Tag: pkar

Do dogs actually enjoy their food when they eat so fast?

Do dogs actually enjoy their food when they eat so fast? EMMA BRANDON, ANGLESEY Ask your dog! He or she will almost certainly respond with an enthusiastic tail wag. Flavour is the combined effect of taste in the mouth and smell in the nose. Dogs can detect savoury, sweet and bitter tastes, and although they […]

How far does my computer mouse move?

How far does my computer mouse move? PAUL MOORE, CAMBRIDGE I can’t tell you how far your mouse moves, but I can tell you the distance that mine moved because I installed a little app that measured every last centimetre. In one continuous hour of working, my mouse moved 123.76 metres. For an entire week, […]

Is there such a thing as left brain vs right brain?

Is there such a thing as left brain vs right brain? ADAM JARRETT, IPSWICH You may have heard the saying that people are either ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’, meaning that one of the two brain hemispheres is dominant. Right-brained people are often described as creative and artistic, whereas left-brained people are thought of as analytical and […]

Nature’s weirdest animals: Shoebill stork

NATURE’S WEIRDEST ANIMALS… Shoebill stork At times vilified for its supposedly menacing demeanour, the shoebill stork deserves better. Yes, it’s a solitary loner that picks off its prey one at a time. Yes, it has an enormous, shoe-shaped beak that can kill a baby croc or wrangle a lungfish. And yes, its stare is somewhat […]

How do you thicken a sauce?

How do you thicken a sauce? LAURA JACKSON, NORFOLK There are a few ways to thicken a sauce. To add texture to meat juices, you can simmer to allow some water to evaporate before simply whisking in fat to make an emulsion. You can also add gelatine, which comes from animal collagen and is almost […]

What’s the difference between an octopus and a squid?

What’s the difference between an octopus and a squid? ANDREW WHITE, HULL Octopuses and squid are close cousins with much in common. Both groups are remarkably brainy molluscs, especially compared to their relatives including snails, clams and slugs. They have complex nervous systems which, among other things, intricately control their colour-changing skin. A recent study […]

What is the life cycle of our Sun?

What is the life cycle of our Sun? SIMON GRUFFUDD, FLINTSHIRE 1. Hydrogen-burning phase Nuclear fusion is converting hydrogen into helium, releasing energy and radiation we see as sunlight. This phase began around 4.6 billion years ago and in around 3.5 billion years from now, the Sun will be around 40 per cent brighter. On […]