Curious Minds

Astronaut Mike Hopkins reading Max Goes to Mars, b

Houston, we have a bedtime story: Let a real-life astronaut read to your kids - from space

Where does beach sand come from?

Next time you’re at the beach, pick up a handful of sand and look closely at it. It has stories to tell about the land, and an epic journey to the sea.

WATCH: Do you see a duck or a rabbit?

American author, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, has developed a captivating take on the age-old optical illusion: is it a duck or a rabbit?

Why is the sea salty?

Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, and 97% of that is salty seawater.

Did you know the Eastern Cape is home to Africa's highest bridge bungee jump?

At 216 metres, the spectacular Bloukrans River Bridge is Africa's highest commercial bungee jumping site.

Why do feet stink by the end of the day?

Keep those stinkers away!

Does chewing gum stay inside you for years?

Swallowing a lot of gum can cause it to stick together or stick to food in your gut.

Did you know there is a fish migration so huge it can be seen from space?

The annual Sardine Run takes place between May and July.

What can you learn from studying an animal's poop?

Scientists study animal poop, also called scat, to learn about the hidden lives of animals.

Why do teachers make us read old stories?

Not every old story is good, but when your teacher asks you to read one, consider the possibility that you might build your brain, grow your feelings or have some fun. It’s worth a try, at least.

How can we see what we are imagining as well as what’s in front of us?

Your brain is actually making up what you see all the time, based on messages from different places, as well as your expectations.

What would aliens be like?

We don’t know whether there are any aliens or not. But there are so many planets in the universe.

LISTEN: Why do birds sing?

When birds sing, what do you think they’re saying?

How are stars made?

Have you ever heard the saying “we are all made of star dust?” It’s actually true.

Is it okay to listen to music while studying?

Research conducted in the 1990s found a “Blur Effect” – where kids who listened to the BritPop band Blur seemed to do better on tests.

Can chimpanzees turn into people?

Chimpanzees don’t (and didn’t) turn into people, but we do share ancestors, who over a very long time became what we now recognise as different species: chimpanzees, bonobos and humans.

Why do we say 'Okay'?

It can be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, a conjunction or an interjection. But why did people start to say “Okay”?

Can people really colonise Mars?

People are closer than ever to the first human footsteps on Mars.

The deepest parts of the ocean are trenches – long, narrow depressions, like a trench in the ground, but much bigger. Known as the Challenger Deep, it is 35,768 to 36,037 feet deep – almost 7 miles (11 kilometres).

Curious Minds

What was the first computer?

What was the first computer and how did it work? Professor Doug Jacobson of Iowa State University takes us through the first modern electronic computer which was built by physics Professor John Vincent Atanasoff in 1942.

Curious Minds

How do my eyes adjust to the dark and how long does it take?

Human eyes have two main features that help us see better in low light: the pupil’s ability to change size, and the eye’s two types of light-sensing cells.

Curious Minds

LISTEN: Why do we need food?

Why do we have to eat vegetables and fruits? How come we can’t just have ice-cream and lollies for every meal? Every time we eat, our food goes on an amazing journey through our body