False: No matter what your parents told you, or what you see in the movies, there isn’t any magical chemical, that when added to a swimming pool, will reveal the presence of urine in the water. Experts on such matters say that although a reliable dye could be produced, the trick would be getting it to react only to urine …
The zorb tumbled into existence in the mid-1990s in New Zealand, hitting the extreme sport scene in 1998. What has now become a worldwide phenomenon is a simple ride inside a plastic ball down a grassy, or even snowy slope. In areas where there are no natural hills, zorb operators may build a metal track down which the zorb rolls. …
Many of us grew up enjoying the wildly imaginative rhyming works, written and illustrated by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to us as Dr. Seuss. Bartholomew and the Oobleck, If I Ran the Zoo, Horton Hears a Who!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and many other books involving “ludicrous situations pursued with relentless logic” were the core of many a …
When sick, is it true or false that should you feed a cold and starve a fever? False: This is just another old wives’ tale. Whether you have a cold, or a fever, you should still try to maintain a regular intake of fluids and food. While recent medical studies have found that there actually may be some benefit to …
False: People who believe that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than humans’ mouths are greatly mistaken, according to the veterinarians who have spoken on the subject. Most humans have a strong belief in good hygiene, and brush their teeth at least once or twice every day. Human mouths rarely come into contact with external bacteria. Dog mouths, in contrast, are rarely …
Two of the oldest questions in science are, ‘How deep is the ocean?’ and, ‘How much water do the world’s oceans hold?’ Researchers from two top marine-science centers in the United States – the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – set out last year to find the answers. After employing the latest …
True: Hot water can, and frequently does, freeze faster than colder water. This phenomenon has been discussed for centuries; although, it wasn’t until 1969 that a Tanzanian high school student introduced it to the scientific community. For his troubles, the phenomenon was named the “Mpemba Effect” after the student. Why Does Warm Water Freeze faster Than Cold Water? Since then, …
False: There is a persistent belief that the stars in the heavens (which are masked from sight during the day by the light provided by the sun) are easily viewable when seen from the base of a very tall chimney or from the depths of a deep well or shaft. According to lore, this narrowed field of vision serves to …
False: Good news for all you chocoholics: Eating chocolate does not cause pimples. Skin care experts agree that acne is not caused by any specific food, including french fries, candy, soda or potato chips. Probably the biggest myth of all is that eating greasy foods causes your skin to produce more oil. Greasy foods, while not good for your health, …
