

The Naked Scientists Podcast
The Naked Scientists
The Naked Scientists flagship science show brings you a lighthearted look at the latest scientific breakthroughs, interviews with the world's top scientists, answers to your science questions and science experiments to try at home.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 9, 2025 • 31min
Titans of Science: Paul Davies
Titans of Science is all about showcasing science superstars making huge breakthroughs and giant leaps foward in their scientific realms. In this episode, we turn the telescope around around to consider the extremely strange effects that kick in when physics shrinks down to the atomic scale. We are, of course, taking a tour through the world of quantum mechanics, and our guide is the physicist, writer and broadcaster Paul Davies. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 5, 2025 • 28min
Facial recognition tech, and Russia destroys launchpad
Coming up, we explore the UK's plans to rollout facial recognition technology. Is it a bold move to catch violent criminals, or scientific and ethical overreach? Also, why volcanic eruptions may have aided the spread of the second wave of the Black Death in Europe, what caused damage to Russia's space launchpad in Kazakhstan, and whether bacteria can help us build habitats on Mars. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 2, 2025 • 30min
Titans of Science: Georgina Long
The Naked Scientists welcome the return of a new series of Titans of Science, where the world's scientific, medical, and technological pioneers tell us about the significance of their work. Today's episode features Georgina Long, the director of the Melanoma Institute Australia, who has used groundbreaking techniques to overcome the disease. Melanoma is a type of cancer that is particularly common in Georgina's homeland, and she has been telling Chris Smith how her work has made her one of Australia's most recognisable scientists... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 28, 2025 • 29min
Prostate cancer screening, and DNA building blocks in Bennu
On this week's news podcast, the former UK prime minister, David Cameron, calls for prostate cancer screening following his diagnosis. But does it really help to know you have the disease? Also, we find out about the DNA composition of the carbon-rich asteroid Bennu, the underlying cause of Santorini's recent earthquakes, and scientists discover where domestic cats came from... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 25, 2025 • 33min
New ways to combat the Antibiotic Apocalypse
Today, synthetic bacteriophages, a breakthrough vaccine for TB, and how unpicking the pathways used to make antibiotics are helping scientists to combat rising rates of antimicrobial resistance around the world... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 21, 2025 • 31min
Small modular reactors for Wales, and moss survives in space
In the news, why the UK appears to be betting big on small modular nuclear reactors. Also, Iran seeds the skies in bid to end its worst drought in decades. And moss grows fat on a rolling stone - but a new study claims it can survive in space. We'll explore the significance. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 18, 2025 • 32min
A climate COP out?
Today, we're analysing the COP30 conference in Brazil, asking whether the will to tackle climate change is drying up. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 14, 2025 • 28min
Flu season starts early, and staving off hungry seagulls
Virologist Ed Hutchinson discusses the alarming early spread of H3N2 and the effectiveness of this year's vaccines against severe outcomes. Consultant neonatologist Topper Nostin introduces an innovative 'swim cap' for less invasive brain monitoring in newborns, promising earlier interventions. Engineer Martin Unwin explains how two small HydroGNSS satellites will map Earth's water cycle using reflected GNSS signals. Lastly, behavioral researcher Niltje Bugat reveals how gulls respond to angry versus calm voices, suggesting a new, harmless way to deter these pesky birds.

Nov 11, 2025 • 32min
80 years of nuclear weapons
In this edition of The Naked Scientists, we go nuclear, and explore the science and politics of weapons of mass destruction... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 7, 2025 • 30min
Vaping rates surge, and space race to deliver economic boon
In this edition of The Naked Scientists: Among British people vapers now outnumber smokers for the first time. From Big Bang to Big Crunch - the new theory showing the expansion of the Universe might be slowing down. And, evidence that our early ancestors, three million years ago, may have excelled at DIY!Linda - So these are the annual population survey statistics from the Office for National Statistics that look at smoking, it was the main focus, so smoking in the UK but also vaping behaviour. And we see that for the first time the proportion of people aged 16 and older who vape is higher... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists


