Ask The Naked Scientists SA

Will our universe keep on growing?

Dr Chris takes on more listener questions. Including: is Chinese medicine separate from Western medicine? Why do we sometimes cry in response to feelings of sadness and joy? Why do I have a blotch in my vision after looking directly at a light source? Why do kids cry when they…

24 Jul 21 min

Why do adults take longer to wake up than babies?

The questions keep coming for Dr Chris. This week they include: have scientists got their hands on the oldest ice ever studied? Does putting the air conditioning on too high or low make you ill? What factors contribute to chronic mental illness? How do you reduce puffiness under the eyes?…

18 Jul 19 min

Why do medicines get discontinued?

In this episode of Ask! Dr Chris is asked: what is ivermectin? Are sodium ion batteries a rival to lithium? Is the Earth spinning slightly faster? Why do we warn against using phones around petrol stations? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

11 Jul 19 min

Is leukaemia genetic?

Do we have another comet visiting from outside the solar system? What is Oumuamua? Is the Ring of Fire amping up in activity? Is leukaemia genetic? Does exposure to certain chemicals increase your risk of cancer? Why are early health screenings so important? How do you measure the risk of…

3 Jul 22 min

Why does cold water take your breath away?

Why does cold water take your breath away? And why is it cold when you leave the cold water? What smells does an ant produce? Is there a psychological aspect to cramp? Are there any new asthma treatments in the pipeline? Are people getting vaccinated against cancer? Dr Chris Smith…

26 Jun 19 min

Why can't you tickle yourself?

Dr Chris answers listener questions including: what is the Higgs boson? How should I change my lifestyle to prevent diabetes? Why can you pass on yawns? Why does nerve pain/sciatica get worse when we're tired? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

19 Jun 22 min

Naked Scientists SOS

Cambridge University have informed us that, for cost cutting reasons, they intend to make Dr Chris Smith redundant. Naturally, this jeopardises the Naked Scientists programme, which is produced under his role. He will also lose his medical job. We regard this as a terrible decision and we intend to protest…

16 Jun 3 min

Why does bleach claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria?

Chris Smith answers listener science questions. They include, is it worth getting the flu vaccine? Is COVID still around? Is it possible to manufacture a car that runs on air? Why does the hair on our head keep growing, but not on our arms and legs? Is it good to…

13 Jun 23 min

Would a compass work on the Moon?

Dr Chris with more answers to listener science questions: why was the discovery of the Higgs boson worthy of a Nobel Prize? Are birth rates falling around the world? How do we prevent HPV? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

6 Jun 19 min

Can a person be cloned?

Dr Chris answers listener questions including, how effective is the flu shot? Is there anything doctors don't want their patients to know? Do our eyes stay the same size through our lives? Could working in a dusty cement environment lead to health problems? When someone has dementia, how long will…

30 May 21 min

When did life start evolving sex?

Dr Chris answers questions on CapeTalk, including: how often should we wash our clothes? Is there a relationship between the Earth's gravity and magnetic field? Are the magnetic poles moving? Is there a distinction between North and South? Why don't adult teeth grow back like children's teeth? Can we reconcile…

23 May 21 min

What determines the speed of your internet?

Why is February only 28 days long? Is there a link between red meat, testosterone, and male violence? Is there a 'best' LLM? Can macular degeneration cause you to go blind? What do we know about the big bang? What determines the speed of your internet? Does an autoimmune system…

15 May 24 min

Should dogs sleep inside the house?

Ask! The Naked Scientist covers questions including, are we humans the universe's consciousness? Is the presence of dimethyl sulphide on an exoplanet a sure sign of life? Have scientists been able to establish where the Garden of Eden is? If I decide not to breastfeed, what happens to the milk…

9 May 19 min

Are gravity and magnetism related?

In this week's Ask!, Dr Chris explains what we know about deja vu (have we had this one before?) Also, what might have been behind the major power outages in Spain, and what exactly was the Carrington Event? What causes the differences between summer and winter here on Earth? Like…

2 May 23 min

Does the shingles vaccine reduce risk of dementia?

Are there signs of life on another planet? Could a shingles vaccine prevent dementia? Do artificial sweeteners increase our appetite? How is obesity measured? Could there ever be a dementia vaccine? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the…

24 Apr 23 min

Are girls better at maths than boys?

In Ask! the Naked Scientist, Dr Chris answers medical enquiries such as: why a pacemaker may cause some discomfort. Why might you get a migraine if you oversleep? And, is pain in the abdomen a sign of kidney failure? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

17 Apr 18 min

Are seed oils unhealthy?

In this week's Ask the Naked Scientist, Chris Smith tells us if we are seeing an increase in cancer numbers. Also, what are the underlying causes of colon cancer, and what treatments are available? Does alcohol aid sleep or disrupt it? Are seed oils unhealthy? Are mosquitos more likely to…

11 Apr 21 min

Is my microwave disrupting my Wi-Fi?

In this episode of Ask the Naked Scientist: does miso ferment differently in space? How can I improve my memory? Could receiving hepatitis A, tetanus, and typhoid vaccinations, in combination, cause chronic fatigue? Why does food go bad, and are food packet instructions accurate? What is brain plasticity, and how…

4 Apr 20 min

Does food taste different on an aeroplane?

Why do we have different blood groups? What drives the libido? Do you get drunk faster on an aeroplane? How long does an artificial heart valve last? Does food taste different on an aeroplane? Should you take multivitamins? Is there an actual physical end to space? Are there any benefits…

27 Mar 21 min

Can aspirin help prevent cancer?

In this episode of Ask! Dr Chris answers questions including: what are the minerals in mineral water? Is it safe to drink water from plastic bottles? Is glass safe to drink from? How do people perform sword swallowing? What are biodegradable plastics made of? What is metformin, and is it…

21 Mar 22 min