Ask Dr. Universe
@askdruniverse.bsky.social
Dr. Universe & friends @WSU answer #STEM questions from kids. A
weekly column, monthly podcast & @NWPBroadcasting video series. askDrUniverse.wsu.edu
weekly column, monthly podcast & @NWPBroadcasting video series. askDrUniverse.wsu.edu
My pal Daryl DeFord of @pullman.wsu.edu says math is about poking at what “doesn’t quite make sense.” It’s a fur‑midable puzzle! 🧮 #GoCougs #STEMeducation askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/11/20/w...
What’s the hardest math equation in the world?
Dear James, There weren’t calculators or computers in medieval Europe. But there were math duels. Mathematicians would gather in public squares and pose tricky math problems to each other. Then they r...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
November 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
My pal Daryl DeFord of @pullman.wsu.edu says math is about poking at what “doesn’t quite make sense.” It’s a fur‑midable puzzle! 🧮 #GoCougs #STEMeducation askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/11/20/w...
My friend Xiuyu Wang of @wsuvancouver.bsky.social helped me unfold why paper is a fur-midable leap in history 📜 #GoCougs #STEMeducation @pullman.wsu.edu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/11/13/w...
Why did they invent paper?
Dear Sofia, Every week my column gets printed on paper. Sometimes I use paper to dry my paws. Or clean up after I use the litterbox. I asked my friend Xiuyu Wang who invented paper—and why. He studies...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
November 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
My friend Xiuyu Wang of @wsuvancouver.bsky.social helped me unfold why paper is a fur-midable leap in history 📜 #GoCougs #STEMeducation @pullman.wsu.edu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/11/13/w...
@pullman.wsu.edu’s Chris Barry takes me to the heart of purr-plexing human behaviour—and teaches me about the power of empathy.🐾 #GoCougs #STEMEducation @wsusystem askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/11/06/h...
Why do some humans like to do bad things?
Dear Leonel, I’ve met some naughty cats. I’ve also known some misunderstood ones. I asked my friend Chris Barry why humans are sometimes like that, too. He’s a psychologist at Washington State Univers...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
November 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
@pullman.wsu.edu’s Chris Barry takes me to the heart of purr-plexing human behaviour—and teaches me about the power of empathy.🐾 #GoCougs #STEMEducation @wsusystem askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/11/06/h...
How do cats scale trees so gracefully? It’s all in the glutes and claws, says Steve Lampa from @wsuvetmed.bsky.social. I guess we really claw our way to the top! 🐈⬛🌳 #GoCougs #STEMeducation @wsusystem askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/30/h...
How do cats climb?
Dear Jake, Sometimes, when I’m working on a tricky question, I scale the tree outside my office. It helps me focus. I asked my friend Steve Lampa how cats like me do that. He teaches small animal anat...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
How do cats scale trees so gracefully? It’s all in the glutes and claws, says Steve Lampa from @wsuvetmed.bsky.social. I guess we really claw our way to the top! 🐈⬛🌳 #GoCougs #STEMeducation @wsusystem askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/30/h...
Carrots stash sugar so they can plant seeds next year. :🥕🌱 Thanks to veggie expert Tim Waters of @wsuextension.bsky.social for sharing the sweet secret #GoCougs #STEMeducation @pullman.wsu.edu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/23/w...
Why do carrots have sugar?
Dear George and Samuel, Roasted and soft. Raw and crunchy. Baked into a cake. I love eating all kinds of carrots. I asked my friend Tim Waters why those orange veggies are so tasty. He studies vegetab...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
October 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Carrots stash sugar so they can plant seeds next year. :🥕🌱 Thanks to veggie expert Tim Waters of @wsuextension.bsky.social for sharing the sweet secret #GoCougs #STEMeducation @pullman.wsu.edu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/23/w...
Cosmo and I dive deep into what happens if you get eaten by a shark🎙️🦈 Spoiler: you’re not on the menu — the shark would probably spit you out faster than you can say cat-astrophe #GoCougs #STEMeducation @wsuvetmed.bsky.social www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis...
