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Would you want to live if you had experienced an accident that left you with a thirty second memory span? I doubt that anyone would be able to, first of all, *believe* that they've had an accident that has damaged their memory so severely that they will only be able to remember thirty seconds worth before they forget it. And even if they manage to somehow wrap their brains around that before they lose their memory again, they still have to decide whether or not it's worth living with...

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What is juche? The Juche Idea (pronounced approximately "joo-cheh") is the official ideology of North Korea, and informally the political system based on it. It is also known as Kimilsungism for its founder Kim Il-sung. The core of Juche is that the people, collectively, must be the subjects and masters of social revolution; in other words, the people must remake themselves. Juche is often...

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How did Vladimir Lenin die? Lenin's health had already been severely damaged due to the intolerable strains of revolution and war. The assassination attempt earlier in his life also added to his health problems. The bullet was still lodged in his neck too close to his spine for surgeons to remove it. In May 1922, Lenin had his first stroke. He was left partially paralyzed (on his right side) and his role in...

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What is truffle honey? Truffle honey is honey infused with, almost always white, truffles. It is used traditionally in Tuscan cooking. It goes exceptionally well with cheeses, toasted bread, and desserts. Or use it to baste meat and poultry.

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What are shepherd moons? 'Shepherd' moons (or satellites) are small moons that orbit near the outer edges of planetary rings or within gaps in the rings. A planetary ring is a ring of dust and other small particles orbiting around a planet in a flat disc-shaped region. The most spectacular and famous planetary rings are those around Saturn, but all four of the solar system's gas giant planets...

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What is a war crime? A war crime is a punishable offense, under international (criminal) law, for violations of the law of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. Every violation of the law of war* in an inter-state conflict is a war crime, while violations in internal conflicts don't necessarily amount to war crimes. War crimes include violations of established protections of the laws of war,...

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What is the purpose of the knee jerk reflex? The knee-jerk reflex -- also know as the patellar reflex -- is a spinal reflex, meaning that the neural circuit only goes up to the spinal cord, not all the way to the brain. The advantage of a spinal reflex is that it is fast. Nerve impulses only have to go through two neurons, so the pathway is short and there is only one spot where an impulse has to jump over to another neuron. The...

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Why are perfumes usually only applied to the wrists and the neck area? 'Pulse points' are where blood vessels are closest to the skin; giving off more heat and acting like mini fragrance pumps. Pulse point areas include the wrist, behind the ear, base of the throat, inside of the elbow, and behind the knee. Applying perfumes to pulse points, such as the wrist or neck, tend to make the scent last longer. However, don't rub your wrists together...

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Can inhaling helium from a balloon be dangerous? Although the vocal effect of inhaling helium may be amusing, it can be dangerous if done to excess. The reason is not due to toxicity or any property of helium but simply due to it displacing oxygen needed for normal respiration. One must be aware that in mammals (with the notable exception of seals) the breathing reflex is not triggered by insufficient oxygen but rather excess of carbon...

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What does it mean for a President to be impeached? Impeachment is the first step in removing an officer from office. The president, vice president, and other federal officers (as judges) may be impeached by the House of Representatives. The House draws up articles of impeachment that itemize the charges and their factual bases. [---->] The articles of impeachment, once approved by a simple majority of the House members, are then...

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What is Magic Eraser made of and how does it work? Magic Eraser is a cleaning stick made of melamine foam. Melamine is a resin used in construction and the automotive industry as a sound barrier and flame retardant. It also imparts strength and is used in such products as dinnerware and laminate counter tops. The eraser is moistened with water so it adheres slightly to the surface to be cleaned. (Mr. Clean likens this to licking your finger...

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When and where was Louisa May Alcott born? When and where did she die? Louisa May Alcott was born to parents Amos Bronson Alcott and Abigail May on November 29, 1832 in Germantown, now part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She succumbed to the lingering after effects of mercury poisoning, contracted during her Civil War service, and died in Boston on March 6, 1888. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_May_Alcott

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Is it possible to temporaly "disable" somebody by just touching a point on their body? If yes where is that point? Is this dangerous? Yes, it is (according to most martial art experts) possible - - but only IF you have been properly trained. Dim mak is an ancient and *extremely* dangerous martial art, that consists of striking certain points (usually called dim mak, vital, or pressure points) on the body. The majority of these points correspond to the same locations as acupuncture points. Dim mak can cause a great deal of...

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Where did the peace sign originate? Note: Since I'm not quite sure if you refer to the actual peace sign or the peace symbol (I know people who use 'peace sign' interchangeably), I'm including answers for both. THE PEACE SIGN U.S. President Richard Nixon used the 'victory sign' (a hand gesture in which the first and second fingers are raised and parted, whilst the remaining fingers are clenched)...

