Ask The Naked Scientists SA

Why is phosphorus important for life?

Do white rainbows exist? Why does putting cold hands in hot water itch so much? Do food additives cause cancer? How can you safely store breastmilk? How does race affect eye and hair colours? Plus, fighting off dementia by seeing your friends. Chris Smith joins Eusebius McKaiser to answer your…

31 May 2018 22 min

Is Jurassic Park possible?

Could Jurassic Park be a reality? How did dinosaur blood survive for 65 million years? Why is volcanic gas poisonous? Is astrology scientific? What is the Universe expanding into?

24 May 2018 18 min

How does shark repellent work?

Why don't I sneeze during the night? Why do flammable liquids feel cold? Can you speed up meteors to help destroy them? What causes me to cry all the time? How do shark repellents work? Plus, a cure for the common cold!

17 May 2018 22 min

Does The Earth Have A Birthday?

How can you reduce pain after surgery? Why do thick fluids wobble when poured? Why is the Earth's core molten? Plus, celebrating the 65th anniversary of discovering DNA.

26 Apr 2018 22 min

Why can't energy be created or destroyed?

Can any organ get cancer? Why do mints make water feel cooler? Why do cockroaches face upwards when they die? What causes eye twitch? What's the best exercise after a hip replacement? How would high water pressue affect the body? Why is extreme cold as painful as extreme heat? Plus,…

19 Apr 2018 20 min

What was before the singularity?

Why did my oven explode? Do nerves regenerate? What came before the singularity? Can an HIV-negative person transmit HIV? Should I complete a course of antibiotics? How do wine flies find my wine?

12 Apr 2018 24 min

What is the Universe expanding into?

Can I donate an organ if it was already donated to me? Why do I sweat asymmetrically? What's the difference between a sea and an ocean? What is the Universe expanding into? Plus, a new trial spells hope for curing macular degeneration.

22 Mar 2018 21 min

Are other animals conscious?

Can we treat eczema? Why can sour things taste before you eat them? Do testosterone levels spike during sex? Why didn't any other primates evolve high-intelligence? What is the difference between consciousness and intelligence? Plus, a farewell to Stephen Hawking.

15 Mar 2018 17 min

What wakes me up without my alarm?

How do our bodies digest all the different things inside us. What is a phantom pregnancy? Why do men get middle-age spread? How do I wake up without an alarm clock? When did white skin first evolve? Plus, a message in a bottle.

8 Mar 2018 23 min

What is the limit of human thinking power?

In a world of self drive cars would they have indicators? Why do you put sugar in before milk? Why are yawns contagious? How did butter come about? What's the limit of our brain capacity?

1 Mar 2018 20 min

How do planes stay in the air?

How does a plane take off and fly without falling? Why are feathers more colourful that fur? Why don't teeth grow back? How do male seahorses carry babies? Plus, using mini organs to test cancer therapies.

22 Feb 2018 23 min

How does GPS work?

Can you change the pH of your blood? How does GPS work? What causes nosebleeds? Why do we find falling funny? Plus, the smallest geneome sequencer to date.

8 Feb 2018 22 min

How can I remove salt from seawater?

How can I remove salt from my water? Why does bread go soft inside plastic bags? Will my ginger beer explode? Why does hose spray come out slower under water? Why do I jolt awake sometimes when I sleep? Plus...cutting whiskers off mice.

2 Feb 2018 23 min

Can marijuana kill cancer?

Does marijuana help with cancer? How can one sibling be smart and another be stupid? Are we alone in the Universe? Can vitamin D kill cancer? Plus, male contraception.

31 Jan 2018 18 min

Why do we find puppies cute?

What causes night cramps? Why is there a delay in audio and not video? How does a tortoise control its temperature? Does your heart stop when you sneeze? How deep is the ocean? Why do we go thirsty? Why do we find puppies cute? Plus, China successfully clones monkeys.

25 Jan 2018 21 min

How do blind people dream?

My wife and I eat the same food but our farts smell differently - why? Can people who are born blind dream? Why are bricks the shape of bricks? How do I explain infinity? Why do astronauts grow in space?

18 Jan 2018 20 min

Do elephants get cancer?

Is it true that elephants don't get cancer? Can science tell us how to be safe from tornadoes? Where does the rubber from tires end up? Why are tardigrades so amazing? How are sausage dogs so long? Does body size affect the perception of time?

11 Jan 2018 20 min

What would happen to someone born on Mars?

Why does the sound a kettle makes change as it boils? Does a hot drink cool you down more than a cold drink? How does rice remove water from a mobile phone? What would happen to someone born on Mars? Why can't you hear accents in singers? Plus, how pollution…

7 Dec 2017 21 min

Why is lightning jagged?

Is the brain at birth empty? Why is farting funny? Does raw garlic cause stomach cancer? Why is lightning jagged? Can you fold the Universe? Is space dark? What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?

30 Nov 2017 24 min

Is it Safe to Stand Near a Microwave?

How does aspirin help with a headache? Does microwaving your food affect its nutritional content? What happens to eye drop bottles during a flight? How can we stop waste medicines leaking into the environment? Is it safe to stand near a microwave when it is in operation? Can we tell…

23 Nov 2017 19 min