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Why is there an oz for ounces in math when there is no z in the word ounces? — Lahna, 9, New York state

Dear Lahna,

Your question made me think about how words change. The dictionary adds new words and definitions all the time.

The latest update to the Oxford English Dictionary added jelly, meaning jealous. It also included drop bear. That’s an imaginary scary-koala that appears in stories.

I asked my friend Nikolaus Overtoom how we got the abbreviation for ounces. He’s a professor of ancient history at Washington State University.

It turns out ounces—and later oz—evolved as words traveled from Ancient Rome through Medieval Europe and into England.

“The mixture of linguistic elements in English makes it one of the most flexible, diverse and complex … » More …

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Why did they invent paper? – Sofia, 9, Florida

Dear Sofia,

Every week my column gets printed on paper. Sometimes I use paper to dry my paws. Or clean up after I use the litterbox.

I asked my friend Xiuyu Wang who invented paper—and why. He studies Chinese history at Washington State University.

He told me that paper as we know it was invented in ancient China. Paper made it easier to wrap things up and write things down.

“Papermaking is one of the most significant inventions because paper does so many things,” Wang said. “People kept refining it and making different kinds of paper.”

The earliest paper fragments we have are … » More …

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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.

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