http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/ Science Radio Shows and other events, from the naked scientists Mon, 12 May 2008 01:30:22 +0000 http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.18/ Mon, 05 May 2008 10:54:06 +0100 We discover the secret world of bacteria living inside your body! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.18/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.11/ Fri, 02 May 2008 15:36:15 +0100 This week, we're discussing one of the world's biggest killers - Mosquitoes. Why do some people get constantly bitten, while others don't? We discover how to keep yourself safe from bites, and how to protect farmland using some clever planting techniques... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.11/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.04/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:44:35 +0100 Black holes, bright birds and ice evaporating in the freezer all come under scrutiny in this week's Naked Science Question and Answer Show. We also find out why space is so cold, what happens when a neutron star collapses and where houseflies buzz off to in winter. Plus, we discover a robot who keeps kids company in hospital, and catch up with the the latest tech news about Twitter. Also, we hear How bats are louder than a rock concert, how a quantum trick could let birds see magnetism and we peer into the biggest eye in the animal kingdom - belonging to the Colossal Squid. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we get close to some hot rubber! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.05.04/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.27/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:56:18 +0100 Stunning sapphires, dazzling diamonds and red rubies abound in this week's sparkling edition of the Naked Scientists in which we find out how gemstones are formed, what makes them so beautiful and why they're so rare. We also reveal the tricks used by experts to flush out fake stones, and discover how synthetic diamonds can make better lasers, more powerful electronics, sweeter tweeters and cutting-edge scalpels. Plus, why a mongoose could be your best friend in a minefield, how a good breakfast leads to more male births and, in Kitchen Science, how to grow some beautiful crystals at home! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.27/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.20/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:59:01 +0100 Sustainable Solar power in Sydney, home-generated electricity and green-housing developments go under the microscope this week as we explore the science of sustainable living. Meanwhile Dave goes for gold in water recycling by purifying and drinking water from urine, and we also find out how vitamin supplements can kill, discover an atom-thin transistor and hear how testosterone provoke boom and bust on the stock market. So join us as we become eco-estate agents and go through the keyholes of the Green Houses of Tomorrow! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.20/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.13/ Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:04:34 +0100 Solar Flares and the Sun's influence on our climate are the burning issues of this week's show. We discover an explosion on the Sun so large that it cut global communications all over the world and rendered compasses useless. Also, we'll be looking at the link between the sun and climate change and finding out how clouds could predict earthquakes. Plus, in this week's news, we discover why some balls are really hard to catch we talk about the seahorses returning to the Thames. And in Kitchen Science, Dave shows us how to light a bulb without wires - using only a balloon! All this and more on The (naked) Science of the Sun... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.13/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.06/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:44:28 +0100 Can cold water cause weight loss, is my mother-in-law turning into a reptile and why doesn't a mobile phone interfere with itself are all answered in this week's Naked Science Question and Answer Extravaganza. We also find out about a new way to keep track of your favourite online bands and musicians, and hear how the whole world harmonises - turning news into music in just three hours! Plus, in Kitchen Science, Dave pulverises an egg to explain the basis of air pressure, and for Question of the Week Diana finds out whether alcohol can rehydrate a lost traveller in the desert. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.04.06/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.30/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:07:48 +0000 This week we visit the Historic city of Edinburgh to put Scottish science under the microscope! We discover the incredible magnetic bacteria and find out how their bio-nano-magnets could help treat cancer. We find out how satellite images can help predict outbreaks of cholera, and talk about the twist in the tale of TB - drug resistant Tuberculosis has now been found in the UK, so what is this disease and how can we hope to treat it? Also, how scientists have used cloned stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease in mice, how a whiff of anaesthetic could sooth traumatic memories and why bonobo apes play it safe while chimps like to gamble. Plus, in Kitchen Science we find out how yeast makes fluffy bread and fizzy beer! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.30/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.16/ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:07:15 +0000 This week, we catch up with the action from this year's Cambridge Science Festival. We find out what you could learn from a plasticine brain and how your next holiday could be literally out-of-this-world! We explore the science of Dr who's Sonic Screwdrivers, Spiderman and Skateboarders and find out how long the festival takes to prepare. Plus, how meteorite strikes benefit life on Earth, get a step closer to a cure for one of the most common forms of blindness and find out why chimps on TV could be harming their cousins in the wild. All this, and in Kitchen Science we show you how to make a Vacuum machine powered bazooka! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.16/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.09/ Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:41:36 +0000 On this week's Naked Scientists, we tackle your questions. We find out what creates a 'Moonbow', how much water there was on Earth over one million years ago and what happens to milk in the freezer. Also, how butterflies could remember what caterpillars learn, why electric cars may stress stretched water supplies and how the 'smell' of a coral reef attracts fish from miles around. Plus, we speak to Marc Abrahams, creator of the Ig Nobel awards for science that makes you laugh, then makes you think! And in Kitchen Science we try to strike a balance between two balloons! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.09/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.02/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:35:32 +0000 This week we're exploring the science of sound and music. We sound out the human voice, hear why we all talk differently, and probe the origins of accents and the means by which impersonators mimic their victims. Also, we discover how a tune can act like cocaine in your brain and why, in some cultures, music can replace a lawyer! Also, we hear what's going on in the brains of Jazz musicians as they improvise, see how hungry sharks are similar to shoppers and find out why a big brown bat needs magnetic bat-nav. Plus, in kitchen science we discover the musical secrets of plastic bottles! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.03.02/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.24/ Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:40:22 +0000 This week the Naked Scientists go virtual! We'll be hearing how a new computer system can accurately gauge your age from a mugshot, we come face to face with the painting fool, a computer that can read - and then paint - your emotions, and we find out what's still lurking on your hard disc, even after you think you've wiped it. We also unveil Second Naked Scientists - our home in Second Life - and get stuck into a new molecular glue designed to replaces surgical stitches and staples. Plus, in Kitchen Science, Ben and Dave embark on a far from fruitless mission to charge an MP3 player with an orange... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.24/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.17/ Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:35:19 +0000 On this weeks Pan-Continental Naked Scientists we bring you the latest science news from the AAAS conference in Boston. We hear about why cholesterol-lowering drugs are good for us but bad for bacteria, see the map that shows mankind's effect on the oceans and discover the surprisingly complex science of sand castles. Also in this week's show, we look into the future for organ transplants - how bone marrow grafts could make rejection a thing of the past, keeping organs alive outside the body and how we can grow a beating heart in the lab! Plus, in Kitchen Science, we find out how to prove that blood circulates around the body! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.17/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.10/ Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:10:12 +0000 This week on the Naked Scientists we discover novel drugs in carnivorous plants, genes pointing to prostate cancer and a way to capture waste wattage whilst walking. We hear about the future of 3D TV, the bio fuel carbon debt and how Pirate Bay could be about to walk the plank! Also, we take on your questions, such as why do electric lights stay on in a flood, how do animals evolve camouflage and why does a fresh cut throb? Plus, we have a shocking question of the week about the workings of electric eels, and in Kitchen Science we find out how to tell which drink is diet! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.10/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.03/ Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:25:54 +0000 Get Wet and Wild with the Naked Scientists! We don our wellies and wade into the science of wetlands, discovering the species you might see and why wetlands are vital for wildlife on land and at sea. We'll also find out how wetlands protect us from floods, and what can be done to conserve them in the face of climate change. Also in this weeks show, how Humans are fatally infecting Chimps with the common cold, the culture of a chameleon's colours and onions that can't make you cry! Plus, in Kitchen Science we hear the radio signal from a remote control, and find out how you can answer your mobile phone before it even starts ringing! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.02.03/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.27/ Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:29:05 +0000 In this week's not-to-be-sniffed-at infectious episode of the naked scientists, we find out the facts of flu, including how the virus hijacks your cells, how new strains of the virus emerge to trigger epidemics and pandemics, and how scientists can combat the threat with vaccines. Also under the microscope is a new technique to identify viruses within just 2 hours, providing patients with a fast track to the right treatment! Also, how bone marrow transplants can overcome organ rejection, how to stop a terrorist with a mobile phone, and the new material 30 times blacker than our current blackest black! Plus, in kitchen science, we'll be pouring cold water on claims of centrifugal force... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.27/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.20/ Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:39:20 +0000 On this week's Naked Scientists, We look at ways to tackle the problem of climate change - including capturing carbon at sea, trapping carbon dioxide in coal to release a useful fuel, and a way to turn co2 to stone, with the help of old lava floes! Also, we find out how silicon nano wires can be used to make super-batteries, why sneaky squirrels are faking what they do with their nuts, how the price tag on wine affects it's flavour and the parasite that makes it's ant-host resemble a piece of fruit. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we find out how a digital camera can see the signal from your TV remote! Want to know more about Climate Change? In this article, Alex Thompson reviews the evidence. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.20/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.13/ Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:13:12 +0000 This week, we uncover an ideal anti-freeze for ice-cream, find out how scientists grew a new heart in a dish and hear how four simple lifestyle changes could make you live fourteen years longer. Also, we find out about the technology of the future, the tropical Paris of the past and the crystal secret behind the silvery sheen on fish scales. Plus, we asked for your questions and the floodgates opened! Why isn't your urine affected by coloured drinks and what does it mean if it's frothy? What happens when a lake is struck by lightning, and do you weigh less at the equator? Meanwhile, in Kitchen Science, we also show you how to make an Oboe out of a drinking straw! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.13/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.06/ Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:33:45 +0000 Hooked on the Naked Scientists? This week we're looking into the science of addiction, finding out how smoking alters the teenage brain, why a mixture of brain chemistry and psychological habits make drugs hard to kick, and how addiction re-wires the brain in a similar way to school. Also, how a good night's sleep could stave off diabetes, why traffic pollutes your IQ and why your next prescription could be a placebo! Plus we bring you the first in our series of Rising Stars, young researchers reporting from the coalface of science, and in Kitchen Science we show you how to levitate a squid! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.01.06/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.30/ Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:41:11 +0000 Happy New Year! We celebrate the arrival of 2008 with a second special edition of our new podcast, Ask The Naked Scientists, followed by a 25 minute round up of the top climate change stories featured on the Naked Scientists over the last 12 months. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.30/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.26/ Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:43:08 +0000 Happy Christmas! To keep you entertained while we're off tucking into Turkey, this week and next we've got special editions of a new series of programmes we're launching in 2008 called Ask The Naked Scientists, our new live interactive science radio phone-in, with Dave Ansell, Sue Marchant and Chris Smith. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.26/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.16/ Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:42:21 +0000 Ho Ho Ho! This week on the Naked Scientists we're celebrating the festive season in style, with a party right here in the studio. From Christmas crackers to Brussels sprouts, we'll be looking at some of the science behind Christmas. We'll be learning about snowflakes and how these sub-zero designs are created, we'll find out what your choice of Christmas card says about you, and we'll reveal the best way to cook your sprouts, ensuring your family get all the nutrition they can this Christmas. Also, in Kitchen science we'll be getting you to butter bread and throw it off your kitchen counter in the name of science! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.16/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.09/ Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:22:26 +0000 This week, we take on your science questions, tackling the sticky subject of how glue works, the explosive potential of underground uranium and the problems with performance enhancing-football shirts. We look into gastroenteritis and find out how just one gram of vomit could infect one million people, and if that hasn't put you off your food, how acrylamide, found in toast and other tasty foods, may cause cancer. Plus, how the future of the paperback could be plastic, and in Kitchen Science we tell you the easy way to keep mirrors mist-free - using only soap! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.09/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.02/ Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:42:18 +0000 This week we learn about Alzheimer's disease, how it changes the brain and may be caused by the virus which causes cold sores. We probe your grey matter to find out how memory works, what goes wrong to give us false memories, and the science behind earworms - the songs that we can't get out of our heads! Also, GM plants that can survive a drought, why future chewing gum may contain magnolia bark and how a mirror can kill phantom limb pain. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we fool our senses with some plastic, some paper and a carpet! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.12.02/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.25/ Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:48:20 +0000 This week, we bring you the highlights of the Naked Scientists trip to South Africa. We explore what life is like in the poor regions of Johannesburg, and how the frightening reality of HIV and AIDS offers a silver lining in prevention research. Plus, In a journey through our evolutionary history, we come face to face with the two-and-a-half million year old Taung child, one of the most important human ancestor fossils ever found. Also, we find out why a moon like ours is rare in the universe, how opals get their colours and how mice choose a mate by smelling their wee. And in kitchen science, we learn how to throw your voice huge distances with the aid of a satellite dish. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.25/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.18/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:11:40 +0000 This week on the Naked Scientists we cross hemispheres to explore galaxies far far away. Chris presents live from Johannesburg to discuss the South African Large Telescope whilst back in the studio we explore the effects of space travel on the body, the expansion of our universe and the possibilities of another planet earth. We also investigate effects on our hearing and bring you a special kitchen science that could be out of this world. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.18/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.11/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:27:34 +0100 This week on the Naked Scientists we seek solutions to your science questions. From finding the site of the big bang to repairing the retina, mirages on the motorway to fruit fireworks in your microwave. We also find out why staying in bed could help you keep slim, we explore the genes that let flies get drunk, and discover the source of the so-called "Oh My God! Particles", which have 100 million times more energy than in our biggest particle accelerators. Also, we catch up with the latest in robotic cars and learn about the micro-microwave being used for analysis in the field. Plus, in a live Kitchen Science, Dave finds out when is the best time to add milk, and still have the hottest tea. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.11/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.04/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:24:09 +0100 This week on the Naked Scientists we're taking the ultimate road trip - following the spread of humans across the globe. We're joined by Jenny Collier to discuss how an enormous flood cut Britain off from Europe, sparking thousands of years of jokes and grudges in the process. Chris Turney will be here to explain how you date a Hobbit, using radiocarbon rather than romantic means.We'll also be looking at the history of fire, discussing recent evidence that early man could have kept his toes warm at the hearth 1.5 million years ago. Meanwhile here in the present day, Kitchen Scientists Ben and Dave have a go at making fire the old-fashioned way. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.11.04/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.28/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:20:43 +0100 This week on the Award Winning Naked Scientists we find out about stem cells and cloning. We discuss the elusive 'stemness' that allows cells to specialise, and learn about cloning in the post-Dolly the sheep era. We also find out how genetics has revealed that neanderthals were redheads, how soap affects shoals of fish and some turtles come equipped with anti-roll bars. We also pay a visit to the Manchester Science Festival for a chat with Johnny Ball, and in Kitchen Science, we "clone at home" and find out the future of the humble banana. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.28/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.21/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:18:50 +0100 This week on the Naked Scientists, we delve into the secrets of the universe to find out what we're really made of. Ben Allanach explains how a particle accelerator actually works and what it can tell us about the Big Bang. Naked Scientist Meera Senthilingam puts on her sunglasses to visit a light source 10 billion times brighter than the sun. And finally, we're joined by Cristina Lazzeroni, to discuss her "beautiful" investigations at a subatomic level. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.21/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.14/ Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:34:27 +0100 This week, we're taking on your science questions. We find out how cockroaches and ants avoid the heat in a microwave oven, how best to protect yourself from lightning and why a light box can save you from a SAD winter. Also, a table decoration inspired, radiation-resistant spaceship design to keep astronauts healthy, how the contraceptive pill hurts A lapdancers' looks and why penguins prefer to go fishing with their pals. Plus, in Kitchen Science, Dave explains how to make a detector for the Earth's magnetic field - a home made compass! But will it work in space? And what will happen when the Earth's magnetic field swaps round? We answer all these questions and more. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.14/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.07/ Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:08:55 +0100 This week, we're quenching our thirst for knowledge with the science of Beer and Brewing! We learn about how beer is made, why nitrogen is vital for the perfect pint of Guinness and why professors of brewing think they have the best job in the world. We also delve into the natural history of beer, to discuss the age old argument, what came first, the beer or the bread? We look into the future of beer, finding out how the chemistry of carbon dioxide could provide a purer pint. Also, a spicy way to specifically kill pain, saving slight with plastic corneas, and the hot, smelly sex lives of ancient plants. Plus, in Kitchen Science, Ben goes for the hard stuff by learning about distillation and the science of scotch. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.10.07/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.30/ Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:07:28 +0100 This week, we're exploring the science of Smart Materials - we discover a Super-Non-Stick coating that even honey wont stick to and flexible plastic paper with E-Ink that we-writes itself on demand. We learn how potatoes could form the basis of future plastics and a new way to think about 'bone china', as ceramics and polymers could replace your broken bones. Also, we discover where sea turtles spend their childhood, how a microRNA gene switch could put the brakes on the spread of cancer and how thousands of cases of breast cancer could be avoided without medication. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we show you how a simple cotton handkerchief can hold back a torrent of water! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.30/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.23/ Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:26:04 +0100 This week, robots have taken over the Naked Scientists! Okay, not really but we are looking into the world of robotics to find robots that can clean your floor, disarm bombs and wage war on our behalf. We find out about 'Curious George', a robot that can locate objects in the real world even though it's only ever seen them online, and ask if artificial intelligence will give us free thinking machines or murderous intellects? We also find out about how robots have revolutionised the study of genetics, learn about a mini movie showing the formation of blood platelets in real time, and uncover the oldest human remains ever found outside of Africa. Plus, we explore how a lightning strike acts as a particle accelerator, the science behind the perfect cake mix and in Kitchen Science Ben and Dave explain the principle behind a robot's knees - by showing you how to make an electromagnet! