What is a glacier?
rcwebberDear Dr. Universe: What is a glacier? – Addison, Pullman, WA
Dear Addison,
When snow piles up and compresses into a thick mass of ice, we call it a glacier. But a glacier is really more than ice and snow. » More …
How do grasshoppers survive winter?
rcwebberHow do grasshoppers survive the winter? –Lucy, 9
Dear Lucy,
There are a lot of different grasshoppers living on our planet. In fact, scientists have discovered more than 11,000 species. Exactly how these grasshoppers spend their winter depends on what kind of winter they experience. » More …
How are ants so strong?
rcwebberDear Dr. Universe: I would like to find out how ants are so strong. How is it possible that they can carry weight that is heavier than themselves?
–Anita, 11
Dear Anita,
Ants are pretty good little weightlifters. My friend Rich Zack, a scientist at Washington State University who studies insects, knows a lot about ants. One kind of ant that he has studied can carry up to 20 times its own weight. » More …
What do astronauts eat in space?
rcwebber
What do astronauts eat in space?
–Rhemi, 12, St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Rhemi,
Astronauts eat all kinds of different foods up in space. The food is often similar to what we have here on Earth. But in space, there’s very little gravity. There’s very limited refrigeration, too. On the International Space Station, the refrigerator is only about half the size of a microwave. That means scientists who prepare and package astronaut food have to do it in ways that take up very little room and don’t need to be kept cold. » More …
Snakes: Why do they shed?
rcwebberDear Dr. Universe: Why do snakes shed their skin?
– Kalitia, 12, Zimmerman, Minn.
Dear Kalitia,
Believe it or not, pretty much all animals shed their skin. Some animals make it a bit more obvious than others. Snakes, and some other reptiles, will often shed all at once. » More …
Why do we have feelings?
rcwebber
Why do we have different feelings?
– Charan and Aishwarya V., 10 & 8, Rutherford, New Jersey
Dear Charan and Aishwarya,
Imagine you are playing a game of soccer and your best friend is on the opposing team. The sun is out, you are having a great time, and you score the winning goal. You’d probably feel pretty happy and so would your team. » More …
How do animals get to islands?
rcwebberHow do animals get to islands?
-Jax, 8, Wash.
Dear Jax,
Animals make their journeys to islands in different ways. Some float. Some fly. Others will swim. » More …
How do turtles live so much longer than other animals?
rcwebberHow do turtles live so much longer than other animals?
-8th grader, Lewiston, Idaho
Dear Reader,
You’re right, turtles and tortoises live a lot longer than most other animals. If you were a turtle, you might live for more than 150 years. One giant Galápagos tortoise named Harriet even lived to be more than 170 years old, said my friend Donna Holmes. » More …
How do viruses affect animals?
rcwebberHow do viruses affect animals?
-Gianni, 10, Cayman Islands
Dear Gianni,
Our planet is home to more than seven million amazing animal species. While we have our differences, we also have something in common: We are all made up of a bunch of cells. » More …
Blood: Why do we have it? Where does it come from?
rcwebberWhy do we have blood? Where does it come from?
–Norelle, Olympia, Wash
Dear Norelle,
Our bodies have many living parts, like skin, muscle, brain and bones. Blood helps keep these parts alive and healthy. The system that moves our blood around the body is sort of like a city’s postal service, said my friend Astrid Suchy-Dicey. » More …