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Why is the cornea transparent? Since it has to be transparent to allow light to enter the eye, there are no blood vessels in the cornea. It is composed of very tightly packed collagen fibers just like the sclera (i.e., the white of the eye). But whereas the collagen fibers in the sclera are randomly packed together (thus making it opaque), the fibers in the cornea are packed together in an organized pattern which is what...

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What exactly is happening in the eye when it is bloodshot? Bloodshot eyes occur when the tiny blood vessels on the surface of the sclera* become inflamed and congested, usually in response to an insufficient amount of oxygen in the cornea**. Bloodshot eyes are often attributed to poor sleep and allergies. They are a common consequence of eyestrain, fatigue, improper diet, and consuming alcohol. If your eyes are still red after a few days or if...

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What is booyaka? 'Booyaka' is Jamaican slang used to indicate the sound of a gun-shot. It's usually said when pretending to shoot in the air with one's fingers.

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Why does our skin wrinkle when we've been in the bath, shower, etc? Why does it only seem to affect the skin on our palms and the soles of our feet? When you are immersed in water for prolonged periods the dead, keratin-filled cells from the outer most layer of your epidermis (called the stratum corneum, which acts as a barrier between the body and the environment) absorbs the water. This, of course, causes the stratum corneum to occupy a greater surface area. Because it is attached thoroughly to the tissues below (and they haven't...

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Who was Erwin Rommel? Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals and commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps in World War II. He is also known by his nickname, The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs). - Early Life and Career - Rommel was born in Heidenheim, approximately 50 km from Ulm, in the state of Württemberg. The second son of a...

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How was the length of a "foot" (12 inches) initially established? Before the Norman conquest of 1066 in Anglo-Saxon England, short distances were measured in a various of ways, such as: - The inch (ynce) - The shaftment - The foot & "natural foot" The inch was defined back then as the length of 3 barleycorns, which is very close to its modern length. The shaftment was roughly 6 1/2 inches long. The foot was equal to or about...

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How did Os and Xs (i.e. XOXO) come to symbolize 'hugs and kisses'? The Oxford English Dictionary, as credited by Hugkiss.com, states the first "X-as-kiss" in literature occurred in 1901. (Where it appeared isn't mentioned.) The site, as well as Wikipedia, describes the X symbol as originally referring to the Christian cross (and the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos). This dates back to a mostly pre-literate era when the...

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What is a julienne? To cut food into thin match-like, narrow strips. The term is usually associated with vegetables, but may be applied to cooked meat or fish.

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What is a flambe? A cooking technique in which liquor is added at the last minute and then lit before serving. In French it literally means "flaming."

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What is a brine? A water and salt solution used for pickling or preserving.

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What is a braise? To cook by browning or searing in fat, then adding a small amount of liquid to the pan, covering tightly and cooking at low temperature until tender. This can be done either in the oven or on the stovetop.

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What is a wine? An alcoholic beverage resulting from the fermentation of grapes or grape juice. Wine-like beverages can also be made from other fruits or from flowers or grains. In this sense the word wine is used with a qualifier, for example, elderberry wine. The word wine by itself always means grape wine.

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What is a microbrew? A beer produced in relatively small quantities by a microbrewery, a small commercial brewery.

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What is heat lightning? Heat lighting (or, in the UK, 'summer lightning') is a term given to regular lightning that is too far away for the thunder to be heard. You can, however, see the lightning reflecting on the clouds, usually near the horizon. Since heat lightning is most likely to be seen in association with air mass thunderstorms in the warm season, the term 'heat' may have been used...

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At a bar, what is a "well" drink? House liquor, the basic liquors (often vodka, scotch, bourbon, gin, tequila, rum, brandy) for use in generic drinks. May also include vermouth, liqueurs, etc., depending on what the establishment pours most often. Usually the least expensive of each type in the establishment, and the one you’ll find in most of your drinks. [source: http://www.accubar.com/Products/glossary.asp]

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What is a bolero? A bolero is a very short jacket that is worn open in the front.

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Do bones have nerves? There are relatively few nerves in bone. However, the thin, film-like covering of the bone surface, the periosteum, is very rich in nerve endings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/dancersbody/body/jumping.shtml http://www.childrensmuseum.org/special_exhibits/bones/parents_discussion_brokenBones.htm

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How did France get its name? The borders of modern France closely align with those of the ancient territory of Gaul, inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people. Gaul was conquered by the Romans in the first century BC, and the Gauls eventually adopted Romance speech and culture. Gaul's eastern frontiers along the Rhine were overrun by Germanic tribes in the fourth century AD, principally the Franks, from which the...

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Is it true that all graves in a cemetery face East? If so, why? No, all graves don't face east. Most graves are distributed chaotically, and they can be found facing in all directions. Some people say that graves are pointed to the east because that is the direction of the Rising Sun, from which we shall expect Christ to come at the Last Judgement. These assume that the orientation is entirely Christian. However, the practice of graves facing east...

