The AnswerBank Articles

Why is the leatherback turtle so called

A. The leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, unlike all other turtles, has no obvious shell and its back is merely skin, which has a blackish smooth leathery surface, hence the name. Q. But01:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Why do whale species move their tails up and down, while fish tails flip from side to side

A. The answer lies in their different evolutionary paths. Whales and dolphins are mammals - they evolved from an animal that once lived and walked on land. Their tails, and the underlying skeletal01:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Should we really feed birds during the winter Doesn t it just make them dependent on us

A. Yes, wild birds do become dependent on food provided for them, which is why it's important to continue feeding them after having started. But unlike other cases where feeding wildlife is01:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Lee Tidman is having toilet problems with a new cat from a rescue shelter

Here, The AnswerBank highlights some possible causes of the problem, however if the behaviour persists, it may be a good idea to contact the shelter and a vet for help and advice. Q. How can I01:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

How can I keep foxes out of my garden

john82khrxes has a problem with foxes visiting his garden and wants to know how to discourage them. Q. What are urban foxes A. They’re just the same as country foxes, but they’ve taken01:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

What are pharaoh ants

Asked cjslater recently. Pharaoh ants, or Monomorium pharaonis to give them their proper Latin names, are what is know as 'introduced social ants' . Q. What do they look like A. The workers01:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

What s happening in the countryside now that autumn is here

A. The autumn equinox falls on 23rd September signalling the end of the summer and the beginning of many changes in the countryside. Q. What animals can I look out for in autumn A. Swallows are01:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

How do leaves know when to fall off trees

A. Like seeds, which don't germinate until the right time of year, special chemicals or hormones control leaf fall, or winter dormancy to give it its proper name. As autumn approaches and the leaf01:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

What s the best way to get rid of a wasp nest

derekrob has obviously got an annoying, potentially dangerous pest on his hands and is looking for advice. Here, The AnswerBank provides some pointers, but don't forget, your local council's01:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

What is albinism

A. It's genetic condition that causes people to have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair. Albinism is an inherited condition, where the genes do not produce the pigment melanin. Q. 01:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

Do fish drink

Asked Mother recently. A. The answer is yes, but the term 'drinks like a fish' only applies to saltwater or marine fish. Fresh water fish drink virtually no water and take in only a small amount01:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

What is bumblefoot

A. Bumblefoot is the common name for ulcerative pododermatitis, a bird’s version of athlete's foot. The skin on the underside of the foot becomes starved of oxygen and dies, becoming broken and01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

What are NEO s

A. They're Near Earth Objects, comets and asteroids whose orbits bring them close enough to Earth for scientists to keep an eye on them. Q. What are the scientists looking for A. Large objects01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

Is there a mammal that lays eggs

The PlatypusA. Yes, in fact there are three: the duck-billed platypus and two species of echidna, or 'spiny anteaters', collectively they're known as monotremes. Q Why are they classified as01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

How do starfish move

A. Using the hundreds of tube 'feet' that run beneath their arms. The starfish draws water through its body and feeds it through to these suctioned bottomed tubes, which are usually attached to01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

What was the snowball event

A. This term has been given to a series of geological event around 750 million years ago when the Earth was covered in ice. The Earth became a giant snowball, reflecting back any of the Sun’s01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

Why may Pluto not be a planet

A. It all depends on which definition of 'planet' is being used. Q. Is there more than one A. So it appears, or rather different degrees of the same basic idea. A planet can be described as a01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

What s the world s largest invertebrate

A. The giant squid, or Architeuthis dux to give it its Latin name. Of the 500 species of squid Architeuthis dux is the biggest of them all. Q. Just how big is it A. At least up to 18m in length01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

What do you call a group of owls

A. Possibly linked to the perception that owls are wise, a group of them is called a parliament of owls. Q. What makes owls such good hunters A. Owls are raptors, or birds of prey, hunting01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

How long does it take for wasps to build their nests

A. All summer! A wasp colony starts building its nest in the spring, and this gradually gets bigger as the colony grows. In autumn the nest reaches peak size and is then abandoned. Only a01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001