Why do we have a coccyx? The coccyx is a series of three, four or five vertebrae at the base of the spine. A coccyx is something we have evolved not to need, but it is a great reminder of our origins. The coccyx is also called the tail bone because that is what it […]
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Why do the leaves on a tree change color in the autumn (fall)? The leaves on trees change color in the autumn because the tree breaks down its own chlorophyll. Not all trees lose their leaves. Evergreen trees keep their leaves throughout the year. Trees that lose their leaves in the winter are called deciduous
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Why does smoke inhalation kill people? It reduces the amount of oxygen that the lungs can take out of the air and people die of asphyxiation. House fires are obviously dangerous, but most people who are caught in a fire don’t die from burns. In 2019, there were 3,704 deaths caused by fire in the
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Why do our stomachs grumble? Because the muscles in the stomach and small intestines are contracting and there is no food in there to muffle the sound. Our stomachs rumble a lot of the time, but we usually cannot hear it because the food in our stomachs and small intestines soak up the sound. The
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How do mammals keep warm in the winter? They have several different methods. Here are some of them. Many mammals stay warm by putting on more fat. Sea mammals have to cope with very cold ocean water and it is harder to stay warm in water than it is on land. If you are naked
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Why do fish have scales? For protection, for camouflage, and to help them swim faster. There are four basic types of fish scale, but there are many subdivisions within each category. These are the main ones: Placoid scales. They are found on fish such as sharks and manta rays. They are very similar to teeth,
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How do throat lozenges work? They lubricate the throat, suppressing the irritation. Why do we get sore throats? The most common cause of sore throats is viral infections. The second most common is a bacterial infection. The common cold is a good example of a viral infection and strep throat is a good example of
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How do fish breathe underwater? Fish use their gills to take oxygen out of the water. Why do we need oxygen? Most living beings need oxygen to create energy. All animals need to respire, which is the process of releasing energy by breaking down glucose. There are two ways to respire: aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic
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Why don’t cats knock things over? It turns out that cats have whiskers on their legs as well as their faces. When I’m making a line of dominos with my daughter, it is inevitable that either she or I will knock them all over. We both seem to have no sensory perception. And yet, my
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Do ants need to sleep? Ants do actually sleep, but not all at once. There are very few living organisms that don’t need to sleep. However, they all do it in different ways and there are many different definitions of what sleep is. Bacteria don’t sleep. Although they are tied to a circadian rhythm and
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