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.23/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.16/ Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:04:13 +0100 This week we're bringing you the very best bits from the BA Festival of Science in York. We discover a chewing gum that dissolves in the wash but still keeps your breath fresh, get some good news about cancer and find out why jogging may not be good for heart patient recovery if it's near a busy road. Also, Chris risks his health to find out about plague control in 17th Century York, and chocolate may be nicer than it is naughty, as Roger Corder explains how it could be good for your health. Out and about in the festival, Meera explores the psychology of commuter cooperation during the 2005 London bombings, tunes in to non-contact musical instruments and gets immersed in pure colour. Plus, we tackle your questions about good viruses, antioxidants and the Aurora Borealis. In Kitchen science Ben & Dave explore the physics behind a football and find out how to 'Bend it like Beckham.' http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.16/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.09/ Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:01:23 +0100 This week, we look at the latest science news and tackle more of your questions. We uncover the source of the asteroid that finished off the dinosaurs, find out how moray eels eat like aliens, and although we know that breast is best, could nicotine in smokers' breast milk be affecting childrens' behaviour? Also, is the future of formula one eco-friendly? Meera investigates race cars running on biofuels, and built from hemp and cashew nuts! We discuss award winning beards, eerie glowing fish and what makes for a long life. Plus, we find out what to expect at this year's BA Festival of Science in York, and in Kitchen Science Dave demonstrates how a pair of paperbacks can be stronger than a quarterback. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.09/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.02/ Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:42:47 +0100 This week, Chris and Co are back from their holidays! So they're tackling their bulging mailbag of your questions. We discuss how scientists have been given the green light to cross human DNA with animal cells all in the name of medicine, eavesdroppers in your garden - the plants that respond to sound, and the world's smallest thermometer - only one molecule! We also tackle questions on keeping your beer cool on the beach, massive melons and the horticultural properties of wee. We find out about how radio shows can give Pygmies a voice and how anyone can have an out of body experience now that scientists have discovered how to trick your senses into making them happen. Plus, in Kitchen Science, Dave shows us how to make eerie music with a wine glass! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.02/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.26/ Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:54:06 +0100 This week, we look back at more of the very best bits of Naked Science. We find out why scientists are swollen with success after discovering spider venom with Viagra-like properties, We meet a cow that produces skimmed milk straight from the udder, we remember a way to improve brain function and ask if a hot mint will still taste cold? Also - It's curtains for us! Joel Veitch explains why we should measure hazardicity in 'Curtains', we hear about some very clever birds who make plans for the future and we probe the hole in the ozone layer. Plus, we have two of the best kitchen science experiments - finding out how to make a jar of dry rice sticky, and if a beer belly can stop a bullet! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.26/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.19/ Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:52:51 +0100 This week, we look back at some of the juiciest bits of Naked Science from the last series. We find out how an iPod became an iRod to conduct lightning, discover an electrifying bikini and find out why teenagers feel so misunderstood, not that they're 'bovvered' about the answer. We discuss wine as an essential part of an healthy diet, find out about the people who feel no pain and explore why you can immediately tell an Aussie from an American or a Londoner from a Liverpudlian, just by learning about the way accents are formed. Plus, in Kitchen Science we find out how to turn an oven shelf into a beautiful musical instrument. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.19/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.12/ Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:47:34 +0100 This week, do diet foods make children fat? Could a space screw save us from catastrophic collisions? Have we seen the last of the Yangtze river dolphin? And should we look to the Simpsons for our science? Writer Al Jean explains that, depite the three eyed fish and three fingered hands, it's one of the most science literate shows on television. Also, as it's our Summer Special Question and Answer show we tackle your questions ranging from rising cakes to rising heart rates, why the moon looms larger on the horizon and why magnets make bad television. Plus, in kitchen science we investigate the mystery of Mr Matey's colour changing bubble bath! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.12/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.05/ Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:08:31 +0100 This week, mind reading children, scientists find a new gene in the lung cancer cocktail, and satnav or map-nav - what's greener? Plus we become biological weapons inspectors and explore nature's arsenal of venoms, poisons and toxins, including a scorpion's sting that can highlight cancer, how funnel web spiders are helping farmers fight off insect pests, the marine cone snail that harbours a painkiller ten thousand times more powerful than morphine, and how a snake bite can help to prevent a heart attack. Meanwhile, in Kitchen Science, Ben samples a more everyday toxin - by making stinging nettle tea. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.08.05/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.29/ Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:38:10 +0100 This week, clean coal technology - how to get the energy from coal without digging it up, why GM goats are helping to combat nerve gas attacks, and how scientists have found the 'itch' gene. We also find out why smog causes heart disease, how seafood in space can help to heal astronauts, and the weight of leaves on an average tree. Plus Drs Chris and Phil take a look at your science questions including 'tasting' music, the best way to dry your washing and can the moon affect the shapes of weather systems? In Kitchen Science Ben and Dave explain how to make a lens with a plastic bottle and some water. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.29/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.22/ Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:55:45 +0100 This week, we find out about survival in extreme environments. We find out how free divers descend hundreds of feet underwater without air, how life thrives beneath the ice in Antarctica, how fighter pilots combat G-forces to avoid blackouts, and how the body copes with exercising at the top of Everest. Also, discover the benefit of breaks between bouts of exercise, how geckos hold the key to underwater post-it notes, and a gene that lets you chat whilst listening to the radio. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.22/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.15/ Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:44:45 +0100 This week, from iPod to iRod as a man's taste for music turns him into a human lightning conductor, why penguins are picky eaters, and better biopsies - why doctors are attracted to a new magnetic cancer detection system. Also a fuel made from fructose that packs a punch like petrol, we find out how to make hydrogen on demand using aluminium, and grow your own gas - do we have enough land to grow our energy in future? Plus, in Kitchen Science, we turn vegetable oil into biodiesel and ask a white van man to test it... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.15/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.08-1/ Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:01:09 +0100 This week news that men talk as much as women, cosmetics from jellyfish, songbirds "greatest-tits", a breathtaking asthma breakthrough and a gene-screen for bowel cancer. We also uncover the cause of contagious yawns, probe the brain basis of epilepsy and manic depression, and uncover a brain region responsible for out of body experiences. Plus, in Kitchen Science, Ben and Dave find out why the raisins always rise to the top of the cereal box. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.08-1/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.01-2/ Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:24:54 +0100 This week, playing bingo on an inflatable space station, a new way to attack the cause of Alzheimer's and mending a broken heart with stem cells. Also, using bananas to speed up fruit ripening, leeches out of water and chemical tricks to stop smoking and iron out wrinkles. Plus, in Kitchen Science we vibrate our way to a fountain in a cup! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.07.01-2/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.24-1/ Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:05:32 +0100 This week a rabies-based Trojan Horse that smuggles drugs across the blood-brain barrier, why first-borns are brighter, progress with Parkinson's and a lunar telescope more powerful than Hubble. Plus in this week's ARMAGEDDON-focused show we look at supervolcanes, earthquakes and arsenic, find out why curtains are absolutely lethal and why a meteorite impact probably didn't dispense with the dinosaurs after all. Also, in Kitchen Science, we test the claim that tapping the top of a fizzy drink before you open it stops it spraying all over you... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.24-1/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.17/ Thu, 31 May 2007 14:44:32 +0100 Under the microscope this week, the science of forensics. We find out how scientists have exploded the myth about old aged whales thanks to a piece of shrapnel, about a new rice-based vaccine for cholera, and 'whey' to go, how scientists have made edible food wrappers from milk. We investigate what your diet does to your hair, how science can finger forgers and flush out bodies from bogs, and why the key to identifying a torso that washed up in the Thames was rooted in plant science. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we arm Ben with a rifle to find out how fat you'd have to be to stop a speeding bullet with your belly... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.17/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.10-1/ Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:39:30 +0100 Got a science question? Want to know how fat you'd need to be to stop a speeding bullet? Or why men appear to have nipples they don't need? Then the Naked Scientists can help. On our monthly Naked Science Question and Answer programmes we devote the entire show to answering science questions that you send in. So if there's a scientific conundrum that's been bothering you for a while, send it in now- email Chris@thenakedscientists.com, or fill in the simple form below. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.10-1/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.03/ Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:56:53 +0100 This week, will a hot mint still taste cold? Also how skimmed milk could come straight from the cow in future, and why we walk upright without dragging our knuckles. Nicky Clayton discusses clever birds that use cigarettes to fumigate their feathers, Tim Clutton-Brock describes the family affairs of meerkats, and we find out from Andrew Smith why monkeys see what we see, but cats and cows can't. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we get jiggly with a jam jar full of rice. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.06.03/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.27/ Thu, 17 May 2007 16:54:51 +0100 This week on the Naked Scientists we will be venturing into space on an inter galactic mission to learn more about the biggest galaxies in space and the search for life on other planets. Running the mission we will have Professor Carolin Crawford (University of Cambridge) who works with gases in galaxies and Dr Maggie Turnbull who looks for Earth-like planets and signs of life in the 'Goldilocks' zones among nearby stars (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute SETI). http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.27/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.20/ Mon, 14 May 2007 11:14:11 +0100 Coming up this week on the Naked Scientists radio show and podcast we have some airy experts; Jonathan Shanklin (British Antarctic Survey) will be telling us how he discovered the hole in the ozone layer and how it is looking today and John Grattan (University of Wales Aberystwyth) will discuss his research on a volcanic eruption which in 1783 killed 30,000 British people. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.20/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.13/ Fri, 04 May 2007 17:59:52 +0100 This week on the Naked Scientists we have a whole host of experts in bacteria, fungi and viruses. We'll have Dr Tim Wreghitt (Addenbrooke's Hospital) discussing noroviruses, Dr Ali Ashby discussing her fun work with fungi and in kitchen science with the help of Dr Gillian Fraser we'll be discovering where there are more bacteria: on a toilet seat or a kitchen worktop? http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.13/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.06/ Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:56:29 +0100 This week Drs Chris, Dave and Phil find out how a venomous spider has got scientists swollen with excitement because it's bite has Viagra-like properties, how maggots are fighting off MRSA from ulcers, and NASA are testing their next generation telescope aboard a jumbo jet. The docs also explore the science of getting geostationary satellites into space, the basis of bacterial intelligence, and how much water trees drink on a hot day. Plus, in kitchen science, Dave and Ben put their heads in a box...to find out how a pinhole camera works. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.06/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.29/ Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:17:03 +0100 This week we're exploring how populations come by their genes including the surprise finding of African DNA in a remote village in Yorkshire. Oxford University's Bruce Winney explains how studying rural populations in Britain is helping to uncover genes linked to different diseases, and Turi King, from Leicester University, discusses what your Y chromosome says about your surname. Plus we'll be hearing how Cambridge scientist Mike Majerus is putting evolution to the test with the help of the peppered moth, and in kitchen science, more jam tomorrow as Ben and Dave show you a trick with a rolling jar. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.29/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.22/ Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:15:40 +0100 Corals are falling prey to global warming. As sea temperatures rise corals are parting company with the algae that sustain them, causing them to bleach and die. To map out the scale of the problem, and to understand its implications, Cambridge University's Annelise Hagan joins us to explain how she uses a spotter plane and a team of divers to home in on bleaching hotspots. Also, University of California, Irvine, researcher Stan Harpole describes how adding fertilisers to fields destroys diversity both on land and in the water, and in kitchen science Dave explores pressure and heat with his 'Fire Piston'. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.22/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.15/ Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:45:16 +0100 This week new research into cancers, how tumours arise, and new ways to combat cancer. Fiona Watt, from Cambridge University, explains how cancers contain stem cells that can cause tumours to regrow, and how healthly cells can unwittingly aid and abet their cancerous counterparts. Also, Andrew Futreal, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, joins us to explain how studying the DNA sequences of cancers might hold the key to uncovering the genetic causes of cancer and new ways to treat it. Plus, in kitchen science, Derek and Dave create an electrifying experience with slime... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.15/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.01/ Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:28:35 +0100 This week we explore the science of Heart Disease. Dr Niall Campbell joins us to explain what heart attacks are and how they're treated, Dr Anthony Mathur discusses how stem cells might hold the key to mending a broken heart, and Ben Valsler visits Brian Callingham to investigate how arteries behave when you give them various drugs. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.04.01/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.25/ Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:01:04 +0000 Coming up on this week's show we'll be exploring flight in terms of both flying machines for people (and when I say flying machine I mean really cool - super fast stuff) and how animals fly (think dragonflies in a wind tunnel with smoke, or Eagle-cam). Dr Graham Taylor of Oxford University works on the aerodynamics and flight control of bird and insect flight. He'll be telling us about Cossack, the Eagle with a wireless video camera back-pack and how this allowsGraham to see how air acts on the surface of Cossack's wings. He also puts flying insects in special wind tunnels where by blowing trails of smoke over their wings he can see air flows over their wings. Also on the show there will be Jenny Goodman who will tell us about her PhD project which involves trying to get an aeroplane to fly at Mach 6 (also known as 6 times the speed of sound or 2 to 3 times as fast as Concorde). This is no mean feat when temperatures 13cms away from the fuel tank are hot enough to melt stainless steel in 5 seconds! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.25/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.18/ Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:22:08 +0000 Every year the Cambridge Science Festival celebrates some of the best and most exciting science and engineering going on in the UK - and the Naked Scientists were there! We find out about the cool science of ice cream, the microscopic world of microbes, and the IgNobel awards for science at its most silly. Looking further afield, the University of Auckland's Peter Metcalf unlocks the secrets of a viral sarcophagus, and Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology discusses the origin of some mysterious objects in the Kuiper Belt. To cool us down after all that excitement, Dave and Azi sit back and explain the best way to get a cold beer. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.18/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.11/ Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:11:57 +0000 Contaminated petrol, astronauts in danger of lung diseases, a new way to put the brakes on car accident rates, gas sensors made from silicon replicas of marine algae, how pollution is causing droughts, plus a healthy digest of your science questions and emails top the bill in this week's Naked Scientists. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.11/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.04/ Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:13:39 +0000 Dr Chris and Dr Kat chat to archaeologist Lawrence Owens about his latest excavations of Peruvian Mummies and what it reveals about their lives; cue tales of mass burials,domestic violence and child abuse.They also Keith Dobney about his research into the domestication of animals, including cows, pigs and man's best friend. Anna and Holly Barclay look at mussels and their role in eutrophication in Chinese Lakes.Dave andDerek start a few fires to see which fuel will burn quickest. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.03.04/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.25/ Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:13:39 +0000 Clean water is something that many of us take for granted, but Dr Mark Booth from Cambridge University describes how in many parts of the world dirty water can lead to life-threatening disease and parasitic infections. To talk about the current strategies in place to supply clean water we're joined by Dr Alex McKie from Surrey University, and Professor Colin Humphreys from Cambridge University explains how high-energy UV LEDs could help provide clean water in the future. In Kitchen Science, Helen Scales and Dave Ansell bring sweetness and light to a house in Cottenham... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.25/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.18/ Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:44:59 +0000 Dr Chris and Dr Helen answer all your burning science questions, including why frost can form even when the air temperature is above zero, why hair looks darker when it's wet, why sunlight looks red through your eyelids, and whether cracking your knuckles really causes arthritis. We also talk to Chemistry World editor Mark Peplow about venomous vipers, artificial kidneys, and how LSD might be switching on hallucinations, and in Kitchen Science Anna Lacey and Dave Ansell look at some slightly safer visual effects with the help of a sodium street light. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.18/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.11/ Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:07:13 +0000 Nuclear energy is always in the news, but how much do you know about nuclear fission and what happens to nuclear waste? To find out, Naked Scientists Anna Lacey and Dave Ansell visit Sizewell B power station in Suffolk, and studio guest Ian Farnan from Cambridge University discusses nuclear waste disposal and why current methods might not contain the radiation as long as we thought. But as clinical radiologist Anant Krishnan explains, radiation plays a crucial role in medicine, including allowing us to see broken bones and killing off tumours. Sticking with uses of radiation that save lives, Anna and Dave find out how a smoke detector works in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.11/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.04/ Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:36:18 +0000 Health effects of pollution, plus David Julius reveals the molecular mechanisms of pain and what chillies have in common with tarantulas, Geoff Woods explains why some people can't feel pain, and to talk about phantom limbs and ways of dealing with pain is Cathy Stannard. In Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne braves the cold to sniff out the science of sausages, and in the final part of our Science and Colour series, Anna Lacey discovers how wearing the right colours could bag you the perfect date. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.02.04/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.28/ Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:51:32 +0000 This week we take a look at extreme environments and the organisms that live in them. Dr Crispin Little from the University of Leeds talks about hydrothermal vents and the fastest fossilisation on the planet, Professor Steve Scott from the University of Toronto explains why mining companies are interested in hydrothermal vents, and Dr Lisa Pratt from the University of Indiana describes how bacteria find energy three kilometres beneath the surface of the earth, and how similar strategies could be used by life on other planets. From the extremes of the Earth to the extremes of the kitchen, Derek Thorne and Hugh Hunt find out what's hot and what's not in the dishwasher... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.28/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.21/ Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:41:35 +0000 Following this week's crazy weather Dr Chris and Dr Helen have a look at Climate Change. Eric Wolff from the British Antarctic Survey tells us what secrets about our climate are locked away in ancient ice, Jon Gibbins from Imperial College tells us about ways we can store all that excess carbon dioxide underground, and Ali talks to Alison Hill from the British Wind Energy Association and Max Carcas from Ocean Power Delivery about wind energy and wave energy. Derek Thorne, Dave Ansell and Ali Webb try to discover how much power we could generate by hooking the country's gyms to the electricity grid. