July 20, 2015
Inquiring Minds Want to Know

It's no secret that science is not one of my fortes, but that doesn't mean that I'm not fascinated by some of the scientific phenomena that abound.  It's just that I don't always understand them and that's where the problem lies.

For instance, the other day while driving down the highway, I happened to notice the seemingly wet spots on the road up ahead.  The mirage could be caused by patchy rain showers I guessed, but I knew that it was that mystical, magical occurrence that never failed to amaze, amuse and astound me as a youth.  What causes this optical illusion, I've always wondered.  There must be some sort of scientific principal associated with it.

Have  you ever watched a good old western movie and wondered why the big wheels on the stage coach appear to be turning backwards while the buggy is flinging forward at breakneck speed?  That phenomenon can also be seen in car commercials on television.  Hm, I think that one has something to do with camera speed and revolutions or something like that.

What about the leaning into the box fan and speaking.  It comes out in a garbled Frankenstein-ish fashion.  What happens to the human voice when it leaves ones mouth and bounces off a rotating blade?  Apparently something is terribly lost in the translation.

Have you ever wondered how those little tiny spiders that appear out of nowhere manage to spin their filmy fiberoptic-like thread of a highway?  To what is that strand attached?  And where are they going?  I can only hope that they make it there safely because spiders could be considered one's best friend at the rate of insects that they consume (thus causing me less fear and anxiety at running across a creepy crawler unexpectedly).

When I was a youngster I used to think that the occasional spots spots in front of my eyes meant that I had superhuman vision and could see atoms and molecules.  Guess that was just wishful thinking and those spots are caused by something other than that.  

All around there are so many wondrous happenings that  I view in great awe.  Gravity for one.  Why does a ball bounce back when dropped?  Wouldn't you think the pull gravity would hold that orb down once it falls?  Why do other objects plunge to a resting spot when dropped?  I am guessing that one has something to do with mass.  I can only speculate how splendid it would be to loft about in zero gravity.  Maybe some day.....

And finally, here's an interesting one for you:  take a cottonwood tree twig and slice it on one of the many striations along its length.  Inside you will find a perfectly shaped star.  Now that's what you call the magic of nature!  Native American legend has it that the limbs contain the souls of the dearly departed and when released, the stars are given up to the sky.  

I'd like to know the answers to these and many other scientific stumpers, so if you've got the answer, I'm listening.  I can of course turn to the library for help because I know that somewhere in those multitudinous stacks of information, therein lies the secret answer.  

Then again, maybe I'll consult one of the science fair whiz kids next school year and see what they know.  I'm sure they can teach me a thing or two about science.  And you're never too old to learn something new.