1

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What exactly is the universe expanding into?

« on: 28/02/2019 15:04:03 »

Rob wants to know,

What exactly is the universe expanding into, given dark matter and antimatter will only ever increase the expansion and there will be no contraction?

Does anyone know?

2

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Does light actually travel at the speed of light?

« on: 26/02/2019 15:56:08 »

Raph wants to know...

Does light ever get up to the speed of light? As it appears to be either reflected, or deflected by hot or cold gasses, or even gravity, on it's way through the universe. Or is the measurement a mere average, theoretical mathematical calculation ?

Can anyone help us out?

3

The Environment / Are natural disasters caused by a change in the Earths rotation?

« on: 21/02/2019 15:06:37 »

Wendy wants to know,

Could our dramatic storms, volcanic eruptions, crop failures, and other recently extreme occurrences possibly be caused by a change in the Earth's rotation? Even a small change in speed or tilt could change a lot! Or could the hole in our ozone act like a hole in a tire, making it wobbly?

But what do you think?

4

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How would a starship warp in and out of our solar system?

« on: 20/02/2019 16:48:38 »

Matthew has this thought...

We always see starships popping in and out of warp within solar systems in sci fi. From my understanding you would need to create a huge gravitational force to use a ‘warp’ drive, so surely this would throw the solar system into chaos and change all sorts of orbits!?

But what's your view on it?

5

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What can I do in my free time to become a Aerospace Engineer?

« on: 19/02/2019 16:53:24 »

We got this question from school student Kuzey,

What can I do in my free time to become a Aerospace Engineer?

So can anyone give some advice?

6

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / What determines how many seeds a plant makes?

« on: 18/02/2019 17:35:55 »

Tessa wrote in asking,

What determines how many seeds a plant makes?

Do you know the answer?

7

Physiology & Medicine / How long can a heart or liver stay viable?

« on: 18/02/2019 14:53:12 »

Akhil wants to know,

Can ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) or a perfusion machine system keep a liver or heart viable for years if we keep supplying oxygen and nutrients?

Can anyone help us answer this?

8

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / How does animals hair grow back?

« on: 11/02/2019 14:07:53 »

Dan wants to know,

How does animal hair grow?  My cat got a spot shaved and it grew back, naturally.  But I don’t understand how it knew to grow there and when to stop growing.  Same with baboons and other primates, immaculate hair, probably no baboon barbers.

Sadly no jungle hairdressers, but do you know the answer?

9

General Science / What takes more energy walking or skateboarding?

« on: 08/02/2019 15:34:30 »

David wants to know,

Over a distance of 100 m on a flat surface, which would take more energy, 1) walking or 2) on a skateboard?

What do you think?

10

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Will the moon escape the Earth?

« on: 07/02/2019 17:16:04 »

Benny was asking,

In one of the earliest podcast it was said that the moon is slowly moving away from the earth, a few cm every century. Does this mean that someday the moon will pull away from the earth's gravitational field? If so when would that be?

Do you know the answer?

11

Physiology & Medicine / Why do people have synaesthesia?

« on: 07/02/2019 13:31:39 »

Lina wants to know,

Why do people have synaesthesia? Is it due to associations they make when younger or is their brain wired differently from birth?

Can you help us out?

12

Physiology & Medicine / Is it actually bad for our health to eat before sleeping?

« on: 06/02/2019 17:07:13 »

Philip wants to know,

Is it actually bad for our health to eat before sleeping? Does it disturb our sleep or digestion?

Do you know the answer?

13

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How are locations in space described?

« on: 06/02/2019 14:59:38 »

Ron wants to know,

On Earth it is simple to describe a location, but with our planet rotating, and spinning around the sun, how are locations in ”space” described?

Can you help answer this?

14

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Can trees 'sense' the distance from the ground?

« on: 04/02/2019 17:30:07 »

Hans has this question about trees near his hometown,

We have trees that grow a certain height from the ground. They don't grow their branches lower than that specific height. My question is this, the same tree growing on the inclined verge of a highway - maybe 45 degrees - still somehow maintains the same height from the ground.  How does the tree sense this distance to maintain it?


Can you help answer this?

15

Chemistry / Can an atom be destroyed?

« on: 04/02/2019 15:20:53 »

Rehoboth wants to know,

Can an atom be destroyed?

What do you think?