atoms | Ask Dr. Universe | Washington State University

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How many atoms are in a leaf? – Lily, 8, Georgia

November 8, 2024 melissamayer

Dear Lily,

I love thinking about things I can’t see with just my eyes. Like the atoms that make up everything.

I asked my friend Fred Gittes how to figure out the number of atoms in a leaf. He’s a physicist at Washington State University.

He showed me a worksheet he gives his students. It included a question exactly like yours!

“It’s a question I assign college students for fun,” Gittes said.

So, you’re in great company when you ponder big questions like this.

We decided to use stoichiometry to find the answer. That’s a kind of math that scientists do to understand chemical reactions.

Why don't birds get electrocuted when they sit on power lines? – Angel, 14, California

August 2, 2023 melissamayer

Dear Angel,

I’ve never sat on a power line. I like to keep my paws firmly on the ground. But birds love resting there, especially in winter. Power lines give off a little heat, so it’s a good spot for birds to snuggle together and stay warm.

I talked about how they do that safely with my friend Javier Guerrero. He’s a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Washington State University.

He told me birds do get electrocuted on power lines sometimes. But that won’t happen if the bird touches just the power line—and doesn’t touch other lines or the pole at the same time.