Mick O’Hare (ed)
Profile Books
2012 | 224pp | £7.99 (PB)
ISBN 9781781250266

The latest edition of New Scientist extracts has arrived in the shops. For those unfamiliar with the series that includes Does anything eat wasps? and Why don’t penguins’ feet freeze?, the basic premise of these books is that they draw together a collection of questions and answers from the Last Word column.

For example, I have always wanted to know why my morning Weetabix clings like solid cement to the side of the cereal bowl after 20 minutes – luckily there was one person of a similar mind who asked this question. Two others were able to suggest answers: one with an explanation relating to the chemical makeup of my breakfast of choice and why it becomes a powerful adhesive, while another simply states his pains with the subject and how to tackle it best with a solution of washing-up liquid, water and plenty of patience.

From why we perceive the sun as yellow, to how long you can keep a tiger cub as a pet, there is certain to be a question for everyone, be they of a scientific nature or not. This book will certainly make great addition to any weirdly curious person’s Christmas stocking.

Purchase Will we ever speak dolphin? on Amazon.co.uk.

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