Your Paw-some Question | What happens if you get eaten by a shark? - Ask Dr. Universe
Dooooo-doo, Dooooo-doo. 🦈 Today Cosmo and I learn about sharks and their rad digestive systems—all thanks to my friend, Dr. Nora Hickey, fish veterinarian at Washington State University. Want to ...
www.buzzsprout.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Cosmo and I dive deep into what happens if you get eaten by a shark🎙️🦈 Spoiler: you’re not on the menu — the shark would probably spit you out faster than you can say cat-astrophe #GoCougs #STEMeducation @wsuvetmed.bsky.social www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis...
@pullman.wsu.edu's Ed Johnson told me that a growling stomach is borborygmus—the sound of muscles moving gas and liquid around your empty belly. It's just a little meow-sic to get you ready for food. 🐾🎶 askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/16/t... #GoCougs #stemeducation
Why does my tummy rumble when I’m hungry?
Dear Jules, Sometimes my stomach growls so loudly that other people can hear it. It’s pretty awkward in meetings. I asked my friend Ed Johnson why that happens. He teaches classes about the human body...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
October 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
@pullman.wsu.edu's Ed Johnson told me that a growling stomach is borborygmus—the sound of muscles moving gas and liquid around your empty belly. It's just a little meow-sic to get you ready for food. 🐾🎶 askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/16/t... #GoCougs #stemeducation
Why do we age? My friend Jiyue Zhu of @pullman.wsu.edu told me it’s still a mystery. But science is starting to explain how time catches up to us—one cell at a time. 🧬 askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/08/w... #GoCougs #stemeducation
Why do we age?
Dear Ines, I have gray fur. But sometimes I think it’s getting grayer—like my human friends’ hair does as they get older. I asked my friend Jiyue Zhu about that. He’s a biochemist at Washington State ...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
October 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Why do we age? My friend Jiyue Zhu of @pullman.wsu.edu told me it’s still a mystery. But science is starting to explain how time catches up to us—one cell at a time. 🧬 askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/08/w... #GoCougs #stemeducation
🐸 Ever wonder what it’s like to give a turtle a pedicure, bathe froglets, or backpack frogs through a forest? My friend @wsuvancouver.bsky.social's Ryan Wagner does it all—for science! 🐢🎒
🎧 Check out the toad-ally awesome podcast here: www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis... #GoCougs #STEMeducation
🎧 Check out the toad-ally awesome podcast here: www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis... #GoCougs #STEMeducation
How Do You Science | Meet a Wildlife Biologist - Ask Dr. Universe
In this episode, I learn all about wildlife biology from my friend, Ryan Wagner. He told me about clipping turtle toenails and bathing froglets—all for science. And he recounted his recent adventure b...
www.buzzsprout.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
🐸 Ever wonder what it’s like to give a turtle a pedicure, bathe froglets, or backpack frogs through a forest? My friend @wsuvancouver.bsky.social's Ryan Wagner does it all—for science! 🐢🎒
🎧 Check out the toad-ally awesome podcast here: www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis... #GoCougs #STEMeducation
🎧 Check out the toad-ally awesome podcast here: www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis... #GoCougs #STEMeducation
I may love peanut butter + tuna sandwiches, but allergies are no joke! Today Travis T. Denton of @wsuspokane.bsky.social explains how epinephrine works during anaphylaxis. 🥜💉 #GoCougs #stemeducation askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/02/h...
How does epinephrine work?
Dear Annabelle, I love a peanut butter and tuna sandwich. But when I was a kitten, my school outlawed peanuts. My classmate was super allergic to them. So, we had a rule to keep our friend safe. I pac...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
October 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I may love peanut butter + tuna sandwiches, but allergies are no joke! Today Travis T. Denton of @wsuspokane.bsky.social explains how epinephrine works during anaphylaxis. 🥜💉 #GoCougs #stemeducation askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/10/02/h...
Ever spotted the moon in the daytime sky? You’re not imagining things! Thanks to my friend Michael Allen of @pullman.wsu.edu for illuminating why 🌕🌔🌙@wsu #stemeducation #GoCougs askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/25/c...
Why can we sometimes see the moon during the day?
