Dear Dr. Universe: Does science get harder every year or is that just me? -Keegun, 13, WA
Dear Keegun,
We’ve got about three pounds of brain in our heads that help us look for answers and solve all kinds of problems. But it isn’t always easy. Sometimes an experiment doesn’t go the way I expect or I get stuck on a particularly tricky science question. » More …
Dear Dr. Universe: How does digestion work? -Abi, 12, U.S., Megha R., 11, Dubai
Dear Abi and Megha,
All around the world, animals are eating all kinds of different foods. Our foods might be different, but one thing is true for all of us: We have to digest. » More …
Dear Dr. Universe: Why do we find some things scary? -Jack H., 8, UK
Dear Jack,
While our fears might be different, we all get scared sometimes. Vacuums, dogs, and even cucumbers make my hair stand on end. Perhaps for you it’s spiders, the dark, or the thought of monsters under your bed.
My friend Michael Delahoyde is really curious about what freaks us out. As an English professor at Washington State University, he’s even taught a course about monsters. » More …
Why do we get brain freezes? -Hannah, 9, Monroe Elementary
Dear Hannah,
You’re enjoying some ice cream, when suddenly you feel a pain in your head that hurts a whole lot. It’s like it came out of nowhere, and in a matter of seconds, it’s gone. » More …
Why is Pi 3.1415…? What if it was just 3? -anonymous
Dear Curious Readers,
It’s almost March 14. You know what that means: Pi Day, as in 3/14, or 3.14159265359 and so on.
I met up with my friend Nathan Hamlin, a mathematician and instructor here at Washington State University, to explore your question about this never-ending number.
We calculated Pi with some of my favorite items: yarn and a tuna can. You can try it at home, too. » More …
Dear Dr. Universe, Do kids’ brains work better in the morning or in the afternoon? -Grace, Spring, TX
Dear Grace,
Hang on tight because the human brain keeps you on a 24-hour roller coaster. » More …
Are we getting lazier? -Aaryan, 9, Timber Ridge
Dear Aaryan,
We cats have a reputation for being lazy. We sleep a lot. But the truth is when I got your question, I didn’t know much about laziness. So, I decided to talk about it with a couple of psychologists here at Washington State University.
My first stop was the Psychology of Physical Activity Lab. That’s where I met up with my friend, Professor Anne E. Cox. » More …
Why is yawning contagious? -Grant, 10, Pullman, WA
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. » More …
Dr. Universe,
How do you have a bake sale?
-Aoife, 7, Omagh, Ireland
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. » More …
Dr. Universe: Is the puffin a descendent of the dodo?
-Samykutha, Chennai, India
Dear Samykutha,
The dodo bird isn’t with us anymore, but if you visit a city park you’ll likely see one of its very close relatives walking around. It might even be nibbling on a French fry. Dodos were a pigeon, said my friend Michael Webster. » More …