Answers to Questions Kids Ask! - Where "Why?" Turns to "Wow!"
Born on this day
September 19, 20111931 - Brook Benton
1934 - Brian Epstein
1928 - Pete Murray
1933 - David McCallum
1940 - Zandra Rhodes
1940 - Bill Medley
1945 - Kate Adie
1946 - Michael Elphick
1948 - Jeremy Irons
1949 - Twiggy
1963 - David Seaman
Because that female mosquito who bit you was very smart! She wanted to take a drink of your blood. But she’s only got a narrow tube for sucking blood. You crafty humans, on the other hand, make that very hard because your blood clots quickly, making it very hard to drink. So, she injected into you a small drop of “poison.” But it’s not really a poison — just a mosquito chemical to keep your blood from clotting long enough for her to take a drink.
When insects like mosquitoes, fleas, or horse flies or even wasps or bees bite you, the same thing happens. Your body sends a chemical called histamines to the area where you were injected. It’s the histamines reacting with the “poison” that causes the itching, swelling, redness.
Link to this question!
How can poison ivy make me itch so much?
A clear, sticky oil called urushiol (pronounced yoo-roo-shee-ol) puts the “poison” in poison ivy. This oil oozes from the plant whenever it gets cut or crushed. It also causes an…
Can you drink sea water?
Water from the sea is too salty to drink. Although your body needs salt, it is possible to have too much of it. See, your body is made of cells…
Why do bees make honey?
Adult bees make honey to feed larvae (baby bees) and themselves. Worker bees convert the flower nectar they eat into honey in their esophagi (their throats). Other animals, such as…
Why do my fingers, toes, and ears get cold first on a winter day?
It would sure be terrific if your toes could stay toasty all the time. But this doesn’t happen in frosty weather because your body has bigger things to worry about–like…
Is it ever possible to drink too much water?
In most cases, the answer would be no–because your body says so! It’s equipped with one of the best automatic water management systems around, so you’ll definitely want to listen…