Does Anything Eat Wasps? And 101 Other Questions - New Scientist

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So does anything eat those annoying little wasps? Well I was certainly surprised by some of the responses to this question! One answer that really caught my eye involved a certain common fish?!? I had to re-read it to make sure that I had read correctly. As it turned out I had, and the answer was as unlikely as it seemed at first glance.

Camels are strange animals, and apart from looking quite unique and having a reputation ...
...it lasts for ages. Why? Does it just depend on the type of cloud that it falls from, or are there other explanations?

NASA and other space agencies seem to be able to (mostly) navigate successfully outside of Earth’s atmosphere. How exactly? Its not like there are signposts up there, and compasses can’t exactly be of much help either. And as for stopping someone to ask for help… Apparently, hopefully without giving too much away, ... more

Why do I have to fasten my seatbelt when I am in an aircraft? Why on earth do centipedes and millipedes have so many legs? How much of the UK is now covered by roads? What causes the squeal when I drag a finger across a window? Is it possible to live on beer alone? And if so, for how long?

If, like me, you have all sorts of nagging little questions like these that you seem unable to find a satisfying answer to, then this little book is definitely something that could be of interest to you.

Since 1994, New Scientist magazine has included a column in every issue, in which readers’ questions are published, with the aim of other readers being able to shed some light on them in subsequent issues.

The best of these have been compiled by Mick O'Hare, one of New Scientist's editors, and was published in the form of "Does anything eat wasps?" in 2005 by Profile Books. All the questions have been categorised under the following headings; Our bodies, Plants and animals, Domestic science, Our universe, Our planet, Weird weather, Troublesome transport and The best of the rest. There is also an alphabetical index at the back to make finding any specific entry simple to find.

There are plenty of everyday questions tackled, as well as more serious ones, so it’s accessible to all, and the entire book has been cleverly written in a slightly light-hearted way in order to make it easy to read. Although a few of the Q&As did go well over my head, no matter how hard I tried to understand them! For example, a few of the more technical science questions. But most of the contributors have tried to keep their answers succinct and have used layman’s terms where possible.

So does anything eat those annoying little wasps? Well I was certainly surprised by some of the responses to this question! One answer that really caught my eye involved a certain common fish?!? I had to re-read it to make sure that I had read correctly. As it turned out I had, and the answer was as unlikely as it seemed at first glance.

Camels are strange animals, and apart from looking quite unique and having a reputation for spitting there is that walk of theirs. Its different from nearly every other animal in the way it moves except the giraffe and similar quadrapeds, in that its legs seem to be out of synch with each other. Is there a reason for this? Apparently so, and the answer is explained here too.

Humans invented the wheel didn’t they? Or did nature beat us to it? Perhaps there are examples of some sort of wheel already in existence…

Rain...We all know that there are many different kinds of the stuff. Sometimes it’s only on for a couple of minutes, and at other times it lasts for ages. Why? Does it just depend on the type of cloud that it falls from, or are there other explanations?

NASA and other space agencies seem to be able to (mostly) navigate successfully outside of Earth’s atmosphere. How exactly? Its not like there are signposts up there, and compasses can’t exactly be of much help either. And as for stopping someone to ask for help… Apparently, hopefully without giving too much away, it has something to do with what sailors have used for hundreds of years.

For drinkers there are a few questions answered including the previously mentioned one about living on beer alone, as well as the length of time that wine can remain in a bottle and still be drinkable upon opening. Madeira wine seems to be able to last a particularly lengthy period, and the reasons for this are explained in detail over a couple of pages. Also covered are Guinness and Tia Maria, among others.

For the ladies there is a question about that certain unmentionable orange peel effect on the back of the thighs, with reasons for and how to reduce it both being covered. Without meaning to be too superficial with this, and mentioning young women’s apparent need to spend time on their eyebrows, just why exactly do we have eyebrows anyway? Ever had problems with men having too high a sex-drive, and wondered if there was anything that you could do to curb it slightly? Well apparently there is a certain chemical that can act as a sort of reverse aphrodisiac, reducing the libido, although I’m not sure that it would be ethical without consent.

I have found this book to be both enlightening and entertaining, often simultaneously. At times it has made me laugh uncontrollably, or wince at the frank detail included on some of the more painful questions, such as beheading. Oftentimes I have been bewildered, confused or downright gob smacked at some of the responses. At other moments I have had my ideas and understanding of things corrected or expanded. But while reading it I have never been bored. It is a title to dip into as needed, or for a little bit of a longer browse.

It has been expertly put together to contain as many different levels of information as possible without it leaning too far to either end of the scale, and where the entries from ordinary people like myself do not include enough, there always seems to be something from professors, professionals or experts to expand on it. Sometimes the editor also chips in to clarify some of the answers to make them more valid I suppose.

So who is this book aimed at? Well, in my opinion many people would find it interesting and amusing, with there being enough detail for anyone wanting an in depth answer to something, as well as simple things being tackled. Anyone would be able to find something to interest them, and the humour should appeal to most people.

Overall, Does anything eat wasps is a very competent book that has been fitted into only around two hundred pages. It is highly entertaining, and great value for money. I purchased my copy online, through a Amazon where it is available new for around £7, but there are of course lots of third party sellers that offer really good prices. The one I chose came in at only £1.84 second hand, and in really good condition. But the postage paid was around this again on top. Should be available in loads of other places, and you might be able to find an even better bargain. And there's always the library too. 

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