Mystery Hour: Why do women have high voices?
Thursdays 12-1pm
Every week, James O'Brien enlists the help of LBC listeners to solve the questions you've always wondered the answer to.
It's all about shared human knowledge. Call up with a question and then another listener around the country will know the answer.
But we're strict - no reptition and no dullness (so leave the motoring questions out!). If it's something that most of the audience would say "yes, I've wondered about that", then we want to hear from you.
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Top Five Most Read Questions
1) Why do all crisps expire on a Saturday?
2) What is the small pocket on jeans?
3) Why don't you see planes on Google Maps?
4) What causes red eye in photos?
5) Do fish get electrocuted when lightning hits the sea?
On The Mystery Hour This Week |
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Why do females have higher voices than males?Why do females have higher voices than males? It includes dogs, cats and other animals.Category: Human Body |
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Why do we put money in a "kitty"?We've just been on holiday with another couple and each night, we put money in the kitty. Where does the phrase "kitty" come from?Category: Words |
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Why does swimming make you need the toilet?Why do you always need to go to the toilet when you're swimming in the sea or in a pool?Category: Human Body |
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Why do mushrooms grow in circles?Why do mushrooms grow in circles? You regularly see them in a neat pattern in the woods.Category: Animals and Nature |
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Why do we "feel our heart in our mouth"?When I nearly crashed, I "felt my heart in my mouth". Where does the phrase come from and why do we get that feeling?Category: Human Body |
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Why are all caravans white?Why are all caravans and motor homes white or cream-coloured?Category: Random |
On The Mystery Hour - 5th August |
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When lightning hits the sea, do fish get electrocuted?When lightning hits the sea, why don’t fish die from electrocution?Category: Animals and Nature |
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Why don't you see planes on Google Maps?When you look at Google Maps, why do you never see an aeroplane flying under the satellite?Category: Random |
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Why do razor blades go blunt so quickly?Why do the blades on my razor go blunt so quickly? They are made of metal and they’re only cutting hair!Category: Science and Technology |
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How do fluffy clouds hold so much water?When we have a huge rain storm, how is the water held up in that fluffy little cloud?Category: Animals and Nature |
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Does it hurt to have a beer belly?Does a beer belly hurt people that have them because they are so heavy?Category: Human Body |
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Why do we say "hell for leather"?The term "hell for leather"... where does it come from?Category: Words |
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Why don't our petrol pumps auto-fill like in the USA?When you pull into a gas station in America, there is a little catch on the nozzle that automatically fills your tank. Why can't we do that?Category: Science and Technology |
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Why does CH stand for Switzerland?On cars, we have I for Italia, E for Espana, D for Deutschland. So what is CH for Switzerland?Category: Words |
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Why do you have corner flags on a football pitch?What is the purpose of corner flags on a football pitch? Surely players can see the corner of the pitch without them?Category: Sport and Games |
On The Mystery Hour - 29th July |
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What causes red eye in photos?A friend has a glass eye and now her healthy eye always turns red in photos, but her glass eye doesn't. Why?Category: Human Body |
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Why do batteries lose power when not in use?Why do batteries lose their charge, even when they are just in their packet?Category: Science and Technology |
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What happens if a poisonous snake bites a poisonous snake?What happens if a poisonous snake bites another poisonous snake? Are they immune to their own venom?Category: Animals and Nature |
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What causes water surface tension?What causes water surface tension? How can insects walk on top of a liquid? What causes the strength?Category: Science and Technology |
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Which animal has the biggest eyeballs?One from my seven-year-old son: Which animal has the biggest eyeballs?Category: Animals and Nature |
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What are the small balls under your tongue?What are the two small ball-glands at the bottom of your mouth under your tongue?Category: Human Body |
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Why are foreign eggs white, but ours brown?On holiday, all the eggs were white, but back here, they are brown. Why is there a difference?Category: Animals and Nature |
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How do they measure the distance between Earth and a star?How do they measure the distance between Earth and a star? How do they know something is 1,000 light years away?Category: Science and Technology |
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Why do we call dodgy builders 'cowboys'?How come the phrase cowboy in America means someone to be trusted, but in the UK, it is synonymous with people ripping you off. Why is that?Category: Words |
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Do other National Anthems praise the Head of State?Is God Save The Queen the only national anthem that praises the head of state, rather than the nation?Category: Culture |
On The Mystery Hour - 22nd July |
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How much does it cost to raise Tower Bridge?If I had a tall ship on the Thames, how much would it cost to raise Tower Bridge?Category: Culture |
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Why don't bakers list ingredients on loaves?Why don't bakers have to list ingredients on their loose loaves of bread?Category: Culture |
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Where does the word zig-zag come from?My five-year-old asked me: "where does zig-zag come from and which is the zig and which one's the zag?"Category: Words |
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When does a village become a town?A city is a city because it has a cathedral, so what is the difference between a village and a town?Category: Culture |
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Where does the weight "stone" come from?A stone in weight: is there a stone that weighs exactly 14 pounds and is that where the measurement comes from?Category: Culture |
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Why do some WW1 memorials say 1914-1919?Who do some World War 1 memorials say 1914-1918 and some say it finished in 1919?Category: Culture |
