1

Chemistry / Can you make hydrochloric acid by mixing calcium chloride with water?

« on: 26/09/2017 10:13:49 »

Tyler asks:

Can you make concentrated hydrochloric acid by mixing calcium chloride with water and boiling it down?

Can you help?

2

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What happens when a hydrogen atom collides with a fast-moving object?

« on: 25/09/2017 13:32:28 »

Joyal would like to know:

What happens when a hydrogen particle collides with an object which is moving faster than the speed of sound?

Can you help?

3

Physiology & Medicine / Do we use only a small part of our brains?

« on: 25/09/2017 11:48:12 »

Jerry asks:

It is true that we only use a small part of our brain, and if so, how can this be explained from an evolutionary perspective?

Can you help?

4

Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 17.09.10 - How intelligent is a pet dog compared to other animals?

« on: 21/09/2017 09:25:30 »

Wow - amazing to see Chaser in action!   

5

Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 17.09.10 - How intelligent is a pet dog compared to other animals?

« on: 19/09/2017 16:56:21 »

This question has now been answered on our show, and you can listen to it here:

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists-podcast/memories-making-them-faking-them

6

Question of the Week / QotW - 17.09.17 - What percentage of alcohol remains in food after cooking?

« on: 19/09/2017 09:47:50 »

Zettie would like to know:

When you cook food with alcohol, how much of the alcohol is left behind and what effect does this have on alcoholics?

Can you help?

7

The Environment / Can a bomb dissipate a hurricane?

« on: 11/09/2017 09:53:30 »

 Tom says:

Is it possible to drop a large bomb into the core of a developing hurricane, whilst over a sterile area of the ocean, to dissipate the rotating cloud mass?

What do you think?

8

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Why has there been no planet formation where the asteroid belt is located?

« on: 11/09/2017 09:35:32 »

David says:

We are told that the planets were formed from the debris remaining after the creation of the sun. The debris clumping together due to gravity and getting larger as more debris is attracted due to a stronger gravitational field.

My question is : Why has there been no planet formation where the Asteroid belt is located? Would the gravitational pull between the sun and the planet Jupiter prevent a planet being created?

Can you help?

9

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Can you see the same stars from anywhere in the world?

« on: 01/09/2017 16:47:13 »

Benjamin would like to know:

Is it possible to see the same stars from anywhere in the world?

Can you help?

10

Radio Show & Podcast Feedback / Feedback for The Naked Scientists

« on: 01/09/2017 14:14:09 »

David says:

I would like to thank 'The Naked Scientists ' for the informative, educational and amusing way they portray science. It is most certainly a school of learning where knowledge of our world, life and the Universe is enhanced to new levels of understanding and humility.

Like evolution, science is always progressing and developing into new fields of understanding and enlightenment, almost taking the proportions of religion in terms of educating us beyond the limits of our own understanding. However, unlike religion, science projects its knowledge based on known facts, and not on the complexity of the lack of understanding - a state of mind which causes more questions than answers.

11

Technology / Why is there not a consensus regarding the best economic system?

« on: 01/09/2017 13:55:51 »

Donald says:

Why is there not a consensus regarding the best economic system given that so many have been tried and there is plenty of evidence to deliberate over?

Can you help?

12

Physiology & Medicine / What causes autism?

« on: 01/09/2017 11:33:00 »

Thembinkosi asks:

What causes autism and what are the best ways to help a child cope with the condition?

Can you help?

13

The Environment / Was the Earth ever covered completely by water?

« on: 01/09/2017 09:47:07 »

Geoff would like know:

Was the Earth ever covered 100% by water?

Can you help?

14

General Science / Can bullets be fired upwards by a free-falling person?

« on: 31/08/2017 15:00:09 »

Madhu says:

In a recent film, the hero is falling off a bridge and while falling he fires a bullet which hits and knocks down a helicopter.  I was wondering what the physics behind this is? Can we actually fire a bullet while free-falling to the ground? Can it hit a target? What effect does this have on the falling shooter?

Can you help?

15

Physiology & Medicine / Can you taste food without smelling it?

« on: 31/08/2017 09:18:59 »

Lauren wants to know:

Can you taste food without smelling it?

What do you think?

16

Radio Show & Podcast Feedback / Feedback on 'Diet: Can we be Healthy and Sustainable?'

« on: 30/08/2017 15:54:28 »

Patrick says:

I was listening to last week's show about food and it was mentioned that eating meat (beef) produces 50% more green house gases than not eating meat.

But, when you eat beef, you have no differentiation between meat from beef cattle or meat from dairy cattle in the shop when you buy your steak. Beef from dairy cattle should by definition have a lower effect on the environment than a bull purely raised to be eaten (obviously looking away from the other uses of diverse animal parts that aren't eaten, like hide).

Why is it that most experts don't mention this difference?

Thanks for a great show.

What do you think?

17

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / How do Darwinian and Lamarckian theories of evolution differ?

« on: 30/08/2017 10:10:52 »

Stefan would like to know:

What is the difference between Darwin's theory of evolution and Lamarck's theory of evolution? Can both be correct and occur simultaneously?

Can you help answer this question?

18

General Science / Does sea water help clothes dry quicker?

« on: 30/08/2017 09:26:42 »

Ronnie says:

I read that sailors exposed to continuous rain on open boats dip their clothes in sea water after the rain has stopped so that they will dry quicker. Is it correct that seawater dries out more quickly than rain water?

Can you help?

19

The Environment / Do missiles that land in oceans affect sea life?

« on: 29/08/2017 16:49:16 »

Shireen would like to know:

When a missile lands in the ocean, what happens to sea life in the vicinity?

Can you help?

20

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / What is the definition of a species and are there different species of human?

« on: 29/08/2017 14:25:10 »

Geoff would like to know:

What is the definition of a species and are there different species of human?

Can you help answer this question?