Episodes

  • How fungi shape our world

    How fungi shape our world
    May 6 2025
    This episode of The Naked Scientists was brought to you in partnership with the health foundation Wellcome. This week, the first in a two-part series on the hidden world of fungi. What we do - and don't - know about them, and how the fungal landscape is set to shift as our climate changes. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    34 mins
  • Indus River in Kashmir crossfire, and gene-stealing cancers

    Indus River in Kashmir crossfire, and gene-stealing cancers
    May 2 2025
    In this edition of The Naked Scientists: Will - and could - India switch off the water supply to Pakistan amid mounting tensions over Kashmir? Also, how a transmissible canine cancer from 8000 years ago is shedding fresh light on tumour biology - and how cancers can steal foreign genes, today. And, testing out a virtual reality tool designed to help us confront our fears of speaking in public... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    35 mins
  • Titans of Science: Andrew Pollard

    Titans of Science: Andrew Pollard
    Apr 29 2025
    Today's Titan is former chair of the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, and a key figure in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which rolled out during the Covid pandemic. Andrew Pollard tells Chris Smith how vaccines work, how public health bodies decide what to protect us against, and how current technology will shape the future of immunisation... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    32 mins
  • Malaria fight in jeopardy, and bone collecting caterpillars

    Malaria fight in jeopardy, and bone collecting caterpillars
    Apr 25 2025
    In this edition of The Naked Scientists: World Malaria Day, and why overseas aid cuts in the US are threatening to cause a crisis; the carnivorous caterpillar dubbed the "bone collector" that steals from spiders; and the biotechnologist attempting to feed astronauts better in space... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    36 mins
  • Titans of Science: Sara Russell

    Titans of Science: Sara Russell
    Apr 22 2025
    In this edition of The Naked Scientists, Titans of Science continues with planetary scientist charged with analysing rock samples brought in from outer space, Sara Russell... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    32 mins
  • Martian carbon cycles, and magnetic flip fried Neanderthals

    Martian carbon cycles, and magnetic flip fried Neanderthals
    Apr 18 2025
    In this edition of The Naked Scientists: Evidence of a carbon cycle on Mars has been unearthed by the Curiosity rover. What does it mean for the red planet's past habitability? Also, the cannabis-based painkiller as powerful as an opioid, but without the side effects. And, could fashion sense and a primitive sunscreen have been the deciding 'factor 50' which allowed us humans to outlast the Neanderthals... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    37 mins
  • Titans of Science: Richard Thompson

    Titans of Science: Richard Thompson
    Apr 15 2025
    Titans of Science series is back for another run. And to kick us off, marine biologist Richard Thompson, who first brought to the world's attention 20 years ago the problem that is micro - and now nano - plastic pollution... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    31 mins
  • Womb transplant baby, and ancient seafarers

    Womb transplant baby, and ancient seafarers
    Apr 11 2025
    In the News podcast: the first baby is born in the UK to a woman with a transplanted uterus, and we speak to the surgeons responsible. Also, the best evidence yet the shingles vaccine can help reduce the risk of developing dementia; a drug that could make human blood deadly to mosquitoes. Then, we travel back in time 8,500 years to hear about the sea voyage of hunter gatherers to the Mediterranean island of Malta... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
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    37 mins