Why doesn’t Vodka freeze? 18 things I want a scientist to explain: Buttle

Ever wondered why you haven’t ever seen a bird do a wee? Or why water tastes different from the bathroom tap? Well Mel Buttle does too - here’s her great questions for scientists.

Like most things in life, science has always been a complete mystery to me.

I never enjoyed science lessons at school, drama and physical education floated my boat.

I don’t think I missed much though, as since high school, I’ve not once been called upon at work to label the parts of a plant cell for the boss.

To me, the world is a baffling and intriguing place and I often think, maybe, just maybe, if I had access to a really personable scientist who had a day or two free to explain how things work to me, I’d finally get science.

Mel Buttle doesn’t understand science.

However, I wouldn’t be quizzing said scientist on atoms, or physics, instead I’ve put together a list of all the things I’d like to know the inner workings of.

Why does water taste different out of the bathroom tap, as compared to the kitchen tap?

If ice is a solid, and more dense than a liquid, why does ice float on the top of water?

Why does inside my house feel colder than outside on winter mornings?

Why does rain smell so good?

How are trains silent until they’re really close to you?

Why haven’t I ever seen a bird do a wee?

When I sleepwalk, if I’m asleep why don’t I bang into the walls?

Why are there no snakes in New Zealand?

Why won’t vodka freeze? It would make the perfect ice cubes.

Why won’t it freeze?

What’s the liquid that forms of top of sour cream? Tip it out or mix it in?

Are really tall people’s organs bigger, or do we all have the same size kidney for example in our respective sized bodies?

Is it possible to out-swim a shark?

If tea has more caffeine than coffee, why don’t I get the shakes and anxiety from a cup of tea?

How can you tell if blue cheese has gone mouldy?

Does my dog hate me when I pretend to throw the ball?

How do they get the fortunes inside of the fortune cookies?

How does that note get in there?

How much does the earth weigh? If we put too much stuff on it will it collapse?

Why does sand cling to towels so intensely?

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, which I’m also curious to know why icebergs don’t just sink.

These are the sort of questions I’d ask my science teacher, and she’d reply with, “I don’t have time to talk about racing a shark, you have a test tomorrow, maybe put your wonderful imagination and energy into that instead”.

You know you’re doomed in a subject area like science or maths, if the teacher says you have a “wonderful imagination”.

That’s a subtle hint to head for the humanities in senior school, which I of course did. Hello Drama, Modern History, and English.

Mel Buttle. Picture: Network 10

Maths? Not for me either, how can you have a number less than nothing?

That’s where I got stuck.

The only bit of maths I ever mastered, was quickly working out what 50 per cent of something was, that way I could see if I had passed science or not. 18.5/37 is a pass mark for Year Nine science.

Thank you maths and thank you for leaving the periodic table on the back of the door Mrs Thomas.

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