Kevin wants to know, assuming many of us will be driving electric cars in the future, what will happen to the vast quantities of petrol currently refined from crude oil? Will we scale back production? Or can industry adapt? To help James Tytko with the answer, we hear from Professor Nilay Shah, Director of the Centre for Process Systems Engineering…

Dr Chris answers more listener questions, including: How do sunflowers follow the sun? How does the body determine when you're passing wind or something more solid? Why are mosquitos attracted to some people more than others? Why are some people more intelligent than others? Why are humans the only species with advanced intelligence? How intelligen…

In this edition of The Naked Scientists: Samples back from space reveal tantalising insights into where the life-linked chemicals that kick-started biology on Earth could have come from. Also, the impact of China's DeepSeek AI model on society, finance, and the global tech market. And why imported olive trees turn out to be the perfect cover for st…

This month, recently-retired BBC space correspondent, Jonathan Amos, and former NASA employee Herb Baker, author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories from my 50 years with NASA, discuss reporting from a rocket launch, growing up with classmates whose dads are Apollo astronauts, and how material Herb's mother used to fix an aircon unit at home helped …

It's our final Titans of Science offering of this series, with world-leading cancer expert Charlie Swanton. We'll hear how the latest developments in our understanding of cancer's mechanisms are shaping treatments and preventative measures... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists…

This month, recently-retired BBC space correspondent, Jonathan Amos, and former NASA employee Herb Baker, author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories from my 50 years with NASA, discuss reporting from a rocket launch, growing up with classmates whose dads are Apollo astronauts, and how material Herb's mother used to fix an aircon unit at home helped …

How can you use sticks to calculate the circumference of the Earth? Can exfoliators remove your fingerprints? How do plants know which way is up? What dictates the pattern of a cat's stripes? What are hiccups? Can mosquitoes see you? Dr Chris Smith and Dan Corder have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scie…

George writes in to ask whether his gum-chewing habits are related to his tinnitus, or whether it's just a coincidence that it comes back when he gets back into the habit. James Tytko investigates, with help from ear, nose and throat doctor Malcolm Hilton... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists…

On the Naked Scientists News show: a new UK trial seeks to infect healthy people with malaria in a bid to get to grips with the dormant stage of the infection. Then, we hear how T cells could be the key to ensuring more organ transplant successes, and should we all be taking fewer flights? Also, some curious observations regarding chimpanzees and t…

In this special episode of The Naked Scientists, join Chris Smith on a journey from farm to whisky tumbler, as he witnesses the intricate processes behind producing high quality Scotch. Richard Broadbent leads a tour of Bairds Malt's site in Witham, explaining how British barley is prepared for its transformation into the delicious spirit, before A…

Why do ants drown themselves? Could we power cars with electrolytes? What causes ulcers? Do metal wrist rings actually reduce pain? Should you take probiotics on an ongoing basis? What are duodenal ulcers? Can brain tumours cause diabetes? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have all the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the N…

In our Question of the Week, Andrew wants to know why many people may experience dreams differently when holidaying in the mountains. To find out what might be behind the 'high-definition' dreams associated with high places, James Tytko sought the help of Andrew Murray, Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Cambridge... Like this p…

In this edition of The Naked Scientists: It's 5 years since COVID began and the WHO hosted their first press conference. But how much have we learned and are we prepared for the next pandemic? Also, a report from the UK House of Lords points to a rapidly closing window of opportunity to capitalise on "engineering biology" - but what is that? And, i…

Titans of Science continues with the microbiologist who discovered how an extraordinary relationship between two methane-eating seafloor species has shaped the world we know today. To explain that and much more is the ocean aficionado Antje Boetius... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists…

Should you try to break bad habits? How do you stop a 'wandering' itch? Does climate change affect rainfall? Will you be tired if you dream of being awake? How do you get skin tags, and should you remove them? Why can some birds mimic humans, and some cannot? Why do you have nightmares during sleep apnea? Do offshore wind farms impact marine life? …