Ask the Naked Scientists

Why does knocking your elbow unleash a distinctive "funny bone" jolt? Are we born with a sense of thirst? What are we seeing when we see things glow under ultraviolet? Why do our minds cling tightly to bad experiences? How do phones see the Northern Lights, even when we cannot? And do the planets in our solar system all move in the same direction? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Should we pull the plug on AI? Is talent inherited? Do other mammals have prostate glands? How closely have we studied the bones of fish? If nothing sticks to Teflon, then how does it stick to the pan? Do flames cast a shadow? Can some animals see colours better than humans do? Why are our brains more efficient than AI? And why do mosquitoes buzz on arrival if they don't want to be heard? Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Does a USB stick, or a mobile phone, weigh more once it's filled with data? What's the placebo effect, and how does it work? How does the human papilloma virus (HPV) cause disease, and how can the HPV vaccine and male circumcision protect you from cervical cancer and HIV? Does Cape Town face two oceans? Can Brazil nut proteins be present in semen and trigger subsequent anaphylaxis in a sexual partner? And what can we do about post-herpetic neuralgia causes by shingles (VZV)? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Today, Chris Smith tackles a whole host of health-related questions. We explore the impact of a meat-based diet, whether it's a good idea to drink fizzy pop after vigorous exercise, why we weigh less in the morning, if it's ever advisable to spend too much time talking to chatbots, and whether working from home weakens our immune systems... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week, Chris Smith and Clarence Ford tackle the big science questions of the week, including how to perform a circumcision safely; can our eyes pop out when we sneeze; how do general anaesthetics work and do we understand consciousness; is violence inherent to society; do antibiotics kill probiotics; and what would happen to us if the world suddenly stopped spinning?! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists