Seas Longest Lived Animal – The Sea Urchin

Researchers have discovered the real old man or old woman of the sea – the humble sea urchin – which can live over 200 years ! Studying specimens of red sea urchins off the coat of America, marine zoologist Thomas Ebert has found that the urchins grow quit...

Frogs Croak With an Accent

I expect to most people listening to the show tonight, the croak of one frog probably sounds much the same as another. But apparently at least one species of frog has developed a regional accent in its mating calls. The finding was made by Julia Wycherley during a project to ...

Why Are Some People Hoarders ?

Why do some people hoard tons of junk while others can keep their lives clutter-free? Why are some people avid collectors of anything from stamps to beermats? American scientists think they have located the region of the rain that is responsible for hoarding behaviour- itR...

Water Fluoridation Gets The Go-ahead

Water fluoridation got the go-ahead this week after members of the house of commons voted in favour of a motion enabling health authorities to force water companies top add fluoride to drinking water. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel reducing your chances of developing tooth...

Allergies on The Increase

We are becoming a more allergic nation- that’s the news from the British Medical Journal which published a study this week looking at hospital admissions for allergy-related illnesses from 1990 to the year 2000. Researchers in London found a dramatic rise in the number ...

Can a Flame Burn in Zero Gravity ?

When something burns, like a candle for instance, the substance acting as the fuel (e.g. the wax) becomes very hot and vapourises. Because the vapour is hot, and expands, it has a lower density than the surrounding air so it rises upwards. As it rises it mixes with ox...