Ask The Naked Scientists SA

Why won't vaseline melt in the microwave?

This week: plummeting bird populations; the global climate strike; whether blood-letting benefits high blood pressure; why vaseline won't melt in the microwave; how pilots land planes even though the Earth is spinning; how birds pattern their plumage; why your nose runs when you wake up; what causes morning breath, and…

19 Sep 2019 21 min

Why am I addicted to eating toilet paper?

Is flying a threat to glaucoma? Do blood groups affect diet? Is 5G harmful to my health? Why do cats have vertical pupils? What is candida infection and how can I treat it? Does speaking quickly actually communicate more information? Why am I addicted to eating toilet paper? Is the…

10 Sep 2019 21 min

Do wild animals snore?

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. What's the link between humidity and temperature? Is cooked meat or food healthier than the raw version? Why does the moon always have the same face pointing towards the Earth? Why do you feel like you're breathing in cold air…

5 Sep 2019 18 min

How does a body decompose?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Azania Mosaka from Talk Radio 702. How does a body decompose? Why doesn't the body digest spinach? How can you find natural water sources? Can stem cells repair eye conditions? Does tolerance of temperatures change with race? For information…

29 Aug 2019 24 min

What is the Earth's murmur?

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do you sometimes see a half moon at sunrise? Why do some body hairs never go grey? Could a coin falling from the top of the Empire State Building kill you? What is the Earth's murmur? Why do effects…

22 Aug 2019 21 min

Are magnets a good source of electricity?

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Can you use magnets as a source of electricity? Does chemotherapy make you lose hair from other parts of your body alongside your head? Can your brain adjust to seeing upside down by flipping your vision? Does leaving your car…

15 Aug 2019 19 min

Why do birds swoop in front of cars?

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do men go bald on the tops of their heads first? Do we really share 50% of our DNA with bananas? Why do birds swoop down in front of cars? Is there such a thing as tuberculosis of the…

4 Aug 2019 16 min

Why do some dogs recognise their reflections?

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why do some dogs recognise themselves in the mirror, or recognise other dogs on TV, while others don't? Why is the sky blue? Why doesn't mitochondrial DNA recombine like other DNA, and does it run into problems with natural selection?…

25 Jul 2019 20 min

Is the Moon a piece of planet Earth?

This week, on its 50th Anniversary, Dr Chris reflects on the Apollo 11 Moon landings, explores the basis of Bell's Palsy, explains the origins of an itch, and asks if wheat is bad for you. We also discuss the microbiome and food intolerance, why burned food tastes great but could…

18 Jul 2019 25 min

Are we really related to Neanderthals?

Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Why might someone with diabetes lose a limb? How can you predict a dangerous solar flare? Are humans really related to Neanderthals? Do we love water because we evolved from the ocean? What percentage of our brains do we really…

11 Jul 2019 19 min

Can local honey cure hay fever?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions on Cape Talk. Do we need an appendix? How does the Sun burn when there's no oxygen in space? How much water is lost in tinned goods? How can damaged fingertips grow back? Does bloodtype indicate whether a tattoo will…

4 Jul 2019 24 min

Why do humans have cannabis receptors?

Why do flies exist? Could sound propel a spaceship? Why do humans have receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol in their brains? How do cars calculate their fuel consumption? And is all life descended from bacteria? Plus, we report on the recent discovery of a plume of methane on Mars: what does this…

2 Jul 2019 19 min

Do microwaves damage food?

Why do Achilles tendons snap, and can they be strengthened? Are gingers disappearing? Why does crying make your voice shake? Why can't we accurately predict the weather? Do microwaves damage food? Why does my eyelid twitch sometimes? What is burn-out? Is it normal to feel groggy some days? How important…

27 Jun 2019 23 min

Why does alcohol make me dizzy?

This week we discuss the Naked Scientists experiment to test a scream in space, explain why some people sneeze so loudly, ask where standard weights and measures came from, hear why singing makes it easier to remember the words, and find out why the Chernobyl power station exploded, why alcohol…

25 Jun 2019 21 min

Why do we hum?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions. Can contact eyes make your eyes better than perfect vision? How intense can deja-vu be? Why do we hum? Why are there more jetstreams in the Northern Hemisphere? Why doesn't armpit hair grow like head hair? Why are mushroom clouds…

20 Jun 2019 24 min

Why does water bubble when it boils?

Join Africa Melane and Dr Chris for this week's round-up of science questions from the South African Cape, including why we can open the doors of a helicopter but not a passenger plane when it's flying, why water bubbles when it boils, what's the best position for sleeping, why fog…

19 Jun 2019 20 min

Why do bright lights trigger sneezes?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from talk radio 702. Could gravity from my first-floor apartment impact my sleep patterm? Why do hearts beat faster with excitement? What are the consequences of dental surgery? Is prejudice carried in DNA? How does a master-key…

13 Jun 2019 21 min

Do anti-ageing creams really work?

For CapeTalk this week, Dr Chris explains what causes stomach butterflies, whether honey is healthier than sugar, why fog lifts, how to keep your memory in tip top condition, how much the Earth weighs, whether fish need to drink water, why cannabis makes some people feel creative, and whether anti-ageing…

11 Jun 2019 18 min

Why do we blush?

Chris Smith from The Naked Scientists takes on YOUR questions with Eusebius McKasier from Talk Radio 702. Would a brain transplant keep someone's memories? Why do we blush? Is it bad to exercise when ill? How do you lose a sense of smell? Can it return? What is the difference…

6 Jun 2019 20 min

Were early humans vegetarians?

Chris Smith answers YOUR questions with Pippa Hudson.... Why does temperature change food flavour? Does the full moon impact the human body? Why do car wheels move in reverse in films? Were early humans vegetarians? Can you produce electricity in a vacuum? Does Vitamin-C cure a cold? Do 5G networks…

23 May 2019 21 min