
5 Live Science Podcast
5 Live's science podcast, featuring Dr Chris and Naked Scientists with the hottest science news stories and analysis.
Latest episodes

Nov 20, 2022 • 51min
Your questions answered, including: how do black holes work?
Dr Chris Smith and a panel of experts answer your science questions. Including: why the Neanderthal in us might alter our susceptibility to Covid 19, how black holes work, and why do we run a temperature when we get ill?

Nov 13, 2022 • 52min
Long Covid
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs. This week: How researchers are growing new blood in the lab, and the scientists planning for potential alien communications. We also look at long covid, what exactly is it, and is it possible to treat?

Nov 6, 2022 • 52min
What happens to our bodies when the clocks change?
Chris Berrow, Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.In today’s programme: A new way of tackling epilepsy, does birdsong really make you feel calmer, and we hear from scientists fight the fungus that’s targeting bananas.
Plus we find out what happens to our bodies when the clocks change.

Oct 30, 2022 • 52min
We See Monsters!
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs, including:The new health survey calling on 5 million Brits to improve disease detection.Bees shock scientists studying electricity generated by their buzzing!And can gaming boost cognition in youngsters?Plus...the decommissioned oil rig-turned art installation: we’ve been to “See Monster” in Weston-super-Mare!Get the podcast from the BBC Sounds app..

Oct 23, 2022 • 27min
Cancer accomplices and lost fishing nets.
Dr. Chris Smith updates you with the latest science news, including how cancer cells can use bacteria as accomplices, and surprising statistics on the amount of fishing equipment lost at sea. Plus capturing carbon underground, and an examination of the culture and history of Neanderthals through their DNA.

Oct 16, 2022 • 52min
Fract or Fiction: We drill down into the science of fracking
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs. Will fracking solve the energy crisis? Exoboots to aid walking, and spotting Alzheimer's earlier.

Oct 9, 2022 • 42min
Science Nobel Winners
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.In today’s programme: A rundown on this week’s science Nobel prizes, why paracetamol might cause behavioural problems in children born to mums who used the drug in pregnancy, and the spacecraft which crashed into an asteroid on purpose!Get the podcast from the BBC Sounds app.

Oct 9, 2022 • 41min
A rundown of the Nobel Prizes
Dr Chris Smith looks at the Nobel Prizes, paracetamol and the spacecraft that crashed into an asteroid.

Sep 25, 2022 • 51min
How many calories are there in a brain?
The mailbag was bulging, so we dived in to answer your science questions this week. Including how many calories you'd find in a human brain, why methane's a worse greenhouse gas than CO2, and the claim that MI5 phoned up the makers of a James Bond movie for advice on making a special agent gadget.

Sep 18, 2022 • 52min
Dealing with Dogma
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs. In today’s programme: the plastic that sterilises itself, and why sweeteners are worse for you than sugar.Plus we look at scientific dogmas and find out how to mentally immune yourself so you don’t fall for dodgy data.
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