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Is it okay to swim in the ocean while wearing contact lenses or will the salty ocean water damage the lenses? Some lenses can be worn while swimming in the ocean, however, there is a danger that the lenses will be lost. Also keep in mind that the water you’re swimming in may contaminate your contact lenses with harmful bacteria. You should consult your optometrist about swimming in the ocean with the lens type you are wearing. [source: http://www.crcert.org/research/do_you_wear.htm]

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What's the difference between a plunging wave and a spilling wave? Plunging waves break with great force and are capable of pushing swimmers to the bottom. Plunging waves may occur mainly at low tide when the water on sandbanks is shallow, which means there is less water on which the waves can break. (Plunging waves are sometimes called dumpers.) Spilling waves occur when the crest tumbles down the front or face. Spilling waves will usually form as the tide...

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How do rainbows form? Rainbows are caused by dispersion of sunlight as it is refracted by (approximately spherical) raindrops. The light is first refracted as it enters the surface of the raindrop, reflects off the back of the drop, and is again refracted as it leaves the drop. The overall effect is that the incoming light is reflected back over a wide range of angles, with the most intense light at an angle of...

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What is asymmetriphobia? The fear of asymmetrical things.

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What is agateophobia? The fear of insanity.

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What are downbursts? Downbursts are columns of sinking air that are capable of producing damaging straight-line winds of over 100 miles per hour, similar to, but distinguishable from tornadoes. Downburst damage will radiate out from a central point, where as tornado damage shows a pattern consistent with rotating winds. And, unlike downbursts (that feature air diving toward the surface), tornadoes are composed of...

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What is street luge? Street luge is an extreme gravity-powered activity that involves riding a street luge board (sometimes referred to as a sled) down a paved road or course. Street luge is also known as land luge or road luge. Like skateboarding, street luge is often done for recreation and for sport. Other than the prone riding position and greater than 70mph speed, street luge has little relation to its...

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What is a diapsid? A vertebrate distinguished by a skull with two pairs of openings in the side behind the eyes, e.g., lizards, snakes, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and pterosaurs.

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What is an autotroph? An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria are autotrophs. [source: http://www.answers.com/autotroph]

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What is an anapsid? A vertebrate distinguished by a skull with no openings in the side behind the eyes, e.g. turtles.

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What are anagensis? Evolutionary change along an unbranching lineage; change without speciation.

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Where was Ayn Rand born? Ayn Rand was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia on February 2, 1905.

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What was Ayn Rand's real name? Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum Her nickname was 'Alice'.

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Why is the term for someone who doesn't drink alcohol "tee totaler"? Teetotalism: principle or practice of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages Teetotaler: a person who practices teetotalism One account of the origin of the word attributes its origin to a meeting of the Preston Temperance Society in May 1832. This society was founded by Joseph Livesey, who was to become a leader of the Temperance movement and the author of The Pledge ("we agree...

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What are the four longest rivers in the USA? 1. Missouri (2,540 miles) 2. Mississippi (2,340 miles) 3. Yukon (1,980 miles) 4. Rio Grande (1,900 miles) [source: http://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AMR_content_cc04]

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Why do so many nursery rhymes seem to have such unfortunate events, such as "Humpty Dumpty" and "Rock a Bye Baby"? The origins of most nursery rhymes reflect events in history [...] Two examples of these types of nursery rhyme origins are 'Ring a Ring o Rosies' which refers to the Bubonic plague and 'Remember Remember' nursery rhymes which allude to Guy Fawkes' foiled attempt to blow up the English Houses of Parliament. Many of the words and nursery rhymes lyrics were used to...

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Why isn't a "hot dog" a "hot pig" since hot dogs come from pigs? What we know as a 'hot dog' today was originally called a 'dachshund sausage' for its resemblance to the low-slung German dog. However, nobody is entirely certain where the term 'hot dog' originated. Its said that in 1902 sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan was at a Giants baseball game, desperate for ideas as his deadline approached, when he heard concessionaire Harry M....

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What is phrenology? Phrenology is a theory which claims to be able to determine character and personality traits and criminality on the basis of the shape of the head (reading "bumps"). German physician Franz Joseph Gall (of gall bladder fame) is considered the founding father of phrenology. While phrenology was very popular in the 19th century, it is now discredited as a pseudoscience. Phrenology has...

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What is muscle made up of? Muscle is composed of muscle cells (sometimes known as "muscle fibers"). Within the cells are myofibrils; myofibrils contain sarcomeres, which are composed of actin and myosin. Individual muscle cells are lined with endomysium. Muscle cells are bound together by perimysium into bundles called fascicules; the bundles are then grouped together to form muscle, which is lined by...

