Naked Scientists Question of the Week

Question of the Week

Each week we set out to solve one of the world's weirdest, wackiest, funniest and funkiest scientific puzzles. And along with the answer there's a brand new question to think about for next time...
English United Kingdom Science
584 Episodes
540 – 560

Tryptophan and Turkey - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.12.15

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
What is tryptophan, and does Turkey really make you sleepy? We find out in this seasonal Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if you should scoff down all of your Christmas chocolates in one go, or make them last all winter?
16 Dec 2008 3 min

Psychopaths and Lie Detectors - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.12.01

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Could a psychopath pass a lie detector test, if they felt no remorse for their crimes? We find out if the technology is up to finding the truth in this Question of the Week. Plus, what is it that makes us laugh? Find out how to excersise your giggle muscle…
28 Nov 2008 3 min

Helium Balloons on the Moon - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.24

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
In this Question of the Week, we learn the correct etiquette for attending a birthday party on the Moon - Should you bring a helium balloon, or will it just be a let down? Plus, we ask if people who do not feel remorse can trick a lie detector test…
26 Nov 2008 3 min

The Beasts Who Barbeque - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.17

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Are we the only animals who cook our food? Why do we need to cook, and if it's so good, why haven't other animals joined us at the barbeque? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask if a helium balloon would float on the moon…
16 Nov 2008 4 min

Wiping Away the Human Race - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.10

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
If the human race were to become spontaneously extinct, how long would it take for all evidence of us to be wiped from the planet Earth? Will there be evidence of human activity forever, or will we disappear without a trace. Find out in this Question of the Week, where…
11 Nov 2008 3 min

The Speed of Time - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.11.03

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Why does time seem to go quicker as we age? It seems that the longer we live, the shorter the days seem to be. Paradoxically, sometimes the hours drag by while the weeks fly past! We find out why in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how long…
3 Nov 2008 3 min

A Better Balanced Bicycle - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.27

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Where should you put your bags to best balance your bike? Will groceries on the handlebars waste your pedal power, or will paniers on the back pull you backwards? We find out in this Question of the Week and also ask why time seems to go faster as you get…
24 Oct 2008 3 min

Better Battery Life - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.20

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
How do you get the best out of your batteries? Should you discharge them completely, or keep them permanently topped up? We find out in this Question of the Week! Plus, we ask where is the best place to balance bags on your bike - will one position make better…
17 Oct 2008 3 min

Repeat Listening - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.13

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Why do songs, even those you hate, sound better the more you hear them? We find out why familiarity can defeat contempt in this Question of the Week, and ask if you should let your batteries run down completely to get the best performance…
14 Oct 2008 3 min

Do Animals have Blood Groups? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.10.06

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Why do we have different blood groups, such as A, B, O and rhesus positive or negative? Do animals have blood groups? If so, are they the same as humans, or do they have their own? We find out in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why songs…
8 Oct 2008 2 min

Elderly Eyebrows - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.29

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Why do eyebrows and other bodily hair grow out of control as we get older? We find out why we develop a post-retirement facial forest in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask why humans have blood types, and if any animals share this blood system with us…
30 Sep 2008 3 min

Glow in the Dark Danger - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.15

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Are Glow-in-the-Dark watches a radiation hazard? Should you store your best timepiece in a lead lined box? Find the answer in this Question of the Week. Plus, we ask how smells travel underwater, and how a shark can smell a drop of blood in an entire ocean…
16 Sep 2008 3 min

Running out of Memory - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.09.08

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Does our memory have a limited capacity? In this Question of the Week, we'll find out if learning something new pushes out old information and why your brain needs a regular workout. We'll also ask whether glow in the dark watches give off dangerous radiation and should be kept in…
5 Sep 2008 2 min

Do We Drink Dinosaur Drinks? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.29

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Do we drink the same water that dinosaurs drank? Has your water passed through the countless bladders of the past? In this Question of the Week, we find out if our drinking water has been repeatedly recycled. We also ask if the human brain has a limited capacity, and if…
29 Jul 2008 3 min

Who Wants to Live Forever? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.21

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
How old is the oldest organism? In this Question of the Week we find out if any organism has found the secret of eternal life, and can truly live forever. Plus, we ask if all the water on Earth has been drunk before, and how much data can our brain…
22 Jul 2008 3 min

Breathing Without Lungs? - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.14

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
How does the Bornean Flat-Headed Frog breathe when it has no lungs? No, it's not a bad joke, it's our Question of the Week! We find out how this marvellous little frog survives, and ask if any animals live forever, and if the water we drink today was once drunk…
15 Jul 2008 3 min

Remembering Your Dreams - Naked Scientists Question of the Week 08.07.07

Podcast  |  Naked Scientists | Question of the Week
Why are dreams so hard to remember? In this Question of the Week, we find out why your night time imagination slips away as you wake and is gone before your first coffee! Plus, we ask how certain frogs can breathe without lungs, and can anything truly live forever?
8 Jul 2008 3 min
540 – 560