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Question of the Week, from the Naked Scientists — 637 episodes
Is 10,000 steps a one-goal-fits-all?
Why can't I do that 11th press-up?
How does the UV filter in sun cream work?
Will heat pumps make cities cooler?
What leads a guided missile to its target?
How do gravitational waves keep their energy?
Why do leaves change colour at different rates?
Are snakes tamed by breast milk?
What happens to celebratory bullets?
What would you find at the centre of Saturn or Jupiter?
Do recent experiments prove a quantum interpretation?
Can a dog and a fox produce viable offspring?
How are our cells different at the genetic level?
Will AI help to reduce environmental harms?
Can nuclear reactors power Mars missions and our towns?
How do you catch Lyme disease?
Will green technology stop climate change?
How long does a lap of the water cycle take?
Why do clouds move in a different direction to the wind?
Do photons have a size?
How much brain capacity do our senses take up?
Do lower oxygen levels in planes contribute to jet lag?
Why hasn't light from the earliest galaxies gone past us?
What happens when you are injected with your own stem cells?
How would the world differ if we rotated the landmass?
How would an AI converse with another AI?
Could the measles virus treat autoimmune diseases?
How do some animals understand human commands?
How do animals adapt to a changing magnetic field?
Do we know what the Wow! signal was?
Should elderly people use trampolines?
Is it safe to burn plastic?
Does thalidomide alter DNA?
How do skin creams penetrate the skin?
Why does the distribution of lactose intolerance vary?
If I hadn't had any vaccinations, would I be here?
How does the sun stay burning in space?
Can bone conduction headphones damage your hearing?
What will happen to petrol when we all drive electric cars?
Did chewing gum cause my tinnitus?
Why might dreams change at altitude?
What was the global ocean like at the time of Pangea?
Can we harness nuclear energy without steam?
How long does it take to create a galaxy?
How do parasites know they are in the right place?
Why are plane and boat propellers in different places?
Why do geese honk while flying in formation?
Are multi cancer screening tests worth the money?
Could man have thrived if dinosaurs still roamed?
What is the spread of chemical isotopes on other planets?
Do spiders have to learn how to make their webs?
When I scratch part of my body, why do I tingle elsewhere?
Do snails get dizzy?
Can dead animals poison the food chain?
Do wind farms have an effect on the weather?
Is there a cure for musical anhedonia?
What is the shutter speed of our eyes?
What if the Moon had never formed?
Why does spider silk feel so weird?
What are the carbon emissions of wildfires?
Do I need to keep taking probiotics continuously?
If the Universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?
What is the smell when it's raining?
Can we extract DNA from fossils?
What makes up the space when subatomic particles move?
Do plants get cancer from UV light?
Are there stars outside of galaxies?
Why are wind turbine blades shaped the way they are?
Is maths the easiest school subject to remember?
Why do we need to keep replacing our cells?
What kills an unused car battery?
What is responsible for a coffee's foam?
Are the laws of physics consistent around the universe?
Why does some plastic lose its flexibility over time?
Could we make ourselves disgusting to mosquitoes?
Can a "random" action ever be exactly replicated?
What language do the profoundly deaf think in?
How far can electrons get away from their atom?
Will eating sugary foods last avert glucose spikes?
Why do babies have such a strong grip?
How did the ancient Romans multiply their numerals together?
Why do radiators have two sides?
Do you ever run out of sperm?
Could I undergo a full body transplant?
Do volcanoes or farts contribute to climate change?
Would wearing mirrors keep me cool?
How has sex education evolved?
How languages evolve
Why might stollen go floppy in the toaster?
Why might cataract surgery affect biometric logins?
Who cooked the food in the Palaeolithic?
Could we turn space junk into a moonbase?
What if Santa didn't have magical reindeer?
Could you destroy Jupiter with enough nukes?
What is a black hole made up of?
Why does my nose run in cold weather?
How healthy are seeds?
