Help, Matt: My friend sings to her plants. She likes to sing anyway, but she says the carbon dioxide she emits when she sings to them helps them grow, since plants absorb carbon dioxide and …
August 5, 2009
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Plant Singers, Big Cheese
Water Weather, Child Labor
Dear Matthew Alice: I learned in school that the air moves like water. We were studying airplanes and how they stay up in the air and how the air moves over the wing like a …
July 29, 2009
Transoceanic Vision, More Crane Info
Hey, Matt: Last year that weatherman on Channel 9 (KUUUUUSI) said that, under the right, very unusual weather conditions, it was possible to see Hawaii from Del Mar. He said it was due to inversions …
July 22, 2009
Oil Craters, Crane Construction, Sunny D Writes In
Heymatt: I’ve always wondered what happens to the big hole left when we pump oil out of the ground. Considering all the oil taken out of the Middle East, I would think the whole area …
July 15, 2009
Dream Senses, New York Minute
Hello, Matthew: What exactly is your brain doing when you use one of the five senses in a dream? I always figured it was just some outside influence that your brain incorporated into your dream, …
July 8, 2009
Caribbean Tide, Killer Words
Dear Matt: My parents and aunt and uncle just got back from the Caribbean on vacation. We all got together to look at their pictures, and in the middle of everything, my uncle pipes up …
June 24, 2009
Volcano Energy, Made From Scratch, Freeway Sign Mileage
Hey, Matt: Is it possible to get free energy from volcanoes? — Big Thinker, via email We’re already doing it, Big. Sort of. If you’re thinking of harnessing the energy in those wow!, picturesque volcanic …
June 17, 2009
Zebra Riding, More on Odd Door Closings
Matt: I like horseback riding but I’ve been thinking that I’d like to try riding a zebra. They’re related to horses and they look like you could ride them. Actually I’d like to own a …
June 10, 2009
Pumpkins, Fast Humans, High Tide
Hey Matt: Every year at Halloween time I wonder this. Since I have nothing else to do right now I figured I’d write to you to get an answer. Pretty soon it will be jack-o-lantern …
June 3, 2009
Resuscitation Air, Seasonal House Quirks, Bullfighter's Prize, Prohibition Booze
Dear Matthew Alice: When you give somebody mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, you’re blowing air out of your mouth into their lungs. I always thought that when we blew out air, there was no more oxygen in it …
May 27, 2009
Loud Birds, Checkerboard Lawn
Heymatt: I was on a walk the other day and it suddenly occurred to me that birds are very loud. I mean, considering how small they are. How can something so small make so much …
May 13, 2009