Dear Eli, I love to go for a walk with my dog roommate. Sometimes we see the moon in the sky—even though it’s daytime. I asked my friend Michael Allen why that happens. He’s an astronomer at Washingto...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
September 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Ever spotted the moon in the daytime sky? You’re not imagining things! Thanks to my friend Michael Allen of @pullman.wsu.edu for illuminating why 🌕🌔🌙@wsu #stemeducation #GoCougs askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/25/c...
🐞 How do ladybugs cycle their way through life? Rich Zack at
@pullman.wsu.edu @wsucahnrs.bsky.social helped us bug out about their 4 life stages! askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/18/l... #GoCougs #stemeducation
@pullman.wsu.edu @wsucahnrs.bsky.social helped us bug out about their 4 life stages! askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/18/l... #GoCougs #stemeducation
What is the life cycle of a ladybug?
Dear Rachel, Every spring, I see spiny bugs that look like tiny alligators. They spend all day chomping up other insects outside my window. I asked my friend Rich Zack about them. He’s an insect scien...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
September 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🐞 How do ladybugs cycle their way through life? Rich Zack at
@pullman.wsu.edu @wsucahnrs.bsky.social helped us bug out about their 4 life stages! askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/18/l... #GoCougs #stemeducation
@pullman.wsu.edu @wsucahnrs.bsky.social helped us bug out about their 4 life stages! askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/18/l... #GoCougs #stemeducation
🧫🔬 Forget poison frogs and jellyfish—Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium hanging out in soil, water, and even your kitchen, produces the most potent toxin on Earth. askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/11/p... #FoodSafety #GoCougs #STEMeducation @wsuextension.bsky.social
What is the most poisonous thing in the world?
Dear Macmillan, There are some amazing deadly things out there. Like a frog that oozes poison from its skin. Or a jellyfish that uses itty bitty hooks to inject venom into its prey. But it turns out t...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
September 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
🧫🔬 Forget poison frogs and jellyfish—Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium hanging out in soil, water, and even your kitchen, produces the most potent toxin on Earth. askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/11/p... #FoodSafety #GoCougs #STEMeducation @wsuextension.bsky.social
Dogs walk on their toes—like invisible high heels! 👠🐾 That’s digitigrade locomotion. Read the full column 👉 askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/04/d... @wsuvetmed.bsky.social @pullman.wsu.edu #GoCougs #stemeducation #stemeducationforkids
Why do dogs have pads on their feet?
Dear Izzy, My coworkers sometimes forget that I’m a cat—until I reach out a paw to shake their hand. At first glance, cat and dog paws seem very different from human hands and feet. I talked about tha...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
September 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Dogs walk on their toes—like invisible high heels! 👠🐾 That’s digitigrade locomotion. Read the full column 👉 askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/09/04/d... @wsuvetmed.bsky.social @pullman.wsu.edu #GoCougs #stemeducation #stemeducationforkids
I'm so pleased to hand the mic(robe) to @wsuvetmed.bsky.social's Eric Lofgren for this week's science question 🦠 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/29/w...
Why do we have germs on our hands?
Dear Prince, Germs are tiny organisms—also called microbes. They’re so small you have to zoom in with a microscope to see them. They can be bacteria, viruses, fungi or other teeny things. Some microbe...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
August 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I'm so pleased to hand the mic(robe) to @wsuvetmed.bsky.social's Eric Lofgren for this week's science question 🦠 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/29/w...
Talking about medications and technology with my friend Damianne Brand-Eubanks was out of this world✨Check out the latest podcast episode: How Do You Science | Meet a Pharmacist www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis... #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids
August 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Talking about medications and technology with my friend Damianne Brand-Eubanks was out of this world✨Check out the latest podcast episode: How Do You Science | Meet a Pharmacist www.buzzsprout.com/1338544/epis... #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids
Thanks to my friend @wsuvetmed.bsky.social's Nora Hickey for taking a huge bite out of this question 🦈 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/21/h...
What happens if you if you get eaten by a shark?
Dear Prince, When I was a kitten, I saw a movie about shark attacks. It made me nervous to go into the water. I talked about that with my friend Nora Hickey. She’s a fish veterinarian at Washington St...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
August 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Thanks to my friend @wsuvetmed.bsky.social's Nora Hickey for taking a huge bite out of this question 🦈 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/21/h...
