Love handles are just extra weight around the middle. LIke any extra weight, they can't be shifted very fast (well, if you go on a crash diet you... (read more)

A lot of natural history museums used to contain a small box with the label 'The world's most dangerous animal'. if you looked inside the box you would find ... a mirror. Humans are by far the most dangerous creature that has ever existed; working together,... (read more)

Rare earth minerals are of much more importance than most of use realize. A few years ago many people probably hadn't even heard the term 'rare earths' but now, the question of who owns and supplies these raw materials has become an urgent one. This... (read more)

In spite of their name, most of the 17 rare earth elements or metals aren't actually rare. The only unusual one is promethium, while others such... (read more)

Bad breath can also be called halitosis. The most common cause is a build up of bacteria in the mouth; we all get these bacteria, but if you don't... (read more)

The immediate cause is a contraction of the diaphragm. This causes you to take in air very quickly, and then when the glottis closes (the place between the vocal chords) the air intake is suddenly stopped. It is this stoppage of air that creates the hiccup... (read more)

It's often believed that we yawn because we are bored or... (read more)

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi died on 20 October 2011. On this day Gadaffi and his companions were travelling in a convoy, trying to escape from the... (read more)

Most tsunamis are triggered by a powerful earthquake in or near the ocean, in a subduction zone (a zone where plate tectonic forces push an oceanic plate down below the earth's crust). These... (read more)

As with most questions about the Freemasons, the only people who know the answer for sure probably won't tell you. There has been a lot of speculation about this lately. The Masons themselves officially deny that there is a secret Masonic handshake, but... (read more)

This question needs a bit more detail in order to answer it really well. First of all, I'll guess that the parents are yours, not your in-laws. It would also help to know how old you and your parents are, and exactly what they are doing that is causing... (read more)

As far as we know, it isn't actually a scam. A scam would be a false organization that pretends to raise money for a charity - in this case, children in Uganda... (read more)

It may not be possible to prevent it altogether, but you can make it less severe. Before the journey, avoid rich or heavy foods and alcohol. Car sickness is a form of motion... (read more)

That's a difficult question, since of course only a Freemason would be able to give you a full answer, and they aren't allowed to tell you! They are a men-only organization, although there are special groups for women;... (read more)

Avignon is best avoided in the French school holidays, and ideally in the UK holidays too, as it is a popular destination with British families and gets rather crowded. Being in southern France, it is very hot in July and August - which, apart from also... (read more)

Too many people just pass through Calais, either on their way out of the UK or going into it, as Calais is now the major route into Britain thanks to both the Dover ferry and the Folkestone... (read more)

Lille is an old city with lots to see and do. You should start with vieux Lille (old Lille), the historic centre. Around this area you can see... (read more)

It depends on how old they are, as tiny children - some people start taking their babies in the water when they are only a year old - will probably have no fear of the water, while if they are older they may be nervous at first. Assuming your child is... (read more)

The most common remedy for hay fever is antihistamines. You can take these either as a nasal spray or in pill form, and they provide relief to the greatest number of sufferers.... (read more)

No, once an earthquake has started there is nothing we can do to stop it. What we can do is make the effects less disastrous in some cases, by using the prediction methods available so that it's possible to take measures to protect ourselves when an earthquake... (read more)