September Quiz
Published: September 25, 2006
Q: WEEK 4
Have you ever taken a big gulp of your favorite cold beverage and encountered a Brain Freeze? The symptoms are an immediate piercing headache and sudden (but mercifully brief) incapacitation. The feeling soon wears off and you can go back to your gulping. But what happened? Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_freeze.
A
According to this source, the cold drink hits your hard palate (the bony roof of your mouth) and encounters nerves there that communicate with blood vessels in your head that open up more – leading directly to a quick headache! Watch it next time – and warm your hard palate with your tongue immediately after the first sip!
Q: WEEK 3
What is MATTER? (No, I did not ask “what IS the matter” – so don’t tell me all of your troubles just yet!). I am asking about matter – that substance of our universe that makes up everything. You know that matter can change form and consistency depending on the temperature and pressure on it. For example, water (as a form of matter) can change from a solid to a liquid and from liquid to a gas. When it is heated, it changes from liquid to gas by the process of boiling. You no doubt have seen this. But what is it called when liquid water goes directly to a gas WITHOUT boiling? Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_point.
A
Yes – it is evaporation!
Q: WEEK 2
Name a creature that can lift an object many times its own weight over its head –AND – who likes to eat fungus – AND – who likes to live in the rain forest. Give up? No, it isn’t a new version of Big Foot! It is a leaf cutter ant. For more information, go to: http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/
learning/animals/invertebrates/ant.
So now my question: if leaf cutter ants eat fungus, why do they need the leaves in the first place?
A
They bring the leaves back to their home and use them as compost to grow the fungus upon!
Q: WEEK 1
Are you a good cook? What are your favorite foods? Hopefully, your tastes can accommodate something nutritionally healthy as well as flavorful. Now: are you a fast cook? What equipment do you have in your kitchen to help you? These days, many homes now have the modern miracle called MicroWave Oven! Not only do these devices heat food FAST but also at less cost than a traditional oven. How is that possible? Try: http://home.howstuffworks.com/microwave.htm.
A
They do it by heating ONLY the food, not much else and it saves electricity and therefore is lower cost to use!
Q I am a sophomore in high school. My science project will require me to use a lot of crickets. I don’t know where to buy them and I will need so many that I couldn’t afford to buy them anyway. Help!
A
Good work on your science project. Two ideas for you: (1) if you want to know where, for example, a pet shop gets its crickets to feed to its reptiles or other creatures, look one up in your phone directory and give the manager a call – it may be less expensive than you think. (2) On the other hand, growing your own may be the better option. Try this site for instructions: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/misc/ef007.htm. They say it is rather easy!