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Knock Knock! Who's there? Spank. Spank who? Spank you. :P

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What is the cause of autism? There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there...

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Can mosquitos transmit AIDS? No. When a mosquito feeds on HIV (human immunodeficiency virus - the virus that causes AIDS) infected blood, the virus is treated as food and digested with the blood. If a mosquito takes blood from a person infected with HIV and then bites a non-infected person, the particles are insufficient to cause a new infection. The levels of HIV that are in human blood are very low compared with the...

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How long do mosquitos live? They can go from egg to adult in 7-14 days and the normal adult life span is anywhere from 2-3 weeks. However, they are very often killed (eaten by birds or insects; killed by rain, droughts, wind, etc) before they have a chance to live out their natural life span.

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What type of files are .pk3 files? (Read by Wolfenstein Enemy Territory, not Return To Castle Wolfenstein) The .pk3 files are just .zip files that have had the .zip extension renamed (i.e. 123.zip was changed to 123.pk3).

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If you're a tiny person that gains bulky muscle easily, will jogging bulk up muscle or just tone? First off, let's establish that 'toning*' (which is usually taken to mean making a muscle more defined** through light weight-bearing/resistance activity - without building muscle) and building muscle are actually one in the same thing. Therefore, you cannot 'tone' without making more muscle. Your muscles can do only one of two things: - grow larger and/or...

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Why do we dream? There are many theories about why we dream. Most theories fit into one of two categories: Physiological or Psychological. - Physiological - Example theory: Dreaming allows us to exercise various neural connections that researchers believe affect certain types of learning. When you're awake, messages are constantly speeding among all your billions of brain cells to keep you moving and...

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What is a dark matter? Unseen matter that may make up more than ninety percent of the universe. Dark matter does not interact with light or other electromagnetic radiation, so it cannot be seen directly, but it can be detected by measuring its gravitational effects. It is believed that dark matter was instrumental in forming galaxies early in the Big Bang. http://www.answers.com/topic/dark-matter

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What exactly is a "sixth sense"? 'Sixth sense' is the colloquial term for the faculties of 'extra-sensory perception' (ESP). Sixth sense is the ability to receive or send information beyond the realm of the five canonical senses (taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing), or any other sense well known to science (balance, proprioception, etc). The term 'sixth sense' was coined by German researcher...

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What was "Blitzkrieg"? How did it work? Blitzkrieg* (German for "lightning war") was an operational-level military doctrine which employed mobile forces attacking with speed and surprise to prevent an enemy from organizing a coherent defense. Originally conceived in the years after the First World War, it was a new tactic developing from existing techniques of maneuver warfare and combined arms warfare. It was first used by...

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What are the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis? The epidermis is the protective outside layer of the skin, while the dermis is the skin located below the epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands, blood and lymph vessels, etc. Below the dermis lies the hypodermis, which is not usually classified as a layer of skin. The hypodermis is not part of the skin. Its purpose is to attach the skin to underlying bone...

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How many strands of hair do we lose per day? On average, about 100 strands of hair (from the scalp) fall out per day. This is because the hair grows in cycles. Every cycle includes a long growing phase (anywhere up to 7 years) followed by a brief resting phase. At the end of this resting phase, the hair falls out and a new hair starts growing, which begins the whole cycle again.

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What is a blanch? To place foods in boiling water briefly either to partially cook them or to aid in the removal of the skin (i.e. nuts, peaches, tomatoes). Blanching also removes the bitterness from citrus zests.

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What is a bechamel sauce? A French white sauce made with milk and a roux of butter and flour.

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What does baste mean? To moisten (meat, for example) periodically with a liquid, such as melted butter or a sauce, especially while cooking.

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What is al dente? Cooked enough to be firm but not soft: pasta al dente. The term comes from Italian where it means "to the teeth," referring to the need to chew the pasta due to its firmness. http://www.answers.com/al%20dente

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What is a toaster oven? An electrical appliance that can be used as either a toaster or an oven.

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What is a sauté? To fry lightly in fat in a shallow open pan.

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What is a simmer? To be cooked gently or remain just at or below the boiling point.

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Did George Washington wear wooden teeth? George Washington never owned a set of wooden teeth - while he did own many sets of dentures, none were of wood construction. Rather, some materials that Washington's dentures were made from include gold, ivory, lead, human and animal teeth (horse and donkey teeth were common components). Washington had a long history of illness. In 1751 he wrote of having smallpox, and in 1752 of a...

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Is it true that George Washington chopped down the cherry tree? No. Parson Mason Weems, an early biographer of George Washington, invented the story. Ironically, Weems made up the story of a young George Washington who says to his father, "I cannot tell a lie," to illustrate Washington's honesty. This is, perhaps, the most enduring story about George Washington, but it is, in fact, a myth. Parson Weems is chiefly known for The Life and...

