Ask The Naked Scientists SA

Is bottled water safe to drink?

Why do some athletes seem to be more injury prone than others? Will bottled water grow algae? If you toast bread will it keep its nutritional value? Are palm trees good at cleaning the air?

16 Nov 2017 16 min

How do energy drinks affect us?

Why don't I have fingerprints? Why do the helium balloons in my car move the opposite way to people? Do other moons face their planet at the same time? How do energy drinks affect your body? What makes a person left handed? Why do I sneeze when I look at…

9 Nov 2017 23 min

What is the speed of dark?

If the body repairs itself, why do we die? Why does water come out of your eyes? Can galaxies exceed the speed of light? What is the speed of dark? What's the link between substance abuse and insomnia? How do I drive without paying attention? Do we understand stuttering? Plus,…

2 Nov 2017 23 min

Is the Earth flat?

What is the association of shingles and chicken pox? Is the earth flat? Why are berries red? Does drinking through a straw affect how drunk you are? Does hot water sound different from cold water? How do cats jump so well? How skin prevents damage.

26 Oct 2017 19 min

Why are rainbows curved?

Why are rainbows curved? Why do you get double rainbows? Why are accents in Australia, England and America so different? Is a warp drive possible? Plus, the difference between good and bad cholesterol.

19 Oct 2017 15 min

Can we control lightning?

How does my cat open doors? Why can't I pause the radio? What is lean muscle mass? Can lightning be manipulated? Can silver iodide control the weather? Plus three blind mice, now able to see!

12 Oct 2017 19 min

Why is ice sticky?

When we doze off what causes that jolt? Do antidepressants cause swelling? Why is ice sticky? Can you carbon date a person? Can humans upload their consciousness to computers? What causes static shocks?

5 Oct 2017 18 min

What is sleep paralysis?

Is Earth about to be wiped out by Planet X? Do animals indulge in same-sex relationships? Are B vitamins linked to cancer? Is rainfall from a hurricane fresh or salty water? Why do smokers light up over a coffee? Why do people with hypothermia sometimes undress? What's sleep paralysis? Join…

24 Sep 2017 18 min

How do airplanes land safely?

Why do people scream when falling from buildings? How do bombs affect the environment? How do airplanes land safely? Why do people commit suicide, and can we prevent it? Plus, how frogs avoid poisoning themselves.

7 Sep 2017 20 min

Can we 3D print rhino horn?

Can we 3D print rhino horn? What is a static shock? How do cats eat and purr at the same time? Where is the Universe expanding into? How do you recover from polio? Plus, a new treatment for leukemia.

31 Aug 2017 17 min

Why don't Animals Crossbreed?

Can we eliminate flies and mosquitoes from our ecosystem and live in peace? When will the universe end? Do eggs with double yolks mean that two twins would have been born? Why don't animals such as lions and zebras cross-breed? Why is it best for women to have babies when…

24 Aug 2017 20 min

Can people spontaneously combust? How do flowers know when it's day time? What causes static electricity? Should your blood type affect diet? Is there such thing as digital addiction? Can we get to Mars? Plus - how goldfish make their own alcohol.

10 Aug 2017 21 min

Why are there different sexes? Why did males and females evolve? When you have been driving for a long time and then park your vehicle, why does it feel as though you are still moving? How did we evolve morality and ethics? What is the maximum current a petrol engine…

7 Aug 2017 19 min

Why do people wake up at 3am after drinking? Why is hot water cloudy? What drives a gust of wind? How does a coil of wire produce electricity? Is sweat from your face different to sweat from elsewhere on your body? What is diverticulitis? Does putting a remote next to…

27 Jul 2017 17 min

Can the moon affect people's behaviour? Do you weigh less after you take a bath? Do gas heaters have any side-effects on our health? Are microwaves dangerous? Plus, new electronic batteries based on the pulley mechanism that will last much longer. Chris Smith answers your questions with Eusebius McKaiser on…

20 Jul 2017 19 min

Kicking off with a look at why coffee might make you live longer, Dr Chris and Eusebius explain why Roger Federer's right arm isn't twice the size of his left? How aeroplane wings form vapour trails around the wing tips, why babies kick in the womb but seem to do…

13 Jul 2017 19 min

Is sparkling water better for you? Why did my pubic hair not go grey? Do vaccines cause autism? Can flu vaccines be impacted by your weight? Why do people think the world is flat? Why do we itch? Plus, controlling eyes with magnets!

6 Jul 2017 20 min

What can a person do about restless leg syndrome? Why does data expire? Why do our tummies rumble? Why are some people ticklish? Why do people grind their teeth? How do pills know where to go?

6 Jul 2017 21 min

Could your weight affect how well your flu vaccine works? Is too much sparkling water bad for you? Why does head hair lose colour as you age, but other body hair doesn't? Why do spaceships have to travel so fast in the Earth's atmosphere? Is there a link between some…

29 Jun 2017 20 min

How do horses have such strong muscles if they never eat any proteins? When dogs wag their tails is this voluntary or involuntary? Does it save electricity to heat your water all day, or turn it off and on again? Why do we speak in different accents? Why did viruses…

15 Jun 2017 18 min