Biology
Exploring "Why" questions about Biology
483 articles
Why aren’t we concerned with bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms developing resistance to alcohol, chlorine, and other substances used to sterilize medical equipment (and hands)?
It is a good question. The answer is how it works on the organism. Anti-biotics work by interfering with some important function of a bacteria cell.
Why aren’t any measures taken to completely eradicate mosquitoes from the ecosystem they harm so much yet?
Mosquitoes are really difficult to eradicate. You can bug net, but they will find a way around. You can spray, but if any survive they will become resistant to the spray you were using.
Why does it feel like there’s less viruses on the internet nowadays?
*Fewer And the purpose of viruses has shifted from being some piece of code that just fucks your system up, to being motivated by money. Modern malware is mostly targeted at businesses, websites, bank
Why do my cell phones get zero signal but then have full bars after relocating just 6 inches away?
Radio waves when emitted bounce off of objects. In certain spaces, you can be in just the right place where you are receiving the same radio signal bounced off of several different objects (and even d
why are scientists trying to clone a wooly mammoth using ancient DNA when they could be cloning endangered animal species, such as the white rhino, whose DNA we can still collect?
As has already been said, there are research efforts focused on both. However, tackling the technical challenges of piecing together a genome that hasn't existed for thousands of years would benefit t
Why don’t we breed endangered species the same way we breed cattle or dogs?
Because we have nowhere to put them. Species that are endangered generally aren't endangered because they aren't breeding. They are breeding just fine.
Why are cats generally so much more unaffectionate than dogs?
Dogs are pack animals. They need a strong family unit, and therefore like to stay with their pack as much as possible. Any abscence might be forever, so a return, even from the store, is exciting.
Why are we so good at telling apart different people, but so bad at telling apart different animals of the same species? Do humans just have more variance in appearance?
We're biologically pre-disposed to be able to tell human faces apart (especially the ethnicities we grew up around). I'm not sure what studies have proved this to be the same in other animals, but the
Why are things that are *almost human looking generally more frightening/scary/chilling than something completely inhuman and grotesque?
It's called [uncanny valley](_URL_0_). > One of the main points of the theory to explain this is that people are not as affected in an emotional way by the object if it is easy to tell it is not hu
Why is cell service so erratic in the mountains? Mountains don’t move, so why is the connection not constantly good or bad?
For one, rock and other materials on a mountain can block signals (akin to how yiu might Not Have service underground in a tunnel due to the dirt and stone. Secondly, On rigid mountains, it can be har