Question of the Week, from the Naked Scientists

Is 10,000 steps a one-goal-fits-all?

John writes in wondering whether the 10,000 steps rule applies eqully to everyone, given the range of body types and fitness among the population. James Tytko wondered wh

Why can't I do that 11th press-up?

This time on Question of the Week, James Tytko is being given a mental work-out thanks to this listener question on muscle fatigue. We learn about the biological reaction

How does the UV filter in sun cream work?

Listener Krzysztof has written in to ask how skin is protected from potentially harmful UV radiation by sun cream products. To help him with the answer, James Tytko put i

Will heat pumps make cities cooler?

Ian from Stockport has had a thought. If heat pumps transfer thermal energy from outside into our homes, will they counteract the relative heat of urban areas compared to

What leads a guided missile to its target?

Bhavesh wants to know how guided missiles find their target. James Tytko took on his question with help from Dr David Galvao Wall, Head of the Air Platforms and Weapons G

How do gravitational waves keep their energy?

In response to our programme celebrating 10 years since the first detection of gravitational waves, listeners got in touch with fascinating questions. Here, James Tytko t

Why do leaves change colour at different rates?

Trent wants to know why trees of the same species, in the same geography, seem to change the colour of their leaves at different rates. He's even noticed differences on b

Are snakes tamed by breast milk?

Sva writes in, asking whether stories of snakes being tamed by human milk have any grounding in science. James Tytko took on the question with the help of herpetologist F

What happens to celebratory bullets?

In some parts of the world, some groups will fire guns directly into the air in celebration. Mike wants to know what happens to these bullets, and if they have the potent

What would you find at the centre of Saturn or Jupiter?

Maddie wants to know what a daring adventurer might find if they journeyed to the centre of one of our Solar System's gas giants: Juptier and Saturn. James Tytko took on

Do recent experiments prove a quantum interpretation?

Iain wants to know whether recent experiments have gotten us any closer to deciding which interpretation of quantum mechanics is most likely. This branch of physics descr

Can a dog and a fox produce viable offspring?

Girts sends a question about which animals can mate to produce viable offspring. How is it that different breeds of dogs can come together to produce puppies, but add a d

How are our cells different at the genetic level?

Jon wants to know, how do the cells in the human body, in all their variety, differ at the genetic level? James Tytko took his query on... Like this podcast? Please help

Will AI help to reduce environmental harms?

Geoff has written in asking whether AI will offset its vast energy appetite by facilitating environmentally conscious initiatives. James Tytko took on the challenge of fi

Can nuclear reactors power Mars missions and our towns?

Laurie writes in, wanting to know whether the nuclear reactions which power Mars rovers means small nuclear reactors could power our towns and cities. Diving into this at

How do you catch Lyme disease?

Leonard is asking how one acquires Lyme disease, and how doctors diagnose it. James Tytko asked Jack Lambert, Professor and Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Mater Mis

Will green technology stop climate change?

Simon wants to know, since we saw a dip in greenhouse gas emissions during the pandemic, why haven't we seen climate change slow down? Is green technology part of the pro

How long does a lap of the water cycle take?

Thanks to Jess Neumann for the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why do clouds move in a different direction to the wind?

When Tony is cycling around, he notices that the clouds above him are not always moving in the same direction as he feels the wind blowing him down on the ground. Why mig

Do photons have a size?

Donald wants to know, 'how big is a photon?' Marushka Soobben took on his query with help from Ben Allanach, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Cambrid