Nowadays, it seems impossible to keep up with all the information available to us at every turn (and on every platform). All of this content consumption leaves very little time to ask questions, do our own research, or learn about the topics we’re passionate about!
Well, we’re here to help you. In this article, you’ll find a list of interesting STEM questions with even more interesting answers.
Human Anatomy
1. Do humans glow in the dark?
Believe it or not, yes, they do! We’ve known about species of insects and fish that glow in the dark, but it’s a little-
known fact that humans glow, too. It’s not a well-known fact because our glow cannot be detected by our own eyes! Our glow is too weak for our eyes to notice it.
According to National Geographic, the light is emitted most strongly during the evening, below our noses and above our shoulders.
2. Are human bodies symmetrical?
Externally, yes, but internally, no (and even that answer is conditional). In most cases, humans appear to be bilaterally symmetrical on the outside. If you look on the inside, however, it quickly becomes clear that humans are not symmetrical at all!
For instance, your left lung isn’t the same size as your right lung. It’s actually about 10% smaller than the right side because of the placement of your heart. To learn more, here’s a TEDEd Talk about why we’re asymmetrical.
Land Animals
3. Do elephants talk?
Well, yeah! We have known for a long time that animals communicate with each other, but the way they do it is intriguing.
For instance, did you know that elephants have specific, separate warning calls they make for both bees and humans? They even specify the level of threat that the human poses by assessing the color of their clothes and the smell of their body odor.
4. How do cows sleep?
There’s been debate about whether cows sleep standing up or lying down. So, which is it? Well, it’s both!
Cows can (and do) sleep standing up, but it isn’t real sleep. When cows sleep standing up, they’re simply resting their eyes as cows can only enter REM sleep while laying down. They only need about four hours of deep sleep per day, so that’s why they don’t spend too much time laying in the grass.
Surprising Statistics
5. How big is America’s sweet tooth?
America has a pretty big sweet tooth, but who doesn’t love ice cream and chocolate?
As of 2019, it was reported that, individually, Americans eat roughly 22 pounds of ice cream (and other frozen treats) per year. In that same year, roughly 6.4 billion pounds of ice cream and frozen yogurt were produced in the USA.
As for chocolate, America accounts for 18% of all of the world’s consumption, but even so, it ranks behind Switzerland.
Searching for STEM
At the National STEM Honor Society, we believe in asking questions and cultivating the proper environment to find the answers you are seeking. But we also know that it’s hard to find the time, energy, and resources to complete either of those tasks.
Fortunately, that’s why we’re here to help!
Hopefully, this article has taught you some new and interesting facts about STEM! While you’re here, check out some more of our educational blogs including The Science Behind Music.
By Emily Hyser on July 7th, 2021
