Why don’t we drink dog milk? — Suzy, 7, Wisconsin
melissamayer
But dogs probably didn’t make enough milk to justify making a dairy breed of dogs. Read More ...
Ask Dr. Universe
Food and Health
Why does bread expand in the oven? — Skye, 10, United Arab Emirates
melissamayerDear Skye,
Every weekend, I make pizza dough. I love watching the dough bubble and rise.
I asked my friend Mel Darbyshire why that happens. She’s head of baking at Washington State University’s Breadlab. There, scientists and bakers work together to develop grains that make super bread.
It turns out bread rises because it contains yeast.
Yeast is a microscopic, single-celled fungus. Like all living things, yeast needs energy to grow and reproduce. It gets that energy by eating sugar.
When I make pizza dough, I mix together warm water and sugar. Then I sprinkle a packet of yeast over the top and … » More …
Read More ...Why do some humans like to do bad things? Is it the thrill or were they always born bad? – Leonel, 14, Texas
melissamayerDear Leonel,
I’ve met some naughty cats. I’ve also known some misunderstood ones.
I asked my friend Chris Barry why humans are sometimes like that, too. He’s a psychologist at Washington State University.
He told me we’re talking about behaviors that don’t align with social norms. They give most people bad feelings. That’s like feeling uncomfortable when someone does something violent or mean.
Sometimes those behaviors come from the person’s nature, or temperament. Sometimes they happen because the person enjoys taking risks. Or maybe they struggle to think before they act.
It could be all those things, even within the same person. Plus, temperament, … » More …
Read More ...Why do carrots have sugar? They are so yummy! – George and Samuel, 6, Virginia
melissamayerDear George and Samuel,
Roasted and soft. Raw and crunchy. Baked into a cake. I love eating all kinds of carrots.
I asked my friend Tim Waters why those orange veggies are so tasty. He studies vegetable crops at Washington State University.
He told me that we eat the carrot plant’s root. That’s where the plant stores all the sugar it makes during photosynthesis.
“The sugars that carrots have are sucrose, glucose and fructose,” Waters said. “They’re stored in the root as a source of energy for the plant while it’s growing.”
It turns out carrots are biennial plants. It takes two years … » More …
Read More ...Why does my tummy rumble when I’m hungry? – Jules 5, Maine
melissamayerDear Jules,
Sometimes my stomach growls so loudly that other people can hear it. It’s pretty awkward in meetings.
I asked my friend Ed Johnson why that happens. He teaches classes about the human body in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University.
He told me the rumbling noise happens because of what’s going on inside your gut.
“The sounds you hear are the fluid and gas that’s in your digestive tract moving around,” Johnson said.
The digestive system cycles through a lot of fluid—about 9 liters every single day. That’s the same as four-and-a-half 2-liter soda bottles.
Some of that liquid comes … » More …
Read More ...What is the most poisonous thing in the world? – Macmillan, 16, India
melissamayerDear Macmillan,
There are some amazing deadly things out there. Like a frog that oozes poison from its skin. Or a jellyfish that uses itty bitty hooks to inject venom into its prey.
But it turns out the most poisonous thing on Earth is everywhere. It’s in our soil. It’s in our water. It might be in your kitchen.
It’s a species of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.
I talked about it with my friend Susie Craig. She studies food safety at Washington State University.
She told me that C. botulinum makes the toxin that causes botulism. People can get it by eating … » More …
Read More ...Why do we have germs on our hands? – Prince, 12, Georgia
melissamayerDear Prince,
Germs are tiny organisms—also called microbes. They’re so small you have to zoom in with a microscope to see them. They can be bacteria, viruses, fungi or other teeny things. Some microbes make us sick. Some don’t bother us at all. Some help us out.
I talked about all that with my friend Eric Lofgren. He studies infectious disease at Washington State University.
He said there are two main reasons we have germs on our skin. We pick up some microbes from the environment. Some live on our skin all the time.
“The world is full of microbes,” Lofgren said. “They’re very … » More …
Read More ...I would really like to make a better way to get a shot that doesn't hurt so much. – Jacob, 10, Cayman Islands
melissamayerDear Jacob,
I love vaccines. They keep us safe from germs that can make us sick. But I don’t love how much shots hurt. Sometimes I feel anxious before I visit the veterinarian for a vaccine.
I talked about that with my friend Roland Chen. He’s an engineer at Washington State University.
He’s working on brand-new needles that could make shots painless. They’re called microneedle arrays.
