Stripping down science, the naked scientists.

Hello, welcome to this week's naked scientists with me, Chris Smith and also Helen Scales.

Hello.

Now this week, how something embedded in the side of a whale has shown scientists how long these

animals can live for.

And that's because this object conveniently had a date on it.

And believe me, you're going to be surprised when you find out how old it is.

Also how rice is helping doctors to conquer cholera and how scientists have made a

biodegradable food wrapper that you can even eat if you want to.

They've made it from milk and I suppose the only thing I can say about that is, well, way to go.

Oh dear. Also this week we're exploring the world of forensics to find out how science can solve crimes.

We'll be finding out what your hair says about your diet, how rare plants

help to identify the torso in the Thames, and here in the studio we've got Dr Trevor Emmett from

Anglia Ruskin University who'll be explaining to us the basis of forensic science.

In kitchen science this week, we're going to be finding out the answer to the question,

how fat do you need to be to stop a bullet from injuring your internal organs.

We've sent our own Ben Vausler out to the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge.

He's armed with a high-power rifle and a long tube of gelatin and we're going to join

him shortly.

Sounds very dangerous.

So if you've got any questions at all about science of forensics, email Chris at the

Naked Scientist.com.

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