The AnswerBank Articles

Are snowflakes always symmetrical

A. Yes, they can’t help it. Their symmetry represents the organisation of water molecules as they crystallise from a liquid to solid state. Q. More specifically A. As water molecules00:00 Mon 29th Oct 2001

How does the prickly hedgehog mate

A. The preliminaries can be quite dangerous, with much biting, spitting and hissing while the unreceptive female keeps her spines upright. However, once she is ready to mate the female flattens her00:00 Mon 22nd Oct 2001

Why don t owls completely digest food like other birds and animals

A. Owls have several digestive features that mean they have to regurgitate the remains of indigestible food in the form of pellets rather than pass them out through their digestive system. However00:00 Mon 22nd Oct 2001

Do snakes make good pets

A. As with all pets please ensure that you carry out very thorough research before buying an animal to ensure that it meets your expectations and that you can look after it properly. Snakes have00:00 Mon 22nd Oct 2001

Why do lemmings jump off cliffs

A. They don't. Lemmings, contrary to popular belief, are not suicidal, which would be a rather difficult hereditary trait, either en mass or singularly. Q. Where did the myth come from A. 00:00 Mon 15th Oct 2001

What does kangaroo mean

A. Asked geoquest recently. Click here to see a number of possible explanations. Q. How tall are kangaroos A. Well there isn't just one type of kangaroo, there are over 50 different species00:00 Mon 15th Oct 2001

Which desert receives the lowest rainfall

A. The Antarctic desert, the coldest, highest, driest, windiest place on Earth. Q. How low A. Annually, less than a couple of centimetres. A similar amount to that of another very dry desert,00:00 Mon 15th Oct 2001

Is it true that the aurora borealis produces sound as well as light

A. No, the aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is a purely visual phenomenon. Suggestions that sounds accompany the ripples of lights are highly unlikely since the atmosphere is00:00 Mon 08th Oct 2001

What is the fastest living creature

A. On land this record is held by the cheetah, which can clock up to 70 miles an hour over short distances. However, the fastest creature of all is the peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, which can00:00 Mon 08th Oct 2001

An overview of bird web sites

ian wood is looking for good bird web sites for a 10 year old. The AnswerBank's Animals and Nature section is obviously a good starting point for posting questions and searching the archive for00:00 Mon 08th Oct 2001

Which bird has got a 46-foot long small intestine

A. The ostrich, Struthio camelus. Q. Ah, the ones that bury their heads in the sand A. Actually this is a myth. It probably arises from a defence mechanism they employ when sitting in their00:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001

Why do geese fly in a V formation

A. There are two theories. First this flying formation is aerodynamically efficient: the goose at the head of the V creates a slipstream, making it easier for those behind. This theory is lent extra00:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001

What can I expect when adopting a retired greyhound

Marrers is considering adopting a retired greyhound and wants to know how successfully the dog will be integrated into his home as a pet. Here, The AnswerBank highlights one or two extra00:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001

Why is the leatherback turtle so called

A. The leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, unlike all other turtles, has no obvious shell and its back is merely skin, which has a blackish smooth leathery surface, hence the name. Q. But00:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Why do whale species move their tails up and down, while fish tails flip from side to side

A. The answer lies in their different evolutionary paths. Whales and dolphins are mammals - they evolved from an animal that once lived and walked on land. Their tails, and the underlying skeletal00:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Should we really feed birds during the winter Doesn t it just make them dependent on us

A. Yes, wild birds do become dependent on food provided for them, which is why it's important to continue feeding them after having started. But unlike other cases where feeding wildlife is00:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Lee Tidman is having toilet problems with a new cat from a rescue shelter

Here, The AnswerBank highlights some possible causes of the problem, however if the behaviour persists, it may be a good idea to contact the shelter and a vet for help and advice. Q. How can I00:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

How can I keep foxes out of my garden

john82khrxes has a problem with foxes visiting his garden and wants to know how to discourage them. Q. What are urban foxes A. They’re just the same as country foxes, but they’ve taken00:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

What are pharaoh ants

Asked cjslater recently. Pharaoh ants, or Monomorium pharaonis to give them their proper Latin names, are what is know as 'introduced social ants' . Q. What do they look like A. The workers00:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

What s happening in the countryside now that autumn is here

A. The autumn equinox falls on 23rd September signalling the end of the summer and the beginning of many changes in the countryside. Q. What animals can I look out for in autumn A. Swallows are00:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001