Why isn't it possible to go faster than light?
What's the magnifying strength of my marble?
Could you deflect a laser around the Moon?
Why are there salty and fresh bodies of water?
Am I manufacturing a mosquito master race?
How did people in the past find water?
Why don't new species suffer inbreeding problems?
Why are car wing mirrors so attractive to spiders?
Will tattoos protect skin from sun damage?
Can you freeze hot water faster than cold water?
What are the odds of this lyrical coincidence?
Could you time travel to before the Big Bang?
Can animals catch Covid?
Why does sugar dissolve faster in hot liquid?
Why does my right brain control my left side?
Are rockets contributing to climate change?
Do all whales come from the same ancestor?
Do tennis players have favourite balls?
How do we track lightning strikes?
What decides where nipples are on mammals?
Could a time traveller start a pandemic?
Can gas be compressed into a solid?
How do we reduce emissions from fertilisers?
How quickly does evolution work?
Why do we think clearer after taking a break?
Why are black holes at the centre galaxies?
Should I drink cola after swimming in river?
How can drugs change our salt concentration?
Can cat and dog poop be used as fertiliser?
How dangerous is an explosion on the moon?
Why are fridges difficult to quickly reopen?
Can cargo X-ray scanners damage electronics?
How does email and texting affect our brain?
Why can't some people smell certain plants?
Can acid remove a spring's potential energy?
Can the Earth's rotation make electricity?
Does a phone weigh more after charging it?
Why do electric car batteries wear out?
How can we identify a diseased gene?
Does relativity affect the age of moon rocks?
Why does an itch move when you scratch it?
Can internal voices be influenced by accents?
Does the moon affect student behaviour?
How do we clean the Hubble Telescope mirror?
How do we clean the Hubble Telescope mirror?
Why Do Stars Twinkle?
Why can't I sleep when my feet are cold?
Why do ant bites hurt so much?
How do we prevent space collisions?
Is dark matter in lumps or like sand grains?
Do shop or garden tomatoes produce more CO2?
How is eye colour passed down?
Would a body left in space decompose?
Why do we keep catching the same diseases?
Do frogs get itchy?
What happens to light's lost energy?
How long before the food I eat becomes 'me'?
What proportion of the brain stores memory?
Why do ladybirds have varying spot numbers?
Is lava wet?
Why don't dogs get hairballs when cats do?
If heat rises, why is it colder up mountains?
Could bagpipes help you recover after Covid?
Why do crocodiles have such bumpy skin?
Will a can in the ocean float or be crushed?
Is every snowflake unique?
Can overcooking junk food make it healthy
Can dog wee dissolve rubber tyres?
Can flies survive the winter?
How do ZIP files work?
Why are electrons never in between orbitals?
Why do chillies stay on your hands?
How did varying chromosome numbers evolve?
Do animals get bored eating the same food?
Why aren't all batteries rechargeable?
How can you make normal TV look 3D?
What are the impacts of an aristocrat's diet?
How would a foetus develop in zero gravity?
When will we run out of music?
Why do some people shiver when they pee?
If Earth were heavier, would rockets work?
Can you get DNA from crematorium ashes?
Is sourdough bread a healthy option?
Why are sperm made below body temperature?
Compost or landfill: which emits more CO2?
Could loud music deafen my dog?
How many people could share my surname?
What time should I water my plants?
How do bats roost upside down?
Which water is better: hard or soft?
Do insects have a stress response?
Why does anxious sweat smell worse?
How would you measure time when in space?
Why do I need to pee more nearer the loo?
Why do particles gather in a bucket's centre?
Do our brains process sound or light faster?
Does burying paper sequester carbon?
Should you wash, rinse, and repeat?
Why do hospitals need so much PPE?
Why does coffee dissolve so fast?
How alike are the kids of identical twins?
Why aren't planes dimpled like golf balls?
Could saponins help fight coronavirus?
Has life changed on the ISS due to COVID-19?
How do electrons flow in electric current?
Do we all have the same skin sensitivity?
How do C-section babies get their microbiome?
Can frogs survive in a sealed terrarium?
How much power can we get out of fusion?
Are big dogs smarter than small dogs?
Should I be microwaving my kitchen sponges?
Can a weak immune system worsen sunburn?
Will the poles switching cause problems?
Why don't women's bodies reject sperm?
QotW - Why does my phone coverage vary?
What is the best way to heat my home?
QotW - Do hairs grow out grey, or turn grey?
Why isn't sea level rise the same worldwide?
Do mosquitoes prefer certain blood types?
Why does my watery windscreen turn to ice?
Could you eat a dinosaur?
Will SpaceX's satellites clog up the sky?
When should you refrigerate cooked chicken?
Can fingernails stop rhino poaching?
Why does pasta water boil over?
Why is wildlife around Chernobyl thriving?
Will climate change affect monsoons?
QoTW: Can you tell if its sunrise or sunset?
Can a huskys fur keep it cool in summer?
Can a transfusion change your blood type?
Do candles really clear nasty smells?
How long after eating is that carbon exhaled?
How to see faint stars
Can purple carrots turn your skin purple?
Why do socks disappear in the wash?
Effect of ethanol on brain?
Why can some people imitate accents?
Why do candles smoke and smell?
QotW - What language do deaf people think in?
Do plants eat dirt?
Why doesnt old soap make suds effectively?
What happens to bubbles in space?
Can dogs recognise each other as dogs?
How do you fly in a hurricane?
When did we become modern day humans?
How do wombats produce cube-shaped poo?
Is second hand smoke more dangerous than smoking a cigarette?
Why do I feel the pressure of wellies in water?
Why is Blu-Tack sticky?
Could we terraform the Moon?
Do wild animals get allergies?
Are there more stars in the sky or grains of sand on the earth?
How do Non-Stick Pans Work?
What is the minimum land area required to sustain one human being?
Brain Response to Audiobooks
Why do humans get bored?
How do astronauts weigh things in space?
Could We Eat Alien Life?
Why does my nose drip in cold weather?
How does size affect death from falling?
Do lobsters feel pain?
Is it better to walk or run in the cold?
Why does fresh pasta rise during cooking?
Do fish yawn?
Could a space rocket be launched from a gun?
Why do people pick their noses?
What happens if your car is struck by lightning?
How long can we survive for without a head?
Is it safe to live near a cell phone tower?
Are flies easier to swat if you move slowly?
Does cooking remove alcohol?
How smart is your pet dog?
Why Do Clothes Dry Below 100 Degrees Celsius?
Could green humans harvest energy from the sun?
Does washing dishes leave toxic detergent residue on plates?
Can Anti-Noise Silence A Highway?
Why Warm up Muscles?
Can we exercise our brain to improve at difficult tasks?
Why do musical instruments sound different when playing the same note?
What sound does a falling missile make?
Why are blue lights harder to see?
Whats the most efficient way to run up steps?
Can mosquitoes transmit HIV?
When should I replace my bulbs with LEDs?
How Does My Tea Become Pee?
Could we see into the past?
How did birds survive the dinosaur mass extinction?
Why are the poles north-south?
Do Ants Feel Pain?
What Would Peeing on the Moon Look Like?
Why doesn't water burn?
Why does a broken magnets form two new ones?
Can light exert a force to move an object?
How much younger would you be after 50 years on Jupiter?
Does regular hand soap kill germs?
Could nuclear testing cause earthquakes?
Do animals experience the placebo effect?
Why does line drying make clothes rough?
Can we unlearn something that we have already learned?
If we slice the earth in half what would it look like from space?
Why does our stomach grumble when we are hungry?
How did the moon get its markings?
Did the cavemen have names?
How do octopus camouflage?
How do noise cancelling headphones work?
How does cooking affect digestion?
Could we recognise a message from space?
