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Just Chat! / SHOW IDEAS - Life in 2050?

« on: 11/04/2019 15:11:18 »

Hi everyone,

I'm making an upcoming show for The Naked Scientists about sustainability and would love to hear your thoughts on the future of population, food, health, climate change, or any other thing that springs to mind. Feel free to use this thread to suggest topics, ask questions and share talking points.

• What to you think life will be like in 2050?
• What do you think are the biggest threats to humanity and the planet?
• What do you think will be different? Or the same?
• What changes would you like to see?

Cheers - Izzie

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Question of the Week / QotW - 19.04.01 - Why do dim stars appear brighter when you look near them?

« on: 01/04/2019 17:03:02 »

We received this question from Sean,

"Why is it that when you look directly at small, faint stars they disappear but when you look at a point near them, you can see them?"

Can you help?

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Question of the Week / QotW 19.03.18 - Would eating purple carrots turn you purple?

« on: 18/03/2019 16:11:24 »

Aidan asks,

"Consuming orange carrots in high excess can turn your skin orange, because of the beta-carotene. What about purple carrots?"

What do you think?

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Question of the Week / QotW - 19.03.03 - Can you blame physics for odd socks?

« on: 04/03/2019 16:47:45 »

Chani has been in touch...

"I used to think that all those missing single socks were hanging out at some pub in the back of the dryer. But now that my kids moved out and I don't use the dryer, I realise this theory is no longer valid.
 
Is there a scientific or physical explanation for where those socks go? Why they are so unhappy in monogamous relationships?

But seriously, could it be a case of quantum entanglement?"

What do you think?

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Technology / Re: How high and fast can an all electric aircraft fly?

« on: 18/10/2018 14:37:15 »

Hi Robert,

We'd like to try to discuss this on an upcoming show... Can you drop me a message and we can discuss this further?

Thanks a lot,
Izzie

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The Environment / Are thunderstorms more common in the afternoon?

« on: 24/08/2018 14:00:24 »

Bernard asks:

"There is a song that indicates that it only rains at night in Camelot, and it seems to me that thunderstorms (with their heavy precipitation) are more likely in the late afternoon and evening.  However I really don’t know how much of a statistically significant variation occurs during each day – can anyone tell me please?"
 
What do you think?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How can a universe start from nothing?

« on: 24/08/2018 13:50:17 »

We've had this question from Paul:

"At the beginning of time, how did nothing become the universe? If nothing is like an empty glass, how did it get full? Nothing is nothing so how can nothing become something. I know that the entire universe is 10 of zillions of years old but it started sometime but nothing is still nothing. Carbon is the core of all beings but protons, neutrons and matter, where did it come from?"

Can you help?

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Question of the Week / QotW - 18.08.05 - Who counted all the stars in the universe?

« on: 09/08/2018 13:54:41 »

Geoff asks:

"It’s often stated that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth. My question is - who counted them?"

Any thoughts?

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Do any other female species have a clitoris?

« on: 31/05/2018 17:16:40 »

Don says

I believe that a recent programme asked why males have nipples. I have often wondered, in how many other species are the females equipped with a clitoris?

Can you help?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Does electron excitation change the weight of an atom?

« on: 21/05/2018 16:20:54 »

Agrima asks:

"If E=mc^2 holds true, is an atom with its electrons in an excited state heavier than an atom in ground state, since the former contains more energy within itself?"

What do you think?

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The Environment / If the Earth wasn't tilted, would that affect climate?

« on: 21/05/2018 16:16:38 »

Donald asks:

"If the earth/ moon system axis was 0 degrees tilt, and we had monthly complete solar and lunar eclipses, what would the Earth's climate be? Particularly at the poles, and how far would glaciers extend. Would the jet stream change?"

Can you help?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Ion or electron: Which has more energy?

« on: 15/05/2018 18:33:13 »

Roshan asks:

"If an electron and an ion are exposed to the same potential, which will have more energy?"

Can you help?

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Physiology & Medicine / Can vitamin supplements help manage osteoporosis?

« on: 09/05/2018 09:24:01 »

Julie says...

"I would love to get your opinion on vitamin K2 (supplementation) and osteoporosis. Is it a healthier alternative than a calcium supplementation, especially for women?"

Can you help?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How does freezing and warming water change its properties?

« on: 08/05/2018 15:50:22 »

Deon asks

"There's a trick of placing a bottle of water in a freezer and taking it out while the water is still liquid but very cold... When you bump or shake the bottle the water, ice will form. BUT if I completely freeze the water and then leave the bottle water outside till its warm, when I then place the same bottle back in the freezer for the same amount of time, I cant repeat the trick. Any Idea why?"

Can you help?

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Technology / How does the Prentiss 1225 Microscope work?

« on: 08/05/2018 14:20:56 »

Raymond asks

"I have a Prentiss 1225 Microscope in a wooden box and I cannot find out anything about it. Can you supply any information?"

Can you help?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How fast does a body accelerate in free fall?

« on: 08/05/2018 14:15:47 »

John asks

"If a body started falling from 22 feet above ground, how fast would it be going when it hit the ground?"

Can you help?

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Physiology & Medicine / Are there any treatments for tinnitus?

« on: 03/05/2018 14:43:08 »

Michael asks,

"Any recommendations for tinnitus treatment?"

Can you help?

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Physiology & Medicine / What is causing recurrent fever, sweats and cold symptoms?

« on: 03/05/2018 14:38:42 »

We've had this message from Anon

"For about 15 years now, I keep getting ill every 2 months.This is reoccuring and the doctors cannot seem to find anything wrong with me... I have done many blood tests and organ scans with nothing visibly wrong. The only thing that helps is antibiotics but a month or 2 later I'm back to square one. Symptoms are flu like...temperature, cold sweats, fever, nausea etc. I strongly suspect I have a parasite or virus that has not been picked up, but not sure where to start looking for it."

Can you help?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How quickly is energy transferred between electrons and photons?

« on: 23/04/2018 15:00:46 »

Ruairidh wants to know...

When an electron absorbs the energy from a photon, considering the photon's frequency is not equal to or above the threshold frequency of the material, how much time does it take for that photon to get re-emitted?

Can you help?

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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / What would our DNA look like if we all came from one pair of founding humans?

« on: 23/04/2018 14:54:35 »

Mike asks

Many people believe that ALL mankind descended from the original human pair as stated in scriptures, but if that were true it would not be possible to have DNA showing differences like Denisovan, Neanderthal etc. What would human DNA science be like on earth if life emerged from only one human pair?

Can you help?