Ask A Junkie Because Your Questions Need Answers 2016-11-30T05:25:06Z WordPress The Junkie <![CDATA[How Do Giraffes Sleep?]]> 2016-04-05T07:15:06Z 2013-02-01T10:10:06Z How Do Giraffes SleepWith their eyes closed, of course! Kidding aside, giraffes have some of the most unconventional ways of sleeping. Because they are the tallest living land animals courtesy of their necks that could reach to 6 feet long, it requires them a lot of effort and balance to stand up from the sitting position.

Thus, these gentle giants would rather rest standing on their legs than risk being the lions' dinner. In this position, giraffes can immediately run to safety in case they sense an attack from predators. They can run up to 35 mph, which gives adult giraffes a fighting chance to escape hungry predators which see them as moving buffet spreads! Unfortunately, it is not the same case for younger giraffes especially the newborns. About half of young giraffes fall prey to lions during the first year.

Sometimes, giraffes also sleep recumbent (lying down) and When they do, they usually rest their necks on their rumps or rest their heads on their hindquarters or ground and holding the neck in an arced posture. They also use some other prop like a log or rock, sort of a pillow that supports and keep their heads elevated.

According to studies, the giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal. An adult giraffe sleeps between ten minutes and two hours in a 24-hour period, averaging about 2 hours per day. It may catnap lightly now and again during the day, but its ears are still highly sensitive and can sense movements of predators. This is how these creatures evolved to adjust and defend themselves from the dangers that lurks in the bushes.

The Junkie <![CDATA[Who invented the microwave oven?]]> 2016-04-05T07:21:27Z 2012-12-21T03:37:18Z Radarange - The first microwave ovenThe microwave oven was invented by mistake when an engineer, by the name of Percy LeBaron Spencer, noticed that the radiation from a magnetron tube he is testing melted the chocolate bar he had in his pocket.

During World War II, Spencer was one of the leading experts in radar tube design working for Raytheon, a weapons and military  electronics contractor associated with the American Department of Defense. He headed the division tasked to develop and produce combat radar equipment for M.I.T.’s Radiation Laboratory.

While building magnetrons one day, Spencer noticed the candy bar he had in his pocket had melted while he was standing in front of an active radar set. Intrigued, he investigated on what caused the candy bar to melt. He experimented with food, including popcorn kernels, which became the world’s first microwaved popcorn.

Spencer then took a kettle and cut a hole on its side.  He placed a whole egg in the kettle and positioned the magnetron to direct the microwaves into the hole. The result was the egg exploding in the face of one of his co-workers, who were looking in the kettle to observe.

Spencer created the first true microwave oven by attaching a high density electromagnetic field generator to an enclosed metal box. The magnetron emitted microwaves into the metal box blocking any escape, allowing for controlled and safe experimentation. He then placed various food items in the box, while observing effects and monitoring temperatures. His work progressed well, so Raytheon filed a patent on October 8, 1945 for a microwave cooking oven, eventually named the Radarange.

The first commercially produced microwave oven was about 6 feet tall, weighed about 750lbs, and cost about $5000. In 1967 the first relatively affordable ($495) and reasonably sized (counter-top) microwave oven was released for sale. Today, no kitchen is complete without a microwave oven.

Spencer became Senior Vice President, and a Senior Member of the Board of Directors at Raytheon. He received 300 patents during his career there. He received no royalties for his invention, but he was paid a one-time, two-dollar gratuity from Raytheon - the same token payment the company made to all inventors on its payroll at that time, for company patents.

Had Spencer owned the patent for his invention, he would have been one of the richest men in history.

The Junkie <![CDATA[Do Lobsters Really have Teeth in Their Stomachs?]]> 2016-04-05T07:20:15Z 2012-11-26T08:50:13Z If you happen to get up close and personal with a live lobster, don't worry of getting bitten through its mouth. Be mindful of its claws or pincers which are very powerful and can tear through human flesh.  While lobster have mandibles that are used to tear food apart, they do not have teeth in their mouths to chew their meals.  However, they do have teeth-like projections in their stomachs which are used to grind their food. The teeth-like projections look like molar surfaces and are called the "gastric mill."

