Very Interesting – July-August 2019

I

n 1967, a fire killed three American astronauts during a launch

rehearsal of the first Apollo mission. The resulting inquiry led to

extra testing of materials used throughout the space programme

• and this included sniff-testing. Non-toxic materials can still give off
  odours that make astronauts feel queasy, especially in the cramped
  confines of a space vehicle. That, in turn, can undermine the
  performance of the astronaut, putting the entire mission at risk.
  NASA’s current ‘chief sniffer’ is George Aldrich. Sometimes known as
  ‘Nostrildamus’, he is tasked with smelling all objects that will be
  within the habitable areas of the International Space Station.

Is it true that NASA smells everything

before it is sent into space?

Gemma North, Midrand

NASA’s chief

sniffer George

Aldrich.

I

n 1941, American doctor

William Bennett Bean began a

35-year study of his own fingernail

growth, concluding that climate,

season and geographical location

Why do my fingernails grow faster

in a hot country?

Simon Firth, Pretoria

have no effect on growth rate.

However, other studies have found

a slight increase in growth during

the summer – probably due to

increased blood supply to the

fingertips. But if you notice a

sudden change while on holiday,

it’s more likely that your nails just

aren’t being worn away so fast

while you’re relaxing by the pool,

and the actual growth rate hasn’t

increased very much.

Shridhar Chillal stopped

cutting the nails on his left

hand in 1952 and finally had

them cut short in July 2018.

The record-breaking nails had

a combined length of more

than 9m.

The grey-headed
flying fox is one
species of bat
that does not
echolocate. It
relies on sight and
smell to find its
food.

A One brown bat can

eat more than 1,

small insects –

mosquitoes included

• in just an hour.
  A There are over
  1,100 species of
  bats.

Q

&

A

FLASH