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...
Meteoric Life Forms - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 09.01.12
Meteorites, dust and other space rubbish is falling to Earth all the time, but does any of it ever contain life? We find out if aliens hitch a lift on space rubble in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how does wood become petrified? Can it happen quickly…
Having your Cake and Eating it All - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.12.22
If you're given an excess of chocolate or sweets as a present, is it better for you to wolf them all down in a huge binge, or just eat a few each day to make them last? We find out what to do with your chocolate haul in this Question…
Tryptophan and Turkey - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.12.15
What is tryptophan, and does Turkey really make you sleepy? We find out in this seasonal Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if you should scoff down all of your Christmas chocolates in one go, or make them last all winter?
What Makes Us Laugh? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.12.08
What is it that makes us laugh? We find out what makes us giggle and keeps stand up comedians in work! Plus, we ask if eating Turkey really makes you sleepy…
Psychopaths and Lie Detectors - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.12.01
Could a psychopath pass a lie detector test, if they felt no remorse for their crimes? We find out if the technology is up to finding the truth in this Question of the Week. Plus, what is it that makes us laugh? Find out how to excersise your giggle muscle…
Helium Balloons on the Moon - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.24
In this Question of the Week, we learn the correct etiquette for attending a birthday party on the Moon - Should you bring a helium balloon, or will it just be a let down? Plus, we ask if people who do not feel remorse can trick a lie detector test…
The Beasts Who Barbeque - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.17
Are we the only animals who cook our food? Why do we need to cook, and if it's so good, why haven't other animals joined us at the barbeque? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if a helium balloon would float on the moon…
Wiping Away the Human Race - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.10
If the human race were to become spontaneously extinct, how long would it take for all evidence of us to be wiped from the planet Earth? Will there be evidence of human activity forever, or will we disappear without a trace. Find out in this Question of the Week, where…
The Speed of Time - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.03
Why does time seem to go quicker as we age? It seems that the longer we live, the shorter the days seem to be. Paradoxically, sometimes the hours drag by while the weeks fly past! We find out why in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how long…
A Better Balanced Bicycle - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.27
Where should you put your bags to best balance your bike? Will groceries on the handlebars waste your pedal power, or will paniers on the back pull you backwards? We find out in this Question of the Week and also ask why time seems to go faster as you get…
Better Battery Life - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.20
How do you get the best out of your batteries? Should you discharge them completely, or keep them permanently topped up? We find out in this Question of the Week! Plus, we ask where is the best place to balance bags on your bike - will one position make better…
Repeat Listening - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.13
Why do songs, even those you hate, sound better the more you hear them? We find out why familiarity can defeat contempt in this Question of the Week, and ask if you should let your batteries run down completely to get the best performance…
Do Animals have Blood Groups? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.06
Why do we have different blood groups, such as A, B, O and rhesus positive or negative? Do animals have blood groups? If so, are they the same as humans, or do they have their own? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why songs…
Elderly Eyebrows - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.29
Why do eyebrows and other bodily hair grow out of control as we get older? We find out why we develop a post-retirement facial forest in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why humans have blood types, and if any animals share this blood system with us…
How do Smells Travel Underwater? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.22
Sharks seem to smell blood underwater from miles away in mere seconds - but how fast do smells really travel underwater? We find out in this Question of the Week, and ask why eyebrow hair gets out of control as we age…
Glow in the Dark Danger - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.15
Are Glow-in-the-Dark watches a radiation hazard? Should you store your best timepiece in a lead lined box? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how smells travel underwater, and how a shark can smell a drop of blood in an entire ocean…
Running out of Memory - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.08
Does our memory have a limited capacity? In this Question of the Week, we'll find out if learning something new pushes out old information and why your brain needs a regular workout. We'll also ask whether glow in the dark watches give off dangerous radiation and should be kept in…
Do We Drink Dinosaur Drinks? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.29
Do we drink the same water that dinosaurs drank? Has your water passed through the countless bladders of the past? In this Question of the Week, we find out if our drinking water has been repeatedly recycled. We also ask if the human brain has a limited capacity, and if…
Who Wants to Live Forever? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.21
How old is the oldest organism? In this Question of the Week we find out if any organism has found the secret of eternal life, and can truly live forever. Plus, we ask if all the water on Earth has been drunk before, and how much data can our brain…
Breathing Without Lungs? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.14
How does the Bornean Flat-Headed Frog breathe when it has no lungs? No, it's not a bad joke, it's our Question of the Week! We find out how this marvellous little frog survives, and ask if any animals live forever, and if the water we drink today was once drunk…