I called up my friend @pullman.wsu.edu's Ben Belzer to get the 411 on cell phones📱 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/14/c...
How do cell phones work?
Dear Colleen, When I was little, I liked to move the radio dial in the car. I could hear different channels with music or talking. Plus, static in between. My friend Ben Belzer reminded me of that whe...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
August 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I called up my friend @pullman.wsu.edu's Ben Belzer to get the 411 on cell phones📱 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/14/c...
A dinosaur-sized thank you to @wsulibraries.bsky.social's Emily Cukier for walking me through how to find good info 🦕📚💻 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/07/w...
What was the largest dinosaur?
Dear Carlos, Your question almost stumped me. I don’t really have dinosaur scientist pals. So, I turned to an expert on finding answers. My friend Emily Cukier is a science librarian at Washington Sta...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
August 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A dinosaur-sized thank you to @wsulibraries.bsky.social's Emily Cukier for walking me through how to find good info 🦕📚💻 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/08/07/w...
I got of a shot of new info, thanks to Roland Chen of @pullman.wsu.edu 💉#GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/31/r...
I would really like a shot that doesn’t hurt so much
Dear Jacob, I love vaccines. They keep us safe from germs that can make us sick. But I don’t love how much shots hurt. Sometimes I feel anxious before I visit the veterinarian for a vaccine. I talked ...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
July 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I got of a shot of new info, thanks to Roland Chen of @pullman.wsu.edu 💉#GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/31/r...
@wsuvancouver.bsky.social's Ryan Wagner turt-told me all about turtle shells 🐢 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsusystem askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/23/t...
How do turtles get their shells?
Dear Malachi, Sometimes animated turtles seem to live inside their shells like it’s a tiny home. They may even hop out of the shell and run around. That’s funny in cartoons and games, but my friend Ry...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
July 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
@wsuvancouver.bsky.social's Ryan Wagner turt-told me all about turtle shells 🐢 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsusystem askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/23/t...
This answer, courtesy @pullman.wsu.edu's Nancy Bell, is anything but homi-mid...it rocks 📑🪨 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/17/h...
How did humans invent any language?
Dear Anika, My roommate is a normal cat. When she needs a treat, she smacks her lips. When she wants outside, she paws the door. But she never talks to me using words. I asked Nancy Bell how my human ...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
July 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This answer, courtesy @pullman.wsu.edu's Nancy Bell, is anything but homi-mid...it rocks 📑🪨 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/17/h...
I loved taking a big gulp of this fresh answer 🫁🐟 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsuvancouver.bsky.social askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/10/m...
May I ask how fish breathe?
Dear Nghi, When you and I take a deep breath, we pull air into our lungs. That’s because humans and cats are mammals. But fish aren’t mammals. They usually don’t breathe air. They usually don’t have l...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
July 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I loved taking a big gulp of this fresh answer 🫁🐟 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsuvancouver.bsky.social askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/07/10/m...
So many thanks to @wsuvancouver.bsky.social 's Dene Grigar for boosting my XP with this answer 🧠🎮 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/06/26/v...
Do video games rot your brain?
Dear Joie, After answering science questions all day, I like to play Mario. It’s relaxing to smash Goombas and zoom down pipes. I asked my friend Dene Grigar if that’s wrecking my brain. She leads the...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
July 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
So many thanks to @wsuvancouver.bsky.social 's Dene Grigar for boosting my XP with this answer 🧠🎮 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids @wsu askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/06/26/v...
Talking about neutron stars with @pullman.wsu.edu's Matthew Duez blew my mind 🌌 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/06/18/h...
What would happen if you put a piece of neutron star on the Earth?
Dear MacKenzie, A neutron star is what’s left after a massive star runs out of fuel and explodes as a supernova. I asked my friend Matthew Duez about it. He’s an astrophysicist at Washington State Uni...
askdruniverse.wsu.edu
June 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Talking about neutron stars with @pullman.wsu.edu's Matthew Duez blew my mind 🌌 #GoCougs #STEMeducation #stemeducationforkids askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2025/06/18/h...