“You feel pain because the needle reaches the pain receptor,” Chen said. “Microneedles are much shorter than typical needles. They’re about one-third to half the size.”
Most vaccines are intramuscular injections. A trained healthcare provider gently slides … » More …
Read More ...Why is snot green? – William, 7, United Kingdom
melissamayerDear William,
There are lots of unpleasant things about being sick. Leaking slimy green snot is near the top of my yuck list.
I talked about it with my friend Linda Eddy. She’s a nurse for kids. She runs the nursing program on the Vancouver campus of Washington State University.
She told me that snot is normally clear. It turns yellow or green when our bodies fight germs that can make us sick.
Snot is also called mucus. It’s a thin, slippery liquid that covers many of the surfaces inside our bodies. You can find mucus in your nose, mouth and eyes. It … » More …
Read More ...How is ice cream made? - Israel, 7
rcwebberDear Israel,
It just so happens that July is National Ice Cream Month. To celebrate, I decided to whip up some homemade ice cream. You can try it at home, too.
Put milk, sugar and vanilla into a freezer bag and seal it up tight. Fill another gallon freezer bag with ice and rock salt. Place the liquid mix bag inside the bag of ice and give it a good long shake. Some scientists might call this part "agitating." After five minutes or so, you'll notice the liquid mix in your bag becomes solid. Then you can dig in with a spoon.
After making my own homemade tuna-flavored ice cream, I decided to take a trip to the Washington State University Creamery to see how the professionals make ice cream for Ferdinand's Ice Cream Shoppe.
Read More ...Why does milk cure the spicy feeling in your mouth after you eat something spicy but water doesn't? – Eloise, 10, Minnesota
melissamayerDear Eloise,
My work as a science cat has introduced me to human foods—like chips and salsa. I love the spicy taste of salsa, but I always keep a saucer of milk handy.
I talked about why milk calms the spicy feeling with my friend Emily Cukier. She’s a chemistry librarian at Washington State University.
She told me that the spicy feeling comes from something called capsaicin. The amount of capsaicin in a pepper determines how hot it is.
Read More ...I want to know how snake venom in the antidote makes sense? – Raagini, 10, New York
melissamayerDear Raagini,
One of my roommates is a corn snake named Buddy. He’s not venomous. But he’s a very private individual and really likes his space.
Buddy and I talked about your question with my friend Blair Perry. He’s a biologist at Washington State University. He’s an expert on snakes and venom.
Perry told me antivenom doesn’t contain actual snake venom. It’s made with antibodies to snake venom.
Antibodies are proteins. They’re part of your immune system. They travel in your blood to fight germs or dangerous molecules—like those in venom—that could hurt you. Sometimes we get vaccines to boost our antibodies so they’re ready when something harmful shows up.
Read More ...How do I make compost without a compost maker? – Miracle, 15, Nigeria
melissamayerHi Miracle,
My office is just down the road from the Washington State University composting facility. It processes more than 10,000 pounds of organic waste every month. That’s a lot of compost!
I talked about compost with my friend Jim Kropf. He works for WSU Extension. Extension programs connect universities with local communities. They offer classes and trustworthy, science-based resources that anyone can use online.
Kropf told me that composting is how nature recycles. “In the forest, leaves fall on the ground and come in contact with soil,” he said. “Worms, centipedes, microorganisms and fungi all work on those leaves to break them down into organic matter.”
Making compost is copying nature to make fertilizer for healthier gardens. It’s also a way to help our planet.
Read More ...What are microorganisms? –Trystan, 11, North Carolina
melissamayerDear Trystan,
One of my favorite things to do is look at pond water with a microscope. I love to see all the teeny tiny critters zooming around in a single drop.
I talked about microorganisms, also called microbes, with my friend Claire Burbick. She’s a microbiologist at Washington State University. She told me the key trait for microbes is size. Microbes are micro—which means extremely small.
Read More ...Dr. Universe: Why do we get sleepy when we study? - Sadaf, 12, Pakistan
Larry ClarkDear Sadaf,
Like many good students, you’ve probably noticed that when you study, especially late in the day, you feel sleepy. Scientists don’t know exactly why, but they have a few clues.
The human brain is packed with tens of billions of cells called neurons, which process and store information that helps us observe, understand and make decisions about the world.
My friend Hans Van Dongen, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center and a professor of medicine at Washington State University, said you might think about neurons as workers in a huge company. Each neuron is an expert in a piece of information, and neurons work together to share what they know and build new connections in the brain.
