What’s the storage capacity of the human brain in gigabytes? Why is frozen milk yellow? Why do flamingos stand on one leg? And why can’t elephants jump? Is it because elephants are too large or heavy (after all, they say hippos and rhinos can play hopscotch)? Or is it because their knees face the wrong way? Or do they just wait until no one’s looking? Read this brilliant new compilation to find out. This is popular science at its most absorbing and enjoyable.

The previous titles in the New Scientist series have been international bestsellers and sold over two million copies between them. Here is another wonderful collection of wise, witty, and often surprising answers to a staggering range of science questions.