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How did George Washington die? Washington fell ill with acute laryngitis and died on December 14, 1799 at his home at Mount Vernon. Modern day doctors now believe that Washington died from either a streptococcal infection of the throat or, since he was bled as part of the treatment, a combination of shock from the loss of blood, asphyxia, and dehydration. He was buried on December 18, 1799. ...

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I have a new bathroom scale that measures body fat. How does it do that? Body fat scales use the BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) technique. This method measures body composition by sending a low, safe electrical current through the body. The current passes freely through the fluids contained in muscle tissue, but encounters resistance when it passes through fat tissue. This resistance of the fat tissue to the current is termed 'bioelectrical...

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Who invented sprinkles, and how do you make them? Samuel Born, a Russian immigrant, is usually credited with inventing (chocolate) sprinkles in the 20th century.(http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllollipops.htm) Samuel's candy company 'Just Born' is still producing candies (Mike and Ike's, Peeps; to name a few) and is family-owned. (http://www.justborn.com) I couldn't find anything on how sprinkles...

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What is an antipode? The point on the earth's surface exactly opposite of a given point.

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What is an alluvial fan? A broad, circular fan-shaped deposit of sediments found in deserts where erosional stream channels meet the valley floor and spread out, depositing the stream load.

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Is it true that J. Lo has her body insured? In 1999, tabloids (The Sun in London and the New York Post) ran articles claiming that Jennifer Lopez had indemnified her body (her entire body, please note) to the tune of $1 billion. Even though pound-for-pound the singer's boobs fetched a more generous appraisal than her hiney ($100 million per breast vs. $300 million for legs and buttocks combined, according to the Post), word on the...

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What is menstruation? The periodic discharge of the blood-enriched lining of the uterus through the vagina. Menstruation marks the end of one menstrual cycle and the beginning of another.

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The moon affects our tides, does it also affect menstrual cycles? If so, in what way? The smart money says the 'link' between the moon and menstruation is merely coincidence. In Science and the Paranormal (1983), astronomer George O. Abell writes, "The moon's cycle of phases is 29.53 days, while the human female menstrual cycle averages 28 days (although it varies among women and from time to time with individual women); this is hardly even a good...

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Why do the menstrual cycles of women living/working together become aligned? Although the exact mechanism is still unclear, it is widely suspected that this occurs due to odorless molecules called pheromones. Women (and men) secrete pheromones in a manner as common as sweating. In fact, the sweat of many mammals contains pheromone chemicals. The molecules from one woman bounce and jiggle their way airborne and waft to another. Receptors in the nose detect the pheromones...

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What is 'Om'? Om, also spelled "Aum," is a sacred Hindu sound symbolizing the Absolute. It often is used as a mantra during meditation. Found first in the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Om has been seen as the first manifestation of the unmanifest Brahman (the single Divine Ground of Hinduism) that resulted in the phenomenal universe. Essentially, all the cosmos stems from the vibration of the...

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What is a Pranayam? Pranayam (or Pranayama) is breath control. Pranayama is used in yoga as a separate practice to help clear and cleanse the body and mind. It is also used in preparation for meditation, and in asana, the practice of postures, to help maximize the benefits of the practice, and focus the mind.

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What is a tummy tuck? Plastic surgery of the abdomen in which excess fatty tissue and skin are removed, usually for cosmetic purposes. Also known as abdominoplasty.

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What is a rhinoplasty? A facial cosmetic procedure, usually performed to enhance the appearance of the nose. During rhinoplasty, the nasal cartilages and bones are modified, or tissue is added, to improve the visual appeal of the nose. Rhinoplasty is also frequently performed to repair nasal fractures.

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What is a plastic surgeon? A doctor (surgeon) who remodels, repairs, or restores body parts, especially by the transfer of tissue.

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What is liposuction? A usually cosmetic surgical procedure in which excess fatty tissue is removed from a specific area of the body, such as the thighs or abdomen, by means of suction. Also called suction lipectomy.

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What is a face lift? Plastic surgery to remove facial wrinkles, sagging skin, fat deposits, or other visible signs of aging for cosmetic purposes. Also called rhytidectomy.

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What is valerian root? Valerian has uses in herbal medicine as a sedative. It has in the past been recommended for epilepsy but that has not been supported by modern research. The main current use of valerian is as a remedy for insomnia. Large doses are known to cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped and those with liver disease are advised not to use valerian.

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What is echinacea? A popular herbal remedy, or botanical, believed to benefit the immune system; it is used especially to alleviate common colds and the flu. Echinacea is extracted from the roots and flowering tops of the purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia and E. purpurea).

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What is aloe vera? A species of aloe (Aloe vera) native to the Mediterranean region. The mucilaginous juice or gel obtained from the leaves of this plant are widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations for its soothing and healing properties.