Read More ...Dr. Universe: What’s the purpose of baking soda? What’s the purpose of baking powder? What’s the difference between the two? - Kyle, 9, Florida
rcwebber
When I got your question, I headed straight to my kitchen cabinet. I grabbed some baking soda and baking powder from the shelf and made some observations.
Not only did the baking soda and baking powder look similar to one another but both contained an ingredient called sodium bicarbonate. Read More ...
Dr. Universe: How does toothpaste clean your teeth? -Lucy, 10, Pullman, WA
rcwebber
Dear Lucy,
If you are anything like me, every day you squeeze a little toothpaste onto your toothbrush and brush your teeth. Toothpaste gets its cleaning power from a few different ingredients.
My friend Mark Leid was happy to tell us about how they work. Leid spent part of his career teaching future dentists. He is also dean of the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
First, he told me the outer covering of a tooth is called enamel. It’s the hardest tissue in the whole human body—even harder than bone—and it helps with things like chewing your food. Read More ...
Dear Dr. Universe: Why do some cheeses stink? – Cody, 11
rcwebber
When you take a whiff of stinky cheese, that smell is coming from one of its very important ingredients: microorganisms.
Microorganisms are so small, you’d need a microscope to see them, but sometimes they give off a big stink. To find out more about stinky cheese, I talked to my friend Minto Michael.
Michael is a professor of dairy science at Washington State University and told me microorganisms do a few different jobs to help make cheese. Read More ...
Dr. Universe: Why do trees have sap? -Aliyah, 8, Kirkland, WA
rcwebber
Just as blood moves important stuff around the human body, sugary sap moves important things around a tree.
My friend Nadia Valverdi told me all about it. She’s a researcher at Washington State University who studies how apple and cherry trees survive in different environments.
When we eat food, like a delicious apple or a handful of cherries, we get important nutrients. Read More ...
Dr. Universe: How do you make cider? -Julianna, 7
rcwebber
We can make cider with juice from apples. There are many different kinds of apples and a few different ways to squeeze out the juice.
My friend Bri Valliere told me all about it. She’s a food scientist at Washington State University who knows a lot about cider.
The first step is to pick out the apples. Honeycrisp apples will make a sweet cider. Granny Smiths are more acidic and will make a tart cider.
“We could make a single batch of one kind, or we could mix different kinds of apples together and see how it turns out,” she said. “No matter what, it’s going to taste good.” Read More ...
Dr. Universe: With the coronavirus why is it effective to wear a mask? How does it make life safer? - Marin, age 12, in Ohio
rcwebber
Dear Marin,
Whenever I go out and about, I make sure to wear my face mask. Like you, I wanted to find out exactly how they work.
First, I talked to Marian Wilson, an assistant professor and nurse at Washington State University who is curious about how face masks protect people.
“When we talk, sneeze, sing, or laugh, we spread droplets into the air all the time,” she said. “With the COVID-19 pandemic going on, we know people may have virus in their droplets.” Read More ...
Dr. Universe: Why do we need to eat and drink? -Victoria, 7, MN
rcwebber
Just like a car needs gas to run, food is the body’s fuel. Food gives us energy, or the power to do work. It helps us run, jump, think, and do all kinds of things.
That’s what I found out from my friend Alice Ma, a dietician at Washington State University.
When you take a bite of food it goes down your throat, or esophagus, and down into your stomach. In the stomach and small intestine, things like bile, acid, and enzymes help digest, or break down your food so your body can absorb the parts it needs. Read More ...
Dr. Universe: Why does soap get bubbly? Samuel, 9, East Peoria, IL
rcwebber
When you wash your hands with soap and water, a few different things happen to make bubbles.
Just like you, water and soap are made up of parts called molecules. Water molecules really like to stick together.
If you’ve ever jumped in a puddle or a pool, you may have even observed how water splashes in the shape of little drops. As water sticks together, it likes to form spheres. Read More ...
How are vaccines made? - Sibagh, 7, New York City, NY
rcwebber
It might seem strange, but a small piece of something dangerous can protect you against something much more dangerous. This idea has been around for a long time—and it works.
To learn more, I talked to Guy Palmer at Washington State University. As a scientist who studies infectious disease, Palmer likes learning about how to protect both human and animal health. Vaccines are one way to accomplish this. Read More ...
