Does Anything Eat Wasps?
And 101 Other Unsettling, Witty Answers to Questio
New Scientist Magazine

Free Press
April 5, 2006
Trade Paperback/224 pages
ISBN: 0-7432-9726-1
Buy This Book
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". . . the latest in science and technology, both great and trivial . . ."

"…explanations that are both erudite and entertaining in an accessible, educational format. "

"This book will appeal to both adults and inquisitive young readers . . ."

For those of you who’ve ever wondered why people have eyebrows, or about the relative dangers of air turbulence, or even how long it would take poor Fluffy buried in the backyard to be reduced to a pile of bones, look no further. The folks behind New Scientist, a weekly magazine devoted to discussing the latest in science and technology both great and trivial have brought together some of the finest queries from their popular “The Last Word” column and compiled them in an entertaining format. Does Anything Eat Wasps? was an instant bestseller when it was released in the UK. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why: we are fascinated by the world around us.

 

 

You need look no further than the popularity of magazines such as New Scientist and Mental Floss, or books such as Why Do Men Have Nipples? and Freakonomics, to realize that people possess an insatiable need to know more about the world they live in, from the trivial to the momentous. Does Anything Eat Wasps?/I> is a worthy addition to this recent explosion in the popular pursuit of knowledge. Various experts and professionals answer each question posed by actual magazine readers. They offer explanations that are both erudite and entertaining in an accessible, educational format.

 

This book will appeal to both adults and inquisitive young readers. Both will doubtlessly enjoy learning how the common potato can be poisonous, what would happen to the earth if aliens stole the moon, and why not all snow is equal when it comes to making snowballs. Perhaps it will even inspire them to come up with some questions of their own.

Reviewer: Lesley Williams