Here's Looking at You - the Science of Vision

This week we take a look at extreme environments and the organisms that live in them. Crispin Little talks about hydrothermal vents and the fastest fossilisation on the planet, Steve Scott explains why mining companies are interested in hydrothermal vents, and Lisa Pratt describes how bacteria find energy three kilometres beneath the surface of the earth and how similar strategies could be used by life on other planets. From the extremes of the Earth to the extremes of the kitchen, Derek Thorne and Hugh Hunt find out whats hot and whats not in the dishwasher... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

28 Tammi 200755min

Following this weeks crazy weather we have a look at Climate Change with Eric Wolff from theBritish Antarctic Survey, who will be talking about secrets about the climate locked away in ancient ice,Jon Gibbins from Imperial College tells us about ways we can store all that excess carbon dioxideunderground, Ali talks to Alison Hill from the British Wind Energy Association and Max Carcas from OceanPower Delivery about wind energy and wave energy, and Derek Thorne, Dave Ansell and Ali Webb try to discoverhow much power we could generate by hooking the countrys gyms to the electricity grid. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

21 Tammi 200753min

With a new year comes a whole new stack of science questions to challenge Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Kat. This week they explain where the sand in the Sahara comes from, whether mirrors can reflect x-rays, if it is dangerous to live near a phone mast, and whether splitting water could solve our energy problems. We are also joined by the editor of Chemistry World, Dr Mark Peplow, who talks about labs the size of a postage stamp, nanoparticles in exhaust fumes, and why putting milk in your tea might not be such a good idea, and sticking with chemistry, Dave Ansell discovers which household liquids... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

14 Tammi 200753min

In the first show of 2007, Drs Chris, Dave and Helen find out why red wine is better for you than white wine or grape juice, and explore the science of healthy living with with London University researcher and author Roger Corder. We also discover the science behind another of the nations favourite drugs, caffeine, with the help of Bristol Universitys Peter Rogers, and University of St Louis researcher Jeffrey Gordon explains how the bugs living in your intestines help you to make the most out of mealtimes. They might also, he thinks, make some people fat. Plus, in kitchen science, Dave... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

7 Tammi 20071h 2min

In the final show of 2006, Chris, Dave and Kat answer all your science questions including why poppadoms curl upwards in the pan, how seedless grapes grow, and if lightning really does strike twice. To celebrate the coming of Christmas, Colin Humphries joins us to explain the astronomical phenomenon behind the Star of Bethlehem, and in Kitchen Science Derek Thorne and Alicia Webb knock back a few shots of vodka to find out how breathalysers catch drink-drivers. In the second part of the Science of Colour series, Anna Lacey finds out about the history of mauve and how hair dye conceals those... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

17 Joulu 20061h 5min

Shedding light on the deepest depths of the universe is Gerry Gilmore, who talks about the Big Bang and the mystery of dark matter. We also hear from Peter Muller and Giulio del Zanna about 3-D imaging of the surface of Mars and how solar flares contribute to everything from the Northern Lights to damaging communication systems. David Block describes how Andromeda, the galaxy closest to the Milky Way, was recently involved in a galactic collision, and in case you fancy seeing some collisions here on Earth, Derek and Dave are in the kitchen making meteorite craters. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

10 Joulu 20061h 1min

Dr Chris, Dr Dave and Dr Phil answer all your questions on science, technology and medicine, including why spiders do not run out of silk, what the universe is expanding into, what a flame looks like in space, and what happens when the brain is cut off from a supply of oxygen. We also talk to Dr Mark Peplow about polonium 210, how much was needed to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, and where the perpetrators could have acquired it. Sticking with nasty substances, Derk and Dave make a mess with milk and vinegar in Kitchen Science. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

3 Joulu 200657min

Repairing damage in the nervous system is incredibly challenging, but our guests this week have some promising solutions. Consultant ophthalmologist Robert MacLaren and colleagues at University College London have discovered a way to encourage the growth of photoreceptors in the retinas of blind mice, and Geoff Raisman will discuss his research into spinal cord repair. In Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne and Hugh Hunt take a closer look at the aerodynamics of a ping pong ball. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

26 Marras 200655min