0
Styrofoam
Posted by Dr. Science on 10/31/2012
How is Styrofoam made?
———- from Keith Owen of Columbia, MO
It’s excreted by the Brazilian Barking Beetle just before mating. Like many insects, the Barking Beetle dies shortly after copulation, but not before leaving those little peanut shaped squiggles that fill packing cartons around the world. Curiously, the Styrofoam squiggle is larger than the beetle that produced it. This apparent contradiction of the Law of Sizeology has its explanation in the refraction of size rays emanating from the object, as well as the credulity of your typical radio listener.
It’s excreted by the Brazilian Barking Beetle just before mating. Like many insects, the Barking Beetle dies shortly after copulation, but not before leaving those little peanut shaped squiggles that fill packing cartons around the world. Curiously, the Styrofoam squiggle is larger than the beetle that produced it. This apparent contradiction of the Law of Sizeology has its explanation in the refraction of size rays emanating from the object, as well as the credulity of your typical radio listener. Coming Back from Baseball Games
Posted by Dr. Science on 10/29/2012
When people go to baseball games, why don’t they care if they ever get back?
———- from Eric Van Fossen of Atlanta, GA
Baseball is so slow a game, the fans actually forget there’s a game being played at all. It’s the American way to meditate, to zone out, to disassociate. After every game, there are numerous fans, usually in the bleachers, who have to be led out of the ballpark. Slack jawed, staring blankly ahead, they are so spaced out they have to be sent home with an attendant. This is, in part, a reason why ticket prices are so high. The other reason is simple greed.
Baseball is so slow a game, the fans actually forget there’s a game being played at all. It’s the American way to meditate, to zone out, to disassociate. After every game, there are numerous fans, usually in the bleachers, who have to be led out of the ballpark. Slack jawed, staring blankly ahead, they are so spaced out they have to be sent home with an attendant. This is, in part, a reason why ticket prices are so high. The other reason is simple greed. Eating Crow
Posted by Dr. Science on 10/26/2012
How does eating crow differ from eating humble pie?
———- from Erik and Mark of Boise, ID
Humble pies were pies made from road kill. The pie served to disguise the nature of its contents and poor people would often bake them after scouring the highway for the ingredients. Crows also eat road kill, and those preparing humble pie had to compete with the arrogant black birds for sustenance. Often the crow lost the contest, and ended up in the pie. So to answer your question…check your data.
Humble pies were pies made from road kill. The pie served to disguise the nature of its contents and poor people would often bake them after scouring the highway for the ingredients. Crows also eat road kill, and those preparing humble pie had to compete with the arrogant black birds for sustenance. Often the crow lost the contest, and ended up in the pie. So to answer your question…check your data. Rivers and State Lines
Posted by Dr. Science on 10/24/2012
Why do so many rivers have the uncanny ability to follow state lines?
———- from Gary Lewis of Fletcher, NC
River water is unimaginative water. Unlike ocean water, is doesn’t make rules, it follows them. To use an office analogy, rivers are humble clerk-typists while oceans are self-important administrators. The reason crimes become more serious when the perpetrator crosses state lines is because such behavior completely undermines a river’s sense of propriety, and a freaked out river with no firm grasp on reality is a river that floods. I know it’s not fair for all of us to suffer when someone engages in interstate malfeasance, but that’s what happens when you mix geography and water.
River water is unimaginative water. Unlike ocean water, is doesn’t make rules, it follows them. To use an office analogy, rivers are humble clerk-typists while oceans are self-important administrators. The reason crimes become more serious when the perpetrator crosses state lines is because such behavior completely undermines a river’s sense of propriety, and a freaked out river with no firm grasp on reality is a river that floods. I know it’s not fair for all of us to suffer when someone engages in interstate malfeasance, but that’s what happens when you mix geography and water. The Sun?
Posted by Dr. Science on 10/22/2012
What is that big, hot, round, yellow thing that flies through the sky from morning to night?
———- from Tony Searle of London, England
So you have overweight, menopausal ducks in England, too. Probably the result of people feeding them too much buttered popcorn. Did you know that contributing to the obesity of waterfowl is a crime in most countries? Well, you can pass a law against excessive feeding of pigeons and ducks, but that doesn’t give people with nothing better to do a reason to change their behavior. Many of them need a reason to simply go on living. But getting back to the ducks, menopause often results in hot flashes, and a faulty diet can make these chronic. So much depends on proper nutrition.
So you have overweight, menopausal ducks in England, too. Probably the result of people feeding them too much buttered popcorn. Did you know that contributing to the obesity of waterfowl is a crime in most countries? Well, you can pass a law against excessive feeding of pigeons and ducks, but that doesn’t give people with nothing better to do a reason to change their behavior. Many of them need a reason to simply go on living. But getting back to the ducks, menopause often results in hot flashes, and a faulty diet can make these chronic. So much depends on proper nutrition. 