Why don’t figure skaters get dizzy when they spin? Figure skaters do get dizzy when they spin, but they learn to manage it because they have trained their brains and vestibular systems to cope with the sensation. The sensation of dizziness comes about because of the way our balance system works. There are three parts […]
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How do cranes balance? Cranes balance by using a system of counterweights, a stable base, and computers that monitor the load and angle of the crane at all times. The idea behind counterweights is fairly simple to understand, and it can be tested on a desk with a ruler, a pencil, and some heavy objects.
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How can kangaroos hop so fast? Kangaroos can hop so fast because they have very large tendons in their legs that act like natural springs. Kangaroos are native to Australia and there are four species. Those are the red kangaroo, antilopine kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo, and western grey kangaroo. The largest and the fastest species
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What is the Janney coupler? The Janney coupler is a device that goes between train cars to join them together. It was a revolutionary jump in railroad technology and is still used today, over 150 years later. If you have ever ridden on a train and you have looked at the coupling that hold the
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What makes us hungry or full? Hunger is driven by signals such as ghrelin, while fullness comes from a mix of stomach expansion, nerve signals, and hormones released by the digestive system. Ghrelin is known as the “hunger hormone” because it is released when the stomach is getting empty and it is one of the
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When and why did public libraries start? Public libraries started in the mid-19th century as a way to give democratic access to information and education to the working classes. A library is a purposefully assembled collection of books or manuscripts, and the first libraries were literally that. The Babylonians wrote on clay tablets, and these
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How can you save data in glass? Data can be saved in glass by using an ultrafast laser to write tiny permanent marks inside it. It is also called 5D storage. Those marks are far too small to see with the naked eye, but they can still be read later because they change the way
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How does a laxative work? There are several different types of laxative, and they all work in different ways. Some add bulk to the stool, some soften it by helping it hold more water, some lubricate it, some pull water into the bowel, and some stimulate the nerves and muscles in the intestine. There are
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How does a ship’s anchor work? A ship’s anchor works because the anchor digs into the seabed and the heavy chain creates a huge amount of resistance while keeping the pull on the anchor low and steady. Most people think that when ships rest at anchor, the only thing holding them in place is the
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Why do insects have such short lives? Many insects seem to have short lives because they have evolved to prioritize rapid reproduction over a long life. However, it only seems that way if we focus on certain kinds of insects, or if we only look at their adult stage. Not all insects have short lives.
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