Author Yan Wong

Yan Wong

Recent articles by Yan Wong

Are we the only animals that cry?

What does it really sound like when doves cry?
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How small can the naked eye see?

The smallest thing you can see depends on whether you're talking about individual objects or collections of particles.
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Do birds age?

Crow's feet might not be a sure sign of avian ageing...
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Why do horses need shoes but donkeys don't?

There is some debate about why domestic horses get the fancy footwear (and whether they even need it) when donkeys don't.
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What causes the Northern Lights?

Despite centuries of endless theorising, the mechanism behind the Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis, is yet to be fully understood.
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Why are clouds white?

Even though clouds are made up of air and water, they appear white.
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How do we know it’s the male seahorses that give birth?

Though unusual for the animal kingdom, we know that biologically male seahorses carry their young in pouch on their tail.
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How do antibiotics work?

There are a number of ways common antibiotics kill bacteria without damaging human cells in the process.
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How do turtles survive underwater?

Though turtles have adapted to stay underwater a lot longer than us they still need to come up for breathe eventually.
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What’s the world's most powerful animal poison?

Many animals and plants use toxic poison as a defence or attack mechanism.
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Which living thing grows the fastest?

“Last time I saw you, you were THIS big!” While we don't know for sure what the fastest-growing living thing is we do know what to look for...
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How does popcorn pop?

“Yes, Kernel!” The perfect cinema snack has an interesting story.
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Do trees in rainforests have seasonal growth rings?

Rings appear in line with seasonal extremes in weather, something that rainforest habitats often don't experience, but some tropical trees do have rings.
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Why does a wagtail wag its tail?

There are lots of supported reasons as to why certain birds wag their tails, but in wagtails the specific reason remains unclear.
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Why are moths attracted to lights?

Whether it is the heat, the scent, or the hypnotic beauty, moths just can't help themselves from flying towards these 'light traps'.
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How deep is an ocean wave?

There are many types of ocean wave, but how do you define the depth of a wave?
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Why do fish have vertical tail fins and whales have horizontal ones?

Splish, splash! Fish and sea mammals have very different tails and methods of swimming.
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How long can a bird fly before it has to rest?

Some species like it just fine with two feet on the ground, but for those birds that do take flight, how long can they stay in the air nonstop?
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Are some women genetically predisposed to give birth to more boys or more girls?

A baby's sex is influenced by genetics, studies have found that chromosomal defects potentially influence a child's birth gender.
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