate if bullets can be made from custard and whether we can trap light to use as energy!
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27th Nov 2009
- Jetlag and Body Clocks
Can we re-set our body clocks? How can we ease the effects of jetlag? Do body clocks change with age? We look into these questions in this week's show as well as investigate whether lightning can occur without clouds, the effects of head injuries, why spacecrafts need to travel at high speeds and we discuss the optimum world population.
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20th Nov 2009
- Dark Skies, Meteors and 3D Vision
How can you measure how dark a place is? When do meteor showers occur and how can we see them? How do 'magic eye' paintings work? We reveal the answers to these mysteries in this week's show.
We also find out whether the earth breathes, why car wheels appear to move backwards, and how DNA can narrow criminals down to a specific location. Plus, we investigate where all the hazelnuts have gone!
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13th Nov 2009
- Snot, Spit and Criminal Minds
What is snot? Why do we make saliva? How do babies have such sweet smelling breath? These, and other less bodily questions, get tackled in this Ask the Naked Scientists. We find out how a radio can consume batteries quickly, where to live to avoid floods and if a brain scan can spot criminal intent!
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6th Nov 2009
- Tough Tomatoes and Custard Conflagrations
Why are tomato skins so tough? Can you make fireworks from custard powder? What is the speed of dark? Join us as Dave Ansell takes on your science questions, explaining if satellites get dusty, how much damage the infamous Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot would have done, and why you can't see stars in footage shot in space!
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30th Oct 2009
- Venoms and Stings
Can venoms be used to treat disease? How deadly is the sting of an Irukandje jellyfish? Do all bees die when they sting? We tackle these buzzing questions on this week's show, as well as find out how our brains process pleasure, reveal where dust comes from, and investigate why cows are bad for our environment!
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16th Oct 2009
- Climate Change and Future Technologies
Is global warming natural as well as man-made? What effect will arctic melting have on our sea levels? Why have cars not evolved past piston engines and fossil fuels? Can sugars be used to fuel cars? We tackle these energy-related questions on this week's show as well as reveal how iron ships are kept buoyant, how inkjet printers work and how many wind turbines are needed to power the UK. Plus we investigate how much of our coastline is eroding each year and how old the water is that comes out of our taps!
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9th Oct 2009
- Exploring our Universe
This week, Dr Dominic Ford joins Dave Ansell to take on your questions about our universe. They reveal whether it's possible to live in outer space for years on end, if we can see the flames of the sun from here on Earth, discuss what dark matter is, and investigate what existed before the big bang! Plus, we find out why snakes aren't poisoned by their own venom and explore when the modern calendar was created.
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2nd Oct 2009
- Eyes, Aliens and Goosebumps
Why is our peripheral vision so good in the dark? Why do we have goosebumps? Do UFOs exist and is there life on other planets? We explore the answers to these questions as well as investigate how bacteria know where to infect us, how our TV screens work, why we set our clocks back in winter and reveal if covering our bodies in salt would make us shrivel up like a slug!
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18th Sep 2009
- Batteries, lightning and Stainless Steel!
Why do cameras use batteries so quickly? Why does warmth help a battery last longer? How do humans survive lightning strikes? We tackle these questions as well as reveal how steel ships protect themselves from erosion, whether stainless steel really is stainless, investigate the different types of salt and discover how lie detectors work!
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11th Sep 2009
- Aliens, The Moon and The Bermuda Triangle
Do Aliens Exist? Did Neil Armstrong really walk on the moon? What happens over the Bermuda Triangle? We take on these mysteries in this week's show as well as reveal if the earth is growing, why planes leave vapour trails and investigate whether deodorants are flammable.
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4th Sep 2009
- Elements, Planets and Satellites
How do new elements enter the periodic table? How much does the earth weigh? Could Jupiter blow up? We tackle these explosive questions on this weeks show as well as reveal the workings of the internet and how it was created, investigate how the government could spy on our phone calls, and discover why our fingers go wrinkly in the bath!
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28th Aug 2009
- Spiders, Wasps and Evolution
How do wasps reproduce? Do all spiders bite you? Why have some animals lasted many years without evolving? We take on these questions on this week's show as well as find out how helicopters fly, explain why kettles go silent before boiling, reveal how far radio signals can travel and discover how to get a boiled egg into a bottle!
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20th Aug 2009
- Mobiles, Glowsticks and 3D Films
How do glowsticks glow? Do mobile phones have limited frequencies? How do 3D films work? We tackle these questions on this weeks show, as well as discuss the causes of heart attacks, why it's less windy at night and find out why our accents aren't always reflected when we sing.
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14th Aug 2009
- Parallel Universes, Making Moons and Artificial Brains
You ask Dave Ansell whether parallel universes are possible, how moons are formed around Saturn, what's new for car batteries, the existence of wormholes and how one might go about building an artificial brain.
