|
|
|
Ask Dr. Universe - Do frogs sleep? Why are flowers colored the way they are? Why does electricity shock? These are some of the questions answered by a cat named Dr. Universe. She hunts down the answers to questions from people all over the world. Many times she has to pounce on a University expert to help her understand the question as well as the answer! The results of her labors are here.
Ask Science Theatre Archive - Why does ice float? Where does helium come from? Why do we lose our tans in the winter? How does a match work? These are just a few of the hundreds of questions answered at this site, sponsored by Michigan State University.
Color Matters - Red means "stop" and green means "go"--everyone knows that without giving it much thought. But did you know that color can affect the way you feel? It can make you feel relaxed or jumpy. It can make you feel interested or bored, even make you feel warmer or colder! And color sometimes means different things in different countries: for example, black is the color of grief and mourning in the U.S., while in some Asian countries the appropriate color is white. Find out more about the fascinating world of color here.
Earth and Sky - is a daily radio feature about science, heard on 950 stations around the world. The topics range from deep-ocean vents to the farthest-flung star nurseries in deep space. It also answers intriguing listener questions, some of which have been collected on this Web site. Why is the sky blue? Are soap bubbles round in weightless conditions? Why do leaves change color in the fall? Earth and Sky knows!
Frequently-asked Questions in Science and Physics - Why do stars twinkle? What's the purpose of all those dimples on a golf ball? Why does hot water freeze faster than cold? How do those "Dippy Bird" toys work? Seek here and ye shall find the answers.
How Stuff Works - Have you ever wondered how your television set works? Or how cell phones get a message from here to there without any wires? And CDs--how does all that music get written onto those shiny discs? Don't forget those See `N' Say toys--how do they keep talking without using batteries? And while we're at it, let's look at How Airplanes Work, and How Toilets Work. There's a lot here to know about, but if you still have questions, go ahead and ask in the Question of the Day area. There's an archive of questions that have already been answered, so check there first.
How Things Work - Have you ever questioned some aspect of the science of physics? A professor of physics at the University of Virginia has listed answers to many questions, some of which are part of the basic physics courses he teaches at the university. A guide lists previous questions as well as a place where you can ask a new question. The Search button will help you find if one of the previously asked questions is one you might also pose.
OMSI Science Whatzit! - You name the topic, the Oregon Museum of Science has the info. Is there wood so dense it won't float? Why is Earth round? How many stars are out there? How do fireflies light up? If you have a question, see if it's been answered at this site. If not, go ahead and ask it here.
Seeing, Hearing and Smelling the World - Trying to make sense out of your senses? Visit this site, from the Howard Hughes Medical Center. Discover how we see color, why we have two ears, and the differences in brain scans as we see a word or hear it. Amazing!
Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick - Did you ever wonder if fish have ears? Why rabbits like carrots? Where the water goes during low tide? What causes heartburn? This Twig guy has the answers to these and a lot more questions in a wide variety of topics. Check it out, and, among other things, you'll learn why the sea is blue in some places and green in others.
The Skinny On... - This site offers "the skinny on" a lot of unusual subjects. Why does bright light make you sneeze? How do sonic booms work? Why do you twitch sometimes when you're falling asleep? Why does eating beans give you gas? What color is snow (the answer will surprise you!)?
Why Do Cat's Eyes Glow in the Dark? - At night, if you shine a beam of light into a cat's eyes, they seem to glow back at you. You can also get this effect if you take a flash photo of a cat's face. What gives the eyes this spooky appearance? Find out at this site!
Why Doesn't a Spider Get Stuck to its Own Web? - It turns out that there are several types of silk in the web. First, there is anchor silk that the spider walks around on, and then there is sticky snare silk that actually catches the insects. The spider knows which is which--and she also has a special claw on her legs that lets her "hook" the web to swing from anchor line to anchor line, avoiding the sticky stuff. This site has much more on silk, spiders, and webs.
|
