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Does blowing on a hot cup of tea actually do any good?

Does blowing on a hot cup of tea actually do any good? JAMES OF BRIDGWATER, VIA EMAIL Although your breath is generally warmer than the air, blowing on a hot cup of tea does cool it a little. As water molecules evaporate from the surface, the average kinetic energy of the tea drops, as does […]

Why can’t marine animals survive in fresh water?

Why can’t marine animals survive in fresh water? PAD SCANLON, VIA EMAIL If you plopped a marine fish in fresh water, it would start absorbing lots of water across its gills. It wouldn’t take long for it to get into trouble with the balance of water and salt in its body. It might even swell […]

How does a defibrillator work?

How does a defibrillator work? FELICITY BROWN, VIA EMAIL The sinus node of the heart is its natural pacemaker. It sends an electrical impulse to make the heart muscles beat in rhythm. Cardiac arrest is usually caused by a life-threatening change in the rhythm of the heart (known as dysrhythmia). When the rhythm of the […]

Nature’s weirdest animals: The hammerhead worm

NATURE’S WEIRDEST ANIMALS… The hammerhead worm If the writers of Stranger Things Season 5 are looking for a new monster, they need look no further. This predatory flatworm, native to tropical and subtropical regions but now invasive worldwide, stalks and then kills the good guys – aka earthworms – with grisly aplomb. Sensory organs on […]

How does my brain differentiate the different languages I speak?

How does my brain differentiate the different languages I speak? ADVITA MITTÉ, AGE 11, SINGAPORE Human language is a complex phenomenon, and many different areas of the brain must cooperate together. Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area are two parts of the brain that we know control speech and language comprehension respectively, but many other areas […]

Is Marmite good for you?

Is Marmite good for you? TIM STEPHENS, VIA EMAIL Marmite haters are missing out on a healthy treat. For those that like or love the taste, the spread’s only downside is its high salt content. Made from leftover brewer’s yeast, Marmite contains boosting levels of the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, which nourish the […]

What is Web3?

What is Web3? GAVIN WOOD, VIA EMAIL The internet is made from the computers in the world that are networked together, from laptops to tiny sensors. The World Wide Web is the software we run on the internet to help us navigate, find and use resources or ‘content’ – data files that might be anything […]

How does echolocation work?

How does echolocation work? ELLA MCGREGOR, EDINBURGH With its built-in sonar, honed through millions of years of evolution, the bat is the undisputed poster child of echolocation. This furry, flying critter shouts into the void, and then listens to the echoes that bounce back from objects in the darkness. Echolocation helps the bat to navigate, […]