So one of our readers asked us this question the other day: Why does putting salt water (saline) into our blood stream rehydrate us, but drinking salt water can harm us? ANSWER It has to do with how salty the water is (i.e. the osmolarity of the fluid). The saline usually used in IV drips…… Read More »
So one of our readers asked us this really specific question the other day, Why it’s almost impossible to rescue someone who’s fallen overboard from a cruise ship? Couldn’t another passenger immediately grab two lifebuoys and jump in after him? Then both would be alive and easy to find the next morning. What am I…… Read More »
I always wondered if somehow the sun disappeared in one instant (I know impossible). Would we notice the disappearing light first, or the shift in gravity? I know light takes about 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach Earth, and is a theoretical limit to speed but gravity being a force is it faster or slower?…… Read More »
One of our readers asked us the other day, What’s the difference between an Ave, Rd, St, Ln, Dr, Way, Pl, Blvd etc. and how is it decided which road is what? There are many acceptable definitions for these, this is just one set, it is highly likely you have seen something different. Different places…… Read More »
So one of our readers asked us this question the other day: Why is Californium priced so high and what exactly does it do for us? ANSWER Californium is used as a neutron source – one microgram (µg) of californium-252 emits 2.3 million neutrons per second. This is useful for starting up nuclear reactors. It’s…… Read More »
One of our readers asked us this question. Seems like in the animal kingdom (with the exception of inbreeding and such) animals grow teeth just fine that last well into adulthood. Humans seem to constantly get crooked teeth, misaligned teeth, underbites, overbites, wisdom teeth coming in sideways, etc. Why is this? Unlike most animals, human…… Read More »
One of our readers asked us this question. Reading “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” he mentions sitting in a truck watching the atom bomb test through the window because UV light cannot pass through glass – he also says bright light can never hurt your eyes, the real danger is UV. But, it seems like…… Read More »
So one of our readers asked us this question the other day: Why are humans predominately right-handed (or even left-handed)? Wouldn’t it be advantageous to be ambidextrous? ANSWER I worked with a professor that studied this almost by accident, and came up with a compelling theory. He studied ancient stone tools, and would explore how…… Read More »