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.21/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.14/ Sat, 14 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000 With a new year comes a whole new stack of science questions to challenge Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Kat. This week they explain where the sand in the Sahara comes from, whether mirrors can reflect x-rays, if it is dangerous to live near a phone mast, and whether splitting water could solve our energy problems. We are also joined by the editor of Chemistry World, Dr Mark Peplow, who talks about labs the size of a postage stamp, nanoparticles in exhaust fumes, and how putting milk in your tea might not be such a good idea, and sticking with chemistry, Dave Ansell discovers which household liquids make dirty pennies look like new. In the fourth part of our series on science and colour, Anna Lacey finds out how wearing red could turn you into a world-class sportsperson. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.14/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.07/ Sat, 07 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000 In the first show of 2007, Drs Chris, Dave and Helen find out why red wine is better for you than white wine or grape juice, and explore the science of healthy living with with London University researcher and author Roger Corder. We also discover the science behind another of the nation's favourite drugs, caffeine, with the help of Bristol University's Peter Rogers, and University of St Louis researcher Jeffrey Gordon explains how the bugs living in your intestines help you to make the most out of mealtimes. They might also, he thinks, make some people fat. Plus, in Kitchen Science, Dave demonstrates the physics of how salt keeps roads frost-free. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.01.07/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.12.17/ Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:04:23 +0000 In the final show of 2006, Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Kat answer all your science questions including why poppadoms curl upwards in the pan, how seedless grapes grow, and if lightning really does strike twice. To celebrate the coming of Christmas, Professor Colin Humphries from Cambridge University joins us to explain the astronomical phenomenon behind the Star of Bethlehem, and in Kitchen Science Derek Thorne and Alicia Webb knock back a few shots of vodka to find out how breathalysers catch drink-drivers. In the second part of the Science of Colour series, Anna Lacey finds out about the history of mauve and how hair dye conceals those dreaded greys. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.12.17/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.12.10/ Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:26:56 +0000 Shedding light on the deepest depths of the universe is Professor Gerry Gilmore from Cambridge University, who talks about the Big Bang and the mystery of dark matter. We also hear from Professor Peter Muller and Dr Giulio del Zanna from the Mullard Space Laboratory about 3-D imaging of the surface of Mars and how solar flares contribute to everything from the Northern Lights to damaging communication systems. Professor David Block from the University of Witwatersrand describes how Andromeda, the galaxy closest to the Milky Way, was recently involved in a galactic collision, and in case you fancy seeing some collisions here on Earth, Derek and Dave are in the kitchen making meteorite craters. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.12.10/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.12.03/ Thu, 30 Nov 2006 11:29:27 +0000 Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Phil answer all your questions on science, technology and medicine, including why spiders don't run out of silk, what is the universe expanding into, what a flame looks like in space, and what happens when the brain is cut off from a supply of oxygen. We also talk to Dr Mark Peplow from Chemistry World about polonium 210, how much was needed to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, and where the perpetrators could have acquired it. Sticking with nasty substances, Derek Thorne and Dave Ansell make a mess with milk and vinegar in the name of Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.12.03/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.26/ Sun, 26 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Repairing damage in the nervous system is incredibly challenging, but our guests this week have some promising solutions. Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Robert MacLaren from Moorfields Eye Hospital and colleagues at University College London have discovered a way to encourage the growth of photoreceptors in the retinas of blind mice, and Professor Geoff Raisman from University College London will discuss his research into spinal cord repair. In Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne and Hugh Hunt take a closer look at the aerodynamics of a ping pong ball. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.26/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.19/ Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000 As winter approaches, we take a trip down south to look at some of the cool research going on in Antarctica. Dr Jane Francis from Leeds University talks about six-foot penguins and a time when Antarctica was warm and ice-free, Kate Hendry from the University of Oxford describes what it's like to work in Antarctica today, and Derek and Dave bring a welcome injection of heat as they find out how hand warmers work. We then dive into the waters around Antarctica with Dr Povl Abrahamsen from the British Antarctic Survey, who uses automated subs to look under the ice sheets and find out how they're changing, and Dr Mike Fedak from the University of St. Andrews describes how his team have attached data collection instruments to the fur of elephant seals to explore completely unchartered depths of the Southern Ocean. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.19/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.12/ Sun, 12 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000 This week we explore the science of sound including the mathematics of music and the geometry of jazz with mathematicians Professor Tim Gowers from Cambridge University, and Professor Robin Wilson from the Open University. We also get to the bottom of why helium makes your voice go all squeaky, we nail a crook by using the sound of his voice in an audio line up, and Dr Kirsty McDougall from Cambridge University explains where accents come from. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.12/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.05/ Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Why scratch your head at science when Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Kat are here to answer all your questions?! In this week's Naked Science question and answer special, we discover why liquid washing tablets don't dissolve from the inside, why some genetic diseases only manifest in later life, is gravity constant, and why do men get hairy nostrils and ears when they hit sixty? There will also be a fireworks special in honour of bonfire night, including Dr Roy Lowry from the University of Plymouth who holds the record for firing the most rockets in five seconds, and Derek Thorne and Dave Ansell pull out an angle grinder for some sparkly Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.11.05/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.29/ Sun, 29 Oct 2006 01:00:00 +0100 This week we take a look at some supercool science, as Dr Tim Jackson from Birmingham University describes how superconductors work, what they are, and how superconductors are helping astronomers get a clearer view of the universe. Also on the show, Dr Ed Tarte from Birmingham University will discuss applications of superconductors and SQUIDS in the non-invasive discovery of heart defects and observing brain activity in the unborn foetus, and Science Graduate of the Year Alex Mischenko talks about his new environmentally friendly cooling device. In Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne and Professor Ted Forgan show superconductivity in action with a frying pan, some liquid nitrogen and a very strong magnet... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.29/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.22/ Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:42:58 +0100 Helping us tune into the science of sound this week is Dr Bob Carlyon from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, who explains how we hear, how we can concentrate on one voice in a noisy room, and what it sounds like to have a cochlea implant. From the hard of hearing to the most finely tuned ears on the planet, Professor Ian Russell from the University of Sussex describes how the greater moustached bat catches prey in complete darkness while flying at 40 miles per hour, Professor Trevor Cox from the University of Salford turns the sound of breaking wind into a record breaker, as he talks about the world's largest whoopee cushion, and in Kitchen Science, Derek and Dave investigate the science of balance with the help of a humble office chair and some unsuspecting volunteers... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.22/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.15/ Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:30:31 +0100 Taking a look at the science of sight is consultant ophthalmologist Dr Nick Sarkies from Addenbrooke's Hospital, who will discuss eye diseases and how we can treat them, and Professor Ron Douglas from City University provides insight into colour vision and how the world appears through the eyes of animals. Sticking with our animal focus, Bob and Chelsea reveal that there may be three times as many poisonous fish as there are snakes, and in Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne stops himself bouncing off the walls long enough to discover how superballs spin. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.15/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.08/ Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:14:51 +0100 Cancer biology goes under the microscope this week, as Professor Gerard Evan from the University of California San Francisco talks about the causes of cancer and how cancer spreads around the body. Also on the show, and joining us live from the National Cancer Research Institute Conference, is Professor Fran Balkwill from Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, who will be discussing cancer treatments and the development of targeted therapies, and Dr Kat Arney, who will be talking about the latest news in cancer research. We also travel Stateside for a Science Update from Bob and Chelsea, hear from Dr Michael Halpern from the Union of Concerned Scientists about governments interfering with scientific research, and experience the deep freeze with a couple of balloons and some liquid nitrogen in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.08/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.01/ Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:47:22 +0100 Answering all your cosmic conundrums this week are Drs. Chris, Dave and Phil who discuss why blood is red, the size of the ozone hole, how to make magnets, the best way to get rid of excess mucus, and sticking with the gooey theme, Professor Adam Summers from the University of California Irvine discusses how some tarantulas keep a firm hold on the ground by producing sticky silk in their feet. Moving much further away from terra firma, New Horizons scientist Dr Hal Weaver from Johns Hopkins University talks about the mission to Pluto, what they hope to find there and why the Kuiper Belt objects are so intriguing, and in Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne and Hugh Hunt carry out their own launch by throwing engineering textbooks high into the air. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.10.01/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.24/ Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Chemistry and lightning quick reactions are under discussion this week as Dr Emma Schofield from the Johnson Matthey Technology Centre explains what a catalyst is, how catalytic converters work and how catalysts can help to clean up the atmosphere, and Professor Fraser Armstrong from Oxford University, who discusses fuel cells, using hydrogen as a fuel, and how enzymes naturally found in bacteria are helping make hydrogen a more realistic energy source for the future. In Kitchen Science both guests are used as guinea pigs as Dave Ansell demonstrates the wonder of enzymes with nothing but a slice of bread... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.24/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.17/ Sun, 17 Sep 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Explaining how science can help us dig up the past is Dr Lawrence Owens from Birkbeck College, who uses teeth and bones to uncover the life and sometimes gruesome death of mummies in Peru and Bolvia, and Dr Harriet Allen from Cambridge University describes how the pollen record and layers of lake sedimentation can reveal what the environment was like 10 000 years ago. Also on the show, Dr Nick Brooks from the University of East Anglia talks about how climate change in the Sahara may have given rise to complex human societies, and taking us back even further in human evolution is Professor Clive Finlayson from the Gibraltar Museum, who discusses how a new fossil discovery shows that Neanderthals were alive and kicking in Gibraltar well after the arrival of modern humans. Leaving the past behind them in Kitchen Science, Derek and Dave make their very own futuristic forcefield. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.17/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.10/ Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:00:00 +0100 In the hot seat this week is Dr Beverley Glover from Cambridge University, who will describe how flowers warm their nectar to entice passing pollinators, real life weatherman John Law from Weatherquest discusses weather predictions and how to calculate the temperature days in advance, and Professor Marcel Visser from the Netherland Institute of Ecology explains how warming weather and earlier springs spells disaster for migrating birds. Also on the show, we will hear from Katey Walter at the University of Alaska Fairbanks about a new source of atmospheric methane, and in Kitchen Science Derek and Dave get their hands wet in the name of discovering how the human judges temperature. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.10/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.03/ Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:15:18 +0100 The Naked Scientists are back to answer all your burning science questions. Dr Chris, Dave and Helen tackle hot flushes, why spiders love living in our houses, how many stars are in the Milky Way, and why cows in a field always face in the same direction... We will also be connecting direct to Norwich, the host of this year's British Association Science Festival, to hear about a world record attempt at the most people in a bubble, and sticking with bubbles, Dave and Derek make lava lamps in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.09.03/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.08.06/ Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:51:31 +0100 In our last show before the summer, Dr Chris, Dave and Derek answer all your questions on science, technology and medicine including: why paintings fade in sunlight, why hairs on different parts of the body grow at different rates, whether ultraviolet light poses a danger at the disco, how weightlessness can be experienced on Earth, and sticking with space, Steve Miller from University College London explains the origin of Jupiter's giant red spot and its smaller relative, red spot junior. We'll also be repeating a famous experiment to see if people can accurately estimate physical attributes from the sound of someone's voice, and in Kitchen Science, Derek and Dave dice with death as they calculate the drag on a flag at 70 miles per hour... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.08.06/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.30/ Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:41:44 +0100 I predict a riot... or not, as this week we're joined in the studio by crowd control experts Dr Clifford Stott from the University of Liverpool and Dr John Drury from the University of Sussex, who'll be discussing why violence kicks off at football matches, how to spot a spat and the science of mass evacuation. And taking us on a flight of fancy from crowds of people to swarms of mosquitoes, Dr Gay Gibson, from the University of Greenwich, describes her research into the harmonious music of mosquitoes. In Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne bangs out a tune from an oven shelf... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.30/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.23/ Sun, 23 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Marine biology and conservation specialist Dan Laffoley, from English Nature, and Chris Lynam, from the University of St Andrews join us to dissect the state of the world's oceans and marine protected areas. From the conservation science institute in Alaska, Bruce Wright takes us on a tour of the world of salmon sharks, and in kitchen science we do battle against the atmosphere using a Magdeburg sphere. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.23/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.16/ Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Rutherford Appleton Laboratory astrophysicist Dr Chris Davis joins us to shed light on the structure and workings of the sun and the newly-launched STEREO mission, Cambridge University engineer Dr Jeffery Lewins talks about nuclear energy and the differences between fusion and fission power, and Dr Anna Nicolaou from the University of Bradford asks why do some people burn whilst others turn brown? On a practical level, in Kitchen Science, Derek and Dave lift the lid on how suncream works. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.16/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.09/ Sun, 09 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0100 In honour of the annual hoards of bleary-eyed hayfever sufferers, we are joined in the studio by Professor Carrock Sewell from the University of Lincoln, who describes how the immune system works, what causes allergic reactions and how we might be able to cure them, and Dr Mark Booth from Cambridge University discusses parasites, how they suppress and evade the immune system and how the Matangini Project attempts to provide parasite-free water in Africa. Sticking with the African continent, Derek Thorne travels to Tanzania to learn how to make ugali in this week's Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.09/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.02/ Sun, 02 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Breaking things down to the building blocks of life this week is Dr Mark Ross from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, who discusses the evolution of sex chromosomes, genetics and genomes; Dr Michael Traugott from the University of Innsbruck describes a novel way of using genetics to find out who is eating whom in underground food webs; and Derek Thorne gets fruity with Lucy Wheatley extracting DNA from a kiwi... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.07.02/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.25/ Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Answering all your questions on science, technology and medicine this week are Drs. Chris, Dave and Kat, who'll be revealing why spicy foods make you sweat, the highest possible temperature, the cause of labyrinthitis and why tissues turn black after receiving frostbite. Also on the show is Dr Mark Skousen, a direct descendent of Benjamin Franklin and the editor of The Compleated Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin, who'll be talking about the life and work of this famous scientist and statesman; and in Science Update, Bob and Chelsea find some animal magic in the feeding strategies of killer whales and the interpretation of a horse's whinny. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.25/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.18/ Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Scratching the itch of curiosity this week is Dr William Foster from Cambridge University, who will be talking about the evolution of social insects and his quest for social beetles in Thailand; Dr Claire Rind from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne flies in the face of current car safety technologies by using knowledge of collision avoidance in locusts; the Conservation Director of Buglife Matt Shardlow will discuss how man-made wastelands can be a haven for rare invertebrates; and Derek Thorne joins Dr Ed Turner in the garden to discover how to make pitfall traps. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.18/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.11/ Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100 On this week's edition of the Naked Scientists radio show and podcast, Nottingham University's Liz Sockett and Cambridge University's Ali Ashby and Stacey Efstathiou will be putting the worlds of bacteria, fungi and viruses under the microscope. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.11/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.04/ Sun, 04 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Powering the generators for this week's show on energy is Dr Nicky White from the Bullard Laboratories at Cambridge University, who describes how oil is formed, how we find and extract oil, and how long oil supplies will last; Professor Lynne Macaskie from Birmingham University discusses how fuel cells can be run on hydrogen gas created by bacteria mixed with sugary waste from the confectionery industry; and Peter Hughes from Hughes Research Ltd. explains how his Electro-Kinetic Road Ramp could soon be powering your local street lamps. In Science Update, Bob and Chelsea reveal how llama spit can be used to spot the ultimate power-up, caffeine, and in Kitchen Science Derek Thorne and Chris Muirhead from Birmingham University reveal a low energy method for chopping your vegetables... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.06.04/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.05.28/ Sun, 28 May 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Answering all your science questions this week are Drs. Chris, Dave and Kat, including why some people are so prone to static electric shocks, whether humans will ever exceed the speed of light, how pain killers know where the pain is, and why cows get sunburnt in some places and not others... Also on the show, Bob Hirshon and Chelsea Wald will be keeping us up to date with the latest news from across the pond in Science Update, Professor Felicia Huppert from Cambridge University discusses the science of well-being and nature's feel-good factors, and Derek Thorne sets sail in Kitchen Science as he learns how to make matchstick boats. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.05.28/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.05.21/ Sun, 21 May 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Bringing music to our ears this week is Dr Hugh Hunt from Cambridge University who discusses the science of sound, how harmonics work, and how to play music in a tea cup, Jez Wells from the University of York describes the frontiers of music technology including recreating the sound of long-destroyed cathedral, the secrets behind making a floboe, an instrument that is half flute and half oboe, and how to revive the sound of a castrato: a man with the voice of a choirboy. To compensate for the castrato's lost manhood, Bob Hirshon and Chelsea Wald look at some cutting edge uses for testosterone in Science Update, and Anna Lacey makes music with nothing but a long pink tube in this week's Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.05.21/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.05.14/ Sun, 14 May 2006 00:00:00 +0100 As the ten-year ban on British beef exports is lifted, Professor Tony Minson from Cambridge University joins us to discuss what causes BSE, how it is spread and why it is such a problem. With another example of how animal diseases can be passed to humans is Dr Joanne Webster from Imperial College London who describes the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii, how it makes mice as mad as hatters and a possible link to schizophrenia in humans. But it's not all doom and gloom as Professor Margaret Stanley from Cambridge University reveals how a cervical cancer vaccine is proving highly successful in clinical trials, and Derek Thorne has fun with food colouring in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.05.14/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.07/ Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:23:46 +0100 We return to the lost world of the dinosaurs. Cambridge University palaeontologists Leslie Noe and Matt Wilkinson discuss the origins, life and demise of the dinosaurs including how they mastered the power of flight. And are the rules about fossils really set in stone - Mary Schweitzer describes the discovery of original dinosaur tissue from fossils,together with a new way to sex a dinosaur. Also, the Natural History Museum's Angela Milner introduces Fran Beckerleg to the animatronic dinosaur exhibition, and in Kitchen Science Derek and Sheena turn eggs into gyroscopes... