The Question: We were wondering if a daddy long legs is a true spider? Submitted by: Gretchen, USA The Short Answer: Most likely the answer is “no.” But I’d need to know exactly what you are calling a “daddy long legs” to be sure. The animals most often called daddy long legs in the United [...]
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Which Cells Are Never Replaced?
The Question: Which cells in the human body are never replaced? Submitted by: Salha The Short Answer: So far, the only cell type that we can confidently say is never replaced is cerebral cortex neurons. Check out my posting a couple of months ago about the research of Dr. Jonas Frisén at the Department of [...]
What is this Fluorescent Green Beetle?
The Question: I found a beetle near Danville, Ohio that I have not been able to identify. It’s florescent green, with two spots on each wing, large black eyes, and a white “mouth” protrusion with black finger-like appendages around the “mouth.” What is it? Submitted by: Susie, Ohio, USA The Short Answer: This is a [...]
How Do Electric Eels Generate Electricity?
The Question: How does an electric eel generate electricity? Submitted by: Leland P., Vermont, USA The Short Answer: The cells of all living things generate electrical charges. In an electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), thousands of modified muscle cells in the thick tail are lined up like batteries in a flashlight. Though each cell generates only [...]
What are these caterpillars doing?
The Question: I was at a garden on the island of Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts) in July and saw a chain of caterpillars coming down from a tree. The chain was probably about 15-20 feet long. Most of it was single file, but there were some clumps. It was hard to tell if they were going [...]