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Dr. Universe: Do trees still create oxygen and clean the air after their leaves fall off? – Nova, 8, Palouse, Wash.

January 10, 2020 jaime.chambers

Dear Nova,

The trees that lose their leaves in fall, such as chestnuts, oaks, aspens, and maples, are called deciduous trees. Once they lose their leaves, most aren’t able to take in carbon dioxide gas from the air or produce any oxygen.

That’s what I found out from my friend Kevin Zobrist, a professor of forestry at Washington State University.

“Don’t fret, though,” Zobrist said. “For they more than make up for it in the summer.”

Dr. Universe: How do trees help the air? – Ella, 12

August 23, 2019 rcwebber

Take a big, deep breath. As you inhale and exhale, you can probably feel the air taking up space in your lungs. The air we breathe is made up of a few different things. It includes gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide—just to name a few. Animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. But in the plant world, it’s the opposite. Trees, plants, and even algae in the ocean, take in carbon dioxide from the air and, using the energy of the sun, transform it into the oxygen we all breathe. Read More ...

Why does meat get brown on the grill? – Christina, Seattle, Wash.

May 30, 2017 rcwebber

Dear Christina,

You know summer is just around the corner when the smell of barbecue is in the air. It’s a great question you ask and it leads us to the Meats Lab at Washington State University. That’s where I met up with my friend and animal scientist, Jan Busboom.

Dear Dr. Universe: Why are plants green? – Nadia, 8, Australia

March 13, 2017 rcwebber

Dear Nadia,

A lush tropical rainforest, a field of sunflowers, a garden in your neighborhood. Our Earth is home to all kinds of plant life. From trees to catnip, there are thousands of different species of plants. Most of these plants are green, but not all of them.

Are there creatures on Earth with one eye? -Elena, 7, Vancouver, Canada

May 31, 2016 rcwebber

Dear Elena,

The animal kingdom is full of amazing eyes. And yes, there are actually creatures on our planet that have just one.

Why is there iron in my cereal? Is there iron in other food? -Phillip, 11, Pullman, WA

April 27, 2016 rcwebber

Dear Phillip,

Iron is found in buildings and skyscrapers. It makes up most of the Earth’s core. It’s even found in the Sun and stars. And yes, it’s also in a bowl of cereal.

Why is yawning contagious? -Grant, 10, Pullman, WA

November 23, 2015 rcwebber

Dear Grant,

When I got your question, I met up with my friend Hans Van Dongen, a scientist at Washington State University in Spokane. He works in a research lab where they study sleep. As a cat who appreciates naps, it’s one of my favorite places to visit.

If mollusks have such heavy shells to drag around with them, how have they spread all over the ocean? -Michel W.

August 10, 2015 rcwebber

Dear Michel,

Mollusks, from land snails and slugs to oysters and mussels in the sea, have a few things in common. They have a head. They have a soft middle part that holds their organs. Then, some have a muscle that’s known as a “foot.”

Dr. Universe, How do you have a bake sale? -Aoife, 7, Omagh, Ireland

July 20, 2015 rcwebber

Dear Aoife,

It took more than a hundred bakers to pull off the biggest bake sale in history. They made 14,534 cakes, sold out their supply in eight hours, and made it into the Guinness World Records.