Question of the Week
Each week we set out to solve one of the world's weirdest, wackiest, funniest and funkiest scientific puzzles. And along with the answer there's a brand new question to think about for next time...
How does a calculator work?
Calculators are rather speedy at subtracting, sums and deriving standard deviations. But how do they do it? We find out how in QofW. Plus, we ask if modern medicine is affecting the human gene pool.
Why do we get circles around or eyes? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.04.11
Eye circles plague many of us at one time or another. Some of us have them all our lives! But what causes them? We have the answers... or a few of them. Plus, we ask if giraffes find it tricky to vomit…
What's the most efficient way to heat water? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.04.04
How did you go about heating the water for this morning's shower? Did you leave the boiler on all night or just heat what you needed? Find out which is the most energy efficient in this Question of the Week! Plus, we ask why people get dark circles around their…
Where on Earth is gravity the strongest? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.28
Where do you have to go on the Earth to find the strongest pull of gravity? And where might one go to find the weakest? Plus, we ask which is the most efficient method of heating water: keeping a tank-full warm or just heating what you need.
How do you calculate the distance to a star? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.21
In the absence of a giant ruler, how does one go about measuring how far the Earth is from a star? Simon Singh explains in this QotW. Plus, we ask where in the world gravity feels strongest.
Why don't potato peelers need sharpening? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.14
Potato peelers are the staple of the kitchen drawer, but why don't they ever seem to need a good honing as ordinary knives do? We have the answer(s). Plus, we ask how the distance to a star is calculated.
How do painkillers target pain? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.03.07
This week, how do painkillers locate the bits that hurt? Do they have an inflammatory sat-nav or do they just numb your entire body? Plus, we ask why potato peelers never need sharpening.
What are cramps and how does one avoid them? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.28
This week, we discover the reasons for those aches and pains known as cramps. What causes them and how can they be prevented?
How fast does a car have to go to lift you off the ground? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.21
If you're hanging onto the back of a car, how fast would it have to go before you were lifted off the ground? Plus, we ask about muscle cramp and how to avoid it!
Do we walk in circles if we can't see? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.14
Is it possible to walk in a straight line if one is blind or blindfolded? Are blind people better at it? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how fast a car would have to travel in order to lift an outdoor passenger from the…
Is an e-card more environmentally-friendly? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.02.07
Which is better for the environment: an e-card or a traditional paper card? We have the answer for you in this (not terribly romantic) Question of the Week! Plus, we ask if people still walk in straight lines when they can't see where they're going…
What does it mean when soaps claim to kill 99.99% of germs? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.01.31
Some hand washes claim to kill 99.99% of all germs. What do these advertising slogans really mean? Would two hand washes kill 100 per cent of all germs? Plus, we ask if sending an e-card is really more environmentally friendly than a paper one.
Why does light bend under gravity? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.01.24
Light is supposed to be massless so how is it that gravity makes a beam bend? Plus, we ask what the hand wash adverts mean when they claim to kill 99.9% of known germs.
How does the brain interpret Braille? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.01.17
In this touchy-feely Question of the Week we find out which bits of the brain interpret text and Braille. Are they the same? Plus, we ask how it is that light bends under gravity, even though it's supposed to be massless!
Are humans the only species to drink the milk of another? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 11.01.10
When you think about it, drinking the milk of a cow is a little odd. Are we the only animal in the world that drinks the milk of another species? Why do we drink it anyway? Plus, we ask how Braille is processed in the brain.
What Makes Someone Photogenic? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.12.20
This week we find out why the camera loves some of us and seems to seek revenge on others as we investigate what makes someone photogenic…
Do magnetic bracelets work? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.12.13
If blood is full of iron does that mean magnetic jewellery is good for you? We find out. Plus, we ask if there is any science to being photogenic.
Can I drink through my bottom? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.12.06
Bowels are quite good at absorbing water so why not have a drink through one? Perhaps it's not such a good idea! Find out in this QotW. Plus, we ask if magnetic bracelets actually work.
How fast is the universe expanding? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.11.29
Will the universe expand faster than the speed of light in the future? Is this even possible? Will there be a big crunch at the end? The answer's in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if it's possible to drink through your bottom!
What happens when a caterpillar pupates? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 10.11.22
What happens insides the shell of a chrysalis? Does the caterpillar turn into a protein-y mush or does it simply grow wings? Plus, we ask what happens once the universe has finished expanding.