Does Anything Eat Wasps? – New Scientist

Book that answers readers' questions concerning a whole host of interesting scientific questions. 1. Bruises change color because of the breakdown of red blood cells by white blood cells and the chemicals bilirubin (yellow) and biliverdin (green). The yellow color is the same that causes jaundice in children.

2. The darker your liquor the more likely you will have a hangover because of congeners (which give alcohol the intoxicating effect). So clear/light colored drinks like vodka lead to less severe hangovers than whiskey, brandy, etc.

3. Your appendix is most useful when you are a developing embryo (immunological function), but continues to work even into adulthood.

4. Beheading (via a guillotine, etc.) may in fact be painful because it is likely that brain functioning still occurs possibly up to 25 to 30 seconds after disconnection with the body (although consciousness is probably lost after a few seconds). Many decapitated heads continue blinking after the separation and even respond to their name.

5. Cats that have fallen from between 2 and 32 stories have about a 90 percent survival rate. Their terminal velocity is about half as much as a human and their increased flexibility allows them to absorb more force from impact. They are also more likley to survive a fall once it is above 7 stories high (compared to between 2-5 stories). This is thought to be because after such a distance they start to relax, thereby increasing their flexibility and absorption ability when they land.