How fast can an elevator go?
Why does spicy food make me hiccup?
Can two planets share the same orbit?
Do humans have pheromones?
Why do mosquitoes prefer some people over others?
Why is space so cold?
Why do our voices sound different in our heads?
Why do people have such a variety of appearances?
Why do people get bags under their eyes?
What causes sleepwalking?
If polar bears were transported to Antarctica, would they thrive?
What would happen if I plucked a guitar in space?
How can I stop a runny nose?
Why do we go bald on our heads?
Why do we like looking at views?
Are zombies feasible?
What wind speed does it take to tip a lorry?
Why do power lines make so much noise?
Why is gooseberry jam red when gooseberries are green?
Why do we make mistakes during repetitive tasks?
Why do we have toenails?
Why does music sound happy or sad?
Where are we within the universe?
How many people do you need to avoid inbreeding in a population
What are wormholes?
How much of a wheat field do I need to make one loaf of bread?
What's the most expensive element on Earth?
Are fingerprints unique?
Why does the immune system not attack foetuses?
Can I land on gassy planets like Jupiter?
How do black boxes work?
How are robotic voices generated?
Why are ripe pears juicer?
Can cheese give you nightmares?
Eels: A source of electricity?
What parasites can I catch from my pets?
Why do I urinate more in the cold?
Are smartphones changing our brains?
Does same-sex attraction happen in animals too?
Why does petrol create a rainbow on water?
Can we vacuum up the plastics in our oceans?
Is it tiring to dream you're awake?
Do we really need vitamins?
What causes the Earth's plates to move?
Can you catch a yawn from a cat?
Will flights ever get faster?
What would happen if you were swallowed by a whale?
Why is my Movember moustache grey?
How will life end on Earth?
Why do leaves turn red in autumn?
How can I avoid being struck by lightning?
How many people have lived on Earth?
How does self cleaning glass work?
What makes a good password?
What happens if a bee gets lost?
Can we use solar panels in space?
Do emotional and pain-induced tears differ?
Music: a concentration aid or complete distraction?
Can humans spontaneously combust?
How much of my body can I live without?
Is warp speed possible?
What does your sneeze say about your personality?
Can eating sweets stop brain fatigue?
Are cremated ashes good for plant growth?
Is there an antimatter planet out there?
Which painkiller should I use?
What is fire and how does it burn?
Why am I so tired and bored in the office?
Man v Machine
Is technology steering human evolution?
Is elevator style travel across Earth possible?
Does Lightning Fry Fish?
Can a brain scan tell if you are depressed?
Why are some people left handed?
Is green snot better than yellow?
How can I get rid of deodorant stains?
Why do insects buzz around lights?
Why don't electrons fall into the atomic nucleus?
Is size important?
Do other animals sweat?
Why do I overlook the obvious?
Why can I squirt a jet of saliva from my mouth?
Is it a good thing to raise your baby to be bilingual?
Can superfoods protect against cancer?
Why do I fart after cottage pie?
Can your dog pass on your flu?
Who's your Bronze Age Ancestor?
How many people can Earth support?
Does a full moon affect my sleep?
Is snuff safer than smoking?
Is sense of smell heightened during pregnancy?
Dropping a penny on your head from the tallest building in the world
Why do we dream? And what are nightmares?
Why does adding ice make fizzy drinks bubble over?
Could other planets make a substance like diamond?
Do dark matter planets exist?
How do cells know what they will be when they grow up?
Sweeties: suck or crunch?
How does a baby safely stay upside down in the womb?
Power from Poo?
Explode or Freeze first in Space?
Punching into free will
Why do I feel sick after exercise?
What is the physiology behind emotional breakdown?
What is the highest possible mountain on Earth?
Do street lights affect birds and plants?
How do plants grow upwards?
What is wind?
Are city dwellers more immune to bugs?
How best to date ancient artefacts?
Can gene therapy treat depression?
