5 Live Science Podcast

Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientists look at what might have caused the "Tunguska Fireball" in 1908, the use of bacteria to repair crumbling concrete and the effect of tobacco advertising on teens.

Tom Green and our listeners ask Dr Karl why the earth's getting lighter if tens of thousands of meteor dust is landing every year, plus why do different materials feel as though they're at different temperatures while in the same room.

Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientists discuss comfort eating, what happened when a comet collided with the Sun, and why boys' names and girls' names tend to sound different in a very particular way.

Dr Phil joins dr Karl to discuss how alcohol makes us drunk, why looking through a pinhole sharpens poor vision and weighing planets.

Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientists discuss a new way to block flu infection, treating schizophrenia with an avatar, bringing 400 year-old plants back to life, and how much radiation a person on a mission to Mars would be exposed to.

Dr Karl joins Dominic to discuss why not to shop hungry, why we itch and whether acupuncture is no better than the placebo effect.

Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientists explore how specimens of potato leaves kept in museums for over 150 years have enabled scientists to discover the identity of the bug that caused the Irish Potato Famine. We'll also hear why penguins can't fly and how researchers have discovered the nerve cells that make us itch!

Using X rays to read the unreadable; solar-powered butterflies – and why selfishness gave farming a boost 10,000 years ago.

Dr Karl joins Rhod to discuss solar flares, methods for dealing with tinnitus, and the extremes of pleasure that music can stimulate

Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientists explore an electrical vaccine for allergies, "boys toys" and "girls toys" and novel coronavirus.