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.05.07/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.30/ Sun, 30 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Brightening up the darker corners of your science knowledge this week are Drs Chris, Phil and Kat, who look at colour-blindness in dogs, harnessing heat energy from the centre of the Earth, how glow in the dark motorbikes could save lives, and erasable tattoos that wipe away the memory of the ex we'd rather forget... Also on the show, Ron-Hale Evans talks about ways to improve memory and creative brain power, Dr Michael Stebbins reveals how his book Sex, Drugs and DNA aims to fight back against all those standing in the way of science, and Anna Lacey learns to play the wine glasses in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.30/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.23/ Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Delving into the dark depths of science this week is Dr Ron Douglas from City University in London, who describes the fascinating world of deep sea fish, bioluminescence and the sights from a deep sea sub, Dr Jason Hall-Spencer from the University of Plymouth talks about cold water corals and the threats posed by fishermen, and from slightly warmer waters Dr David Kline from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama reveals how Caribbean corals are suffering due to sugar pollution. Also in the show, Fran Beckerleg interviews John Ablett at the Natural History Museum in London about a giant squid called Archie, and getting the low down on the high seas, Derek Thorne finds out how a submarine works in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.23/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.09/ Sun, 09 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Bringing a ray of sunshine to the studio this week is Alex Hill from the London Met Office, who will be describing how meteorologists predict the weather on a daily basis, Dr Tim Palmer from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting reveals how understanding seasonal weather patterns can help scientists predict outbreaks of malaria, Dr Emily Shuckburgh from Cambridge University discusses how faraway oceans can affect our local weather, Fran Beckerleg braves the roof of the London Weather Centre, and Sheena Elliott joins Derek Thorne in Kitchen Science to shed light on why the sky is blue. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.09/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.02/ Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +0100 Picking apart the inner workings of our brains this week are Dr Irene Tracey from Oxford University, who discusses the origin of pain at the neurological level and how we can reduce pain, Dr Philip Shaw from the US National Institute of Mental Health reveals why having a bigger brain does not make you more intelligent, Dr Kathleen Taylor from Oxford University talks about her new book 'Brainwashing: the science of thought control', including whether brainwashing is a real phenomenon and how we can avoid it, and from brainwashing to the bathtub, Derek Thorne scrubs up on density in this week's Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.04.02/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.26/ Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Answering all your burning science, technology and medicine questions this week are Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Phil, who look at why purifying seawater won't solve our water shortage problems, how 3D glasses work and whether a man on a meteor would have to hold on tight or sit back and soak up the stellar scenery. We'll also be receiving an update from Daniel Scuka at the European Space Agency on the Venus Express Mission, Professor Diana Liverman from Oxford University talks about how to turn down the heat on climate change, and in Kitchen Science Anna Lacey finds out why we hear strange voices when we play old records backwards... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.26/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.19/ Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Conservation and saving species go under the spotlight this week as science writer Dr Henry Nicholls draws attention to the plight of 'Lonesome George', the last giant tortoise of his kind, Dr David Aldridge from Cambridge University discusses the problem of invasive species and how he is purging freshwater ecosystems of zebra mussels with a poison pill, Chris interviews Professor Rick Shine from the University of Sydney about the wave of invasive cane toads legging it across Australia, from waves to the ocean, Dr Helen Scales discusses the issues behind marine conservation, and sticking with the watery theme, Derek Thorne whips up a storm in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.19/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.12/ Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Time is very much the essence of this week's show, as Professor Russell Foster from Imperial College London discusses the human body clock, where it is and how it gives our bodies a daily rhythm, Professor Karl-Arne Stokkan from Tromso University in Norway describes how reindeer body clocks adapt to twenty four hours of sunlight, Dr Alex Webb from Cambridge University talks about plant circadian rhythms and how they differ from animals, and Anna Lacey interviews Professor Cynthia Kenyon from the University of California, San Francisco about how to survive longer and cheat time. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.12/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.05/ Sun, 05 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000 The recycling revolution and the whereabouts of our waste are hot topics this week as Professor David Butler from the University of Exeter describes how we can make our homes greener by reusing water, Rebecca Weymouth from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership lifts the lid on what happens to our domestic waste, Dr Peter Barham from Bristol University gives us the breakdown on why plastic is so difficult to recycle, and Dr Richard Thompson from the University of Plymouth provides a perspective on how problem plastic threatens the marine environment. In Kitchen Science Derek Thorne discovers how to turn old chip oil into biodiesel, and from making fuel to running on empty, Anna Lacey asks Professor Andrew Prentice how the human body copes with famine. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.03.05/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.26/ Sun, 26 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Picking apart some miniature morsels of science this week are Dr David Carey from the University of Surrey, who provides the big picture on the world of nanotechnology, Professor Donald Fitzmaurice from University College Dublin describes how DNA may be used as scaffolding for the world's smallest computer chips, we breach the boundaries between physics and biology as Dr Stephen Webb from the Daresbury Laboratory discusses how new microscopes can see developing cancers at the nano-scale, and Neal Morgan from Cambridge University explains how nanoparticles are stamping out stinky socks... Also on the show, Professor Jim Clark from George Washington University tells us about digging up the ancestors of T. rex, and in Kitchen Science Derek and Dave dish the dirt on how gravy thickens. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.26/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.19/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Unlocking Nature's medicine chest and borrowing from biology are doctor's orders this week as Professor Monique Simmonds from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew reveals the research behind old herbal remedies, Dr Tai-Ping Fan from Cambridge University describes how Chinese medicine is being used for illnesses from gout to endometriosis, Professor Jack Cuzick from Cancer Research UK talks about clinical trials for a new drug for breast cancer, and Dr Chris is at the AAAS conference in St. Louis digging around for science news and details on a potato that fights back... In Kitchen Science, Derek unleashes the explosive power of flour, and Anna Lacey interviews Professor Peter Austin from the School of Oriental and African Studies on why thousands of languages are threatened with extinction. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.19/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.12/ Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Love, seduction and sexual attraction are in the air this week as Dr Peter Brennan from Bristol University woos Chris and Kat with a discussion of pheromones and the science of smell, Dr Charles Wysocki from the Monell Chemical Senses Centre suggests how farmers can love thy neighbour by masking the stench of malodorous manure, we hit the dancefloor with Dr William Brown from Rutgers University who reveals the recipe for success at the Saturday night disco, and Professor Peter Barham talks about the science of taste, food and the ingredients for the perfect Valentine's Day dinner! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.12/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.05/ Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000 This week it's over to you as Drs. Chris, Kat and Phil prepare to answer all your burning questions on science, technology and medicine. Anne-Maree Pearse from the Mount Pleasant Laboratories in Launceston, Tasmania, joins us to describe the hellish plight of the Tasmanian Devil as it succumbs to an infectious facial cancer, Emma Marris from Nature magazine discusses how scientists are bogged down in trying to prevent the Gulf of Mexico reclaiming large areas of Louisiana, and in Kitchen Science Derek and Dave put glow-sticks on ice at the Astley Cooper School in Hemel Hempstead. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.02.05/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.29/ Sun, 29 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000 This week we look to the solar system as Dr Ian Sanders from Trinity College Dublin discusses where meteorites come from and how we can find them, real-life astronaut Dr Stan Love joins us from NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston to describe a method of avoiding Armageddon asteroids, Dr Maggie Aderin from Science Innovation Ltd. takes us from meteorites to meteorology, as she talks about satellites that monitor wind speeds, Dr Richard Preece from Cambridge University recounts the sticky tale of the hitch-hiking snails and Derek and Dave make water fibre optics in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.29/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.22/ Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000 This week we shake up the world of science as Dr Janet Sumner from The Open University describes the dynamics of volcanic eruptions and the structure of the Earth, Dr Tamsin Mather from Cambridge University talks about how the gases from volcanoes affect our atmosphere and environment, Dr Tiziana Rossetto discusses earthquakes, tsunamis and her recent visit to Pakistan, and Professor Herbert Huppert joins Derek in the kitchen to perform an explosive experiment. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.22/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.15/ Sun, 15 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000 This week we go green as Dr Alison Smith from Cambridge University discusses how algae get their vitamins, the Superintendent of Cambridge University Botanic Gardens Dr Tim Upson describes the science of composting, Heather Gorringe and Richard Fishbourne from Wiggly Wigglers dish the dirt on what worms get up to in your compost heap, Prof. John Pickett from Rothamsted Research talks about his research on natural mosquito repellents, we find out about Ant School from Prof. Nigel Franks at Bristol University, and in Kitchen Science, Derek is itching to reveal how ants lay chemical trails to their food. