Question of the Week
Each week we set out to solve one of the world's weirdest, wackiest, funniest and funkiest scientific puzzles. And along with the answer there's a brand new question to think about for next time...
Can you catch a yawn from a cat?
Why do we yawn? Is it because we're short on air? Matthew Boniface wanted to know this and whether he could catch a yawn from his cat. We spoke to Dr Hugh Matthews from Cambridge University to find out what makes them so contagious…
Will flights ever get faster?
14 hour flights sound like your idea of hell? Paul Jenn wrote in asking whether it was possible to speed up plane journeys, so we went to Neil Scott, head of engineering at Airbus, to find out.
What would happen if you were swallowed by a whale?
If you were swallowed by a whale, could you swim out and up through the oesophagus or would you be digested by the stomach acid? Plus, we ask about the future of flight: Are we going to be forever stuck in this air speed? What are the constraints of aerodynamics?…
Why is my Movember moustache grey?
Facial hair a different colour to that on your head? We stroke our beards to ponder why. Plus we ask, what happens when you get swallowed by a whale?
How will life end on Earth?
Will we cause our own demise by burning the candle at both ends? Or will it be something like the giant impact that caused the dinosaurs to go extinct? What do you think?
Why do leaves turn red in autumn?
Why do leaves turn red in the autumn? And how do they know when it is time to drop?
How can I avoid being struck by lightning?
Listener Ahmed has been struck by lightning twice! Is he prone to attracting lightning, or just unlucky?
How many people have lived on Earth?
How many people have lived on Earth? We do some number crunching.
How does self cleaning glass work?
Windows, computer screens and phones that never get grubby? What's the chemistry making that self cleaning glass possible?
What makes a good password?
We hack our heads to find out how we can make a secure password. Plus we scrub up the issue and ask: how does self-cleaning glass work?
What happens if a bee gets lost?
If you accidentally relocate a bee in your car, what happens? Would it join another colony or would that be it for the lost bee? For the answer to this insterest-sting question, we spoke to Henry Ferguson-Gow from the Zoological Society of London.
Can we use solar panels in space?
Could we get solar power from space and if so, how would we be able to transmit this energy back to Earth and use it? We spoke to John C. Mankins from Artemis Innovation Management Solutions to find out…
Do emotional and pain-induced tears differ?
Humans are the only animals that cry tears of emotion as well as pain. But does each type of tear differ in its chemical composition, and can you tell why someone was crying from looking at this?
Can humans spontaneously combust?
This week, we tackle the burning issue of spontaneous human combustion. Reported cases of people bursting into flames nowhere near a fire. Is there any scientific explanation for this?
How much of my body can I live without?
Which organs are vital and which are luxuries of life? We asked Elena Teh, Medical student at Cambridge University, for the gory details…
Is warp speed possible?
Star Trek fantasy or scientifically feasible? We find out with NASA!
What does your sneeze say about your personality?
We sniff out the science asking does sneeze volume and sound indicate personality type?
Can eating sweets stop brain fatigue?
Can you combat brain fogginess and help with french homework by munching sweets? We find out if there is any scientific rationale for this sweet toothed strategy to deal with brain fatigue.
Are cremeted ashes good for plant growth?
Would a scattering of your beloved's ashes be good for plant growth? Or could it be toxic? We take this question to Cambridge University's Botanic's Head Gardener.
Is there an antimatter planet out there?
Are there antimatter planets out there? What would they look like? And how would we tell they exist? We find out!