Can we acheive artificial photosynthesis?
How long does it take for comets to melt?
Could civilisation cope without computers?
Do other animals practice dental hygiene?
Will a body wrap help me lose weight?
Will our increasing human population cause a water shortage on Earth?
Are Humans Meant for Monogamy?
Can you make a mini Mars at home?
Can you get a Tabby Human?
Do anti-mosquito sound devices work?
How is sleepiness related to cheerfulness?
Why aren't blood donations rejected?
How do touch sensitive switches work?
Do foetuses get cancer?
Can we make a real life Spiderman?
On Mars nobody can hear you scream. Is that really true? And if so, why?
Do menstrual cycles synchronise?
How long can one survive on self cannibalisation?
Why do certain fungi produce hallucinogens?
Can you melt a potato?
Was pre-historic cave art only done in caves?
Could we converse with animals?
Would self bone marrow transplants reverse aging?
Has Life Only Started on Earth Once?
Can mirrors make an infinitely powerful laser?
How does one telephone wire transfer all of that data?
Is Vitamin D Production like Photosynthesis?
Could we introduce life onto Mars?
Will your choice in cutlery alter how your food tastes??
Does ice really reduce swelling and speed up healing?
Could gene therapy be used to cheat a DNA test?
Why do women live longer than men?
Can we create a living organism from basic elements?
Do motorways create a microclimate?
Can a magnet be so powerful it crushes what it attracts?
Why do feet smell cheesy?
Why don't women have beards?
Would reading from a screen keep me awake?
Will my skin soak up the calories in skin cream?
Why don't you make best use of your energy reserves?
Is there an absolute maximum temperature?
Can you Catch Cancer?
Would you receive any warning before being squished by a meteoite?
When will indestructible plastics finally degrade?
Can you cross a kangeroo with a sheep to get a wooly jumper?
Goldfinger versus Goldmember?
Can you brew beer in zero gravity?
How much of me is the original me?
Would turning off standby devices increase my heating bills?
How does a Headache Hurt?
The Case of the Caramels
Do Sunglasses Cause Sunburn?
Why do My Feet Look Further Away?
Do fish orgasm?
Why some noises send shivers down my spine?
Why can't I focus on a reflection?
What happens when two black holes meet?
Why don't umbilical cords become tangled?
Do our pupils let in more light if we wear sunglasses?
Do humans have whiskers?
How can we avoid the effects of zero g?
Why don't black holes explode?
Can we make power from poo?
Do pregnant women breathe more?
Why do cheese and wine go together?
Is modern medicine affecting the human gene pool?
How does a calculator work?
Why do wet dogs smell?
How do solar sails work?
Do bubbles keep your bath warmer for longer?
Why do sandy footprints appear raised?
What does non-coding DNA do?
Are there more earthquakes now?
Why does cereal stick to the bowl?
When does wind chill turn to heating?
How much Fuel is too much Fuel?
Does loud music annoy whales?
How do we keep warm?
How do giraffes vomit?
Why do we get circles around or eyes?
What's the most efficient way to heat water?
Where on Earth is gravity the strongest?
How do you calculate the distance to a star?
Why don't potato peelers need sharpening?
How do painkillers target pain?
What are cramps and how does one avoid them?
How fast does a car have to go to lift you off the ground?
Do we walk in circles if we can't see?
Is an e-card more environmentally-friendly?
What does it mean when soaps claim to kill 99.99% of germs?
Why does light bend under gravity?
How does the brain interpret Braille?
Are humans the only species to drink the milk of another?
What Makes Someone Photogenic?
Do magnetic bracelets work?
Can I drink through my bottom?
How fast is the universe expanding?
What happens when a caterpillar pupates?
How many bees to boil a human?
Do you experience more daylight atop a mountain?
Did the Icelandic volcano produce more carbon than the grounded flights would have?
Why might a person not be able to see coloured ink on a whiteboard?
Why does travelling backwards make you feel ill?
