&Answers
Questions
16PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY X2 ILLUSTRATIONS: RAJA LOCKEYWHY DO YOUR
EARS POP?
The air pressure on your eardrum is normally
balanced because your middle ear is
connected to your sinuses via a narrow duct
called the Eustachian tube. If the outside air
pressure changes too quickly though
(in an aeroplane coming in to land, for
example), the Eustachian tube can’t
equalise the pressure fast enough and
the eardrum bows in or out. The popping
sound occurs when the pressure rebalances
and the eardrum suddenly flips back. LVCAN YOUR BODY BE
OLDER THAN YOUR AGE?While age is usually thought of as just
the number of years you’ve been alive,
people with identical ages often look – and
seem – very different. In 2015, scientists
at King’s College London published
research suggesting that measuring
the activity of around 150 specific genes
gives a measure of ‘biological age’ linked
more strongly to longevity than mere
chronology. But genetic activity is only
one factor differentiating biological and
chronological age. Exercise, diet and
weight can also make a big difference.
This has led to various questionnaires- such as the BBC’s online quiz
‘What’s My Real Age?’ (bit.ly/age_
quiz) – which can give clues
about your current ‘real’ age,
and offer advice on what you
can do about it. When using
these quizzes, do bear in mind
that some of the measures are
still controversial. RM
LONGEST LIVING LAND VERTEBRATES*
*Where possible, ages have been taken from the oldest known individuals