Why are carrots orange? - Caden, 11, N.C.
jaime.chambersDear Caden,
When you picture the carrot section at a grocery store in the United States, you probably imagine rows of orange. But carrots can come in a rainbow of other colors: purple, yellow, red, and more.
And the first carrots weren’t orange at all. They were stark white.
That’s what I learned from Tim Waters, a Vegetable Specialist at Washington State University-Extension. He studies how to grow different kinds of vegetables, and helps others learn how to grow them too.
Read More ...Why do I like buffalo wings and not broccoli? - Joe, 10, New York City, NY
jaime.chambersDear Joe,
You’re not alone—cats don’t like broccoli much either. As a carnivore, I think a nice, meaty buffalo wing sounds great.
But humans are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and meat. They’ve developed a taste for all kinds of things growing and living all over the world. So where do individual people’s preferences come from?
To find out, I visited Carolyn Ross, a professor of Food Science at Washington State University. Like you, she is very curious about why people like the foods they like.
Read More ...How was popcorn discovered? - Jalen, 12, Benson, N.C.
jaime.chambersDear Jalen,
There’s nothing like popcorn in progress: the snapping kernels, the warm buttery smell, and the knowledge that a delicious snack will be ready in minutes. It gives you some good time to think and wonder: how did humans first start doing this?
To find out where popcorn came from, I visited my friend Erin Thornton, an archaeologist at Washington State University. Archaeologists study how humans lived in the past—including the things they ate.
To learn the story of popcorn, we have to trace the history of maize.
Read More ...Dr. Universe: Do babies have ways of communicating? –Jalen, 12, North Carolina
rcwebber
Dear Jalen,
Babies can communicate in a few different ways. For the most part, they use their emotions.
Humans come into the world crying, but that’s actually a good thing. In a way, babies start communicating from the moment they are born. Of course, it can be hard for their caregivers to know exactly what they mean with all those cries. Read More ...
Dr. Universe: How do bags form under your eyes? –Sophia Ivy, 7, New Providence, NJ
rcwebber
Dear Sophia Ivy,
If you’ve ever stayed up late and woke up really early, you may have noticed a little puffiness or swelling under your eyes.
When I asked my friend Devon Hansen about the answer to your question, she said that we first have to know a bit about how sleep works. Read More ...
Who created the very first chocolate bar? – Emma, 11, USA
rcwebberDear Emma,
For most of human history, people have enjoyed chocolate in a spicy, bitter drink. But when people discovered how to turn chocolate into a solid, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
That’s what I found out from my friend Omar Cornejo, a scientist at Washington State University who is very curious about the history and life of the cacao tree. Chocolate comes from the seeds of leathery fruits that grow on the tree.
If we cut open the fruit, we would find about 20 to 60 seeds on the inside. In ancient times, people would grind up the seeds … » More …
Read More ...Dr. Universe: What is happening when we sleepwalk? -Daniel, 11, Easton, CT
rcwebberDear Daniel,
Our brains work hard to help us move, talk and think. They also help us sleep. When we rest, some parts of our brain are active. When we are up and moving around, parts of our brain are actually at rest.
Read More ...Dear Dr. Universe: What food is sweet and good to eat? – Sophia, Pullman, WA
rcwebberDear Sophia,
There are quite a few foods that are sweet and good to eat. A lot of them are fruit, said my friend Pablo Monsivais. He’s an associate professor at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
Read More ...Dr. Universe: How come broccoli is good for you? -Zack, 10, San Lorenzo Valley
rcwebberDear Zack,
You aren’t alone if you’ve ever heard someone at the dinner table say, “you’ve got to eat your broccoli.” Broccoli is one of nature’s superfoods, so it’s no wonder we are often encouraged to eat those little green trees.
Read More ...Why do feet smell? -Jose, 10, Costa Mesa, Calif.
rcwebberDear Jose,
We live in a world filled with all kinds of smells. Take off a pair of tennis shoes after a long day and you might even get a whiff of something pretty stinky. You can blame it on your bacteria. Millions of these tiny things live on your feet.
Read More ...Dr. Universe: Why are there different blood types? - Sarah, Tacoma, Wash.
rcwebberDear Sarah,
At this very moment, several quarts of blood are circulating through your body at nearly 4 mph. But as you’ve pointed out, not everyone’s blood is the same.
Your question made me wonder exactly what we mean when we talk about blood types. I decided to ask my friend Amber Fyfe-Johnson, a researcher at Washington State University who studies cardiovascular diseases--diseases of the blood vessels-- in kids.
