Animal Communication, Sexual Signalling and Emotions
This week we learn about animal communication straight from the horses mouth. Dr Gillian Forrester, from the University of Sussex, describes how gorillas use tactile signals to communicate, Dr Katie Slocombe, from the University of St. Andrews, talks about her work on how chimpanzees use certain grunts to refer to specific food sources, Professor Joan Silk, from the University of California, discusses whether chimps are charitable to their chums, Professor Keith Kendrick from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge discusses how sheep recognise emotion, and Dr Vicki Melfi, from Paignton Zoo, tells... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
11 Dec 200558min
Forensics, DNA Fingerprinting and Human Origins
This week we take a foray into forensics, as DI Alan Cook talks about how DNA is used to solve crime, Alec Jeffreys helps us brush up on how DNA fingerprinting works, Tamsin OConnell describes how DNA can help track down human origins, and in Kitchen Science we have a live DNA fingerprinting race in which schools battle it out to discover which of the Naked Scientists is the foul footed felon with the criminally smelly feet. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
4 Dec 200557min
Stars, Cosmology and the Beginning of the Universe
This week we dive into deep time as cosmologist Mike Hobson explains how we measure the universe, the distance of the nearest galaxy, how scientists calculate the life span of the sun, and the definition of a light year, Chris Voigt describes how he made a 100 megapixel camera from bacteria, and Derek and Dave cook up a treat in Kitchen Science. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
27 Nov 200559min
Naked Scientists - 05.11.20 - Genetics, DNA Extraction and the Human Genome Project
This week we unravel the secrets of DNA as Darren Grafham discusses the importance of sequencing genomes and how the Human Genome Project has improved medicine, Mike Majerus reveals why we look different from worms despite sharing genetic information, Anna Lacey interviews BBC producer Mike Salisbury about the new David Attenborough series, Life in the Undergrowth, and Kitchen Science goes back to school for a live DNA extraction experiment. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
20 Nov 200555min
Parasites, Hookworms and Allergies
This week Prof. David Pritchard gets to the bottom of why parasites may help to get rid of allergies, Elizabeth Bernays describes how caterpillars acquire a taste for plants containing toxic chemicals when they have parasites, Chris Smith visits Westbourne High School in Ipswich to carry out fitness experiments for Healthcare Science Week, and Dave and Derek go bang with an explosive electrolysis experiment in the Naked Scientists Laboratory. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
13 Nov 200558min
Fireworks, Explosions and Chemistry
In this explosions extravaganza, John Emsley and Jacqueline Akhavan describe the chemistry behind the bangs on bonfire night, George Pendle talks about Jack Parsons and the history of rocketry, Mark Schrope comes back down to earth to describe his experience of flying into the eye of Hurricane Rita, and Dave and Derek cool us off with a home made fire extinguisher in kitchen science. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
6 Nov 20051h
UFOs, Mars and Space Science
This week we delve into the unexplained as Nick Pope discusses Britains biggest UFO case, the Rendlesham Forest Incident, Anna Lacey visits Rendlesham Forest to talk to Vince Thurkettle and Brenda Butler about their involvement in the Rendlesham sightings, Lisa Jardine-Wright discusses Mars, asteroid impacts and life on other planets, and Surendra Verma tells the true story behind his new book, The Tunguska Fireball. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
29 Okt 200557min
Social Insects, Biting Bugs and a Potted History of Honey
This week we get bitten by the bug as Ian Burgess talks about the nasties that nibble us in the night, William Foster discusses social insects and how individuals in colonies communicate, Bee Wilson describes the useful properties of honey, and Megan Frederickson reveals how Amazonian ants use formic acid to create Devils Gardens. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
22 Okt 200557min
