Episodes

  • What does a percentage chance of rain really mean?

    What does a percentage chance of rain really mean?
    6 Nov 2026
    What's the evidence that vaccines don't cause autism? Can brain oxygen deprivation lead to memory loss? Do babies bond with their dads as much as with their mums? Do parrots socialise like other animals? What does a percentage chance of rain in a weather forecast actually mean? How can we lip-read if we all sound different? Could the floating door in Titanic have supported both Rose and Jack, according to science? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have the answers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    18 min
  • Why the nose knows: how important is smell?

    Why the nose knows: how important is smell?
    30 Oct 2026
    Introducing "Smellyvision": this week, we talk about new tech that transmits smells alongside sounds and pictures, and ask whether smell is our most underrated sense. Also, are Bill Gates' fears that AI will erode our intellect well-founded, and why do some worry it might lead to better biological weapons? Meanwhile, how has Jonathan the giant tortoise lived to almost 200, and how long could a human theoretically survive? And why do scientists seem to say one thing one minute, and then change their minds a week later? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    23 min
  • Is static electricity down to positive or negative charges?

    Is static electricity down to positive or negative charges?
    23 Oct 2026
    Why has everyone got a cold at the moment? How does an elemental diet treat inflammatory bowel disease? How does chlorine clean up drinking water? What is cholera? Can silver sterilise surfaces and water? Is static electricity down to positive or negative charge? What is reverse osmosis water filtering, and why is it controversial? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    21 min
  • Is AI damaging our ability to think for ourselves?

    Is AI damaging our ability to think for ourselves?
    16 Oct 2026
    How do dogs decode human speech? Can they actually understand one another, and do they bark with an accent? Also, do all animals pair for life? Why are biometric fingerprint scanners tricky for older people? And is AI damaging our ability to think for ourselves? Plus, what's the problem with asking AI to solve complex maths puzzles, and can it also help decode what animals are saying? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    20 min
  • Why do we get floaters in our eyes?

    Why do we get floaters in our eyes?
    9 Oct 2026
    Who scooped Nobel Prizes at this year's ceremony in Stockholm? How concerned should we be about AI's impact on society? Why do men have larger Adam's apples? How can we make sure we eat a balanced diet? What causes floaters in your eyes? Is the expanding Universe contracting elsewhere? And is there a new fluoride-free toothpaste gel that rebuilds teeth? Dr Chris Smith and Saskia Falken have the answers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    22 min
  • Do giraffes have the same number of neck bones as humans?

    Do giraffes have the same number of neck bones as humans?
    2 Oct 2026
    Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja explore why it's hard to reach a human in customer service. How did humans migrate from Africa, and can we trace our ancient paths? Why do people and animals have different neck sizes? Can you really hear your heartbeat when your head's on the pillow? Why is swimming in cold water easier than taking a cold shower? Why do your ears block when you yawn or blow your nose? Why don't you notice yourself growing? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    17 min
  • Can curly hair straighten with age?

    Can curly hair straighten with age?
    25 Sep 2026
    Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford discuss the world's hottest creature, why antimatter matters, whether weight-loss pills can cause blindness, and why some birds die when they fly into power cables while others can perch on them with impunity. Then, what are the risks of AI, can curly hair straighten out as we age, and how does hair colour change as we grow up? Plus, whether insects are a good source of protein. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    21 min
  • Where did water come from, and why doesn't it go off?

    Where did water come from, and why doesn't it go off?
    18 Sep 2026
    Can sensors help keep our roads in good shape? If the Earth is round, why aren't the people at the bottom standing upside down? How efficient is the human body? Why can't periods be controlled like going to the bathroom? Do animals have periods too? Where did water come from in the first place, and why doesn't it go off? Dr Chris Smith and Relebogile Mabotja have the answers. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    17 min