What happens when you pull a muscle?
(Image source: Pixabay) Question from Stef Ingham Muscles are made up of thousands of fibres, and if they are overstretched or torn the result can be pretty painful. The medical term is muscle strain,...
How It Works Feed your mind with fascinating facts about the world around you
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What happens in the stomach?
This hollow organ is the mixing-machine of the digestive system (Image source: Future PLC) The period after we’ve just finished a meal is a crucial time for digestion. The recently arrived food bolus –...
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Meet the Mars Starship
How this prototype space vehicle could one day take humans to the Red Planet Image credit: SpaceX The US company SpaceX has made no secret of its ultimate goal to send humans to Mars....
Military animals
From anti-tank dogs to exploding rats, discover history’s failed attempts at drafting animals into the armed forces Throughout history, humans have enlisted the help of animals to conquer countries, defend territories and defeat adversaries....
How limpets are underwater gardeners?
They might appear lifeless and unimportant, but limpets play a big role in their ecosystem Image source: Pixabay ‘Limpet’ is a term that’s used to describe a variety of both freshwater and marine gastropods...
How do fighter jets refuel mid-air?
RAF Voyager is a flying tanker, on a mission to keep fighter jets aloft for as long as possible Image credit: Future plc Staring out of the window of an Airbus A330 aircraft, the...
Inside the human foot
One of the first things we learn to do is walk, but how exactly do we move from heel to toe? (Image source: Pixabay) With every step we take, a set of biological cogs...
Why are there so many castles in Britain?
(Image credit: Joshua Miranda) Question from Laura Torres Britain was in a state of civil war for much of the Middle Ages, as nobles feuded with each other or revolted against the king. Lords...
Why do we lie?
It’s not just bad behaviour – deception is a product of evolution and it gives your brain a real workout Image credit: Getty images Your dog really did eat your homework, and you have...
How to create a rainbow
With a few simple items, you can create a rainbow on your wall at home 1. Set up your bowl To create your rainbow, the first step is to find a shallow bowl and...
The Medieval Le Mont Saint-Michel
This monastery is a fortified marvel and one of France’s most iconic historic sites Image credit: Getty Images The island of Mont Saint-Michel has survived sieges, fires and revolutions over the centuries. While it...
Heroes of History: Sophia Duleep Singh
This princess of a stolen empire became one of Britain’s most high-profile women’s rights activists Born and raised in England, Sophia was the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the exiled Emperor of the Sikh...
Why does Africa need lions?
Meet the king of the jungle and discover how his kingdom has changed over time (Image source: Pixabay) Prowling across the African savannah, the ‘king of the jungle’ has gained a reputation as a...