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What is toxicology? The study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons and the treatment of poisoning.

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What is a mtDNA? An acronym for Mitochondrial Deoxyribonucleic Acid.

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What is chromotography? A family of analytical chemistry techniques for the separation of mixtures. It involves passing a sample (the analyte) in the "mobile phase", often in a stream of solvent, through the "stationary phase", some form of material that will provide resistance between the components of the sample and the material. Usually, each component has a characteristic separation rate that...

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What is the difference between intensive and extensive properties? Thermodynamic properties can be divided into two general classes, intensive and extensive properties. An intensive property is independent of the amount of mass. While the value of an extensive property varies directly with the mass. Thus, if a quantity of matter in a given state is divided into two equal parts, each part will have the same value of intensive...

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Is antibacterial soap harmful? Antibacterial ingredients have become so prevalent in the United States that there are now antibacterial soaps, laundry detergents, shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, dish soaps and many household cleaning products. Consumers use these products because they have been marketed as an effective and necessary way to lower the risk of infection. However, many scientists fear that the widespread...

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How much weight can a teenage student carry in a backpack before it becomes unhealthy? To help prevent backpack-related injuries and posture problems, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that backpacks never weigh more than 10-20% of their carrier's total body weight. (http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZY72DZCKD.htm)

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What is dark energy? And is it physically possible? Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy which permeates all of space and has strong negative pressure. According to the theory of relativity, the effect of such a negative pressure is qualitatively similar to a force acting in opposition to gravity at large scales. Invoking such an effect is currently the most popular method for explaining the observations of an accelerating universe as...

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How do you hypnotize someone? Hypnosis is portrayed as a procedure which introduces a subject into a mental state where they can be made to recollect knowledge not consciously accessible, accept instructions and commands, or be given instructions ("post-hypnotic suggestion") that can be triggered when the subject has left the hypnotized state. The act of inducing a hypnotic state is referred to as an induction...

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What triggers the gag reflex? The gag reflex is triggered (in most people) by something touching the soft palate (soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth). It's a reflex contraction in the back of the throat that prevents objects from entering the throat except as part of normal swallowing, helping to prevent choking.

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What is polio? Poliomyelitis ("polio"), or infantile paralysis, is a viral paralytic disease. The causative agent, a virus called poliovirus (PV), enters the body orally, infecting the intestinal lining. It may proceed to the blood stream and into the central nervous system causing muscle weakness and often paralysis. Polio is a communicable disease which is categorized as a disease of...

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Who invented Post-it Notes? 3M research scientist Dr. Spence Silver first developed the adhesive used on Post-it Notes in 1968, while looking for ways to improve the acrylate adhesives that 3M uses in many of its tapes. Silver found something quite remarkably different from what he was originally looking for. It was an adhesive that formed itself into tiny spheres with a diameter of a paper fiber. The spheres would...

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What is El Niño? El Niño is the warming of the surface waters of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean that occurs at irregular intervals of 2-7 years, usually lasting 1-2 years. Along the west coast of South America near the end of each calendar year, a warm current of nutrient-poor tropical water replaces the cold, nutrient-rich surface water of the Humboldt Current which fish prefer. El Niño was...

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Why is straight, blonde hair preferable to other types in the construction of a hair hygrometer? Hygrometers (an instrument used to measure the moisture content or the humidity of air or any gas) that use human hair determine moisture content based on the principle that organic substances (hair) contract and expand in response to the relative humidity. It has been reported that blond hair shrinks more than brunette hair when the air gets moist. I searched and couldn't find...

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What are the differences between a lake, a pond, a lagoon, and a sea? Lake: A large inland body of fresh water or salt water. Pond: A still body of water smaller than a lake. Lagoon: A shallow body of water, especially one separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs. Sea: A division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land. http://www.answers.com/lake http://www.answers.com/pond http://www.answers.com/lagoon ...

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How can I become a commercial airline pilot? Traditionally, there are two ways to become a commercial airline pilot - via the military or by attending a flight school to obtain the required certificates/ratings, then becoming an instructor and building flight time to develop the proficiency required to met the minimum hiring standards of commercial airlines. According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), pilots can expect to...

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When did we actually start using the B.C. / A.D. year count? Anno Domini ("In the year of our Lord"), more completely Anno Domini Nostri Jesu Christi ("In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ"), dating was not the initial choice of Christians in the Mediterranean world; actually, it was not adopted in Western Europe until after the end of the Western Roman Empire. Like the other inhabitants of the Roman Empire, early Christians used one...

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What is structuralism? Structuralism is an approach that grew to become one of the most widely used methods of analyzing language, culture, philosophy of mathematics, and society in the second half of the 20th century. 'Structuralism', however, does not refer to a clearly defined 'school' of authors, although the work of Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure is generally considered a starting...

