NewScientist The Last Word - Tag 'domestic science' details

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On the spike I was walking from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to Yarmouth along the coastal path in June. When nearing Yarmouth we saw this strange spike standing upright on a leaf (see photo). The top of the spike has broken off to the right.What created it? If it's of any use, the weather was warm.David Winstanley, Norwich, UK
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-07-08 17:00:23

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Categories: Plants, Unanswered.

Tags: animals, unanswered, domestic science, plants.

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Round and round Athletics tracks are always run anticlockwise. Does this favour particular runners? Races could surely be run either way, so why never clockwise?Peter Hallberg, Stockholm, Sweden(Image: dlritter, stock.xchng)
Editorial status: In magazine. (3 votes) average rating:2.67 There are 55 answer(s) for this question. View answers \| Submit an answer

Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-07-01 17:31:31

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Categories: Human Body.

Tags: human body, unanswered, domestic science.

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Thinking person's crumpet

A little while ago we froze a packet of those pancake-like products that in these parts we call crumpets. At the time, the sealed plastic packet seemed to contain a lot of air, but after four months in our freezer it had contracted tightly against the crumpets, which had also shrunk. After two more months at room temperature, the whole package appeared to have shrunk still further, though with no sign of mould or decay (see photo, left).The ingredients are listed as flour, water, yeast, raising agents, E450, E500, salt, sugar, preservative, calcium propionate. What's going on?Chris Greenwood, Ettington, Warwickshire, UK

Editorial status: In magazine.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-07-01 17:28:59

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Categories: Domestic Science, Technology.

Tags: human body, unanswered, domestic science, technology.

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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Water world The Last Word has told us what percentage of the UK's surface area is roads (24 January 2004), but having just returned from the Netherlands I would like to know what percentage of the surface area of that country is water.Byron Hambleton, Lille, France(Image: NASA World Wind)
(1 vote) average rating:3 There are 9 answer(s) for this question. View answers \| Submit an answer

Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:01:01

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Categories: Planet Earth.

Tags: animals, unanswered, domestic science, planet earth.

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Pint of the usual?

The first time I had two pints of beer in my late teens I was horribly sick. Now I can drink two pints of beer without feeling any ill effects.What is the mechanism by which our bodies become tolerant to alcohol, or indeed other drugs, all of which have a smaller and smaller effect with regular use?After all, I am consuming exactly the same amount of poison which made me ill 30 years ago - why doesn't my body just do what it did back then?Rob Howe, Gomersal, West Yorkshire, UK(Image: KAPSA, stock.xchng)

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-10 17:02:00

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Categories: Human Body.

Tags: human body, domestic science.

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Leaf me alone Why does my dishwasher have such difficulty cleaning spinach from my plates?Frank Schanze, Stuttgart, Germany(Image: MLON, stock.xchng)
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-10 17:01:00

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Categories: Domestic Science, Technology.

Tags: unanswered, domestic science, technology.

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Taste tribulation

This is a question that my husband, Jon Richfield, cannot answer to my satisfaction. I find the taste of certain common spices quite horrible. The nasty flavour I get from all of them seems, to me, quite similar.The spices that taste this way are aniseed, caraway, cumin, fennel and coriander. Tarragon, cardamom and capers also taste awful in the same way.I wonder if there is a food scientist who knows what they have in common, or what my aversion might be. I should add that I am not a fussy eater in general.Bess Richfield, Somerset West, South Africa

(2 votes) average rating:4

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-03 17:50:18

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Categories: Domestic Science, Human Body.

Tags: human body, unanswered, domestic science, technology.

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Monkey business

My son has a game in which you hang small plastic monkeys and gorillas from a plastic network of tree branches. The branch network is attached to an overhanging trunk by a magnet. As more monkeys are hooked on, the network becomes more unsteady until the magnet can hold it up no more. The player who breaks the bond is declared the loser.The game depends on a magnet of a clearly defined strength. But how is this strength determined so accurately during manufacture that it can hold almost all the monkeys (but not quite)?Pavel Sypchenko, Kiev, Ukraine

(1 vote) average rating:3

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-03 17:48:22

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Categories: Domestic Science, Technology.

Tags: animals, unanswered, domestic science, technology.

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It's his hormones What would happen if a man took the contraceptive pill, either once, accidentally, or daily? Are there any published cases?Arnout Jaspers, Leiden, The Netherlands(Image: thesaint, stock.xchng)
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