Dr. Universe: Why do trees grow so slow? – Ana, 7, Covert, MI
rcwebberDr. Universe: How do trees give us air to breathe? – Jamar, 11, Vineland, New Jersey
rcwebberDr. Universe: What gives leaves their shapes? Please reply back. Thanks a ton! -Pronoy, 9, San Jose, CA, USA
rcwebberDear Dr. Universe: Why do leaves change colors? -Lucy, 5, Seattle, WA
rcwebber
Dear Lucy,
Ever since I was a kitten, I’ve loved picking up big maple leaves in the fall. I’d take them home, put them under a piece of paper, and rub the side of a crayon over the top. It makes a great print of the leaf.
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 don't plants get sunburns? -Elijah, 5, Seattle, Wash.
rcwebber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=_34991Wdq4s
Dear Elijah,
That’s a great observation. For as much time as plants spend outside in the sun, we really don’t see too many with a sunburn.
Read More ...How do plants hold dirt? -Gordon, Pullman, WA
rcwebberDear Gordon,
The other day, I wandered into a Washington State University greenhouse and ran into my friend Mechthild Tegeder, a professor and expert on plants.
She gently dug a small plant out of a pot so we could take a closer look. When she lifted it up, I pawed at the clumpy soil hanging from the bottom to reveal some stringy roots.
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 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 ...