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What is the heaviest (most dense) wood on earth? Lignumvitae - also known as guayacan, palo santo, and ironwood. Scientific name: Guaiacum sanctum (GWY-uh-kum SANK-tum) Family: Zygophyllaceae Lignumvitae is an extremely slow-growing broadleaf evergreen, not native to North America, which ultimately reaches 30 to 40 feet in height and casts light shade, but few people have seen plants of this size because it is not grown in the trade. Most...

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How does ozone in the air affect one's health? Ozone exists naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the stratosphere, where it shields the Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. However, ozone is also found close to the Earth's surface. This ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant. Ground-level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen in the...

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How long does it take for an oyster to make a pearl? Natural pearls take many years to develop. The larger the pearl the longer it takes. (A 3mm pearl will take about 5 years to form.) Their shapes are often irregular, from slightly off-spherical to bulging, twisting shapes known as baroque. In any shape, natural pearls are expensive and very rare. One might find a single natural pearl in every 10,000 oysters. ...

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What is the purpose of the International Space Station (ISS)? A cooperative effort of 16 nations, four times as large as the Russian Mir station, the ISS project represents "a move of unprecedented scale off the home planet." It is hoped that scientific research planned for six separate space laboratories will lead to discoveries in medicine, materials, and fundamental science that will benefit the people of Earth. Experimentation in space...

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What is the difference between 35mm, 70mm and cinema scope? 35mm and 70mm are film sizes or gauges. The bigger the size in millimeters, the more information and resolution each frame holds. Cinema scope commonly refers to widescreen processes or anamorphic techniques, that use different magnifications in the horizontal and the vertical to fill the screen; it is also the specific trademark name for 20th Century Fox's widescreen process, which...

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What are the dangers of inhaling Ritalin? Dangerous side effects from inhaling Ritalin include: 1) respiratory problems, such as destruction of the nasal and sinus cavities and lung tissue 2) irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia) 3) problems with circulation 4) psychotic episodes 5) increased aggression 6) toxic shock 7) death, in extreme cases and 8) If you don't have a prescription you also run the...

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What does getting to 1st base, 2nd base, etc. refer to? There is no "text book" answer that define what the bases represent. But there is a general understanding about what it means to "get to" each of the bases: First base - Making out, french kissing Second base - Groping, heavy petting, touching privates Third base - Oral sex Homerun - Having sexual intercourse http://www.teenwire.com/ask/articles/as_20010601p227.asp

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Is it true that every snowflake is unique? Of the billions that fall in a good storm, it's a good bet that each is unique. For snowflakes to be identical, they would have to be born of the same particles, formed at the same altitude, pass through air of identical temperature and humidity, and bump the same number of crystals on the float to the ground. http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF14/1474.html

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Can owners pass things like colds and flu to a dog? Most virus diseases don't jump between species - any species. Not between humans and guinea pigs, not between cats and dogs, not between ferrets and humans. Each animal has a different body temperature, a different balance of chemicals in the bloodstream, different enzymes - and a virus that is happy at the 98.6° Fahrenheit (37° centigrade/celsius) body temperature of humans can't...

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What is Queen's song Bohemian Rhapsody about? The name "Bohemian" in the song title seems to refer to a group of artists and musicins living roughly 100 years ago, known for defying convention and living with disregard for standards. A "Rhapsody" is a piece of Classical music with distinct sections that is played as one movement. Rhapsody's often have themes. Freddie Mercury wrote the lyrics, and there has been...

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Is zero considered an even or odd number, or neither? This answer comes from Dr. Hossein Arsham (University of Baltimore): http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/Business-stat/opre/ZERO.HTM#revenodd Is Zero an Even or Odd Number? If one defines evenness or oddness on the integers (either positive or all), then zero seems to be taken to be even; and if one only defines evenness and oddness on the natural numbers, then zero seems to be neither. This...

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What exactly is alimony? Alimony is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and above the money provided by child support. Where child support is a simple mathematical calculation using guidelines published by the state, alimony is very much in the discretion of the judge. Traditionally, alimony was awarded to the wife and paid by the husband. However during the 1970s and...

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What does "irreconcilable differences," as reason for divorce, mean? Irreconcilable differences are one possible grounds for a divorce in the United States; often they are used as justification for a no-fault divorce. A no-fault divorce is an absolute divorce that is not based on either spouse's fault and that is granted usually on the grounds of an irretrievable breakdown or when husband and wife have lived apart for a statutorily specified period of...

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What are the basic beliefs of Judaism? The Jewish People believe there is one God who created and rules the world. This God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (in all places at all times). God is also just and merciful. Judaism is an ethical religion. When the Israelites accepted the Ten Commandments from God at Mount Sinai, they committed themselves to following a code of law which regulates...

