Brain fats cleared during sleep, and bird poo powered Peru

The Naked Scientists Podcast

Dr Chris Smith

Science Radio, Engineering, Naked Scientists, Natural Sciences, Technology, Life Sciences, Health & Fitness, Medicine, Science

4.6 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2026

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today, how the brain harnesses immune cells to clear burned out fats during sleep: does this protect from Alzheimer's disease? Also, the nutrient-rich guano of seabirds that shaped society in ancient Peru, fast footage reveals how kangaroos hop faster at no extra energy cost, and how horses whinny! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Transcript

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0:00.0	All engine running.
0:03.3	Absolutely genius.
0:04.2	Welcome.
0:05.0	Welcome.
0:06.0	This is the show where we bring you science.
0:07.8	What that essentially means is discovery.
0:09.9	Advances.
0:10.9	Research.
0:11.6	Technology.
0:12.5	Unbelievable.
0:13.4	Without further ado, this is the Naked Scientists.
0:17.7	Hello, welcome to the Naked Scientist, the program that brings you the biggest breakthroughs
0:22.4	and also talks to the major movers and shakers in the worlds of science, technology and medicine,
0:27.5	with me, Chris Smith.
0:29.3	Coming up, how the brain ditches burned out fats when we sleep and how this might be linked to Alzheimer's.
0:36.9	Also, from muck to brass, how seabird poo powered the prosperity of the Chinchka kingdom in ancient Peru,
0:44.4	and...
0:45.3	How and why do horses do that?
0:51.8	Originally, we didn't have any idea, but thanks to an endoscope, all has been revealed.
1:04.1	Sleep is one of the most important things we do, although scientists actually have no idea why. But the facts speak for themselves. Without
1:13.7	regular rest, our brains rapidly deteriorate. And there's some evidence linking chronic poor
1:19.9	sleep with a higher risk of dementia. So could the link be that the brain makes use of that
	...

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