Ask Us Anything(Page 3)

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall.

Latest in Ask Us Anything

Types of bread for a bread and water diet

Can you live on bread and water alone? Can you live on bread and water alone?

By Claire Maldarelli

How many hours of sleep do you actually need?

How many hours of sleep do you actually need? How many hours of sleep do you actually need?

By Claire Maldarelli

You can injure yourself stretching—but it’s not easy

You can injure yourself stretching—but it’s not easy You can injure yourself stretching—but it’s not easy

By Claire Maldarelli

What Makes A Boomerang Come Back?

What Makes A Boomerang Come Back? What Makes A Boomerang Come Back?

By Kirstin Fawcett

Why don’t we just throw all our garbage into volcanoes? Why don’t we just throw all our garbage into volcanoes?

By Mary Beth Griggs

You might be overusing hand sanitizer

You might be overusing hand sanitizer You might be overusing hand sanitizer

By Claire Maldarelli

Do animals have orgasms?

Do animals have orgasms? Do animals have orgasms?

By Shaunacy Ferro

FYI: Do Fat People Stay Warmer Than Thin People?

FYI: Do Fat People Stay Warmer Than Thin People? FYI: Do Fat People Stay Warmer Than Thin People?

By Daniel Engber

tons of potatoes

Is there a single food that you can survive on forever? Is there a single food that you can survive on forever?

By Ellen Airhart

crowd in swimming pool

Peeing in the pool is actually really bad for you Peeing in the pool is actually really bad for you

By Claire Maldarelli

A trio of giraffes from the necks up against a cloudy sky backdrop.

Ask Us Anything: Why do humans stop growing? Ask Us Anything: Why do humans stop growing?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

an illustrated man with a magnifying glass held up to his eye

Ask Us Anything: Why can’t we see more colors? Ask Us Anything: Why can’t we see more colors?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

Ask Us Anything: What happens in your brain when you daydream?

Ask Us Anything: What happens in your brain when you daydream? Ask Us Anything: What happens in your brain when you daydream?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

Ask Us Anything: Can viruses be good for us? Ask Us Anything: Can viruses be good for us?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

astronaut on spacewalk

Ask Us Anything: What happens to your body when you die in space? Ask Us Anything: What happens to your body when you die in space?

By Shannon Stirone

Ask Us Anything: Why can’t we burn our trash in volcanoes? Ask Us Anything: Why can’t we burn our trash in volcanoes?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive?

If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive? If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive?

By Holly Otterbein

If Snow And Rain Come From The Ocean, Why Aren’t They Salty?

If Snow And Rain Come From The Ocean, Why Aren’t They Salty? If Snow And Rain Come From The Ocean, Why Aren’t They Salty?

By Sophie Bushwick

Can Sour Candy Actually Damage Your Tongue?

Can Sour Candy Actually Damage Your Tongue? Can Sour Candy Actually Damage Your Tongue?

By Alyssa Clough

A bag of chocolate chip cookies holding up a sign that says "nutrition facts, one cookie, 320 calories"

Why you can’t trust the calorie count on food labels Why you can’t trust the calorie count on food labels

By Daniel Engber

How much chocolate would you have to eat for it to kill you?

How much chocolate would you have to eat for it to kill you? How much chocolate would you have to eat for it to kill you?

By Claire Maldarelli

A white Pomeranian on a snowy ledge with its tongue stuck out

Is it safe to eat snow? Is it safe to eat snow?

By Lydia Ramsey

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, destroyed homes and lives.

Earthquakes can cause serious psychological aftershocks Earthquakes can cause serious psychological aftershocks

Is it possible to boost your immune system?

Is it possible to boost your immune system? Is it possible to boost your immune system?

By Claire Maldarelli

A brown-eyed individual holding a mug

How do we get our eye color? How do we get our eye color?

kid eating cake

How your tongue tells your brain what you’re tasting How your tongue tells your brain what you’re tasting

By Alex Schwartz

Three fish crows attacking a red-tailed hawk

Why are crows and ravens such jerks? Why are crows and ravens such jerks?

By Nicholas Lund

Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’

Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’ Nuking hurricanes out of the sky ‘doesn’t make sense at all’

By Erin Blakemore

Why don’t we grow to be 10 feet tall?

Why don’t we grow to be 10 feet tall? Why don’t we grow to be 10 feet tall?

Why you’re more likely to cry on an airplane

Why you’re more likely to cry on an airplane Why you’re more likely to cry on an airplane

By Lila Reynolds

Why do we get goosebumps?

Why do we get goosebumps? Why do we get goosebumps?

By Elaina Hancock

Why do I feel dizzy after spinning?

Why do I feel dizzy after spinning? Why do I feel dizzy after spinning?

By Claire Maldarelli

Do I have a cold or the flu?

Do I have a cold or the flu? Do I have a cold or the flu?

By Nicole Wetsman

Why can’t I use my dog’s tick prevention medicine?

