Fifty five million years ago a small dog-sized herbivore emerged from the ancient forests and took to the plain. As time went on the species gradually evolved into the sleek, powerful animal we recognise today as the horse. One of the key requirements to survive out in the open was the ability to outrun predators … Read more

According to superstition, Magpies can be both lucky and unlucky. To view one Magpie is said to be unlucky, whereas to view two is lucky. Although no one knows for sure, this might be because (according to some), Magpies mate for life. So if you see one Magpie the implication is that his mate has … Read more

Simply put, snot is mucus that is produced by a special membrane in the nose. The purpose of snot is to trap dust particles, germs and pollen that are inhaled and to prevent them from getting into the lungs. When the inhaled particle and the surrounding mucus that surrounds it dry and solidify, you get … Read more

Pigment-producing cells add colour to our hair as it grows. As we age the pigment-producing cells slowly die off and individual hairs appear white. When mixed in with strands of hair that still have their original colour, hair looks grey. We can go grey whatever colour hair we have, however grey hairs tend to be … Read more

Kelloggs has claimed that Rice Krispies 'snap, crackle and pop' since the cereal was first marketed in the UK in 1932. According to the original radio adverts the 'snap, crack and pop' sound was 'your food talking' – but science has a much more mundane explanation. To make Rice Krispies, rice kernels (or grains) are … Read more

Everyone passes wind - we expel oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane from our behinds every day, often without noise or smell. However, sometimes undigested food passes from the small intestine into the large intestine (or colon) where the mass is fermented by the large amounts of bacteria normally present there. The colon contains … Read more

It's been almost a millennium since Britain was last successfully invaded (by the Norman French in 1066). However, the last time a hostile foreign power actually landed troops on the British mainland was back in 1797 when a fleet of four French warships landed 1,400 conscript troops on the Welsh coast near Fishguard, with the … Read more