(October, 1998) Why does being cold make body parts go numb?
Normally the body responds to cold by increasing blood flow to the area to warm it. but beyond a certain point, a survival mechanism takes over and shuts down blood flow, so the body's core won't get chilled by the cooled blood returning. When the circulation shuts down, the nerves don't get the chemicals they need to transmit feeling, so the chilled area goes numb. Thanks Ace.
(October, 1998) My shower taps drip for a good few minutes after I turn them off, staring with a stream and slowly slowing down and stopping ... even though the level of the taps is much below the level of the showerhead. Why?
Answer: My guess is that it's something to do with surface tension. Thanks James.
(August, 1998) If the pyramids were made from quarried rock, why aren't there a bunch of pyramid-sized holes in the ground somewhere? Or are there?
The pyramids were built out of blocks of stone assembled like bricks. I believe that you can actually visit the stone quarries where the blocks for some of the Pyramids were obtained (if you go to Egypt, of course). Thanks Ace.
(May, 1998) What is the difference between "Australians" and "Australian Nationals? Or are they the same and the news people just use the latter to sound sophisticated?
Answer: Maizie thinks it's just to sound fancy.
(March, 1998) Smells happen when molecules are given off - does that mean then that my easter egg (which smells wonderfully chocolate-ey) would disappear completely if I left it long enough? How long?
Answer: It would slowly disappear but not completely because not all the molecules are smell-type-molecules, some of them are odourless. Thanks Zynnya.
