The Naked Scientists Podcast - Stripping Down Science

Fentanyl, fenlands, and Boris Johnson's COVID defence

In this edition of The Naked Scientists, What did we learn from Boris Johnson's appearance at the COVID inquiry? Then, we'll hear from the team that's developing a new drug in the fight against the United States' fentanyl crisis. And, We'll hear about the discovery and fate of an ancient…

7 Dec 2023 30 min

Invigorating the inactive with just one step

If there were a pill you could take to reduce your risk of chronic diseases like heart failure, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety and more by 20%, chances are you'd be interested in getting your hands on it. Studies continue to extol the virtues of living an active lifestyle, but a…

5 Dec 2023 30 min

COP28, Swine flu in the UK, and Bennu samples arrive

In this week's news pod, we preview the COP28 climate summit with Richard Black and get the latest on a confirmed case of a new strain of swine flu in the UK. Also, we speak to the researcher discovering the capacity for language learning in babies yet to be born,…

30 Nov 2023 30 min

Jet engines, hearts, and planets: the world of digital twins

In this episode of The Naked Scientists, we'll be taking a closer look at digital twins. What are they, and could they be the future of engineering, healthcare, and climate science? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

27 Nov 2023 28 min

COVID inquiry revelations, and red wine headaches

This week on The Naked Scientists, A damning indictment of our politicians' grasp of science emerges from the Covid Inquiry. Also, we'll ask who is behind the high-profile cyber hacks on the British Library. And, how researchers got to the bottom of why some of us get red-wine headaches? Like…

23 Nov 2023 38 min

Spinal stimuli and good vibrations: All about Parkinson's

This week - following the revelation that a man with debilitating Parkinson's Disease has been helped to walk again with a special implant that stimulates nerves in his spinal cord - that's what we're going to look at in this half hour. We'll be hearing from the surgeon who performed…

20 Nov 2023 35 min

Chickenpox and weather bots

This week on the Naked Scientists; why, after many years, chickenpox vaccines for children finally look set to become the norm in the UK. Also, will artificial intelligence beat our weather forecasters? And can comets seed the biological building blocks of life to planets like Earth? Like this podcast? Please…

16 Nov 2023 30 min

Selective breeding: designing dogs, and conserving tigers

This week, we're taking a look at the genetics of selective breeding, how it might be dooming certain breeds of dog but saving certain endangered species. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

13 Nov 2023 29 min

Breast cancer drug breakthrough, and hibernating hedgehogs

In this edition of The Naked Scientists, the drug called Anastrozole can help prevent thousands of cases of breast cancer among older women: but at what cost? Also, climate change expert Mark Maslin on what we need to know about the forthcoming COP28 summit kicking off soon in Dubai. And,…

9 Nov 2023 34 min

Faeces and phages: Moulding the microbiome

Today, we're helping you to get to know your microbiome, and hearing why a better understanding of it viewed by some as the next frontier in helping us to live longer, healthier lives. First, we explore the co-evolution of man and microbe, and the suite of modern techniques helping to…

7 Nov 2023 31 min