Question Of The Week - From The Naked Scientists

James Tytko spoke with David Spiegelhalter to help solve listener John's musical mystery... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

James Tytko took this cosmic conundrum on with the help of Toby Wiseman, theoretical physicist from Imperial College London... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Chris Smith took on this week's question from listener Kala... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Taking on this question from listener Christie, James Tytko enlisted the assistance of Chemistry World's Philip Broadwith... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Thanks to Marc de Lussanet for the help with the answer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

James Tytko enlisted the help of the University of Cambridge's Xander Byrne to help with this question from Frank, who asks: "Have there been any studies on the effects of rocket launches on the greenhouse effect respiratory issues or general carcinogenic properties?" Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Thanks to Dr Ellen Coombs for the answer. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Regular listener, Mike, asked: "When tennis players are about to serve, they get a selection of balls. They seem to look at them and then select two to serve with. Now these are all new and good quality balls, how do they select the ones they like to use? Do they recognise them? Do they have favourites?" Very topical, Mike. Rhys James travelled to meet the tennis coach, James Hoad  in Bury St Edmunds: Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why is it that some mammals with small broods have the baby feeding apparatus near the upper limbs like humans and elephants and some near the lower limbs like cows and horses? As it turns out, this is a very good question. What dictates where the teats are on a mammal? The short answer is, well, no one is really sure, but that's not going to stop us from a bit of deductive reasoning and speculation. And one man who is up to the task is Queen Mary University of London's Chris Faulkes.Chris - We've got teats in the thoracic or chest region like humans, the sort of intermediate area or abdominal... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Could someone travelling into the future potentially take a pandemic disease with them, or bring back something similar upon their return? James Tytko enlists the help of Cambridge University immunologist Brian Ferguson... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Akula writes in to ask, 'Can we compress gas into a solid?' James Tytko seeks to provide the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week, are biofertilisers an answer to solving the use of chemical fertilisers? Are they more advantageous in any way? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

What is the speed of evolution and, apart from reproduction, what are the factors that affect this? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener Jo asked: "Why is it so I can sit with a sudoku until I have no idea what to do next, so I leave it. When I go back to it later I always find new possibilities straight away." James Tytko spoke to Alejandro Lleras Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener David wrote this cosmic conumdrum into the Naked Scientists "How are black holes formed? And why are they often at the center of galaxies?" Otis Kingsman spoke to astrophysicist and author of the book "A Brief History of Black Holes", Dr Becky Smethurst... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener Ed wrote to the Naked Scientists with this particular question. "Why is it recommended to drink cola after swimming in a river? And does it really reduce the risk of getting an upset stomach?" Otis Kingsman splashes around in the science of this river rumour with Dr John Tregoning from Imperial College London... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener Kandi wrote into the Naked Scientists to explain the science behind this major medication method. "I have Hyponatremia as a result of a medication. How does a drug stop your body from using/absorbing the salt you consume?" Otis Kingsman spoke to Gerogetown University's professor of medicine, Joseph G Verbalis to find the answer... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener Lara wrote into the Naked Scientists to ask "Is there a biological benefit for cats and dogs to bury their faeces? Can it help plants grow similar to horse manure?" Otis Kingsman spoke to the primary medical care director of the veterinary medicine company Linnaeus, Dr Simon Hayes, about this question on the fascinating function of faeces... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Listener Neil wrote in looking for find the answer to this brain blaster. "Would an explosion on the moon be more powerful than on the surface of the earth?" Otis Kingsman spoke to University of Cambridge's public astronomer Matt Bothwell to make sense of this outer-space occurrence... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists