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Q. Do earthworms have brains? A. Earthworms have a very basic "brain." It is an enlarged group of nerve cells at the head end of the worm. A very long nerve cord runs the length of the worm. While they can respond to certain stimuli, like light and dark, and dry and moist conditions, they do not have the ability to think and reason the way more advanced animals can. Great question, Charlie C. Send in your question of the day by going to the Contact page, filling out, and submitting the form. Image from Clipartpanda.com
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Q. My friend told me that not all bacteria make us sick. In fact, there are good bacteria that help us. Is he telling the truth? A. Your friend is correct. While we are familiar with bacteria like the ones that cause strep throat, many bacteria are beneficial as well. We use bacteria to make cheese, spur cream, yogurt, and other dairy products. Bacteria gives sourdough bread its distinctive taste. Some bacteria are nature's recyclers, as they break down organic (once living) matter. These are the ones that help the leaves decompose in the fall. Bacteria are used to clean up oil spills. Bacteria are also used to produce insulin for people with diabetes. Without bacteria, our Earth, and us would be very unhappy! Thanks, Janna T. for a great question! You can submit a question of the day by going to the Contact page, and filling out the form. Remember, all I need for your last name is an initial. I look forward to your question! Image from openclipart.com - dobra-bacteria Q. Why are there so many stupid ants running around?
A. It does seem like there are a lot of ants, doesn't it. There are an estimated 22,000 different species, or kinds of ants in the world. Only about half have been identified. They have been around for 110-130 million years. Ants are animals, and belong to the insect class. Ants are actually quite intelligent. They each have a specific job in their colony. They communicate with one another, and can solve complicated problems. They are very social with their ant families and friends. They are also highly adaptable to new surroundings. Ants are beneficial in many ways. They help clean up decaying plants and animals. As we know, they carry off bits of food that we may drop when picnicking. They are also pollinators, helping plants bloom and reproduce. Some people and animals use ants as a food source. Some people use them for medical purposes. At the same time, some ants are bad. They can be destructive, and destroy crops. Some bite. Ants are like everything else on our planet. If they didn't exist, nature would be out of balance. Good question, Charlie N. Thanks for sending it in. You, too, can ask Buttonwillow a question of the day. Submit your question by clicking on the Contact page, and filling out the form. Remember, just put your initial for your last name Buttonwillow wants you to learn more about science. Let her know what you are curious about, and she will be glad to answer your questions. You can send your questions to her by going to the contact page, and filling out the form. She looks forward to hearing from you! July 28, 2014 Q. Why do some flowers close up at night? Do plants sleep? A. Some plants do look like they are sleeping at night. These include Day Lilies, (pictured above) Blue Flax, Crocus, and others. This behavior is called nyctinasty. Wowza! There is a big word! It is pronounced, nik-tin-a-sti. Now you can really impress the adults around you with a new, big, word! Scientists aren't sure why some plants do this. They understand the how part of it though. The cool air and darkness cause the bottom petals of the flower to grow fast, forcing the flowers to close. There are different theories about why this happens. The flower might be protecting its pollen from the dew. Maybe the flower knows to save it's good (or bad) odor for the daytime pollinators. It could even be a defense mechanism. By closing up the flowers, the ground underneath is more exposed, giving night time predators a better chance of finding a nocturnal plant nibbler. (The folks at livescience.com helped me find this answer.) Thanks Marci R. for a great question! You can send in a question of the day by emailing Buttonwillow at [email protected] |
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