Podcast · 127 episodes
The Naked Scientists Podcast
by The Naked Scientists · English
The Naked Scientists flagship science show brings you a lighthearted look at the latest scientific breakthroughs, interviews with the world's top scientists, answers to your science questions and science experiments to try at home.
Latest episodes
What is heart disease, and how can it be tackled?Coronary heart disease—how plaque forms in coronary arteries, why it causes angina, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrest, who’s at risk, and how imaging and treatments (including stents,…29 Sep 2026 · 32 min
Kent's meningitis outbreak, and heat-loving amoebaThe episode covers three science stories: (1) UK meningitis outbreak genetics: UKHSA and Oxford compared genomes of Neisseria meningitidis from Kent (March 2026) with ~50,000 global genomes.25 Sep 2026 · 32 min
The magic of mushrooms and the science of fungiThis episode of The Naked Scientist explores fungi from “fairy rings” in the field to real-world applications.22 Sep 2026 · 37 min
All episodes
What is heart disease, and how can it be tackled?Coronary heart disease—how plaque forms in coronary arteries, why it causes angina, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrest, who’s at risk, and how imaging and treatments (including stents,…29 Sep 2026 · 32 min · 12 chapters
Kent's meningitis outbreak, and heat-loving amoebaThe episode covers three science stories: (1) UK meningitis outbreak genetics: UKHSA and Oxford compared genomes of Neisseria meningitidis from Kent (March 2026) with ~50,000 global genomes.25 Sep 2026 · 32 min · 7 chapters
The magic of mushrooms and the science of fungiThis episode of The Naked Scientist explores fungi from “fairy rings” in the field to real-world applications.22 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 16 chapters
AI poses biosecurity risk, and the ice that doesn't shatterThe episode covers three science stories. First, lawmakers and AI companies warn that AI could increase biosecurity risk by making it easier and faster to engineer pathogens with higher…18 Sep 2026 · 32 min · 13 chapters
A super El Nino is on the way. What should we expect?The podcast explains El Niño—driven by unusually warm tropical Pacific sea-surface temperatures—how it’s monitored and forecast, and why the 2026–27 event is predicted to be exceptionally strong.15 Sep 2026 · 38 min · 17 chapters
World-first baby skull surgery, and could AI kill us?Episode 1: World-first baby skull surgery and could AI kill us?11 Sep 2026 · 38 min · 11 chapters
What you need to know about driverless vehiclesA ride on Cambridge’s first autonomous bus trial, explaining how driverless vehicles work, why London is licensing autonomous taxis (with a human driver present), and the safety, cost, accessibility,…8 Sep 2026 · 38 min · 17 chapters
Supersized El Nino strikes, and navigation app for the blindThis episode of The Naked Scientist covers three science stories: a “supercharged” El Niño forming in the Pacific, an at-home urine test for bladder cancer, and new navigation tech for blind people.4 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 16 chapters
How chemistry can make us healthierThe episode explains how chemistry can improve health in three linked ways: (1) diagnostics beyond DNA, using phenomics and “exploratory analytical chemistry” to measure thousands to millions of…1 Sep 2026 · 34 min · 15 chapters
Shingles vaccine and heart disease, and allergy transpoosionThe episode covers three science topics. First, shingles vaccination and heart disease: a Nature Medicine study led by Oxford University’s Fabiana Corsi-Zuelli analyzed 70,000+ US adults (60+) using…28 Aug 2026 · 32 min · 15 chapters
Incredible insects and their special skillsInsect “superpowers,” covering katydids’ mammal-like hearing, a deep-diving fly larva’s pressure/buoyancy adaptations, a large blue butterfly caterpillar’s ant deception, and wasps’ visual navigation…25 Aug 2026 · 38 min · 18 chapters
Salmonella outbreak, and Roman shipwreck discoveryThe episode covers three science stories: a Europe-wide Salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs; astronomers’ discovery of the fastest star near the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole (S301);…21 Aug 2026 · 32 min · 10 chapters
How can chronic wounds cost more than cancer?Chronic wounds cost the UK NHS about £8.3B/year, more than cancer/obesity, and are worsening due to rising diabetes driven by obesity.18 Aug 2026 · 33 min · 15 chapters
Malaria drug breakthrough, and space radiation vestsThe episode covers three science stories: a malaria drug strategy, UK hepatitis C elimination progress, and new protective gear for space radiation, plus a brief tooth-sensitivity innovation.14 Aug 2026 · 34 min · 16 chapters
Solar eclipse specialThe “Solar eclipse special” episode explains the science behind solar eclipses, why total eclipses are rare, how to safely observe them, how eclipses affect animals, and how scientists use eclipses…11 Aug 2026 · 32 min · 15 chapters
Breakthrough womb surgery, and the SpaceX Moon crashThe episode of The Naked Scientist covers three science/tech stories.7 Aug 2026 · 33 min · 15 chapters
The food of the futureThe episode asks what science will enable for “foods of the future” as population grows and agriculture struggles.4 Aug 2026 · 41 min · 11 chapters
Chasing fire clouds, and nanoparticles blitz brain cancersThree science stories: (1) how wildfires can generate pyrocumulonimbus “fire thunderclouds” that accelerate fires and inject smoke high into the atmosphere; (2) drug-loaded nanoparticles delivered…31 Jul 2026 · 29 min · 6 chapters
Titans of Science: Sara WickstromHow cells sense mechanical forces (stretch, pressure, shear, microgravity), convert those signals into gene-expression changes via ion channels and chromatin, and potentially “remember” past stress…28 Jul 2026 · 30 min · 15 chapters
Wildfires worldwide, and algae microbots for drug deliveryThis episode of The Naked Scientist covers three science stories: (1) wildfires worldwide, (2) using wastewater DNA to estimate community diets, and (3) algae-based “AlgaeBot” micro-robots for…24 Jul 2026 · 31 min · 10 chapters
Titans of Science: Adrian OwenNeuroscientist Adrian Owen explains how brain function is mapped using neuroimaging (PET, fMRI), how brain regions communicate via functional/structural connectivity, and what this reveals about…21 Jul 2026 · 31 min · 11 chapters
Alzheimer's drug breakthrough, and sugar in spacetrontinemab for early Alzheimer’s prevention; Oxford’s rapid development of a Budimbukyo Ebola vaccine for the DRC outbreak; Addenbrooke’s research showing pneumonia may split into three…17 Jul 2026 · 33 min · 11 chapters
Titans of Science: Enrico CoenPlant genetics and development, focusing on transposable “jumping” DNA segments (transposons) and how they act as genetic switches that control which plant structures form; includes examples from…14 Jul 2026 · 32 min · 13 chapters
Weight loss pills on sale, and Dolly the sheep's legacyUK availability of Wegovy (semaglutide) weight-loss pills vs injections; criteria and debate over treating obesity vs “cosmetic” use.10 Jul 2026 · 31 min · 14 chapters