Ask the Naked Scientists

Dr Chris Smith
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Mar 8, 2014 • 21min

Does wet coal produce less power?

Can weather be manipulated? Will wet coal produce less electricity in a power station? Why does curry make my nose run? Is aluminium linked to Alzheimer's? Is it better to drink warm water? Who lives near the Chernobyl site? This week Dr Chris answers more questions from 702ers, and, in the light of the Oscar Pistorius case, considers the reliability of memory... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Feb 28, 2014 • 21min

Can a phone affect my fertility?

Can a mobile phone between the legs affect fertility? Why does wet cornflour stiffen when squeezed? Does light at night affect reproductive success of local animals? Can animals smell fear? And what actually is IQ? Plus, Dr Chris explores how animals are evolving in response to the influence of humans... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Feb 21, 2014 • 22min

What causes a blood red moon?

The cause of a blood red moon, is there an upper limits for temperature, where does the Sun's hydrogen come from, what does a blind person see in their mind's eye, and are e-cigarettes safer? Join Dr Chris Smith as he tackles the top questions sent in to Talk Radio 702... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Feb 7, 2014 • 20min

Where does dust come from?

How does acid produce stem cells? Why do carpets creep across the floor? Where does dust come from? Why can't flying insects escape from the surfaces of swimming pools? Do women multitask better than men? What is andogenic alopecia? Do we sneeze when we are asleep? What's special about graphene? And is nutritional data on food labels reliable? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Jan 31, 2014 • 24min

What accelerates light?

How does light accelerate in a less-dense medium? How do climbing plants twist around a stake? Did people share technology 5000 years ago? Why would stainless steel rust? And why does mango chutney make my underarms smell after I've eaten it? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Jan 24, 2014 • 22min

Would a swimmer hit by lightning be fried?

What's the difference between GM technology and cloning? If lightning hits a swimming pool, would a swimmer be fried? What happens when we get used to smells? Why does beetroot make urine red? Why do I stick out my tongue to concentrate? Where does the water in comets come from? What are the products of fuel combustion? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Jan 10, 2014 • 15min

How do you size-up a CME?

How is the scale of a coronal mass ejection (CME) measured? How does evolution work? Why is sole and palm skin a lighter colour? What causes magnetic field flips? What are blood groups and do animals have their own blood groups? Join Dr Chris for this week's crop of questions from Talk Radio 702, South Africa... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Jan 6, 2014 • 27min

Ask the Naked Scientists is BACK!

How trees tell the time, the germ potential of hot air driers in toilets, where fruit flies come from, does menstruation synchronise, why do mad people tend to run along roads, why is smoking addictive and why should a 7-year old have underarm odour? Join Dr Chris for the first Ask! outing of 2014... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Dec 20, 2013 • 16min

Do plants have sex?

Plant and tree gender, omega-3 fatty acids and cancer and the science of sous vide cooking... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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Oct 11, 2013 • 21min

Why pulling nose hairs makes you cry?

Why tugging on nasal hairs causes crying? What triggers static shocks? Why are computers based around binary? What are blood groups? How can babies have 3 parents? Why is yawning contagious? What happens to excess skin when a person slims? When is a hot bath too hot? Why are some infections more common in winter? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

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