Does everyone see the same phase of the moon?
How can something appear to roll uphill?
Are apple cores poisonous?
Is olive oil better for you?
Why does it smell after it rains?
How much farting is required for lift-off?
Is there an evolutionary benefit to kissing?
Why didn't The Americas have what the Europeans had at the time of conquest?
Why does an electric toothbrush affect my vision?
Why is the nervous system crossed over?
Can dogs watch TV?
What happens to light travelling at light speed?
Can genes carry our memories?
Why do some foods make our urine smell?
Sounds of the Stables - Why don't donkeys sound like horses?
Why do we have different blood groups?
Why haven't crocodiles changed?
Does the Doppler shift affect radio?
Can you carbon date your granny?
Do Worms Drown?
Who has the cleaner mouth, dog or human?
Are all the calories in food absorbed?
Do subliminal learning CDs work?
How is money made?
Why does white clothing become see-through when wet?
Does ploughing snow cause global warming?
Can you make a phone call from a black hole?
Did the dinosaurs have the same seasons as we do?
Will the washing dry outside in the winter?
Can a tanker pull birds off-course?
Do pets look like their owners?
How do countries add up their CO2 emissions?
Why can't dogs eat chocolate?
What would happen if you 'Tasered' an elephant?
How do you propagate seedless fruit?
How much radiation does an x-ray expose you to?
Why serve white wine chilled?
Do red skies at night mean shepherd's delight?
How many offspring does a sperm donor create?
Why does holding the TV aerial improve the picture?
What are floaters?
Are Spiders Expert Architects?
Is it dangerous to sit too close to the TV?
How do sharks make blood?
Why do we have fingerprints?
What dictates the frequency of the waves?
Do Plants have Immunity?
Tattoos Forever
Setting the Pace
Snap, Crackle and Pop!
Egg Ventilation
Night Sneezing
Scrapping a Banger
Dirty Laundry
Raining Into Space
Safest Sites for Asteroid Impact
Sunflowers Doing the Twist
Will the Dumb Out-Breed the Clever?
Waggle Dance Evolution
Jumbo Aerobatics
Night Time Weight Loss
Can Magnets Descale Your Pipes?
How do Fish Sleep?
Deadly Snakes
Chameleon Food
Growing a Winter Fur Coat
The Biology Of Burns
Google Power
The Many Shapes of Leaves
Musical Milk
Wearable Robots
Spit and Polish
Counting Without Counting
Fossilised Fence Posts
Meteoric Life Forms
Having your Cake and Eating it All
Tryptophan and Turkey
What Makes Us Laugh?
Psychopaths and Lie Detectors
Helium Balloons on the Moon
The Beasts Who Barbeque
Wiping Away the Human Race
The Speed of Time
A Better Balanced Bicycle
Better Battery Life
Repeat Listening
Do Animals have Blood Groups?
Elderly Eyebrows
How do Smells Travel Underwater?
Glow in the Dark Danger
Running out of Memory
Do We Drink Dinosaur Drinks?
Who Wants to Live Forever?
Breathing Without Lungs?
Remembering Your Dreams
The Colourful Compounds of Copper
Cutting Calories by Cooking
Lightning Defibrillator
Over-Salted Fish
The Science of the Didgeridoo
How Would ET Phone Home?
Did Dinos Die Young?
Earplugs Make Sounds Louder?
Olympic Flame in Flight
Running out of Oil
Lightning on TV
Survival in a Sealed Car
Drinking Wine in the Desert
Accented Notes - How do people lose their accent while singing?
The Timing of the Tides
Dirty Hair Grows Slower?
Caves and Carbon Dioxide
A True Scale of Smell
The Smell of Old Books
Self-Shocking Electric Eels
Recycled Oxygen in Space
Runaway Runway - Can a plane take off on a Treadmill?
Who freewheels downhill faster, a fat person or a skinny person?
What Makes a Boomerang Keep Coming Back?