NewScientist The Last Word - Tag 'transport' details

Tag 'transport' details

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When the Apollo and other similar space capsules were returning to Earth, it was important for the larger end of their bell-shape to face downwards. This is because the protective shield, that resisted the intense heat created on re-entry by atmospheric friction as the spacecraft slowed, was positioned there.How were the capsules designed so that they would always keep the larger, protective face towards the Earth and not flip over so that the pointed end faced earthwards? It seems to me that this would be likely to happen as this orientation would minimise air resistance. Or is my grasp of space flight a bit flimsy?Bill France, Leicester, UK(The photo shows the Apollo 13 Command Module after splashdown (Image: NASA))

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-05-13 17:17:32

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Categories: Transport, Technology.

Tags: human body, unanswered, technology, transport.

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Wheels of death I heard the car is the deadliest weapon created by humans and that the number of lives it has claimed exceeds the death toll from atomic weapons, guns or bombing. Is this true? And what are the grisly figures involved?Thomas Elling, London, UK
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-04-22 17:23:24

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Categories: Human Body, Transport, Technology.

Tags: human body, animals, technology, transport.

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Surround sound

I live a kilometre north of a busy motorway. When the wind is coming from the south the noise of the motorway is noticeably greater than when the wind is coming from the north.Assuming a wind speed of a mere 30 kilometres per hour, how can the wind direction affect the level of traffic noise I hear when the speed of sound is more than 1235 kilometres per hour?Jim Turton, by email, no address supplied

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-04-15 17:02:00

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Categories: Weather , Transport.

Tags: animals, transport, weather.

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Clear waters After an electrical storm, the water in my father's small fish pond is crystal clear, having previously been full of green algae. Similarly, my parents' drinking water comes straight from a nearby reservoir and often contains organic matter, but a storm also appears to clean it up. What could cause this?Michelle, Johannesburg, South Africa(Image: enrika79, stock.xchng)
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Asked by damian
on 2009-04-09 12:55:48

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Categories: Planet Earth, Plants, Unanswered.

Tags: unanswered, technology, plants, transport, planet earth.

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Smells fine to me

I recently bought a spray-on deodorant. When I got it home I realised it was intended for women but, not wanting to waste money, I used it anyway. Nothing untoward happened and I received no strange looks from colleagues or friends. So what are the differences between deodorants meant for men and those that are meant for women? How might using the "correct" deodorant for your sex work better than using one meant for the opposite sex, and what are the pitfalls of applying a deodorant intended for the opposite sex?Alan Ainscroft, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-02-25 17:31:47

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Categories: Domestic Science, Human Body.

Tags: human body, unanswered, domestic science, transport, weather.

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Altered images

Driving along in the car the other day, my four-year-old son asked why things that were closer to us were moving faster than those further away. What should I tell him?Milton Inverdale, London, UKThanks for a vast number of answers to this question, many of which were probably more suited to undergraduate level than to a four-year-old. However, one notable group of wags insisted on sidestepping the answer at all costs.Among these was the inevitable "Ask your mother", from Tony Turner of Tuross Head, New South Wales, Australia.Stephen McIntosh of Hull, UK, suggested: "You are far too intelligent for a four-year-old... have a lolly."More encouraging was the answer from Dave Oldham of Northampton, UK, who offered: "If you can ask a question like that at four years of age it won't be many more years before you can explain it to me."And congratulations to Peter Gosling of Farnham, Surrey, UK, for his unashamedly literal view of the world. His advice was: "I think you should tell your son that it is illegal for him to be driving at four years old." - Ed

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-21 18:01:00

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Categories: Transport.

Tags: technology, transport, planet earth.

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Eye level The eye views images upside-down in the manner of a camera lens, but our brains reinterpret this input to allow us to see things the correct way up. Have there been any examples of damage to this part of the brain, causing people to see the world upside down? How does this happen, is the brain able to compensate and if so, how?Kel, Gladesville, New South Wales, Australia
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-07 18:00:01

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Categories: Human Body.

Tags: human body, transport.

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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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Eaves droppings While repairing a gutter on my roof I spotted a small patch of what looked like tiny eggs under the brick eaves (see photo, left). The patch was no larger than 2 centimetres by 1 centimetre. Each egg was the size of a pinhead. What are they, what creature is responsible and are they common in the UK?Steve Roderick, Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire, UK
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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-01-07 11:21:33

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Categories: Animals, Plants, Unanswered.

Tags: human body, animals, unanswered, plants, transport.

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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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