askscience

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Of the non-radioactive elements, which is the most useless (i.e., which has the FEWEST significant applications in industry, nature, etc)	1
What's the difference between alpha beta and gamma rays, and are there any other Greek-letter rays, and what is a mnemonic so I don't keep forgetting the difference?	1
Is it good exercise to walk down stairs, compared to normal walking?	1
In a particular cell (plant/animal/otherwise), how many different organelles are there that have their own DNA? For example I recall that mitochondria have their own DNA	1
In a particular cell (plant/animal/otherwise), how many different organelles are there that have their own DNA? For example I recall that mitochondria have their own DNA	1
In central California, where the I-5 passes through farmland, flying bugs perish on windshields by the millions. A grass median separates the north & south lanes. Could this bug holocaust exert meaningful evolutionary pressure, on the bugs or this island ecosystem?	1
When an asteroid hits the earth, is the blast force (or, the risk to humans) simply proportional to the asteroid's mass? Or, does composition also matter -- in particular, would the force/risk be reduced if the "asteroid" is just an aggregate held together loosely by gravity?	1
There are so many studies which show that sugary drinks are harmful to health, but they don't mention diet drinks. To what extent are diet drinks equally harmful, and to what extent not (and to what extent do they just have different harms)?	1
Why is lightening only caused by storm clouds, and not by the puffy yellow clouds that I see on a nice day?	1
What are the main technical obstacles that have made it so hard to develop a working hovercraft?	1

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