Why does a clock only have 12 numbers?


Human beings have been thinking about and counting time for thousands of years. The first time-keeping machines used sand, water or the position of the Sun in the sky to mark out the passage of time. These days, we use clocks and watches for telling the time. But however we do it, our measurement of time is based on the movement of our planet Earth in relation to the Sun.

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Do fish have ears?


Fish are cold-blooded animals that live in water. Most fish have scales on their bodies, use gills to breathe and have fins instead of arms or legs or fingers or toes. And they range enormously in shape and size – from tiny seahorses to huge whale sharks!

But have you ever wondered if and how fish can hear? We have! So, let’s find out more about fish and how they sense the watery world around them…

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How do they put the colour in fireworks?


“Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot…”

Bonfire night is an annual celebration in Britain. It is celebrated on November 5th every year and marks the failure of a plan, called the Gunpowder Plot, to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. It is tradition to mark the occasion by lighting bonfires and holding firework displays.

Fireworks were invented hundreds of years ago and are used for lots of different types of celebrations and festivals throughout the year. My daughters want to know more about how fireworks work and how do they make such bright colours in the sky?

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Why are hedgehogs prickly?


Hedgehogs are small mammals that live in hedgerows, grasslands, woodlands and meadows. They are found in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa and can live for about 7 years.

Hedgehogs can be easily recognised because of the spiky prickles (called ‘spines’) they have all over their backs and the grunting, snuffling noises they make. They look cute but you shouldn’t try to pick one up because it might feel frightened and try to prickle you with its spines.

But my daughters want to know why hedgehogs are prickly and whether they are prickly when they are born?

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How tall is an apple tree?


There is a small community orchard close to where we live. Each summer, we watch the apple flowers blossom and wait for the fruit to grow. Then, in early September we pick a few of the low-hanging apples to see how they taste. This year, they tasted good!

But the trees in the orchard are quite tall and it can be tricky to reach the apples. Often, the children have to sit on our shoulders to reach up into the branches to get the fruit.

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How do they land a rocket?


Rockets are vehicles that can be used for travelling in Space. They are tube-shaped and use fuel to produce a super-strong blast of hot gas that pushes them forward or upwards. Rockets can move really, really fast through the air and into outer Space – whoosh! But have you ever thought about how they stop? My friend’s little boy has and he wants to know how do rockets land? So, let’s find out…!

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