MINNEAPOLIS — If you have spent the past few days cooped up inside your home escaping the Polar Vortex, you may have gotten curious about certain cold-related things.
We sat down with Liz Heinecke, The Kitchen Pantry Scientist, to ask all the burning, winter-related questions we had.
Heinecke spent 10 years in research labs focused on molecular biology research. She also has a Master's Degree in Bacteriology from UW Madison.
Q: How do wild animals keep warm in the cold?
A: Both fur and feathers are long, narrow tubes -- feathers especially -- air in the middle. and air is a great insulator. So between the snow and the squirrels' nests, they curl up and put their noses inside...curl up into a little ball, they can keep really warm.
Q: Why do planes sound louder when it's cold outside?
A: There are basically a lot more air molecules packed into a smaller space (when it is cold). Air molecules are banging against each other and there are just a lot more of them so it allows sound waves to travel farther and the planes sound louder.
Q: Should you start your car and let it run even if you're not going anywhere?
A: You don't actually want to keep starting it, starting it, starting it, because it drains the battery. It's better to make sure you have enough antifreeze in your car. Once you go out and start it then the engine will warm up and it will run better.
Q: Why does cold air hurt my lungs?
A: When you breathe cold air directly into your lungs -- not breathing through your nose, breathing it straight into your lungs -- it's just instant, very cold, very dry air interacting with your lung tissue. It's uncomfortable.
Q: Why does cold air cause joint pain for some?
A: I think it can be a combination of factors, it tends to bother people more who have arthritis or some other joint injuries. From what I have read, scientists don't really understand why your joints hurt more when it gets cold.
Q: Is leaving the faucet running a legitimate tip to prevent pipes from bursting?
A: Small amount of water running through the pipes, it keeps them from freezing completely. Also if the pipes start to freeze, it can alleviate some of the pressure as the water expands. So it does a couple different things.