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6th Aug 2009
- Brainy Birds and Winding Watches
Why do astronauts feel weightless in space? What makes teenagers throw tantrums? Do mobile phones damage our health? We tackle these questions on this weeks show as well as reveal how jay birds find their food, how self-winding watches work, whether losing weight can help us avoid certain diseases and some of reveal that Aesops fables were true!
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31st Jul 2009
- Exploding Stars, Shoe Polish and Lost in Space
When do stars explode? How does shoe polish work? What happens if you float away from your spacecraft? Why can't we feel the Earth spinning? Dr Dave answers your questions in this week's ASK.
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24th Jul 2009
- Yeast, Gyroscopes and Nuclear Waste
We take a turn around gyroscopes, find out if it's better to run through the rain, identify the origins of yeast, chomp our way through the make-up of white chocolate and ponder the future of telecommunications.
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17th Jul 2009
- Flashes, Orbits and Dogs
We find out why field mice aren't green, why the Earth isn't put off its orbit by the Sun's activity and how dogs have evolved alongside humans. We combat these conundrums in addition to - why does my radio keep playing after I've switched off the mains and why is the reflection in a spoon upside down?
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10th Jul 2009
- Trees, Tyres and Teleportation
How big can aeroplanes get? Will we ever teleport? And When we lose weight, where does it go? We take on all these brainteasers and more in this Ask the Naked Scientists Podcast. Plus, Did dogs evolve from wolves? Why do roads need resurfacing after an accident? And what are clouds made of?
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19th Jun 2009
- Hiccups and Helium
Why does helium make our voices higher? What are hiccups and how can we get rid of them? How contagious is swine flu? We take on these questions on this weeks podcast as well as find out how beta blockers slow our heart rate down, why food sticks to the bottom of a pan when it burns and how sewage waste is moved round an aeroplane. Plus, we look into the role of the prostate in men and the conditions associated with this organ.
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12th Jun 2009
- Stars, Wormholes and our Expanding Universe.
Are Orion's stars shrinking? What are wormholes and do they really exist? What is our universe expanding into? We tackle these cosmic conundrums on this weeks show, as well as find out why light travels faster than sound, if everything spins in space, why TV adverts sound so loud and we investigate the existence of the Bermuda Triangle!
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5th Jun 2009
- Laughter, Sound and Smell
How has laughter evolved? Why can'we tickle ourselves? Why do hot and cold water sound different? What is smell and why do things have a smell? We tackle these chalenges on this weeks show, as well as investigate if blood pressure varies in different sized people, why mouthwash makes water taste colder, investigate why we shouldn't breed with relatives and discuss the causes of vertigo.
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29th May 2009
- Glass, Galaxies and the Gulf Stream
Can we break glass using sound? Is glass a liquid? Can we use GPS to navigate galaxies? Will climate change make the UK colder by affecting the Gulf stream? We tackle these questions on this weeks show as well as reveal how submarines stay at a fixed depth, why toothpase is better with fluoride in it, how sunlight can be converted into energy and we investigate whether we could ever create a time machine!
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21st May 2009
- Solar Wind, Moondust and Mouldy Cheese
How would astronauts cope in a solar wind? Why did dry moon dust hold a footprint? Why does wine age well but beer go off? And should you eat mould? We find out in this week's Ask the Naked Scientists. Plus, what happens if you exceed the speed of light, and what's going on at the centre of the Earth?
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15th May 2009
- Cameras, Probes and Mobile Messaging
How do cameras work? What are the Herschel and Plank probes hoping to find out? How are messages sent to computers and mobile phones? We tackle these questions on this weeks show. We also find out if blood gets thinner as you get older, why newspapers are easier to tear vertically than horizontally, and investigate if it's safe to take aspirin and anti-inflammatories at the same time.
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8th May 2009
- Spiders, Space and Skyscrapers
How strong is spider silk? Why are some people scared of spiders? How vast is space and does it have an end? How are skyscrapers built? We answer these question in this week's show. We also discuss swine flu, investigate how good aluminium is as a lining material, uncover what causes allergies to cats, work out the speed of heat and electricity and reveal if it's possible to reverse gravity!
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1st May 2009
- Spotty Bottoms and Jogger's Nipple
Why do we get spots on our bottoms? What is Jogger's Nipple? What is Gangrene? Why do we have different languages? We tackle these questions on this week's show, as well as find out how our hearts work and how a pacemaker can control it. We also find out what an aneurism is, analyse the conditions in which moss grows and discuss the treatment options for arthritis.
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24th Apr 2009
- Sticky Water, Static Shocks and Solar Storms
This week, we ask how water can be both sticky and slippery, what causes static shocks and if Solar storms can take down aeroplanes. Plus, we find out why 240 volts may be better than 110, and how your body can act as a radio aerial!
