On thin ice: The race to save Antarctica

In the news, counting the calories: The UK government want shops to help us put 100 fewer calories in our baskets to beat obesity. So will it work? Also, archaeologists uncover the world's oldest fat factory - it turns out that Neanderthals were processing bones for their grease ... Show More

This episode was produced and presented by Dr Marushka Soobben, a scientist from South Africa who's been taking part in an internship here at the Naked Scientists. And this week, a journey into the world of proteins. What are they? why do they matter? And why did predicting their ... Show More

In this edition of The Naked Scientists, weight loss jabs being prescribed by GPs in England, but do we know enough about the side effects? Also, a new simple test to replace endoscopies for patients with Barrett's oesophagus. And we hear from one of the engineers at the Vera Rub ... Show More

Can Science Find An Antidote to Americium? With some poisons, there’s an antidote — something you can take to block the effects of the poison, or to help remove it from your body. But when the harmful chemical is a radioactive element, options are limited. Iodine pills can be use ... Show More

Today we’re discussing fat. It’s a word that carries a lot of weight. It’s a source of social judgment, a driver of insecurities and a tool exploited by companies in targeted marketing campaigns. It’s no surprise that a recent study found over 40% of people in the US have experie ... Show More

Labradors are known for being greedy dogs, and now scientists have come up with a theory about the genetic factors that may be behind their behaviour. In this episode from April 2024, the Guardian’s science correspondent and flat-coated retriever owner Nicola Davis visits the Uni ... Show More

Space-settling enthusiasts have long had an eye on Mars, and now they have the backing of the world’s richest man. Elon Musk recently claimed that humans could be on the planet by 2030 and be living there in a self-sustaining city within 20 years. But is it really that simple? Ma ... Show More

Mysterious Polygons on Mars: Scientists discover strange, irregular wedge-shaped objects buried beneath the Martian surface.Polygons range from centimeters to 10 meters in size and may have formed during ancient freeze-thaw cycles billions of years ago.Possible formation mechanis ... Show More

2021 was a big year in science! Fossil discoveries introduced new relatives to our family tree, new findings added fascinating twists to the human story, and breakthroughs in research methods opened new worlds to explore. In this episode, five scientists discuss their favorite hu ... Show More

You might have noticed that everyone has recently become a bit obsessed with blood sugar, or glucose. Wellness firms such as Zoe in the UK – as well as Nutrisense, Levels and Signos – claim to offer insights into how our bodies process food based on monitoring our blood glucose, ... Show More

My guest is Dr. Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, known for his research on human bioenergetics, particularly energy expenditure and the exercise paradox. We discuss his work comparing highly active hunter-gather ... Show More

Send us a text Peanut butter is packed with key nutrients, but what exactly does it offer? We’ll break down its protein content, explore its role as a source of healthy fats, and look at how many calories it brings to the table. Perfect for those who love this spread and want to ... Show More

We visit Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court... but we’re not interested in the tennis, we want to know all about the grass. Just how important is science to cultivating the perfect playing surface? Also this week, we discuss the aims and ethics of human stem-cell-based embryo models ... Show More