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.15/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.08/ Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000 With the indulgences of Christmas behind us, Prof. Steve O'Rahilly from Cambridge University aims to shed some light on shedding a few pounds, as he discusses the science of appetite, obesity and weight loss, Prof. Len Almond from Loughborough University describes the role of exercise in losing weight, Prof. John O'Doherty from the California Institute of Technology talks about what happens in the brain when we choose our favourite food brand, Drs. Jane Visvader and Connie Eaves describe their discovery of the breast stem cell, and Derek and Dave find out what cream and paint have in common in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2006.01.08/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.12.18/ Sun, 18 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week we put our heads in a spin as listeners across the world take part in a huge experiment to see whether it is possible to detect the Coriolis Effect in the bath, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki from Sydney provides the definitive answer to the Coriolis Effect quandary from a bathroom Down-Under, Dr Kat interviews Jack Ashby at the Grant Museum in London about how insects have been used to bring cannabis traffickers out of the wood work, and callers get the chance to quiz Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Phil on any aspect of science, technology and medicine in our Christmas question special. . http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.12.18/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.12.11/ Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week we learn about animal communication straight from the horse's mouth. Dr Gillian Forrester, from the University of Sussex, describes how gorillas use tactile signals to communicate, Dr Katie Slocombe, from the University of St. Andrews, talks about her work on how chimpanzees use certain grunts to refer to specific food sources, Professor Joan Silk, from the University of California, discusses whether chimps are charitable to their chums, Professor Keith Kendrick from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge discusses how sheep recognise emotion, and Dr Vicki Melfi, from Paignton Zoo, tells of how the red swellings on a baboon's bottom work like a sexual traffic light. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.12.11/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.12.04/ Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week we take a foray into forensics, as Detective Inspector Alan Cook from Essex Police joins us to talk about how DNA is used to solve crimes, Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys from Leicester University helps us brush up on how DNA fingerprinting works, Dr Tamsin O'Connell from the University of Cambridge describes how archaeologists extract DNA from old bones and how DNA can help us track down our human origins, and in Kitchen Science we have the first ever radio DNA fingerprinting race, in which schools will battle it out to find out which of the Naked Scientists is the foul footed felon with the criminally smelly feet... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.12.04/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.27/ Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week we dive into deep time as cosmologist Dr Mike Hobson from Cambridge University explains how we measure the universe and answers a host of astronomically hard questions, Dr Chris Voigt from the University of California in San Francisco describes his E. coli-cam, a bacterial camera with a resolution of 100 mega-pixels, and Derek and Dave cook up a treat in this week's Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.27/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.20/ Sun, 20 Nov 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week we unravel the secrets of DNA as Dr Darren Grafham from the Sanger Centre in Hinxton, Cambridge, discusses the importance of sequencing genomes and how the Human Genome Project has improved medicine, Dr Mike Majerus from the Department of Genetics at Cambridge University explains how we can share genetic material with worms but look completely different, Anna Lacey interviews BBC producer Mike Salisbury about the making of the new David Attenborough series Life in the Undergrowth, and we take Kitchen Science to the classroom as schools across the region battle it out in a live DNA extraction experiment. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.20/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.13/ Sun, 13 Nov 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week Professor David Pritchard from Nottingham University gets to the bottom of why parasites can get rid of allergies, Professor Elizabeth Bernays from the University of Arizona describes how caterpillars use plant-toxin chemical warfare to fend off parasites, Dr Chris visits Westbourne High School in Ipswich to run fitness experiments for Healthcare Science Week, and Dave and Derek go bang with an explosive electrolysis experiment in the Naked Scientists Laboratory. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.13/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.06/ Sun, 06 Nov 2005 00:00:00 +0000 In this week's explosions extravaganza, chemist and award-winning author Dr John Emsley joins pyrotechnics expert Dr Jacqueline Akhavan from Cranfield University to talk about the chemistry behind the bangs on bonfire night, George Pendle, author of Strange Angel, describes the long history of rocketry, Mark Schrope, recalls his experience of flying straight into the eye of Hurricane Rita, and Dave and Derek cool us all off by creating a home-made fire extinguisher in this week's Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.11.06/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.30/ Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100 This week we delve into the unexplained, as ex-UFO official Nick Pope from the Ministry of Defence discusses Britain's biggest UFO case, the Rendlesham Forest Incident, Anna Lacey visits Rendlesham to talk to Brenda Butler and Vince Thurkettle about their involvement in the alleged sighting, Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright from the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge University discusses Mars, asteroid impacts and life on other planets, and Surendra Verma, author of The Tunguska Fireball, tells the story of how an area of forest the size of Greater London was mysteriously flattened in 1908. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.30/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.23/ Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100 This week we get bitten by the bug as Dr Ian Burgess from Insect Research and Development Limited talks about the nasties that nibble us at night, Dr William Foster from the Department of Zoology at Cambridge University discusses social insects and how individuals in the colonies communicate, Bee Wilson, historian of ideas, food columnist and author of The Hive, describes the useful properties of honey, and Megan Frederickson from Stanford University reveals the horticulturalist responsible for Devil's Gardens in the Amazonian rainforest. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.23/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.16/ Sun, 16 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100 As the flu season and the threat of avian flu comes closer, Professor John Oxford from the Royal London Hospital discusses what the flu is, where it comes from and whether drugs and vaccines can help, Professor Pat Troop, Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency, describes the systems in place to stop an avian flu outbreak from spreading, and Dr Paul Digard from the Division of Virology at the University of Cambridge tells us how the flu virus escapes past layers of snot. In the Naked Scientist's Laboratory this week, Dave and Derek give us the run down on what snot is for. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.16/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.09/ Sun, 09 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100 Stretching our grey matter this week is developmental biologist Dr Adrian Pini from Guy's, King's and St. Thomas's Hospital, London, who describes how our brain grows, how our brain works, and how it can become damaged, and Dr Huseyin Mehmet from Imperial College London, who discusses the potential application of stem cells in repairing central nervous system damage. Also in the studio is Tom Smith from Cambridge University, who has designed a new water pump that could help thousands of people in the developing world, and Derek and Dave perform a vanishing act in Kitchen Science. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.09/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.02/ Sun, 02 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100 In this show Dr Symon Cotton from Astron Clinica joins us to discuss how Raman Spectroscopy can be used to non-invasively diagnose malignant melanoma, Professor Russell Cowburn from Imperial College London describes how laser scatter effects can be used to fingerprint a banknote, Sam Reay chops his way through a 3-inch block of concrete to highlight the physics of Kung Fu, and Dr Uwe Bergmann describes how synchrotronic x-rays are helping him to read the 1000 year old Archimedes Palimpsest. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.10.02/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.03.27/ Sun, 27 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This week we look at the scary, squeamish and sinister side to science. Dr Tim Wreghitt, from Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, discusses the threat of avian flu, viruses and why we keep catching the common cold, Dr Ian Burgess, director of Insect Research and Development Ltd, is itching to discuss bed bugs, head lice and fleas, and John Emsley from Bedfordshire talks about the chemistry of poisoning and his new book 'Elements of Murder'. Anna Lacey asks the chief executive of the RSPB, Graham Wynn, why conservation is so important, and Philippa Law provides an alarming conclusion to our series on Einstein's influence in our everyday lives by finding out how smoke detectors work. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.03.27/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.03.20/ Sun, 20 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000 This special Brain Awareness Week show exercises the grey matter as Professor Chris McManus from the Department of Psychology at University College London talks about left-handedness and why the two halves of the brain are different, Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, discusses autism and a process called synesthesia, where people hear colours and taste shapes, and Professor Seth Grant from the Sanger Institute at Hinxton describes how genes help your brain to work, and discusses whether they make you intelligent. Continuing our series on Einstein's influence in the home, Philippa Law stews over Brownian Motion and the science in a cup of tea, and Sarah Urquhart, Brian Wallace and Anna Lacey join the fun at the Cambridge Science Festival. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.03.20/ http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.03.13/ Sun, 13 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000 In this show we look at the causes and effects of global warming. Professor Lloyd Peck from the British Antarctic Survey discusses how giant sea spiders cope with extreme Antarctic cold, Professor Howard Griffiths, from the Plant Sciences Department at Cambridge University, describes the link between carbon dioxide and climate change, and discusses how plants help to control global warming, Professor Harry Elderfield from Earth Sciences at Cambridge University tells us how carbon dioxide is making the ocean acidic, and Professor Chris Llewelyn-Smith, from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, suggests that nuclear fusion may be an alternative energy solution for the future. And continuing our series on Einstein's contribution to science in the home, Philippa Law gets turned on by the photoelectric effect. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2005.03.13/ http://www.thenakedscient