NewScientist The Last Word - Tag 'science' details

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Baffling acoustics A local concert hall with a capacity of about 1000 has complex baffles and excellent acoustics, except for a few seats to one side near the rear. From there, a percussion stroke tails off into a little bleat. Why does this happen and can it be fixed?Jon Richfield, Somerset West, South Africa(Image: andreleme, stock.xchng)
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Asked by damian
on 2009-02-04 18:01:00

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Categories: Domestic Science.

Tags: human body, domestic science.

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Can't face it Why do we grimace when we eat sour or bitter food?Laura Offer, London, UK
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-14 18:02:00

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Categories: Domestic Science, Human Body.

Tags: human body, animals, domestic science, plants.

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Black heads

After a while I find the shower heads in my bathrooms become clogged by black flecks of what is obviously some kind of organic material. A similar material accumulates in my cold-water taps if they have not been used for some time, but in this case it is in the form of a black ribbon.I recall from visits made to water-treatment plants in my student days that the passage of water through a filter leads to the build-up of a zoogloea - a translucent jelly-like layer of organic matter. But if something similar to this process is taking place in the shower, why is the material black and exactly what is it?David Payne, Penarth, Glamorgan, UK

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-14 18:01:00

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Categories: Domestic Science.

Tags: animals, domestic science, plants.

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Soda soother Whenever I burn myself, I use my grandmother's old remedy to help relieve the pain and cool the wound: bicarbonate of soda, mixed with a little water and applied directly to the affected area. It works, but how?Alexandra Winter, Dundee, UK
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-07 11:31:59

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Categories: Domestic Science, Human Body.

Tags: human body, domestic science.

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Hot to trot Mustard and chillis are both hot, but the burning sensation from a chilli stays in the mouth for ages while the sensation from hot mustard disappears in a few seconds. Why is this?Dominic Lopez-Real, no address supplied
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-07 11:24:55

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Categories: Domestic Science, Human Body.

Tags: human body, domestic science, transport.

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Video: Double egg dilemma To accompany the new Last Word book, Do Polar Bears Get Lonely?, we've put together a short series of videos tackling some of the questions answered in the book.This first one deals with the mystery of the double-egged egg.
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2008-12-17 16:36:42

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Categories: Domestic Science.

Tags: human body, domestic science.

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Worm baiting

While sitting on a bench beside a local green, I noticed a gull performing an excellent version of Riverdance. Then it stopped and scrutinised the grass around its feet. This sequence was repeated for about 15 minutes. I assume the gull was trying to attract worms to the surface with its rhythmic dance. Was it? If so, how does the strategy work?Danny Hunter, Dublin, Ireland(Image: stock.xchng, bjearwicke)

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2008-12-10 18:01:00

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Categories: Domestic Science, Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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A matter of timing

When I use a stopwatch to time events, I know that the accuracy of the result is subject to my ability to stop the watch at the correct instant. I am also aware that I must often be at least a few hundredths of a second out.Before the advent of electronic timing, world records such as those in athletics or swimming were measured with manual stopwatches. How accurate were these timings? Was more than one watch used and how did officials ensure they were as accurate as possible?Alan Mann, Truro, Cornwall, UK(Image: Daino_16, stock.xchng)

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2008-12-03 18:02:01

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Categories: Human Body, Technology.

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

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See saw I left my saw hanging up in my damp shed. Much later, I found it was covered in these seemingly random lines of rust (see Photo, left). Why did they form like that?Bill Adsett, Bristol, UK
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2008-12-03 18:01:00

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Categories: Domestic Science, Weather .

Tags: animals, domestic science, transport, weather.

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Smelly when wet Why do wet things smell more than dry ones?Ben Scullion (age 4Â½), Darlington, Durham, UK(Image: windchaser, stock.xchng)
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