A collection of 'quirky' science questions with the answers provided in terms that can be understood by non-scientists.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Don Burke..Introduction..What really is science?..Why is the whole more than the sum of the parts?..HEALTH.. Why 'Genes R Us'.. Why Mandrake makes magic. Why say NO for sex?.. Antibiotic resistance: whose fault?.. Adrien asks: Is it food, drug or poison?.. For king, country and chemical!.. How well do you know your cupboard's chemicals?.. Do real rotters have a sense of humus?..FOOD.. Can you face science at breakfast?.. When do you reach flashpoint?.. Distilling the essence -- why use steam?.. Forget the fags -- cooking oil fumes can give you cancer!.. Guess why bananas gassed in their pyjamas taste ghastly?.. Anti-what? It can't be the oxygen we breath!.. Which pills of vitamin E, if any?.. Veggie out -- before they get you first. What's so special about coffee?.. So what if

Author Biography

Ben Selinger was Professor of Chemistry at the Australian National University in Canberra, and has been a visiting professor at universities in the USA, the UK, Canada, Israel, Germany and Thailand. However, he is not your average academic professor of Chemistry. He presented 'Dial a Scientist', a science talkback programme on ABC Radio, writes feature articles for the Canberra Times in addition to his fortnightly column, 'So why is it?', and is a winner of the Special Eureka Award for science communication. He has initiated and contributed to setting many national standards for consumer produces and is again on the Council of the Australian Consumers Association, publisher of Choice. He is currently Senior Associate (Canberra) with Jackson Wells Morris Communications, dealing with Science and Technology Issues management.