Other strange-but-true lobster facts:

Lobsters can grow (regenerate) new legs, claws and antennae. They can drop body parts, like claws, antennae or limbs, at will to distract a predator during attacks. They can then grow back the lost parts. This is one of the rare characteristics of lobsters that are attributed to their primitive nervous system. Lobster farmers uses this fact to prove that these creatures are less sensitive to pain compared to humans or other types of animals against claims by animal activists that dropping a lobster in a pot of boiling water is cruel and torturous.

Furthermore, scientists discovered that lobster have pea-sized brains which reinforces the notion that lobster feel when subjected to cooking procedures.  According to researchers, the lobster's brain is too underdeveloped to process pain.

Lobster also have extremely poor vision considering the size ratio of their eyes to their heads. Their eyes cannot distinguish colors and do not see clear images. However, their eyes are very sensitive to light, and they are able to detect movement and shadows even though there is very little light. They find their way around mostly through touching and detecting odours through their antennaes.

Another strange fact about lobsters is that they smell with their "feet". In fact, lobsters have several receptors on their claws and their legs, which enable them to locate and recognize food in their immediate surroundings. Lobsters have other receivers on their antennas and mouth that enable them to detect odours (chemical signals).

The Junkie <![CDATA[Can a Cockroach Live without Its Head?]]> 2016-04-05T07:19:13Z 2012-11-20T10:50:13Z cockroachYes, up to a week. Cockroaches are said to be one of the most tenacious creatures on earth and are often cited as the most likely survivors of a nuclear war. They can easily adapt to, and thus survive, harsh conditions.

Another strange fact about the cockroach is that it can survive without its head for up to a week. While humans and other animals are considered worm food the instance their heads are chopped off, a headless cockroach will continue to live much longer than other decapitated creatures.

This is because cockroaches have unique nervous and respiratory systems which means that they can breathe even without their heads.  They also do not bleed to death when their heads are chopped off because they don't have a huge network of blood vessels like that of humans and other animals. Any wound is immediately sealed off by clotting. In fact, cockroaches do not need blood to supply oxygen to every part of its body. They breathe through spiracles which deliver air to each cell of the body through a set of tubes called tracheae.

Cockroaches also have very low metabolism which means that their last meal can sustain them for a long time especially since they don't move around pretty much after decapitation.

Problems starts when dehydration or starvation sets in because they cannot feed. Infection from mold, bacterium or virus, can also contribute to the headless cockroach's premature death.

The Junkie <![CDATA[Is it true that elephants are the only mammal that can’t jump?]]> 2016-04-05T07:17:05Z 2012-11-13T08:40:47Z Elephants can't jumpYes, it is true that elephants cannot jump, if jump refers to the state of having no feet on the ground at the same time after propelling oneself from a stationary position. The elephant's weight makes it physiologically impossible for it to do so plus the fact that the bones on its feet are more closely packed together than other mammals.  Thus, they do not have the flexibility or spring mechanisms that would enable them to jump. Furthermore, elephants don't really like to have more than one foot off the ground at once.

However, the elephant is NOT the only mammal that can’t jump. Sloths, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses also known to be non-jumping mammals. But unlike elephants, it is possible for these animals to have all four feet off the ground when they run.

The Junkie <![CDATA[Why are buttons on men and women’s shirts placed on different sides?]]> 2016-04-05T07:32:09Z 2012-10-26T18:00:03Z The reason why men’s shirts have their buttons on the right side while women’s garments have theirs on the left stems from opulence and convenience. In the 19th century, only affluent women can afford clothes with buttons. And if you are a well-off lady during those days, you don't dress up by yourself, you have chambermaids to dress you up so their buttons were placed on the side most convenient for right-handed servants. The idea must have came from dressmakers who assist clients during fittings.

In the case of men's buttons, even the wealthiest bloke of the olden times generally dressed themselves up, even if they have servants who can very well assist them.  Thus, the buttons are on the right side to make fastening or unfastening a piece of garment quicker and easier for the right-handed man. This proved to be useful during unexpected duels where gentlemen can easily unbutton their coats with their left hand while drawing their swords with their right.


The Junkie <![CDATA[Can Apples Really Wake You Up Better Than Coffee?]]> 2016-04-05T07:31:26Z 2012-09-11T10:04:04Z Apparently, an apple a day, does not only keep the doctor away. It is also considered as a more efficient agent in waking you up in the mornings than caffeine.

Coffee has been the preferred "perk-me-up-in-the-morning" drink of many because of the caffeine it contains which is said to quickly stimulate the senses and provide mental energy. However, the effect quickly fades off as it gives little physical energy to the body.

An apple, on the other hand, contains a natural sugar called fructose  which gives the same effect as caffeine in boosting energy levels. Furthermore, apples have high carbohydrate and fiber content, which are used as the body's fuel. The high fiber content also cause the natural sugar to be absorbed more slowly into the system, prolonging the boost.

Aside from all these, an apple is also packed with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients making it an ideal breakfast item than a steaming cup of coffee.  Here are some health benefits that can be derived from apples:

  • An apple contains around or even less than 100 calories each, with no dietary cholesterol and no fat.
  • The combination of fiber and vitamins apples contain may also help to lower overall cholesterol numbers.
  • Apples are a great source of B vitamins, which aid in metabolism, and antioxidant beta carotene, known to ward off respiratory infections, lower the risk of certain types of cancers, lower the risk of heart disease and even protect against ultraviolet radiation when combined with Vitamin C.
  • This fruit is also packed with Vitamin C, known to help the body fight infections.

While the apple may not satisfy your coffee craving all together, it offers a healthier alternative to staying awake. So the next time you’re feeling a little tired or need an extra boost, pass on the coffee and try an apple instead.

The Junkie <![CDATA[Is it true that everything weighs less at the equator?]]> 2016-04-05T07:30:45Z 2012-09-05T10:41:58Z Yes, anything will technically weigh less at the Earth's equator compared to other parts of the world, say the North or South pole. Any object weighs lighter in the equator, because it is farther from the earth's center of gravity as compared when it is weighed in the Northern or Southern Poles. You see, the earth is not a perfect sphere and it is "flattened" at the poles because of the rotation of the earth. Thus, the earth's gravitational pull on an object is greater in the either poles than at the equator.

Furthermore, the acceleration due to the rotation of the earth also affects the weight of an object in the equator. The centrifugal force tend to "throw it off" away from the planet. There is no extreme rotation at the poles so weights of objects are not affected.

However, it doesn't mean that you will weigh significantly less in the equator so don't pack your bags yet and relocate there. The weight difference of objects in the equator and in other parts of the globe is extremely small (less than 0.5%) that you won't even notice it with an ordinary weighing scale. Simply put, if you are fat in New Zealand, you will still be fat in Ecuador.

The Junkie <![CDATA[Who invented ice cream?]]> 2016-04-05T08:25:42Z 2012-07-27T11:50:36Z ice cream








The Junkie <![CDATA[How Do You Escape From a Quicksand?]]> 2016-04-05T07:27:37Z 2012-06-04T07:09:09Z Question: How to escape from a Quicksand?Stumbling into a quicksand seems to be a scary predicament. Thanks to movies and television which gave these sink holes a bad reputation. However, a real quicksand will not suck people all the way in. But getting out in one can be difficult.

Contrary to its depiction in media, a man who is stuck in a quicksand will only sink to his waist, elbows or armpits, depending on how much he weighs and what he is carrying. Objects in a quicksand will sink only to the level at which their weight is equal to the weight of the displaced sand/water mix. In fact, humans will float in quicksands!

There are people who die in quicksands but not because they were submerged completely but because they weren’t able to get out quickly enough. They are most likely to be killed by exposure to the elements such as extreme temperatures and incoming tide.

The key in surviving a quicksand is by not panicking and violently struggling out of the pit. Composed of a  combination of fine sand, clay, and water, a quicksand liquefies very quickly when agitated. This simply means that a trapped body will sink deeper because of movements, making an escape a bit more difficult.

Asking someone to tug on you is also not a good idea. The suctioning effect of the quicksand will make it difficult to pull you out of the pit in one piece!

The best thing you can do is to spread your weight out and improve your buoyancy by gently leaning backwards. Then, wriggle your legs around to build up space between your legs and the quicksand through which water can flow down to dilate loosen the sand.  This must be done slowly and progressively.

When you have successfully loosen your legs out of the muck, try to gently bring them up towards the surface. Once your legs and midsection are at or on the surface, use your arms to gently and slowly paddle your way to the edge of the pit. Never submerge your entire hands or arms all the way or they may end up stuck as well.

Once on the edge of a more stable ground, use your hands to crawl up to safety.