Why can’t I use my dog’s tick prevention medicine? Why can’t I use my dog’s tick prevention medicine?

By Nicole Wetsman

What would happen if the moon suddenly disappeared?

What would happen if the moon suddenly disappeared? What would happen if the moon suddenly disappeared?

By Morgan McFall-Johnsen

Why hasn’t the sun burned out yet?

Why hasn’t the sun burned out yet? Why hasn’t the sun burned out yet?

By Emma Sarappo

Can my dog get me sick?

Can my dog get me sick? Can my dog get me sick?

By Annie Cebulski

If everyone became vegetarian, would the planet actually be better off?

If everyone became vegetarian, would the planet actually be better off? If everyone became vegetarian, would the planet actually be better off?

By Sara Kiley Watson

Does a fever always mean you have an infection?

Does a fever always mean you have an infection? Does a fever always mean you have an infection?

By Cassidy Mayeda

What can genetic testing really tell you?

What can genetic testing really tell you? What can genetic testing really tell you?

By Aparna Nathan

Does drinking hot liquids on a hot day actually cool you off?

Does drinking hot liquids on a hot day actually cool you off? Does drinking hot liquids on a hot day actually cool you off?

By Marissa Shieh

Is it possible to sneeze while you are sleeping?

Is it possible to sneeze while you are sleeping? Is it possible to sneeze while you are sleeping?

By Marissa Shieh

How worried should I really be about carcinogens?

How worried should I really be about carcinogens? How worried should I really be about carcinogens?

By Aparna Nathan

Do probiotics actually do anything?

Do probiotics actually do anything? Do probiotics actually do anything?

By Claire Maldarelli

What actually causes body odor? What actually causes body odor?

By Claire Maldarelli

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?

By Claire Maldarelli

What’s the best way to crack an egg? Physics has the answer.

What’s the best way to crack an egg? Physics has the answer. What’s the best way to crack an egg? Physics has the answer.

By Hanna Bolaños

What’s the healthiest way to eat a vegetable?

What’s the healthiest way to eat a vegetable? What’s the healthiest way to eat a vegetable?

By Claire Maldarelli

Does brushing your teeth affect your appetite?

Does brushing your teeth affect your appetite? Does brushing your teeth affect your appetite?

By Claire Maldarelli

Can I use moss to navigate?

Can I use moss to navigate? Can I use moss to navigate?

By Knvul Sheikh

Could you fertilize Martian crops with human poop?

Could you fertilize Martian crops with human poop? Could you fertilize Martian crops with human poop?

By Michael Koziol

Who Blows A Lighthouse’s Foghorn?

Who Blows A Lighthouse’s Foghorn? Who Blows A Lighthouse’s Foghorn?

By Melissa Klein

Why Is It So Hard To Get Rid Of Garlic Breath?

Why Is It So Hard To Get Rid Of Garlic Breath? Why Is It So Hard To Get Rid Of Garlic Breath?

By Melissa Klein

Illustration of a skunk wearing a gas mask and emitting fumes. The skunk is surrounded by unconscious animals.

Do Skunks Hate The Smell Of Their Own Spray? Do Skunks Hate The Smell Of Their Own Spray?

By Melissa Klein

Why hasn’t the U.S. adopted the metric system?

Why hasn’t the U.S. adopted the metric system? Why hasn’t the U.S. adopted the metric system?

By Daniel Engber

Why Does Sunlight Lighten Hair But Darken Skin?

Why Does Sunlight Lighten Hair But Darken Skin? Why Does Sunlight Lighten Hair But Darken Skin?

By Daniel Engber

blood donation bag and volunteer

Does Giving Blood Harm Your Immune System? Does Giving Blood Harm Your Immune System?

By Daniel Engber

shower curtain billowing while researcher observes its behavior

Why Do Shower Curtains Billow Inward? Why Do Shower Curtains Billow Inward?

By Daniel Engber

Do Beards Keep Men Warm?

Do Beards Keep Men Warm? Do Beards Keep Men Warm?

By Daniel Engber

Which is More Powerful: A Giant Microscope or a Giant Telescope?

Which is More Powerful: A Giant Microscope or a Giant Telescope? Which is More Powerful: A Giant Microscope or a Giant Telescope?

By Daniel Engber

Why Do I Feel Like Someone’s Watching Me?

Why Do I Feel Like Someone’s Watching Me? Why Do I Feel Like Someone’s Watching Me?

By Daniel Engber

Should I Be Freaked Out By Backwash?

Should I Be Freaked Out By Backwash? Should I Be Freaked Out By Backwash?

By Daniel Engber

Why Does Bright Light Make Me Sneeze?

Why Does Bright Light Make Me Sneeze? Why Does Bright Light Make Me Sneeze?

By Daniel Engber

Why Does Stale Bread Turn Hard, But Stale Chips Turn Soft?

Why Does Stale Bread Turn Hard, But Stale Chips Turn Soft? Why Does Stale Bread Turn Hard, But Stale Chips Turn Soft?

By Daniel Engber