Tuesday, June 03, 2008

A THRILL RIDE FOR CURIOUS MINDS

Came across a book in the library with an interesting title 'Why Don't Spiders Stick to Their Webs?' which caught my attention immediately^^

The book consisted of baffling, intriguing and sometimes downright odd questions and the answers written by award winning scientise is no less fascinating~

Divided into various sections like

MYSTERIES OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Why does the outward part of the journey seem longer than the return?

What makes Super Glue so strong?

Why is a bicycle more stable once it's moving?

Why do boomerangs come back?

How do gun silencers work?

Is it true that light bulb last longer if they are left on?

Why is ketchup so difficult to pour from a new bottle?


MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

What causes 'stitch' when running?

Why do women typically live longer than men?

Does greasy food really cause acne?

What causes the spectaculat colours of bruises?


BELIEFS, MYTHS AND MYSTERIES

Is it rational to believe in God?

Is there any scientific evidence for reincarnation?

Can opera singers really shatter wine glass by singing?

Is it true that we typically use only 10 percent of our brain?


NUMBERS, GAMES AND PASTIMES

Why does multiplying 2 negative numbers give a positive result?

Is it better to keep the same Lottery numbers, or make a new choice each time?

Why are mathematicians so interested in prime numbers?

Is it possible that there have ever been 2 identical games of snooker?

Where's the best place to buy property on a Monopoly board?

Which casino game offers the best chances of winning?


MATTERS METEOROLOGICAL

When caught in the rain, is it better to run or walk?

Is it true that each snowflake is totally unique?


THE NATURAL WORLD

Can animals really sense an impending earthquake?

Why do humans walk upright?

In terms of cells in our body, are we really not who we were 10 years ago?

What is the memory capacity of the human brain?

How do cats survive falls that would kill humans?

Why are women smaller than men?

Why are eggs egg-shaped?

How do autumn leaves produce such spectacular colours?


THE EARTH BELOW, THE SKY ABOVE

How did the Ancient Greeks know the Earth is round?

Where did all the water in the world's oceans originally came from?

Will the Earth ever stop spinning?

What will happen when the magnetic poles of the Earth flip?

How much less would someone weigh at the Equator?


HEAVENS ABOVE

Why are all the planets spherical?

Why are planets, stars and galaxies all rotating?

What is the furthest object visible to the naked eye?


COSMIC CONUNDRUMS

What is the speed of gravity?

How big is the universe and how fast is it expanding?

Is there an ultimate maximum temperature?

What wouldl happen if you fell into a black hole?

What will happen when the Sun runs out of fuel?


A FINAL MISCELLANY

How far can a plane glide if its engines stop?

Do blind people have dreams?

Why do mints make your breath feel cold?

Can light be created without heat?

What is the strongest acid?

Why do metal objects feel colder than wooden ones, when both are at the same temperature?


Actually, i havent finished reading the book, but i found half the book fascinating enough, so i wanted to share with my friends.
But due to space and time constraints, i only typed the questions in this post, if u want to know the answers (quite detailed.. so dun ask me to type all of them here as that's gonna kill me) find the book yourself.. Hehe.. It can be found in the general section with code '500 MATT' at the side of the book.

It's entertaining, enlightening, often inspired and is a must-read for inquistitive minds.. Yes, i do feel smarter after reading (^o^v)
I really do hope so..
Refreshing read on a nice weekend~~~

yunn. at 11:19 AM