Len Fisher
Recent articles by Len Fisher
How long does it take to get to the Moon if you drive at 60mph?
The only way is up, but you're going to need more than an energy drink if you're going to drive a car on this epic journey into space.
Do you get wetter if you run or walk in the rain?
Whether you walk or run, you're going to get wet, but there is an optimal speed to avoid the worst of it. The question is whether it's actually worth it.
Would helium balloons float upwards on a spaceship?
In the absence of gravity, there is no 'up' on a spaceship - so where would a helium balloon go?
What's the distance from a nucleus to an electron?
The Bohr radius, is the estimated distance between protons in the nucleus and electrons - but electrons aren't solid, stationary particles...
Who invented the boomerang?
The history of the boomerang is difficult to determine and our understanding relies heavily on what these weapons were made from.
Do plants die of old age?
Old Aged Plants, as the acronym goes.
Can smells pass through liquids?
Two words: Bath. Farts.
Why is gold called a 'heavy' metal despite being soft?
Gold is only hardcore when it comes to its heavy atoms.
Does the number 42 have any particular significance?
According to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the number 42 is supposedly the reason for existence itself, but does the number 42 have any real-world importance?
Can smells travel in zero gravity?
In space, no one can hear you fart (but they can smell it).
Are humans the only animals that get drunk?
Are the pink elephants really on parade?
Can magma be mined for ores and metals?
Mama Mia, here I flow again.
Are any bacteria visible to the naked eye?
The eye's the limit (except in one case).
Can cats or dogs live on a vegetarian diet?
Humans are omnivorous, so can survive on a herbivorous diet. BBC Science Focus investigates whether the same can be said for cats and dogs.
What is the record for the most languages spoken by one person?
There are many different languages of the world, so the answer for the most perfect polyglot depends on how high (or low) you set the bar of fluency.
Is it possible to burn diamonds?
You can shine like a diamond, but do go too close to the light...
How close do you have to be to a lightning strike in the sea for it to shock you?
In a thunderstorm, being totally immersed in sea water is often a better bet that hiding out on your boat or surfboard, even with the chance of sharks!
Could Chernobyl happen again without human error?
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was a catastrophic accident, BBC Science Focus looks at whether this could happen again.
Can mirages occur in cold places?
A desert mirage looks like a pool of water, but an arctic mirage will fool you into thinking land is nearby.
Are black holes hot or cold?
A black hole is no place to stay on holiday.
Does everyone blink at roughly the same rate?
Blink 182 times an hour?
Why doesn't lightning strike straight to Earth?
Lightening seems to seek out the path of least resistance, which is not necessarily a straight line towards the ground.
When something is on 'the tip of my tongue', what's happening in my memory?
When you have a word on the tip of your tongue it's recommended that you look it up rather than keep searching your brain's clumsy filing system.
Does light escape the Universe when it is expanding or contracting?
By definition the universe contains everything and not even photons are exempt from that.