Read More ...Dear Dr. Universe: What did our ancestors eat? -Bushra, 10, Kuwait
rcwebberDear Bushra,
Our ancestors weren’t very picky eaters. In fact, they ate pretty much whatever they could find, wherever and whenever they could find it.
Read More ...What do astronauts eat in space? –Rhemi, 12, St. Louis, Mo.
rcwebberDear 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.
Read More ...Why does meat get brown on the grill? – Christina, Seattle, Wash.
rcwebberDear 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.
Read More ...How do animals get to islands? -Jax, 8, Wash.
rcwebberDear Jax,
Animals make their journeys to islands in different ways. Some float. Some fly. Others will swim.
Read More ...Why do we have water in our bodies? –Angelika, 12, Cathedral City, CA
rcwebberDear Angelika,
Believe it or not, we are mostly water. Of course, you may have noticed we aren’t sloshing around and spilling everywhere.
Read More ...Dr. Universe: I have a ginormous question for you. How come non-biodegradables take like a million, billion, zillion years to decay? -Madeline C., age 8
rcwebberDear Madeline,
You’re right. It can take a really long time for some things to decay.
If we buried an apple peel in the backyard it might only take a few weeks to break down into the soil. But if we buried a plastic water bottle, it would probably still be there hundreds of years from now.
Read More ...Why are apples red? -Emily, 5, Seattle, WA
rcwebber
Dear Emily,
Just the other day I was biting into a crunchy, delicious red apple when I was reminded of your question. I started wondering why apples are red, too.
Read More ...Why do onions make us cry? -Kera, 5, Lawrenceville, GA
rcwebberDear Kera,
Try as we might, it can be hard to hold back tears while chopping up onions.
Read More ...Why do we feel pain? -Sara, 11, Moscow, Idaho
rcwebberDear Sara,
Pain is unpleasant, but we need it for survival. Just the other day I was out exploring when I stubbed my paw and let out a big meow. My nervous system was doing its job.
Read More ...What exactly is cheese? -Mark, 11
rcwebberDear Mark,
Cheese is delicious. At least, that’s this cat’s professional opinion. For the more scientific answer, I visited the cheese makers here at Washington State University.
Read More ...How many colors can we see? -Andrew P., 12
rcwebber-
Dear Andrew,
The human eye can see millions and millions of colors. But believe it or not, some colors exist in our world that the human eye can’t see.
Read More ...Hi, Dr. Universe! When I was eating breakfast today, I came up with this question. Why does crispy rice make a popping sound when I pour milk over it? It makes me curious as a cat! -Allison, 11, Pullman, WA
rcwebberDear Allison,
My ears perked right up when I got your question. Like you, I’ve heard the sounds crispy rice cereal makes. But the truth is, I wasn’t entirely sure why it happens. There was only one way to find out.
Read More ...Why does soda fizz? -Emily, 9, Florida
rcwebberDear Emily,
If you’ve ever had flat soda, you know a sip isn’t the same without some fizzy bubbles. We can hear them pop and feel them burst on our tongue.
Read More ...Why is there iron in my cereal? Is there iron in other food? -Phillip, 11, Pullman, WA
rcwebberDear 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.
Read More ...Do we drink the same water dinosaurs drank? -Sophia, 7
rcwebberDear Sophia,
Yes. The water on our Earth today is the same water that’s been here for nearly 5 billion years. Only a tiny bit of it has escaped out into space. As far as we know, new water hasn’t formed either.
Read More ...Why do we have earwax? -David, 10, Albany, Oregon
rcwebberhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as4TWgC4xxA
Dear David,
The other day I was scratching my ears when I noticed some yellowish-brown gunk on my claw. It was pretty gross, but it also made me very curious.
Read More ...What is Dr. Universe's favorite experiment? -Garrett, 8th grade, Eastern Washington
rcwebberDear Garrett,
You know, your question reminds me of a couple other science questions from curious readers. Evangeline, age 7, wants to know why her hair is black. Sureya, age 8, wants to know why some people have curly hair.
It just so happens that one of my favorite science projects explores our questions about what makes us unique. It has to do with our DNA, or the blueprint for life.
Read More ...Why do we get brain freezes -Hannah, 9, Monroe Elementary
rcwebberDear 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.
Read More ...Dear Dr. Universe, Why do we age? -Logan, 12, Pullman, WA
rcwebberDear Logan,
It’s usually later in life that we see the more dramatic signs of aging, like gray hair, wrinkles, and lots of birthday candles on our cake. But we really start growing older from the time we are born.
