Matt: Why do humans produce so much sperm if only one will fertilize an egg? And why are they in competition with each other? It would seem simpler to have fewer with less competition. — …
February 11, 2009
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Sperm, Universe, Fingerprints
Fingernails, Cactus, Poppies
Heymatt: The other day I tried pulling out my thumbnail. I just yanked on it for a while but nothing happened. Nails don’t look like the stuff around them. Are they just stuck into our …
February 4, 2009
Cats 'n' Water, Rainbow Gold, Bullet Heat
Hey, Matt:My cat is obsessed with water. He’s an ex-stray I found shivering in the rain a year ago, and he’s been a housecat ever since. I turn on any tap — kitchen, bathroom — …
January 21, 2009
Dog Sense, Hair Loss
Matthew: My dog, a sweet, goofy retriever, can always tell when my husband is coming home. He heads for the garage door every night about five minutes before I hear his car. I know lots …
January 14, 2009
Slumberous Growth, Tire Treads, Pinkies
Hey, Matt: My friend read in a book somewhere that people are taller in the morning than they are at night. Is that possible? The book didn’t say why. Do you know why if it’s …
January 7, 2009
Bubbly Fish, "Old McDonald"
Dear Matt: Why does my fish blow bubbles? Sometimes it will just be hanging out and all of a sudden it will cut loose with a bubble from its mouth. How does air get in …
December 23, 2008
Tylenol, Sweat Scents, Volcano Incinerator
Dear Matthew Alice: While I was waiting for the Tylenol to kick in and stop my headache, I decided to read the ingredient list on the bottle. Active ingredients: Acetaminophen. Inactive ingredients: carnauba wax, cellulose, …
December 17, 2008
Secondhand Transplants, Foot the Bill, Triboluminescence
Mattster: Say somebody has a liver transplant and then they die a while later in an accident. Can they take out the transplanted liver and give it to someone else? What would happen if somebody …
December 10, 2008
Harbor Police, Reader Hoarding, and Animals with People Names
Hey, Matt: Last year I moved to Point Loma. I grew up in San Diego but never really hung out too much by the bay. My question is, what’s up with the Harbor Police? I …
December 3, 2008
Botox, Numb Tongue
Hey, Matt: My girlfriend and I have a bet about Botox. I have heard it referred to as “pig botulism.” She, who works in a plastic surgeon’s office, claims NPI (no pigs involved). Dinner rides …
November 25, 2008
Dying Animals, X-Walk Buttons, Phillips Head
Matt: I strolled into the kitchen yesterday and noticed that there was a fly perched on the edge of my counter, right next to the sink. I figured as I got closer to it, it …
November 19, 2008