‘Ask a Guru’ Book Giveaway!

We’ve got five copies of the book Bio-Punk: stories from the far side of research to give away!

Reviewed in the latest issue of Guru Magazine, Mind Guru Kim Lacey thought that Bio-Punk “coupled the factual and the fictional to make this collection stand out….a must read!”, awarding it 5 GURU stars (Read her review online here).

To be in with a chance of bagging a copy, just send our Gurus your questions. You can fill in the form below, tweet or Facebook them to us.

The best ‘Ask a Guru’ questions will scoop the book and get their answers featured in the next issue!

International entries welcome. Normal competition terms and conditions apply.

Closing date for competition entries: 24th May 2013.

Any question goes…!

Every Friday, we take in your questions about (almost) anything. Got a question about life, health, nutrition, psychology or science? If there’s something you’ve always wanted to know, or even just something you were pondering whilst taking a shower – let #AskAGuru be the place to go!

To ask a question, simply post it on our Facebook wall or tweet it to @GuruMag with the hashtag #AskAGuru on any Friday. We also accept questions via email, or posted to the forum.

Our diverse team of writers and Guru’s will research and find you the answer. If we can’t, then we’ll hunt down an expert who can. It might take us a few days to find the answer, but we will do our best!

Questions Answered!

Here is a list of all answered questions (so far!). Click on the question to get the answer:

• Do fat people have more blood than thin people?
• Why do we sleep talk?
• How will they protect Mars astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation?
• Is there such a thing as Dog ADHD?
• Why do Dock leaves cure nettle stings?
• If the World Wars hadn’t happened, would today's technology be less advanced?
• Why do police officers and doctors keep looking younger?
• Guacamole I made yesterday has turned brown! Is it safe to eat?
• Does gargling salt water really help a sore throat?
• Is fluoride in tap water as dangerous as anti-fluoridation campaigns say?
• If I exercise a certain muscle, does the fat around that muscle reduce?
• Why shouldn't you eat warm bread/cake? Is it an old wives' tale?
• How long until we can computers a conscious mind?
• How can you neutralise the smell of spilt milk?
• Why do people drive worse in the summer?
• Why does the way there always feel longer than the way back?
• What is the purpose of a hitchhiker's thumb?
• If skin replenishes itself, why do we have scars?
• Why can some people eat very spicy foods, when others can't?
• Which is the best tree to plant to get rid of carbon dioxide?
• What are the most common medical urban myths?
• Have the Americans developed a nuclear aircraft (the TR3-B)?
• What is limescale? Are electrical de-scalers a load of hokum?
• Shampoo comes in many colours, so why is the lather always white?
• If nothing escapes a black hole, how can X-ray jets escape?
• Rabbits eat grass and have hard poo, horses and cows have sloppy poo. Why?
• Builders are pouring concrete in rain and snow: should I be worried?
• Are non-green leaves better or worse at absorbing the sun's energy?
• Why have we been having more static electric shocks recently?
• Why did martial arts become popular? Kung Fu isn't even good self-defence
• What's the oldest animal still living?
• When will the oil run out?
• Why does the durian fruit make you sweat and feel hot?
• Where does snot come from?
• The real reason you have to turn off your phone on a plane
• Why do I feel more tired when I get lots of sleep?
• No one has created life, so why do scientists believe in 'materialism'?
• What causes white nose hair?
• What are the long-term effects of constant thumb use for texting, etc?
• Do wild rabbits eat wild mushrooms?
• Who owns the moon?
• Why does my Raynaud’s only affect my third and fourth fingers?
• What's the difference between active and passive placebos?
• Why do people abandon reason when men in white coats ask them to?
• Why do you twitch when you’re falling asleep? It just wakes you up again!
• The 5 strangest looking animals... ever!
• Does my cat think it is a human?
• Has there ever been a politician that followed through on their pledges?
• If Bananas are herbs, fruits have pips on the inside, what are strawberries classed as?
• Why do dolphins have empathy for people?
• Do vitamin supplements work? Are expensive brands worth it?
• Why do Zebras have stripes? Are zebras white with black stripes or black with white?
• How long should I wait between exercising a muscle?
• If you walk a mile do you burn as much calories as if you run a mile?
• I'm getting up 3 hours earlier. How long will it take to readjust my body clock?
• What's the reason for 'after-taste' and how do you get rid of it?
• Why does rolling batteries together make them work again?
• Does watching the news make you feel more miserable than not watching it?
• How long would it take to collect enough Belly Button fluff to knit a jumper?
• Is horse meat better than other meats?
• Why do we get hiccups?
• Why does cold weather cause colds?
• What's the difference between the brain and the mind?
• Why do sugary fluids leave behind a sticky residue after they dry?
• Why is a slice of lemon always served with fish?
• Q. Could your lungs freeze if it's cold enough?
• Why are coffee cakes called 'Danishes'?
• Do human beings sneeze whilst asleep? If not, why not?
• Russian Meteorites: 5 Incredible Facts (and why meteors explode)
• When trekking to the South Pole, does your wee freeze?
• Q. Why do we get scars?
• In the kitchen: why does pepper make you sneeze and onions make you cry?
• Why do moles appear to grow bigger when you are pregnant?
• Q: What happens when we bruise?
• Why is fish served on Fridays?
• Why do cats have an extra eyelid?
• Why doesn't wood melt?
• What's the truth about Dr Aslan's GH3 anti-ageing complex?
• Q What's the real deal on footwear? Flats or arch-support shoes?
• Why does the cold make asthmatic symptoms feel worse?
• Will Play Dough spread threadworms at nursery?
• What are the health effects of being sprayed by road salt?
• Why does my dog bark at the sound of the kettle?
• How many calories am I burning when it's cold?
• When will we get flying cars?
• Why do we itch and what causes it?
• Drinking too much water can kill you - is there anything that isn't poisonous?
• What's the best way to stop snoring?
• If I drink alcohol before breast feeding, could my child get drunk?
• Are we born scared of snakes?
• Do men get 'phantom limb' feelings after gender reassignment?
• Why don't babies lose their voice from screaming?
• What's the best way to weight train for fitness and lose body fat?
• Q: Why does skin lose its elasticity as we get old?
• Are all babies really born with blue eyes? If so,why?
• Should you try to keep cool when you have a fever?
• Q: 'Is our DNA changing over time?'
• Should an atheist parent lie about Santa?
• Do pets get mental health disorders?
• How many calories do you burn by coughing?
• Q: 'How can we prove if space ends or begins?'
• Could you make someone love you by dosing them with 'love' hormones?
• Is 'baby brain' a myth or fact?
• Is there any medical basis for the practice of trepanning?
• What is Sausage Skin Made of?
• Why do people get so tribal about preferred smartphone/politics/sport/race?
• Q: Is decaf coffee really 100% decaffeinated?
• Can we use lightning for electrical energy supply?
• Why do doctors use meaningless jargon?
• Why do you get vegetables shaped like body parts?
• How true to forensics is CSI?
• What causes a migraine, and how it is different from a 'normal' headache?
• Why does eating so many carrots turn you orange?
• Irlen Syndrome - fact or fantasy?
• Why can't women read maps? Why can't men shop?
• Does overcrowding trigger a stress response?
• What's the healthiest food after drinking?
• Why do we fluff our pilllows before bed?
• What exactly is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
• Why do cats turn round in circle a couple before they curl up?
• Is the 'Kaizen Theory' why Britain won so many medals in cycling?
• Does the brain really release DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) when we sleep?
• Why do cuts to the mouth heal quicker in the mouth than other places?
• Should I trust 'best before' dates?
• Sheldon Cooper vs Leslie Winkle: Loop Quantum Gravity vs. String Theory?
• Why do we feel emotional pain and distress?
• Should I get a flu shot?
• Do elephants really have a good memory?
• Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
• Is there any credible proof that Evolution ('Modern Synthesis') is true?
• Why do we catch yawns from other people?
• Why do we yawn when we're not tired? Is it really to get more oxygen?
• Why do you 'snarf' if you laugh whilst drinking?
• Is there really more caffeine in coffee than tea?
• Which part of the brain tells the difference between reality and fantasy?
• Can you be healthy without ever drinking plain water?
• Is it dangerous to hold your 'wind' in?
• Why do your fingers get wrinkly in the bath?
• Why do you need a poo after running?
• Is it bad for your health to sleep after eating?
• Which is better for fat loss, intense or long distance endurance?
• How do you stay balanced on a bicycle?
• Why don't animals' hair grow so long like human hair does?
• Are we keeping our kids too clean?
• Are Yawns Contagious?
• What are the chances of life on Mars - now the Curiosity Rover has landed?
• Will there be another hot summer in the UK? What's the odds of a white Christmas?
• Predicting cancer life expectancy
• The reason for white dog poo
• How to stop a bad smell

Unfortunately, we are unable to answer every question sent to us. We will always endeavour to answer as many as possible.

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Disclaimer: #AskAGuru is to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. We will not answer questions that are racist, sexist, discriminatory, or in any other way offensive or condone illegal behaviour. We are unable to answer questions that address personal bealthcare needs. The answers are correct to the best of our ability, but should not be used to base any healthcare or other personal decisions on. Guru Magazine cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content contained on this website and if you see something here that is incorrect, please leave a comment on the respective page, or send us an email.