The AnswerBank Articles

Now that winter is on our doorstep is there anything worth looking out for in the countryside

A. Winter may be considered a 'dead' season for nature lovers, but with red-breasted robins and even red-tailed spotted woodpeckers more likely to visit our gardens, there are lots of fascinating01:00 Mon 12th Nov 2001

Do all planets spin in the same direction

A. Yes, apart from one: Venus spins on its axis in a clockwise direction, the opposite direction to all of our solar system's planets Q. So the Sun rises in the west rather than the east on01:00 Mon 12th Nov 2001

What makes nettles sting

A. Stinging nettles, Urtica dioica, contain an acid, which causes the sting we feel when touching them. Specifically the sting is delivered by the stiff, sharp hairs that cover the stem and under01:00 Mon 05th Nov 2001

What makes puffer fish so deadly

A. There are around a hundred species of puffer fish but not all of them are deadly. The lethal species secrete the poison tetradotoxin in their skin and internal organs. Tetrodotoxin is one of the01:00 Mon 05th Nov 2001

How fast does rain fall

A. In still air, where they receive no assistance from the wind, raindrops fall at speeds between 7 and 18 miles per hour. Q. What determines a raindrops speed A. Their size: the bigger they01:00 Mon 05th Nov 2001

Is it true that high-flying swallows indicate warm weather

A. This observation is possibly better explained by a simple meteorological fact. Swallows eat while flying and their food, insects, is carried higher when the weather is warmer by thermals. So01:00 Mon 29th Oct 2001

Why do some people want to introduce wolves to Scotland

A. Some scientists have called for the reintroduction of wolves to Scotland as a means of curbing the spiralling population of red deer. The deer, which since the disappearance of the wolf have no01:00 Mon 29th Oct 2001

Are snowflakes always symmetrical

A. Yes, they can’t help it. Their symmetry represents the organisation of water molecules as they crystallise from a liquid to solid state. Q. More specifically A. As water molecules01:00 Mon 29th Oct 2001

How does the prickly hedgehog mate

A. The preliminaries can be quite dangerous, with much biting, spitting and hissing while the unreceptive female keeps her spines upright. However, once she is ready to mate the female flattens her01:00 Mon 22nd Oct 2001

Why don t owls completely digest food like other birds and animals

A. Owls have several digestive features that mean they have to regurgitate the remains of indigestible food in the form of pellets rather than pass them out through their digestive system. However01:00 Mon 22nd Oct 2001

Do snakes make good pets

A. As with all pets please ensure that you carry out very thorough research before buying an animal to ensure that it meets your expectations and that you can look after it properly. Snakes have01:00 Mon 22nd Oct 2001

Why do lemmings jump off cliffs

A. They don't. Lemmings, contrary to popular belief, are not suicidal, which would be a rather difficult hereditary trait, either en mass or singularly. Q. Where did the myth come from A. 01:00 Mon 15th Oct 2001

What does kangaroo mean

A. Asked geoquest recently. Click here to see a number of possible explanations. Q. How tall are kangaroos A. Well there isn't just one type of kangaroo, there are over 50 different species01:00 Mon 15th Oct 2001

Which desert receives the lowest rainfall

A. The Antarctic desert, the coldest, highest, driest, windiest place on Earth. Q. How low A. Annually, less than a couple of centimetres. A similar amount to that of another very dry desert,01:00 Mon 15th Oct 2001

Is it true that the aurora borealis produces sound as well as light

A. No, the aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is a purely visual phenomenon. Suggestions that sounds accompany the ripples of lights are highly unlikely since the atmosphere is01:00 Mon 08th Oct 2001

What is the fastest living creature

A. On land this record is held by the cheetah, which can clock up to 70 miles an hour over short distances. However, the fastest creature of all is the peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, which can01:00 Mon 08th Oct 2001

An overview of bird web sites

ian wood is looking for good bird web sites for a 10 year old. The AnswerBank's Animals and Nature section is obviously a good starting point for posting questions and searching the archive for01:00 Mon 08th Oct 2001

Which bird has got a 46-foot long small intestine

A. The ostrich, Struthio camelus. Q. Ah, the ones that bury their heads in the sand A. Actually this is a myth. It probably arises from a defence mechanism they employ when sitting in their01:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001

Why do geese fly in a V formation

A. There are two theories. First this flying formation is aerodynamically efficient: the goose at the head of the V creates a slipstream, making it easier for those behind. This theory is lent extra01:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001

What can I expect when adopting a retired greyhound

Marrers is considering adopting a retired greyhound and wants to know how successfully the dog will be integrated into his home as a pet. Here, The AnswerBank highlights one or two extra01:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001