Stripping down science, the Naked Scientists.

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

Hi Helen. Hi, Chris. Now this week how scientists

have programmed yeast cells to turn green when they sniff out explosives. There's also

good news on how conservationists are turning turtle numbers around and also a weather

forecast that's quite literally out of this world because scientists have worked out

what the climate's like on a planet that's 63 light years away. How they've

done it coming up shortly, Helen.

And also this week, would you eat your lunch off a lavatory seat? We'll be testing out the

claim that there are more bugs on a kitchen table than there are on a bog seat.

But hang on and we will be revealing the results of

our tests later on in the show. Plus we're delving into the world of microbiology with

virologist Dr. Tim Regit, fungus specialist Dr. Ali Ashby, and bacteriologist Dr. Gillian Fraser who will be explaining the science of viruses, fungi and bacteria.

And if you're in the mood to win something, the two great prizes are for grabs this week. We've got a copy of a

brand new book which is called The Periodic Table Elements with Style, which is a humorous

rundown on some of the most exciting aspects of the chemicals that make up our

world. I'll give you a little taster of that later. And there's a copy of my book, which is Naked Science,

it's stuff full of fun and funky science stories like the ones that you hear on the Naked

Scientists. And to win either of those two books or possibly both can you tell us how many

E. coli bacteria would fit on the head of a pin the person with the answer

closest to what we think is the right answer is going to win.

Sorting out the sparks from the quarks, the naked scientists.

...