Special Editions
Probing the weird, wacky and spectacular, the Naked Scientists Special Editions are special one-off scientific reports, investigations and interviews on cutting-edge topics by the Naked Scientists team.
The Naked Mole Rat
The peculiarities of the naked mole-rat: what can we learn from them? Cambridge University pharmacologist Ewan St John Smith hosts this meeting of Cafe Scientifique, Cambridge, kicking off with an interview about the naked mole rat with Chris Berrow…
David Willetts Speech to the AAAS
Addressing the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2014 meeting in Chicago, David Willetts, UK Minister for Universities and Science, outlines how the special relationship between Britain and the US, coupled with competition and collaboration, is driving discovery and the next generation of technology…
Packing Up a Museum
Moving house is one of life's most stressful events; so imagine packing up 4 million artifacts of a museum collection. That's exactly what they are doing at Cambridge University's museum of Zoology. Harriet Johnson went to find out how they're getting ready for the 3 year project to update and…
ELife Episode 8: Rats won't rat on rats
In this episode of the eLife podcast we discuss ants, rats, sharks and rays, and the pathogen that causes corn smut in maize.
Can we eradicate Polio?
Polio might not have been seen in Britain since the 1980's, but despite worldwide efforts the potentially fatal disease is still endemic in three countries. Kate Lamble caught up with the Director of Immunisation at the Department of Health, Professor David Sailsbury as he visited St Johns college in Cambridge…
ELife Episode 7: Sedatives, Maths and Evolution
In this episode of the eLife Podcast, the growing problem of drug resistance, severe brain damage, sugar versus sweetener, public dilemmas, and the evolution of translation…
Naked Scientists Guide to Genetics
In The Naked Scientists Guide to Genetics, Simon Bishop explores some common genetics terms, meets a creature from the depths of the sea floor, and befriends a family of fancy rats! The terms DNA, genes, chromosomes and inheritance are explored PLUS are humans really 50% banana? Music featured: Adventure, Darling…
ELife Episode 6: Bacteria and Rheumatoid Arthritis
In this episode of the eLife podcast we discuss doing protein crystallography with electrons, the di…
#genes2shape: Asymmetry... in snails
Recorded at the 2013 Genetics Society Autumn Meeting 'From Genes to Shape', Simon Bishop meets Harr…
From obesity to drought tolerance
Recorded at the 2013 Genetics Society Autumn Meeting 'From Genes to Shape', Simon Bishop meets Marco…
Afghanistan on the brain
The mental scars left after trauma and how ecstasy can help treat post traumatic stress disorder (PT…
A weather forecast, for the dinosaurs
Could plankton hold the key to understanding ancient climate conditions? New research suggests ocean…
Bodyguard drugs and TB
Tuberculosis is a major world problem, but extremely difficult to treat - vaccines are toxic to huma…
ELife Episode 5: Human Sperm, Gut Bugs and Decomposition
In this issue of the eLife podcast we discuss how chimpanzees use conceptual metaphors, the hyperact…
Packing plants with eco energy
Super energy-rich biofuels could soon be possible because of new research, dramatically reducing the…
How important are the microorganisms all around us?
Dr. Jack Gilbert explains some of the surprising effects that microorganisms can have on our lives…
Diagnosing Emerging Disorders
How do you look for the cause of a brand new medical problem? Simon Bishop speaks to Professor David…
Stopping HIV Spread
HIV attacks the immune system, invading one type of cell called a CD4 lymphocyte. The virus encourag…
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Conservation
One of Perth, Western Australia's best-loved and most striking birds - the red-tailed black cockato…
ELife Episode 4: Undead Cells
In this issue of the eLife podcast we discuss how flatworms can grow new heads and tails, how photos…