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17th Apr 2009
- Painkillers, Plastics and Platelets
How do painkillers work and which ones are available to us? Why doesn't the plastic on ready-meals melt in the oven? How can we donate platelets instead of blood? How can we ease the pain of arthritis? We take on these questions in this week's show. We also reveal why omega oils are so good for us, look into how the International Space Station keeps itself moving over earth and investigate the demise of the honeybee.
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10th Apr 2009
- Sparks, Lightning and Electricity
Can horses feel electric shocks through their fur? Can we create lightning artificially? How do we send electric signals via cables to America? Can frozen nitrogen conduct electricity? We tackle these sparky questions on this weeks show. We also learn about the northern lights, reveal why rain falls heavier than snow and investigate if it really is dangerous to pour hot water into a glass.
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20th Mar 2009
- Genes and Clones
Are identical twins clones of each other? Can parents with brown eyes have children with blue ones? Is it possible to have blonde hair and brown eyes? How do conjoined twins form? We answer these questions on this week's show. We also find out why our dreams don't always reflect reality, investigate if it is safe to re-heat food in the microwave, reveal how boils are formed and discover how washing powders make our whites dazzling bright!
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13th Mar 2009
- Electric Cars and Exploding Champagne
How much does it cost to run an electric car? Why does shaken champagne not explode if you wait a while before opening it? Would a car filled inside with helium run for longer? Is man the only mammal to have racial features? We dig into these questions on this week's show, as well as reveal if hyper-space travel is possible, explain how a memory stick works and investigate if a compass would work on the moon!
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6th Mar 2009
- Atomic Bombs, The Amazon and our Climate.
Can atomic bombs cause changes in our climate? Can understanding the Amazon help control the greenhouse effect? Are we likely to find life in outer space? We take on these question in this week's show. As well as find out about Bell's Palsy, reveal why people have fits, learn how to identify animals by their DNA and learn how to help control diabetes with our diets.
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27th Feb 2009
- Planes, Spaceships and Automobiles
How do mobile phones work on planes? Is flying more environmentally friendly than driving? What is rocket fuel? Can we see the International Space Station with the naked eye? These are just some of the questions asked in this week's show. We also investigate whether we can use our bodies as aerials, reveal how computer animated characters are created in films and find out if we can steam our eggs for breakfast!
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20th Feb 2009
- The Earth and Its Elements
How does the Earth rotate? Why do we not fall off the Earth as it spins? Why is there a periodic table? Why is Oxygen written as O2? We tackle these questions in this week's show. We also find out about the causes and symptoms of diabetes, investigate how our bodies generate heat, and reveal how to create a perfectly straight object!
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13th Feb 2009
- Ice, Snow and Space
What experiments can be done with snow? Why is snow white yet ice is clear? How can ice be made without refridgeration? And how do Jet engines work out in space? We tackle these questions in this week's show. We also find out about the Ares-V rocket being built by NASA, investigate why underarm hair hasn't been lost through evolution and reveal how someones smell could reveal if they're your perfect match!
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6th Feb 2009
- Phantom Limbs and Electric Shocks
What is phantom Limb Syndrome? Why don't birds get electrocuted when they land on power lines? Why can a tooth filling give us electric shocks? We tackle these questions on this week's show. We also find out why bears and penguins feet don't freeze on ice, look into the world of dreaming to find out why we each dream differently, reveal why waves are white when they break against the shore and discover what makes an electric train travel.
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30th Jan 2009
- The Science of Lightbulbs and Compact Discs
Do energy saving lightbulbs give you headaches? How do LED lights work? How do CD's show us the spectrum of light? Can we see magenta in the spectrum? We tackle these question on this week's show. We also find out how trrains stay on their tracks and whether it's possible to communicate when tarvelling faster than the speed of sound!
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23rd Jan 2009
- Stars, Stings and Tickles.
Why do we see stars in the sky? Why do stars twinkle? Why can't we tickle ourselves? And how do stinging nettles sting? We tackle these question in this weeks show. We also find out whether eyesight can improve with age, how fibre optics work, why water doesn't burn and we reveal what hypermiling is!
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16th Jan 2009
- Space, Sciatica and Solar Power
How does Solar heating work? What is Sciatica? What's the point of space exploration? We tackle these challenges in this week's show. We'll also be finding out why we get headaches, whether we can duplicate stem cells using their DNA and explain why it's possible for humans to land on the Moon, but not Mars.
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9th Jan 2009
- The Science of Sparks, Candles and Lightbulbs
Would a matchbox spark in space? How do re-igniting candles work? How does an energy-saving lightbulb work? Does the sun rotate like the earth? We answer these questions this week, as well as reveal how mobile phone charms work, investigate why New Zealand has mainly non-deciduous trees and find otu if rainwater is safe to drink.
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