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For this year's annual Quirks Question Roadshow, we were at the fabulous DF Cook Recital Hall, on the campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Part One
Why do people have freckles?
For the answer, we go to Dr. Ian Landells, a dermatologist, and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Memorial University.
When you add cola to ice cubes fresh from the freezer, you get copious amounts of fizz; but when you add cola to slightly melted ice cubes, you don't get near the same amount of fizz. Why?
For the answer to that cool question, we go to Dr. Erika Merschrod, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, at Memorial University.
Does a whale have a problem with buoyancy when its huge lungs are full of air?
With the answer is Dr. Jack Lawson, a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, in St. John's.
Why is soap slippery?
For the answer, we've asked Dr. Fran Kerton, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, at Memorial University.
Why is the ocean in Newfoundland usually a dark grayish/black colour, while the ocean in Cuba, Australia and other tropical places is a brilliant greenish blue?
For the answer, we go to Dr. Len Zedel, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, at Memorial University.
Listen to Part One:
Part Two
We know water expands when it freezes -- for example, broken beer bottles in the freezer, or burst water pipes in winter. But what happens when water is contained within a vessel that will neither expand nor burst?
And Dr. Kris Poduska, assistant professor of experimental materials physics, at Memorial University, joins us with the answer.
According to the instructions on a package of Jell-o, you can add any kind of fruit before it sets, with the exception of pineapple and kiwi fruit. What is it about these two types of fruit that keeps Jell-o from setting?
To answer that quirky question, we found
Edward Durnford, an instructor of food chemistry at the Marine Institute of Memorial University.
Will food go bad on the moon?
To answer that cosmic question, we're joined by Dr. Jyoti Patel, a microbiologist with the Marine Institute of Memorial University.
What causes a rogue wave, and is there a region of the world where they're more likely to occur?
Standing by with the answer is Dr. Bruce Colbourne, a senior research officer with the National Research Council's Institute for Ocean Technology.
Listen to Part Two: