“Do children's brains work better in the morning or in the afternoon?” asked Grace, from Spring, Texas. Brian from Pullman, Washington wanted to know, “Where does dirt come from?” And Alexandra from Wisbec, England asked, “What's a baby crocodile called?”
Who is answering all these questions? Why, Dr. Universe of course. Dr. Universe, Dr. Wendy Sue Universe to be precise, is the world's most curious cat. She's also a scientist and a journalist. Dr. Universe is constantly on the prowl to find answers to the things kids need to know.
“Ask Dr. Universe” is a science education project produced and funded by Washington State University. To meet Dr. Universe, just go to https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/.
“Ever since I was a kitten,” writes Dr. Universe, “I've been digging in the dirt, gazing at the stars, exploring new places, and searching for answers to all kinds of questions about our world. Still, some people are surprised when they discover I'm a scientist. After all, it's not every day you meet a cat in a lab coat.”
All sorts of scientists and experts at Washington State University help Dr. Universe give the best answers to the interesting questions sent to her by kids all around the world. Answering questions gives Dr. Universe something important to do to help keep her mind off chasing birds.
At the Ask Dr. Universe website, kids can explore the answers to questions already sent in by other children. They can also click on the word “Ask” at the top of the homepage, which will bring up a screen where children can enter questions of their own. On the website's home page, entering an email address and clicking the “subscribe” button will ensure that the latest Ask Dr. Universe questions and answers are sent direct to that inbox each week.
So what is a baby crocodile called? According to Dr. Universe:
“It depends who you ask. A fish, frog, or small bird might call a baby crocodile a predator. A heron, wild pig, or eagle might call it a meal. A mother and father crocodile might call a baby crocodile a full-time job. But the answer you're probably looking for is what biologists call a baby crocodile, and that's a hatchling.”
