

Ask the Naked Scientists
Dr Chris Smith
How many organs could you donate and remain alive? How many planet Earths could fit inside the Sun? How high is a giraffe's blood pressure? Why is the sea blue? To find out, Ask The Naked Scientists!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 24, 2025 • 22min
Are satellites safe from terrorist attacks?
What happens to helium balloons that float away? Are satellites safe from terrorist attacks? Why does the truth hurt? Why does some poo float after flushing? Are there any treatments for tinnitus? Do headphones contribute to tinnitus? What are restless legs? What is the best way to regulate cortisol levels? Why does the body wake us up to wee? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Oct 17, 2025 • 23min
For a short time, I forgot who I was. What happened?
Why does La Nina cause more rainfall in South Africa? How can we keep our skin moist without buying products? Is it possible to be averse to iron in your diet? What causes hot flushes during the menopause? What could cause a potential iron taste in my mouth? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Oct 10, 2025 • 21min
Are women really more nurturing?
It's another jam-packed episode of Ask the Naked Scientist, illuminating listener questions - in all their usual, rich variety - with fascinating scientific explanations. What do we know about the latest interstellar objects to pass through our Solar System? Is having a great memory all upside? Why does eating pineapple hurt the inside of your mouth? Do waves really come in sets of seven? Does silver have antibiotic properties? Is there a limit to the number of pop songs that can be written? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Oct 3, 2025 • 22min
How is it possible to have 2 different eye colours?
In this episode of Ask the Naked Scientist: is it possible to teleport atoms? Does garlic repel mosquitoes? What is vaginal thrush? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sep 26, 2025 • 20min
Can spicy food make your ear itch?
In today's episode of Ask! Dr Chris answers: why do some people attract more mosquitoes than others? Is there a link between sweating and sour tastes? What causes nasal polyps to form in the nose? Is Covid still around? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sep 19, 2025 • 21min
Why do my wife's eyes light up when she sees me?
In this episode of Ask, if the universe is expanding, what's it expanding into? What's the relationship between descended testes and the chance of having children? Why does more urine come out when I stand rather than sit on the loo? How do surgeons join the cut ends of a colon together? At what age is it suitable to start taking creatine supplements? Why do I wake up in the middle of the night? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sep 12, 2025 • 23min
Why do we dislike the sound of our own voices?
On Ask! the Naked Scientist this week: What led to the 'leopard spots' found on Mars? What is the purpose of finger and toe nails? How do bone conduction headphones work? Why do non-magnetic metals sometimes interact with magnetic objects? What role did our teeth play in our evolution? What's the cause of my unintended weight loss? Could astronauts create an environment for life on Mars? What's wrong with a pear shape? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sep 5, 2025 • 14min
How can you control your phobias?
Is it dangerous to have floaters in your eye? Can you power a lamp with your mouth? Are nations in the global north more innovative than nations in the global south? How can you control your phobias? How do leap years come about? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Aug 29, 2025 • 22min
Why does sex make you sleepy?
Curious about the mysteries of sleep? Discover why sex can make you drowsy, exploring its physiological and evolutionary roots. Ever wondered why half-filled ice trays freeze faster? Unpack that quirky science alongside the strange sensations of scratching itches and what makes nicotine addictive. Plus, dive into the biology of blood types and unravel the myths surrounding statins for heart health. There's even a peek at Earth's magnetic shifts and why we only see one side of the moon!

Aug 22, 2025 • 22min
Are there fragments of insects in chocolate?
Dr Chris answers listener questions including: do men and women have an equal chance of getting sports injuries? What health benefits can a sugar free diet bring? Why does my sock shift around my foot at night? How should we navigate testosterone levels in women's sport? How can we treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Is 'biowater' a marketing gimmick? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists


