Ask Me Everything: Facts, Stats, Lists, Records, and More

004 Contents......Page 6
005 Contents......Page 7
008 How big is the Universe?......Page 10
010 Why are there telescopes in space?......Page 12
012 FEATURE: Capturing space......Page 14
014 Which star shines the brightest?......Page 16
016 How does space technology affect me?......Page 18
018 How do you get into space?......Page 20
020 What is a spacewalk?......Page 22
022 How long does it take to get to the Moon?......Page 24
024 Who names the stars and galaxies?......Page 26
026 Why is Mars red?......Page 28
028 FEATURE: A guide to Mars......Page 30
030 Why does Saturn have rings?......Page 32
032 Why do comets have tails?......Page 34
034 What is a meteorite?......Page 36
036 Are we alone?......Page 38
040 What is geology?......Page 42
042 Where do metals come from?......Page 44
044 Why are there so many volcanic islands?......Page 46
046 FEATURE: Galápagos Islands......Page 48
048 What created the Himalayas?......Page 50
050 How deep is the Grand Canyon?......Page 52
052 What’s so strange about the Namib Desert?......Page 54
054 How do caves form?......Page 56
056 How does water shape Earth?......Page 58
058 Why do storms happen?......Page 60
060 FEATURE: Hurricanes......Page 62
062 What’s special about the River Nile?......Page 64
064 Why is the Indian Ocean so beautiful?......Page 66
068 When did dinosaurs rule Earth?......Page 70
070 FEATURE: Ancient four-legged creatures......Page 72
072 How did dino giants hold up their necks?......Page 75
074 Which dinos were super predators?......Page 76
076 Why did some dinos have armor?......Page 78
078 Which dinosaurs became birds?......Page 80
080 Which reptiles ruled the skies?......Page 82
082 Which ancient lizard looks like a fish?......Page 84
084 Which animals lived in the Ice Age?......Page 86
086 Where did the earliest humans come from?......Page 88
088 Who brings fossil animals back to life?......Page 90
090 FEATURE: Reading fossils......Page 92
094 What is evolution?......Page 96
096 FEATURE: Nine incredible examples of evolution......Page 98
098 Why do flowers look and smell so good?......Page 100
100 How can a cactus survive in the desert?......Page 102
102 What on Earth are algae?......Page 104
104 How big is a swarm?......Page 106
106 Why is an octopus so spineless?......Page 108
108 Why are sharks so scary?......Page 110
110 Where can you find a parasite?......Page 112
112 Why are beetles built like tanks?......Page 114
114 FEATURE: Beetle adaptations......Page 116
116 How can a frog leap so far?......Page 118
118 How fast can a crocodile swim?......Page 120
120 How big is a bird of prey?......Page 122
122 What goes bump in the night?......Page 124
124 FEATURE: Ten amazing bats......Page 126
126 Why are whales so big?......Page 128
128 Can all big cats roar?......Page 130
130 How small is a mouse?......Page 132
134 How many body cells do you have?......Page 136
136 What is your largest body organ?......Page 138
138 FEATURE: Body systems......Page 142
138 What is a body system?......Page 140
142 What is DNA?......Page 144
144 How do you think?......Page 146
146 Why do you need to sleep?......Page 148
148 Why do some smells trigger memories?......Page 150
150 Why brush your teeth?......Page 152
152 How do we communicate?......Page 154
154 Why are your hands so handy?......Page 156
156 FEATURE: Gallery of pathogens (germs)......Page 160
156 How does your body fight illnesses?......Page 158
162 Why are numbers so useful?......Page 164
164 Why do we need units?......Page 166
166 What’s so great about wheels?......Page 168
168 How fast can a car go?......Page 170
170 What is the fastest plane in the world?......Page 172
174 FEATURE: Aircraft takeoff......Page 174
174 How does a submarine dive?......Page 176
176 Why are there so many materials?......Page 178
178 Why do magnets stick to fridges?......Page 180
180 What’s so special about lasers?......Page 182
182 How does science catch criminals?......Page 184
184 How do microscopes magnify things?......Page 186
186 FEATURE: Under the microscope......Page 188
188 Why is uranium dangerous??......Page 190
192 Where do most people live in Canada?......Page 194
194 Which is the highest capital in the world?......Page 196
196 Does anything grow in the Sahara?......Page 198
198 Where can you find ostrich farms?......Page 200
200 Where is hot water always on tap?......Page 202
202 How many canals does Amsterdam have?......Page 204
204 Which is the largest country in the world?......Page 206
206 What is the smallest country in the world?......Page 208
208 Can you really ski in Dubai?......Page 210
210 How many people live in India?......Page 212
212 FEATURE: River Ganges......Page 214
214 Where is the rice bowl of Asia?......Page 216
216 How many people live in Tokyo?......Page 218
218 What is the outback?......Page 220
220 How many islands are there in the South Pacific?......Page 222
222 FEATURE: Ten South Pacific islands......Page 224
224 Does anyone live in the Arctic?......Page 226
228 How do people worship?......Page 230
230 What are symbols?......Page 232
232 Why do we have myths?......Page 234
234 What is philosophy?......Page 236
236 What’s news?......Page 238
238 Why is pop music so popular?......Page 240
240 Why do we dance?......Page 242
242 Who decides what’s fashion?......Page 244
244 Which country produces the most films?......Page 246
246 FEATURE: How to make a film......Page 248
248 Why do people love to paint?......Page 250
250 What is architecture?......Page 252
252 What can you play with a ball?......Page 254
254 FEATURE: Spot the ball......Page 256
256 Which sports are hot in winter?......Page 258
258 When does an animal become a pet?......Page 260
260 When was ice cream invented?......Page 262
264 Who built Stonehenge?......Page 266
266 When did people start to write?......Page 268
268 Why would you want to be a mummy?......Page 270
270 Who built the first cities?......Page 272
272 FEATURE: Greeks vs. Romans......Page 274
274 Why did medieval people build castles?......Page 276
276 What was the Black Death?......Page 278
278 What is gunpowder made of?......Page 280
280 How did trade change the world?......Page 282
282 What was the Scientific Revolution?......Page 284
284 FEATURE: Leonardo da Vinci......Page 286
286 How did life change in the 1800s?......Page 288
288 What is the American Constitution?......Page 290
290 When did two million people leave Ireland?......Page 292
292 What was the Cold War?......Page 294
294 What was the March on Washington?......Page 296
296 What is globalization?......Page 298
298 Index......Page 300