Hannah Ashworth

Hannah Ashworth is a journalist who has written several articles for BBC Science Focus.

Recent articles by Hannah Ashworth

How long does it take for a body to decompose at sea?

If you're planning a burial at sea, the rate at which your body to break down largely depends on whether you pick a tropical or temperate ocean.
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Why does scratching help itches?

Scratching an itch is just a distraction tactic for your nervous system.
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Why is sugar bad for you?

Not only does sugar pack a lot of calories per gram, it also has effects on your hormone levels.
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Can you get sunburnt underwater?

A lot of people don't apply sunscreen before swimming, but is this necessarily a good idea?
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Why don't people have naturally blue or green hair?

Until we can get more exciting varieties of eumelanin and pheomelanin, you'll just have to stick with blue hair dye.
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What happens when you're winded?

Being "winded" is technically a hard blow or blunt trauma to the solar plexus, which causes pain & difficulty breathing, but why do we have this reaction?
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Why is eating liver good for you?

Were all those school matrons forcing kids to eat their liver, "for their own good", mistaken?
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Why do we have lips?

Read my lips... these facial features are more than just for looks.
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Why do you get hungry when you're drunk?

Drinking alcohol does make you hungrier - but what does alcohol do to the brain to make you feel this way?
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Why do you see stars if you bump your head?

Ever wonder why you sometimes get starry eyed after a particularly bad bump on the head? It's all down to phosphenes.
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What is paraesthesia?

Pins and needles, needles and pins, but what is that tingling from your hands come within?
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Does sitting near a window make your skin age faster?

Everyone knows the dangers of staying in the sun for too long, but does sitting near a window have the same ageing affects on your skin?
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Why do you shiver when you have a fever?

When you have a fever, your body tries to compensate for a higher target temperature on your internal thermostat.
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How many extra calories do you burn when exercising?

Stick to your recommended calorie intake & you'll likely burn off most of this through normal living, but when it comes to exercise, it depends what you do!
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Is talking to yourself a sign of madness?

If you're caught talking to yourself it can be embarrassing, but is it something to be worried about?
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Why don't we have tails?

We have evolved to have no use for a tail, and a tail you don’t use is just another limb that needs energy to grow and another thing for predators to grab.
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Why does laughing make you feel better?

Laughing may have evolved to make us feel better, as well as serving a social function.
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Why do you twitch as you fall asleep?

When dreaming stops you sleeping... all sorts of odd brain activity and bodily responses can occur.
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Why don't scars disappear as skin is shed?

Over time, scars from accidents and injuries can fade, but why doesn't the skin return to its original state?
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Why can looking at a bright light make you sneeze?

The exact cause of the photic sneeze reflex isn't understood but there are some theories for this kind of reaction.
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Where do phobias come from?

Listen up scaredy-cats! Your irrational fears may just have some basis in biology.
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Why does cheese give you nightmares?

Eating cheese at night is said to give you nightmares, but the reason why isn't so spooky.
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Why do baked beans give you wind?

Beans, beans, are good for your heart, the more you eat, the more oligosaccharides your gut bacteria have to digest.
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How long does meat sit in your gut?

There are so many myths about meat, including whether it sits in your gut for ages after you eat it.
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