animals « How Come?

Is it true that bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly?

Is it true that bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly? asks a reader.

No one’s sure where the myth started, but it has legs (er, wings): Bumblebee flight is impossible. According to the principles of aerodynamics, the story went, a big, fuzzy bumblebee, powered only by tiny wings, shouldn’t leave the ground. A French book [...]

How come humans can’t use sonar in the dark, like bats?

How come humans can’t use sonar in the dark, like bats? asks Kevin Guan, via email.

Listening for the echoes of their own rapid-fire, high-pitched calls, bats navigate the night, while snatching tiny insects from the air. Dolphins (along with many whales and shrews) are also skilled “echolocaters.” And it turns out that we humans, [...]

Ask a Question!

How come the sky is blue?

How did zebras get their stripes?

Why are bubbles round?

Got a question?

Of course you do!

Click here to send it in!

If your question is chosen to be answered in the How Come? newspaper column, you'll win a FREE COPY of How Come? In the Neighborhood, the new collection of How Come? questions and answers published by Workman Publishing.

Not all questions are picked to be answered in the How Come? column, and we regret that we cannot answer individual questions via e-mail.

Search How Come!

Categories

Is it true that bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly?

How come humans can’t use sonar in the dark, like bats?