Episodes

  • Weight loss pills on sale, and Dolly the sheep's legacy

    Weight loss pills on sale, and Dolly the sheep's legacy
    Jul 10 2026
    Coming up, Wegovy weight loss pills are now available in pharmacies and online in the UK. Will they help tackle obesity? Plus, how scientists are trying to restore sensation in the feet; the legacy of Dolly the sheep 30 years on; and space rovers and the solar eclipse with the astronomer Megan Argo. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    31 mins
  • Titans of Science: Tara Spires-Jones

    Titans of Science: Tara Spires-Jones
    Jul 7 2026
    Titans of Science returns with Tara Spires-Jones, a world-leading neurobiology researcher and Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. She studies the mechanisms and reversibility of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative brain diseases. We explore Tara's path to neuroscience, the history and biology of Alzheimer's, and treatments developed to overcome it. Tara has been speaking with Chris Smith. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    34 mins
  • Children's mental health, and mapping bilingual brains

    Children's mental health, and mapping bilingual brains
    Jul 3 2026
    Coming up: England's mental health services are reportedly in "crisis", with over 1 million children referred. What is driving the uptick? Plus, new research suggests that antibodies protect against norovirus, strategies to improve plastic recycling rates, and insights into the bilingual brain. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    34 mins
  • The science of sound and music

    The science of sound and music
    Jun 30 2026
    Coming up, Rachael Ralph explores the role of science in music. At Trinity College, Cambridge, engineer Hugh Hunt demonstrates how sounds are made; Ian Cross discusses turning experimentation into music and instruments; Trinh Nguyen examines music and development in babies; and Jacopo de Berardinis explains AI's role in the 21st-century music revolution. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    34 mins
  • Europe swelters in 'heat dome', and Martin Rees on aliens

    Europe swelters in 'heat dome', and Martin Rees on aliens
    Jun 26 2026
    Coming up, most of Europe smashes June temperature records. But what is the 'heat dome' that's driving this extreme weather? Plus, why HPV vaccine rates are declining despite a huge reduction in cervical cancer deaths; Sonia Shah on her book The Fever: How Malaria Has Ruled Humankind for 500,000 Years; and former Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees, on aliens. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    35 mins
  • Lessons from our ancient ancestors

    Lessons from our ancient ancestors
    Jun 23 2026
    Coming up, we explore the life and times of our ancient ancestors, and what they can teach us. In this episode, Lee Berger tells us about the Homo Naledi species that ritualistically buried their dead; George Nash on remarkable cave paintings in South Wales; Andrea Manica explains how our ancient ancestors evolved sickle cell to sidestep malaria; and Rod Flower on our forebears making medicine and mind-altering drugs. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    38 mins
  • UK's under-16 social media ban, and the first trillionaire

    UK's under-16 social media ban, and the first trillionaire
    Jun 19 2026
    Coming up, the UK follows Australia's lead in introducing age-related restrictions on social media. But do they work? Plus, how biologists are fighting infection from inside cells; researchers trace the origins of cotton to Mexico; and Elon Musk becomes the world's first trillionaire. How might he spend his fortune? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    32 mins
  • Stonehenge and the summer solstice

    Stonehenge and the summer solstice
    Jun 16 2026
    Coming up, we explore the summer solstice and its enduring connection with Stonehenge. Larissa Palethorpe at the University of Bristol explains the astronomical significance of the summer solstice; Jennifer Wexler at English Heritage on the origins of Stonehenge; Richard Bevins at the University of Aberystwyth on the geology of the famous stones; and Vincent Gaffney at the University of Bradford on whether Stonehenge is part of a much broader landscape. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    30 mins