New Scientist reports: Is it that time of the month? These are the words no man should ever utter. How about this for a diplomatic alternative: “Are your GABA receptors playing up?” You may be spot on. It seems that these brain cells are to blame for some women’s monthly mood swings. Many women feel [...]
Archive for The Big Questions
Oct
13
Eating Skippy: Is kangaroo the kindest meat?
New Scientist reports CAUGHT in the spotlight, the large kangaroo watches us impassively before returning to its grazing. After checking through his rifle sight, Tom Garrett slides on his ear defenders and advises me to do likewise. As a vegetarian for the past 10 years, I’m an unlikely candidate for a hunting party. But considering [...]
Mar
15
The bag lady: Why do I get bags under my eyes when I’m tired?
“You look really tired, are you okay?” I hate this line of inquiry. You think it’s caring. You think it’s supportive. But really, someone has just looked you straight in the eye, and said “You don’t look too good,” and they have gotten away with it. When you’re feeling more like Sleepy and Dopey, than [...]
Jan
12
Burping: putting it down to a science
It was social suicide: “I can’t burp!” yelped little Suzie at the College party. There was howling and nasty finger pointing, as the peeps at the shin-dig filled their glasses with beer and downed it in record time. Burping and belching erupted in a gas filled night of fun and debauchery. Poor little Suzie, was [...]
Nov
20
Nipping a problem in the bud: Why do guys have nipples?
Throughout history it has oft been thought that women are some faulty image of men. The male scientists of the middle ages thought that the vagina was an inverse of a penis, while other cultures have historically deemed women to be “half of a man”. But what did these geniuses think of boobs? Women have [...]
Nov
15
Answering the short and curlies
It was year seven and it was sex education. Our red headed teacher asked our pimply faced class if we had any questions. Question one: “Have you ever had an erection?” Giggles. Question two: “Where is the G-spot?” Giggles (with intent listening). Question three: “If you have red hair do you have red pubes?” Giggles [...]
Oct
27
What are butterflies in our stomach?
He’s so gorgeous; you want to ask him out on a date, but you’re having trouble saying the right words. Your stomach is churning and fluttering. You feel a little sick, and you might have had a little diarrhea (of course he doesn’t need to know that). What is happening to you is perfectly normal: [...]
Aug
26
Why do we cry?
The only two movies I have ever cried in were ‘Life is Beautiful’ and ‘Stewart Little II’. In the Italian War film, ‘Life is Beautiful,’ I was balling and wailing because it was horrific. But in Stuart Little II, a few spurts fell from my glands (luckily, just enough to blame it on a speck [...]