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...
Raining Into Space - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.06.15
We ask if the Earth rains outwards and loses water to space! Plus, how does laundry detergent target stains but avoid dyes?
Safest Sites for Asteroid Impact - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.06.08
Where would be the best place for an asteroid to strike the Earth? Would deep ocean, land or polar ice cap be the least destructive? We weigh up the options on this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if the Earth leaks water into space.
Sunflowers Doing the Twist - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.06.01
We find out how sunflowers follow the sun as it moves from east to west and whether the bloomshave the same attraction to the moon. Plus, we ask where the best place would be for an asteroid to land.
Will the Dumb Out-Breed the Clever? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.05.25
This week, we ask if the human race is evolving to be less intelligent, as those with more education tend to delay breeding and have fewer children. Plus, we ask how sunflowers follow the Sun, and whether they re-set overnight!
Waggle Dance Evolution - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.05.18
How did the waggle dance - the complex dance that honeybees use to describe the whereabouts of good food - evolve in small steps? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask where human evolution is taking us…
Jumbo Aerobatics - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.05.11
This week's question jet propels us into the blue skies thinkingon passenger jet manoeuvrability. Can a large airliner perform barrel rolls and loops? We also ask, how did bee dances come about?
Night Time Weight Loss - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.05.04
In this Question of the Week, we ask if the positions of the Sun and Moon influence your weight - Is night time your light time, what do you weigh at midday? Diana O'Carroll finds out. Plus, we ask if it's possible to do aerobatic stunts in large passenger aircraft!
Can Magnets Descale Your Pipes? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.04.27
In this Question of the Week, we find out if a magnetic field can stop pipes from clogging up with limescale? Many manufacturers would like us to believe that simply clamping a magnet to your plumbing is all you need for clean, free flowing water, but is the science on…
How do Fish Sleep? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.04.20
As they can't close their eyes, how do fish sleep? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if magnetism can really stop limescale from sticking to your pipes…
Deadly Snakes - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.03.30
This Question of the Week is about getting to the root of toxic snake bites. Why do Aussie snakes have such a venomous reputation? Plus, we ask what goldfish get up to at night…
Chameleon Food - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.03.22
In this week's QotW we find out what food to eat if you want to turn orange. Plus, we ask why Australian snakes are, on the whole, moretoxic than their global counterparts.
Growing a Winter Fur Coat - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.03.16
On this Question of the Week, we ask if humans grow a winter coat, and then moult in the winter, as so many other furry animals do? Plus, if Flamingoes are pink because of their diet, can we eat to change colour?
The Biology Of Burns - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.03.09
In this Question of the Week, we discover the biological basis of burns - just what does happen to your cells when you touch something hot? Plus, we ask if humans undergo seasonal moulting - do we lose more hair when it's warmer?
Google Power - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.03.02
This week, we search our own databanks to find out how much energy it takes to search for something on Google. Plus, we ask what happens at a molecular level when we touch a hot object…
The Many Shapes of Leaves - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.02.23
In this special Question of the Week, we explore the reasons why trees, even when closely related an in the same environment, can have such diverse leaf shapes. Plus, we ask how much energy it takes to search the internet for answers!
Musical Milk - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.02.16
Why should milk 'change it's tune' when it's being steamed? In this Question of the Week, we find out why the sound of steaming milk changes abruptly at around 60C (140F), and invite you to consider Sir David Attenborough's question for next week…
Wearable Robots - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.02.09
Could a robotic suit make a ballerina out of a buffoon? Could technology allow ordinary people to perform extraordinary tasks? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why milk seems to be so musical - why does the sound of milk being steamed seem to…
Spit and Polish - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.02.02
How does spit make your shoes so shiny? A good polish needs more than just elbow grease, it needs your saliva too! We find out in this Question of the Week, and ask if it's possible to build a suit that lets you dance like a ballerina?
Counting Without Counting - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.01.26
You can instantly tell if there are three objects on a table, but if there are twenty, you would need to count them to be sure. Why can we spot the small groups without having to count, and how big does the group have to be for us to get…
Fossilised Fence Posts - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.01.19
Petrified wood is a type of fossil, but some claim to have seen wooden fence posts that have already become petrified. Is it scientifically possible for wood to fossilise in such a short period? We ask how petrified wood is formed, and what exactly does it consist of? Plus, you…