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How much does an elephant calf weigh when it's born? The average is 118kg (260lbs).

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Are white tigers albinos? White tigers are simply white-coloured Bengals and not a separate subspecies as many people think (it would perhaps be more accurate to call it an aberrant colouration). They lack much of their normal colour so can be considered albinistic, but the presence of pigmentation causing the stripes and colour in the lips, paw pads and nose, means they are not albinos. A white tiger can only be...

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Are there any plans to release Season 10 of Friends in the US soon? Season 10 (the last season) is already playing on TV in the U.S. No release date has been set for the Complete Tenth Season DVDs yet, but a summer release seems likely. http://www.tvtome.com/Friends/

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Who founded Hinduism? Hinduism has no founder. It does not owe its existence to a specific prophet. It is based on divine revelations experienced by a series of sages, called Rishis, while they were in intense meditation. The divine knowledge received by the Rishis is contained in the four sacred books called the Vedas (Veda = knowledge). http://www.devimandir.com/hinduism/myths.htm

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Is there such a thing as citizen's arrest? If so, how does one make a citizen's arrest? Yes, there is. Citizen's arrest (an arrest performed by a private citizen, as opposed to a sworn law enforcement officer) dates back to medieval England and the English common law. Sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers. In the United States, state law varies. Some states permit citizen's arrests, but usually they may only be carried out if a person...

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What causes hiccups? Can they be dangerous? Hiccups (AKA singultus) are the gulping sounds caused by involuntary spasms of the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and helps with breathing - the diaphragm. Hiccups are a bit of a medical mystery. Theories (such as eating too fast) exist on what causes hiccups, but no one knows for sure. They're not a serious medical condition and usually disappear on their own within 5 to...

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Could somebody bleed to death from a nosebleed? It happens rarely, but an uncontrolled or uncontrollable nosebleed has the potential to be fatal. What follows is excerpted from: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10416.html The inside of the nose is covered with moist, delicate skin that has a rich supply of blood vessels. When the nasal skin is injured, even from a minor nick or scratch, these blood vessels tend to...

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What does the hypothalamus do? The hypothalamus (a structure in the midbrain) is the control center of all autonomic regulatory activities of the body. The main function of the hypothalamus is homeostasis, or maintaining the body's status quo. It modulates the autonomic nervous system, either directly or indirectly (through pituitary hormones). It also influences growth and basic metabolism, including core...

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What is the "Pineapple Express"? The "Pineapple Express" is a relatively common weather pattern that brings southwest winds to the Pacific Northwest or California, along with an abundance of warm, tropical moisture. You can usually see it on a satellite photo, where the band of rainfall stretches from the Pacific Northwest all the way southwest to near Hawaii.

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What is cosmic consciousness? Cosmic consciousness (divine illumination) is a transpersonal mode of consciousness, an awareness of the universal mind and one's unity with it. It was coined in the early 1900s by Richard Maurice Bucke, a Canadian psychologist, in his book “Cosmic Consciousness”. If you are interested in Bucke's book, it is currently still in print. The ISBN is 0140193375 and it is published by...

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Who invented the tampon? Dr. Earle C. Haas is considered the "inventor" of the modern tampon. He patented the first tampon with an applicator in 1936 and marketed it under the name Tampax. However, forms of tampons made from natural material (sponges, wool, vegetable fibers, et cetera) are thought to have been in use since the times of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks.

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What factors cause a snow slope to be avalanche prone? It is impossible to name all of the factors, but a few major ones are listed below: Temperature - If the temperature of the snow near the ground (which stays near 32° F / 0° C) differs significantly from temperatures higher in the snow pack, then as some of the snow naturally turns to vapor and refreezes, the distribution grows uneven. The snow near the ground can turn to Depth Hoar--tiny,...

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What's the difference between abdominal fat and visceral fat? There are two types of abdominal fat: visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat (also called intra-abdominal fat) is stored beneath the muscles and wrapped around the internal organs. Subcutaneous fat is stored between the skin and the abdominal muscle wall. Of the two, visceral fat is more worrisome as it is linked to high cholesterol, high insulin, high triglycerides, high...

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How does snow form? Snow forms high in the atmosphere with the help of particles, such as dust, volcanic ash or sea salt. These flecks serve as condensation nuclei-something onto which water vapor can cling. Without these little particles, water vapor can remain unfrozen down to minus 40 degrees. The meeting between a supercooled cloud of water vapor and a sprinkling of dust often results in a snowstorm. Seeded...

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Who wrote, 'Listen for the creak of the bow and not the rush of the arrow,' and what book is it in? Jack Gardner wrote "Listen for the creak of the bow, not the rush of the arrow" in his book "Words Are Not Things". The ISBN is 0572030401 and the book is published by Foulsham.

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