The AnswerBank Articles

What is Linnean classification

A. It's a scientific scheme that groups species together into increasingly smaller groups within a hierarchy. It gets its name from its creator Carolus Linnaeus (1707 - 1778), a Swedish botanist01:00 Mon 21st May 2001

Why does my pint of lager go flat

A. You’re probably referring to the fact that lager seems a lot fizzier when it's first pulled then when you’re near the bottom of your glass and the answer relates to the solubility of01:00 Tue 15th May 2001

Vibration sensing paint: how does it work

A. A new paint has been developed that’s designed to sense vibrations. The paint contains a fine powder of piezoelectric material called lead zirconate titanate (PZT). When PZT crystals come01:00 Tue 15th May 2001

How should I write a curriculum vitae asked John Willis

A. Generally, there is no definitive format for writing a curriculum vitae, this can make writing it quite stressful, especially in the pressurised situation of applying for a job. Q. What does01:00 Sun 15th Jul 2001

Some cars are fitted with night vision abilities, how do they work

A. By using an image enhancement system, which picks up objects lit up by infrared beam emitted by the car, for example via special infra red headlights. An image of what lies ahead, obscured to01:00 Mon 07th May 2001

How does central heating work

asks paulmac A. Wel,l to make things complicated there are various types of system. In the UK, most households use a hot water system. In a hot water system, a boiler heats water and circulates01:00 Mon 07th May 2001

How will space elevators work

A. The elevators will span a continuous 47,000 kilometres, with a space station placed at 35,786 kilometres, a specific distance at which 'geostationary' orbit can be achieved. At this special01:00 Mon 07th May 2001

How did the Egyptians mummify a body

A. By using special processes, developed over 3,000 years, which removed all moisture from the body, leaving only a dried form that wouldn’t decay easily. First, all internal parts that decay01:00 Mon 30th Apr 2001

If mushrooms don t have seeds or roots, how do they grow

A. Mushrooms belong to a larger group of organisms called fungi. All fungi grow from microscopic dormant spores, the product of sexual reproduction. When the spores are released they disperse01:00 Mon 30th Apr 2001

How does hair perming lotion work

Asked dooza, here's The AnswerBank's relpy: A. Perming lotion is a chemical solution that alters the internal structure of the hair, making straight hair curly. The solution works by breaking down01:00 Mon 30th Apr 2001

How does the new Dyson washing machine work in relation to conventional ones

A. The new Dyson washing machine, the 'Contrarotator', has two drums, which rotate in the opposite direction at the same time whereas conventional machines have only one drum which moves in the same01:00 Mon 23rd Apr 2001

How do sun tan creams work

A. Either by blocking or absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light. Sunlight comes in three forms: infrared (heat), visible light and ultraviolet. Ultraviolet light also comes in three forms: UVA, UVB and01:00 Mon 23rd Apr 2001

Why do we have to separate the different colours when recycling glass

A. Asked dooza recently, to see the replies click here. Here is the AnswerBank's fuller response: As clear glass is usually recycled back into new clear glass and coloured glass is recycled back01:00 Mon 23rd Apr 2001

Why does glass in cars shatter into so many pieces

A. Car makers use safety glass in all their vehicles. There are two different types and they tend to use laminated glass for windscreens and tempered glass for side and rear windows. Q. What's the01:00 Thu 12th Apr 2001

How can a screen saver help find a cure for cancer

A. Researchers have developed a screen saver that uses spare processing power on your computer to find new cancer-fighting drugs. Q. How does the screen saver work A. Estimates suggest that the01:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001

Why is the popular image of Jesus inaccurate

A. The traditional long, thin-faced, blue-eyed and fair-haired image of Jesus popularised by Renaissance artists is actually a 5th century creation. By this time Christianity was firmly established01:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001

How does tickling work

Tickling puzzles Sabrinah and she's in good company: Aristotle, Plato, Galileo, and even Charles Darwin all speculated about the paradoxes of tickling. Why don't we laugh when we tickle ourselves,01:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001

What is dendrochronology

A. It's the study of tree rings and is used mainly as a dating technique for archaeology. This technique was first used in the 1920s by A.E. Douglass, who worked at the University of Arizona, in his01:00 Mon 02nd Apr 2001

What is texting

A. Short Message Service (SMS), more popularly known as text messaging, or texting, allows mobile phone users to send and receive text messages via their digital mobile phones. Q. How do you type01:00 Mon 02nd Apr 2001

How do aeroplane's produce jet streams

Allen ives recently asked about how airplanes create jet streams. Click here to see sabrinah's answer or read The AnswerBank's extended answer below: Q. What are the long white clouds formed by01:00 Mon 02nd Apr 2001