Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
BBC Science Focus|July 2022
DOES MY DOG ACTUALLY ENJOY THEIR FOOD WHEN THEY EAT IT SO FAST? ... HOW FAR DOES MY COMPUTER MOUSE MOVE? ... IS THERE SUCH A THING AS LEFT BRAIN VS RIGHT BRAIN? ... HOW DO YOU THICKEN A SAUCE? ... WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OCTOPUS AND A SQUID? ... WHY DO ANIMALS MIGRATE? ... DO WE GET MORE BITTER AND CYNICAL AS WE GET OLDER? ... IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN BITE THROUGH A HUMAN FINGER AS EASILY AS A CARROT? ... WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A BLACK HOLE? ... WHY DIDN'T DINOSAURS EVOLVE SENTIENCE?
HAYLEY BENNETT
Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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DR CLAIRE ASHER Science journalist

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LILY WILLIAMS, LONDON

WHY ARE PEOPLE WHO HUMBLEBRAG SO ANNOYING?

The definitive research on the topic remains a 2018 paper by psychologists at the University of North Carolina and Harvard Business School. They identified that there are two types of humblebragger and that the most annoying kind is the complain-bragger. They say things like, "I never have time for myself because my friends want to see me all the time." Only marginally less annoying is the humblebragger who deploys false modesty, such as "I don't understand why I keep getting hit on". Both kinds of humblebragger are seen as less likeable and competent than more straightforward self-promoters, and the key reason is that their complaints and modesty come over as totally fake. CJ

ASTRONOMY FOR BEGINNERS

THE TEAPOT AND TEASPOON

WHEN: JULY AND AUGUST

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A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.

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The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.

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