Ask The Naked Scientists SA

What causes thunder and lightning?

What causes thunder and lightning? Are some people resistant to HIV? Are vitamin supplements good for children? What does crystal meth do to your brain? Why do phones only give you nine minutes to snooze? Can you compress light?

20 Mar 2015 23 min

What is the sun made of?

How do satellites stay in orbit? Why do my fingernails grow at different speeds on each hand? What is the sun made of? Where did the liquid in my cans go? Why do some children turn mute after trauma? Plus, why people smell their fingers after shaking hands…

13 Mar 2015 22 min

Can candles give you cancer?

Is it safe to feed livestock to meat? What happens to the rubber that wears off from car tyres? Does water go down the drain in different directions? Can you rewind the radio? Why is the ocean salty? Can candles give you cancer? Plus, the ancient Homo jaw bone…

6 Mar 2015 22 min

Why do I get a stitch when I exercise?

Why do I get a stitch when I exercise? What determines our body temperature? How quickly do fruit and vegetables lose nutrients after they are picked? Why do ropes get tangled up in knots? Can you get stuck together during sex? Plus, news of an edible gene therapy to control…

27 Feb 2015 18 min

Why does stress give me knots in my stomach?

Why does stress give me knots in my stomach? Why don't I gain weight when I eat? How does sun cream work? Why does wheat give me gas? If we were to compress air to the pressure of water could we then swim in air? Do any planets stay still?…

20 Feb 2015 23 min

Can animals predict the weather?

Can we manufacture water? Should women eat uncastrated meat? Can animals predict the weather? Is there a loss of vitamin content in tinned food? If you're in an aeroplane traveling at the speed of light, could you walk to the front of the plane? What causes chronic flatulence? Plus, counting…

6 Feb 2015 18 min

Why do we get brain freeze?

Why do we get brain freeze? What happens to your arm when it goes to sleep? Why do clouds form? Do we really only use 10% of our brain? If we evolved from apes how come there are still monkeys? Plus, how to "unboil" an egg.

30 Jan 2015 21 min

How do phantom limbs work?

How do phantom limbs work? Can power stations affect local weather? Plus, how to avoid jet lag and the snails that have weaponised insulin.

23 Jan 2015 23 min

Is there such a thing as a 'baby brain'?

Should I let my child run up and down stairs? Is crocodile bile deadly? Why don't animals in the wild bleed to death during child birth? Will there come a time where we stop breaking any new sport records? Is there such a thing as a "baby brain"?

16 Jan 2015 22 min

Is there a cure for vertigo?

Can we make longer lasting phone batteries? Is there a cure for vertigo?

9 Jan 2015 22 min

Why do pigeons bob their heads?

How do chameleons change colour? Why do pigeons bob their heads when they walk? How do railguns work? Can you freeze dry a body? What causes localised hair-loss? What's the best way to cool down beer? Plus, an update on Ebola…

6 Jan 2015 20 min

How do you get an old pen to work?

How do I get my pen to work? Why can't mules reproduce? How do touch screens work?

19 Dec 2014 25 min

How do birds make eggs?

How do birds lay eggs? Why is it so hard to lose stomach fat? Why do we cry with happiness as well as sadness?

13 Dec 2014 23 min

Why do banana peels go brown?

Can you feel two pains at the same time? How can bottled water freeze instantly? Can a migrant dog understand his new neighbours? What is the pith inside an orange? Does eating the in-flight meal alter an aeroplane's weight? Why do skins of bananas blacken faster after you peel them?

28 Nov 2014 21 min

Can comets reveal the future?

What is the latest on Ebola? Which human sense was the strongest in more primitive times? Can comets tell us about the future? How did our ancestors discover that the Earth is round? Why are electric kettles so loud? How can grey hair go black again?

21 Nov 2014 21 min

Why aren't there any flying spiders?

Is it possible to regrow brain cells? Why can't spiders fly? Can you survive with three kidneys? What causes a migraine? Plus, why lightning is striking twice…

14 Nov 2014 13 min

What causes cataracts?

Why do my fingernails grow quicker than my toenails? Why are yawns contagious? Do people with longer legs use less energy to run? What causes cataracts? How important is your sense of smell?

7 Nov 2014 21 min

Are Ebola survivors immune for life?

Can a new stomach be grown in a dish? Are Ebola survivors immune from future infection? Why do injuries seem to hurt more later? Are there homosexual dolphins? How do muscles make energy? How do ants home in on food? Can dogs judge human character?

31 Oct 2014 19 min

Why do people talk to themselves?

Why do people talk to themselves? Can cats cut your risk of a heart attack? Does salt help water boil quicker? Do women have an Adam's Apple? Plus, an update on Ebola and a rapid paper-based test for the virus…

24 Oct 2014 19 min

Can the radio control my dreams?

Why do I sneeze in bright light? Can the radio control my dreams?

10 Oct 2014 21 min