

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 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

Aug 15, 2025 • 22min
Why is it so important to finish a course of antibiotics?
Dr Chris is back to answer listener questions. Why do cat's eyes reflect bright colours? What are the short, high pitched ringing noises that can sometimes be heard? What causes Bell's palsy? Will botox help keep my eyelid up? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Aug 1, 2025 • 18min
Do animals feel fear?
Do animals feel fear the same way that we do? Do diet supplements boost your immune systems? Can using phones and headphones change the shape of your body? Why don't birds get electrocuted on pylons? Is the northern hemisphere more 'innovative' than the south? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jul 25, 2025 • 22min
Will our universe keep on growing?
Dr Chris takes on more listener questions. Including: is Chinese medicine separate from Western medicine? Why do we sometimes cry in response to feelings of sadness and joy? Why do I have a blotch in my vision after looking directly at a light source? Why do kids cry when they get injured, but adults less so? What happens if I scratch a mosquito bite? What is the relationship between science and religion. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists