In this special edition, the experts from BBC Science Focus Magazine reveal the mind-blowing answers to the perplexing questions that baffle the brightest of brains. Puzzling questions like... ❱❱ Why do astronauts always wear white suits? ❱❱ Do solar panels work better on hot days? ❱❱ Why don’t horses have toes? ❱❱ What state of matter is fire: solid, liquid or gas? ❱❱ If clouds can weigh tonnes, how do they stay aloft?
The Ultimate Book of Mind-Blowing Answers
Assume nothing
EYE OPENER • DUKE UNIVERSITY, USA
HUMAN BODY • MUSCLES, SWEAT, SALIVA, SENSES, SLEEP, ILLNESSES, DIET, FOOD AND MEMORY…
…WHEN I HAVE A PANIC ATTACK? • Humans have evolved behaviours to deal with sudden physical threats, such as predators. These are triggered unconsciously to quickly prepare your body for fighting or fleeing. But modern life is mostly free of marauding bears and this threat response can be accidentally triggered by emotional stress instead. A panic attack is like the smoke alarm going off when you burn the toast, even though the house isn’t on fire.
ELEMENTS IN THE HUMAN BODY • (BY PROPORTION OF TOTAL BODY MASS)
HOW FAR DO GERMS TRAVEL WHEN WE COUGH?
EYE OPENER • ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE
SPACE • ASTEROIDS, ASTRONAUTS, SPACE JUNK, MICROGRAVITY, EXOPLANETS, BLACK HOLES, ROCKETS, PLANETS AND MOONS…
THE HEAT FROM THE BIG BANG?
HALLEY’S COMET
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ALIENS CONTACTED US?
HOW DOES SPACEX’S FALCON HEAVY COMPARE TO OTHER ROCKETS?
BLACK HOLES
WHAT WOULD LIVING ON MARS DO TO MY BODY?
EYE OPENER • CES, LAS VEGAS
TECHNOLOGY • PLANES, PLASTIC MONEY, ELECTRIC CARS, COMPUTERS, ROBOTS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, GPS, TOILETS AND THE INTERNET…
GPS
WHAT’S THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF AN EMAIL?
THE MRI SCANNER
WHO REALLY INVENTED…? THE MRI SCANNER
HOW GREEN ARE ELECTRIC CARS? • We teamed up with the folks behind BBC World Service’s CrowdScience to answer your questions on electric cars. Tune in to CrowdScience every Friday evening on BBC World Service, or catch up online at bbcworldservice.com/crowdscience
THE FLUSHING TOILET
EYE OPENER • FALSE BAY, SOUTH AFRICA
ANIMALS • CATS, DOGS, WHALES, OYSTERS, OCTOPUSES, DINOSAURS, SEAGULLS, SLUGS, BUGS AND CHICKENS…
SLEEPIEST ANIMALS • (BY HOURS SPENT SLEEPING PER 24 HOURS)
EYE OPENER • PROTODUNE, FRENCH-SWISS BORDER
MATHS & PHYSICS • ANTIMATTER, QUANTUM EFFECTS, PRIME NUMBERS, GRAVITATIONAL WAVES, TIME, THE HIGGS BOSON AND NUCLEAR FISSION…
NUCLEAR FISSION
EYE OPENER • NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND
GENES & EVOLUTION • CLONES, SUPERBUGS, ALIEN LIFE, DNA TESTS, SENSES, REPRODUCTION AND NATURAL SELECTION…
HOW BLOOD CIRCULATES
EYE OPENER • REDDING, CALIFORNIA
PLANET EARTH • EARTHQUAKES, HURRICANES, OCEANS, CLIMATE CHANGE, CONTINENTAL DRIFT, RECYCLING, TIDES AND WEATHER…
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EVERYONE ON THE PLANET SUDDENLY WENT VEGAN?
CAN PLANTS TALK? • We teamed up with the folks behind BBC World Service’s CrowdScience to answer your questions on plant life. Tune in to CrowdScience every Friday evening on BBC World Service, or catch up online at bbcworldservice.com/crowdscience
CONTINENTAL DRIFT
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE OCEAN FROZE OVER?
EYE OPENER • BEIJING, CHINA
THE EXPERTS • Meet the scientists, academics and authorities who had the knowledge, insight and access to answer all your questions…