Read More ...Dear Dr. Universe, Do kids' brains work better in the morning or in the afternoon? -Grace, Spring, TX
rcwebberDear Grace,
Hang on tight because the human brain keeps you on a 24-hour roller coaster.
Read More ...What are boogers? -Taryn, 9, Seattle, WA
rcwebber
What exactly is a booger and is it harmful to eat? -Concerned grandpa
Dear curious readers,
When I went to visit my friend Susan Perkins, an instructor of nursing at Washington State University, she shined a tiny light in my nose. Sure enough, she found some crusty little boogies.
Read More ...What are fingernails made of? -Amy, 8, Seattle, WA
rcwebberDear Amy,
My claws can come in quite handy when I need to scratch my ears or climb trees. I bet you’ve found that your own fingernails can be useful tools, too. Perhaps you’ve used them to pick up a penny or peel an orange.
Read More ...Why is yawning contagious? -Grant, 10, Pullman, WA
rcwebberDear 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.
Read More ...What causes stomachaches? -Autumn, Austin, Texas
rcwebberDear Autumn,
Stomachaches happen for lots of reasons, but they can often be traced back to tiny invaders in the human body: germs.
Read More ...Dear Dr. Universe, Do animals have the same types of bones and muscles as humans? -Lydia, 8
rcwebberDear Lydia,
The short answer is yes, said my friend Leslie Sprunger, a veterinarian and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. But, as always, there’s a catch.
Read More ...Dear Dr. Universe, Please answer this question: Do animals dream? What dreams do they get? I humbly request you to answer these questions. BYE! Or should I say MEOWY! -Prahlad R.
rcwebberDear Prahlad,
After a quick catnap and a stretch, I went to visit my friend Marcos Frank, a scientist at Washington State University who studies animal sleep.
Read More ...What exactly are greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect? -Andres, 10, Bolivia
rcwebberDear Andres,
If it weren’t for greenhouse gases, Earth would be an extremely cold, deserted planet. Plants couldn’t grow and animals like us wouldn’t be able to survive.
Read More ...How do you make the best chocolate chip cookies in the universe? -Ms. Lori and students, Bismarck, ND
rcwebberDear Ms. Lori and students,
You’ve got to know your dough. Whether you want chewy cookies or crispy dunkers, it’s all about chemistry. Especially, when it comes to the flour.
Read More ...Dr. Universe, How do you have a bake sale? -Aoife, 7, Omagh, Ireland
rcwebberDear 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.
Read More ...Why do people and animals get cancer more than they used to? -Michael, Ceres, CA
rcwebberDear Michael,
A hundred years ago, human beings only lived to be about 50 years old. Now people are living longer, so there’s more time for cancer to develop in their bodies. That’s what I learned from my friend David Liu who researches cancer at Washington State University.
Read More ...Why are ripe fruits sweet and why is it so important? -Alexa, Schenzhen, China
rcwebberDear Alexa,
My friend Kate Evans said the answer really depends on whether you want the perspective of a person, a plant, or even a cat. Evans is a plant scientist at Washington State University in Wenatchee, where she investigates fruit in the Apple Capital of the World.
She explained how long ago, wild apples actually grew in forests. Without farmers around to plant them in orchards, trees had to scatter their own seeds to survive.
For some trees, the key to survival is growing sweet, ripe fruit.
Read More ...Where does dirt come from? -Brian, Pullman, WA
rcwebber
Where does dirt come from? -Brian, Pullman, WA
In just a word, the story of soil goes something like this: “CLORPT!" It’s fun to say, and it helps explain how tough rock turns into the soft soil farmers need to grow food and feed the world. Read More ...
Will I ever like Brussels sprouts? - Susan
rcwebberDear Susan,
Cats aren’t usually big veggie-eaters. But working with humans means that I get to taste all kinds of new delicacies—like Brussels sprouts.
I talked about food preferences with my friend Carolyn Ross. She’s a chemist and food scientist at Washington State University.
She told me that some people are extra sensitive to how foods taste. They’re called supertasters.
“Supertasters actually have more taste buds,” Ross said. “We’ve found that people who are supertasters are particularly sensitive to bitterness.”
Bitterness really strikes at a supertaster’s fungiform papillae. Those are the mushroom-shaped lumps on your tongue that house your taste buds. Because of … » More …
Read More ...