Ask Dr. Universe | Washington State University

Time 2020-11-05 23:09:39

Web Name: Ask Dr. Universe | Washington State University

WebSite: http://askdruniverse.wsu.edu

ID:106239

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Episode 2: Ants, Face Masks, Pins and Needles, Gummies, Spider WebsHave you ever wondered why ants build hills? Why face masks are effective? Why we sometimes get that pins and needles feeling when we sit too long? How gummies are made? Why spiders hang upside down in their webs? On this episode, we’ll dig into these great kid science questions with help from researchers at Washington State University.Listen now or find me on apps like iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout, or Stitcher.What question should Dr. Universe answer next?This time, you decide. Elementary students around the world can cast their vote and help determine which question Dr. Universe and her friends at Washington State University will answer in an upcoming column. Students anywhere around the world can submit their votes by this Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. What question would you like Dr. Universe to answer?How many black holes are in the universe?How do astronomers measure space?What did the big bang sound like? How did the COVID-19 pandemic start? October 30, 2020 rcwebber It turns out scientists around the world are investigating this very question.It’s likely the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, started in an animal before jumping to humans. But exactly how it all happened is still a kind of mystery.     That’s what I found out from my friend Michael Letko, a researcher at Washington State University who studies viruses and how they cross different species. Read Story How does exercise help us? What is the best exercise? October 23, 2020 rcwebber When we exercise, it helps the body and mind in so many different ways.One important muscle that benefits from exercise is the heart. Maybe you’ve felt your heart beat harder and faster when you run or climb at the playground.As the heart gets stronger, it also gets better at pumping blood around the body. That’s really important because your blood is full of oxygen you need to help fuel all your body’s systems.That’s what I found out from my friend Chris Connolly, an associate professor at Washington State University who knows a lot about the science of exercise. Read Story Why do we get tears when we yawn? October 16, 2020 rcwebber You’re right, a lot of people get tears when they yawn. When you yawn, you actually use lot of muscles in your face. Maybe you can feel the stretch in your jaw, cheeks and eyes.As the muscles in your face contract, they can put a lot of pressure on the plumbing system that is in charge of making your tears.That’s what I found out from my friend Karin Biggs, an adjunct professor at Washington State University who teaches anatomy. Read Story Why do apes walk on their knuckles? October 9, 2020 rcwebber Dear Sam,A lot of apes walk on their knuckles. Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos use their knuckles for stability and balance.That’s what I found out from my friend Nanda Grow, an anthropologist and wildlife biologist at Washington State University who studies primates.“Gorillas and chimpanzees both do knuckle walking, but they do different kinds,” she said. Read Story Why do we get pins and needles when we don t move for a long time? October 2, 2020 rcwebber If you’ve ever had a leg or an arm “fall asleep,” the nerves in your brain and body were sending you an important message.That’s what I found out from my friend Darrell Jackson, a researcher at Washington State University who studies how drugs affect the nervous system.The nervous system is made up of bundles of nerve fibers that help humans think, feel and navigate the world. These nerves also help people sense things like temperature, vibrations, pressure and pain. Read Story Why do garden spiders hang upside down in the middle of their webs? September 25, 2020 rcwebber Dear Abree,That’s a great observation. Garden spiders and other orb-weaver spiders can crawl all around their webs, but we often see their heads pointing down toward the ground.  My friend Todd Murray, an entomologist at Washington State University, told me about a group of scientists that had a question a lot like the one you’ve asked.These scientists used mathematical models to learn about orb-weaver spiders and how they move around the web. They discovered spiders that wait with their head down for prey can reach prey faster than spiders that wait with head up for their prey.While there are exceptions, More Read Story Why is it effective to wear a face mask? September 18, 2020 rcwebber Dear Marin,Whenever I go out and about, I make sure to wear my face mask. Like you, I wanted to find out exactly how they work.First, I talked to Marian Wilson, an assistant professor and nurse at Washington State University who is curious about how face masks protect people.“When we talk, sneeze, sing, or laugh, we spread droplets into the air all the time,” she said. “With the COVID-19 pandemic going on, we know people may have virus in their droplets.” Read Story How are gummies made? September 11, 2020 rcwebber Gummies can come in all different shapes and flavors. Maybe you’ve had gummy worms, gummy bears, or peach rings.It turns out that gummies require just a few simple ingredients. That’s what I found out from my friend Connie Remsberg, a pharmacist at Washington State University.She said making gummies requires a little gelatin, water, a mold, and some help from a grown-up. Read Story Why do ants build hills? September 4, 2020 rcwebber Ants build mounds in all shapes and sizes. Beneath those piles of dirt, ants are building their underground homes. That’s what I found out from my friend Rob Clark, an entomologist who studies bugs on plants. His job is to figure out if bugs make a plant sick or help the plant grow. He told me ants are one of the most diverse insect families. Scientists know about nearly 13,000 species—and each ant species makes a different kind of nest. Read Story Do robots have their own language? August 28, 2020 rcwebber Robots do have their own language—and yes, there’s a translator.That’s what I found out from my friend Manoj Karkee, an engineer at Washington State University who is also really curious about robots.Karkee and his team work on lots of robots that help farmers do important jobs. They can program robots to do different tasks such as pick apples or pull weeds. Read StoryGot Cat Mail?Sign-up for the weekly e-newsletter to get the latest answers, activities, and videos!

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