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Why are some beaches sand and some stones?So why are the beaches made of different things? Why isn't Brighton beach a sandy beach?Category: Animals and Nature |
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Do fish have hearts?Do fish have hearts? You never hear of people eating them or see them anywhere.Category: Animals and Nature |
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If you jumped into a hole through Earth, where would you end?If you made a hole through the middle of the Earth and you jumped down, where would you end up?Category: Animals and Nature |
On The Mystery Hour - 15th July |
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Do GPs have their own GP?One my little boy asked me: Do GPs have their own GP? If so, why can't they just do it themselves?Category: Culture |
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Do eyeballs grow with age?My daughter told me that eyeballs stay the same size throughout your life. Is that true?Category: Human body |
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Where does "getting my goat" come from?Where does the phrase "getting my goat" come from?Category: Words |
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Why are plastic surgeons so called?Why is a plastic surgeon so called when he doesn’t work with plastic?Category: Words |
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What are people from Luxembourg called?What are people from Luxembourg called? Surely they’re not Luxembourgers!Category: Words |
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Do dogs have baby teeth?My son's tooth fell out the other night and I was wondering: Are humans the only mammal to have milk teeth?Category: Animals and Nature |
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How do cats sweat?How to cats sweat? Our cat is very fluffy, but I can't work out how it sweats.Category: Animals and Nature |
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Why do red cars turn pink?Why do red cars turn pink? Black cars don't turn grey, so why does it happen with red paint?Category: Science and Technology |
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Why do we diffuse bombs rather than explode them?Bomb disposal - why don't they just blow them up rather than have a man risk trying to diffuse one?Category: Random |
On The Mystery Hour - 8th July |
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Why are people in Holland called the Dutch?Why are people in Holland called the Dutch, not Hollanders, or Netherlanders?Category: Words |
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Why don't London bus drivers wear seat belts?Why do London bus drivers not wear seat belts? I see it regularly on the roads.Category: Culture |
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Does the Queen have a passport?Does the Queen have a passport when she travels around the world?Category: Culture |
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Why does asparagus make your urine smell?Sugar-puffs and asparagus – why do they change the colour of your urine?Category: Human body |
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Why is the V-sign considered rude?Who decided that first and second fingers are the victory sign and the rude one?Category: Culture |
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What is the difference between a pond and a lake?What is the difference between a pond and a lake? When does a pond become a lake?Category: Science and Technology |
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Why is the sky blue?Why is the sky blue? I understand it's a reflection of the ocean, so why is it still blue in the desert?Category: Science and Technology |
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Why do we say "the birds and the bees"?There does the saying "the birds and the bees" come from?Category: Words |
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Why don't we go on charabanc outings nowadays?Years ago, I used to go on a charabanc outing to the coast. But now, we go on coach outings. Why are they now called different things?Category: Words |
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Why do we call post boxes "pillar boxes"?Why do we call post boxes "pillar boxes"? Is there a difference between them?Category: Words |
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Why does foil make roses last longer?My other half wraps rose stems with foil, saying that they last longer. Is she right?Category: Science and Technology |
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Why does your big toe goes up when you walk?Why does your big toe goes up when you walk? Is this natural or learned?Category: Human body |
On The Mystery Hour - 1st July |
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Where did tennis scoring come from?Where did the tennis scoring system come from? Is there a logical reason for it?Category: Sport and Games |
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Can your heart actually skip a beat?When someone scares you and you say “My heart skipped a beat”, does your heart actually skip a beat?Category: Human body |
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Why are strike-breakers called 'scabs'?When trade unions go on strike, why are strike-breakers known as "scabs"?Category: Words |
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Why do records play at 33 1/3 rpm?How were record speeds worked out? Why 33 1/3, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute?Category: Culture |
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What is a baby rabbit called?Dogs have puppies, cats have kittens, so what’s a baby rabbit called?Category: Words |
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What's the female equivalent of an Earl?When there is a Lord, you have a Lady, and a Duke, you have a Duchess. So what is the female equivalent of an Earl?Category: Words |
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What's the difference between string and rope?What's the difference between string and rope? When does string get big enough to be called rope?Category: Words |
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How does a pattern get on to fabric?I'm looking at the dress I'm wearing and wondering: How did the pattern get on the fabric?Category: Random |
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How can shadows be taller than you?My grand-daughter asked me this weekend: why is my shadow taller than me? And I couldn't answer.Category: Science and Technology |
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Why is a Lieutenant General higher than a Major General?Miltary ranks: A Lieutenant is a lower rank than a Major, so why is a Lieutenant General a higher rank than a Major General?Category: Culture |
On The Mystery Hour - 10th June |
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Where does "Whippersnapper" come from?Where does the phrase "Whippersnapper" originate from?Category: Words |
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Why are there so few left-handed golfers?In cricket, a large percentage of players are left-handed, but in golf, there are only two famous left-handers. Why?Category: Sport and Games |
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When did Siam become Thailand?Thailand used to be called Siam. When was it changed and why did it happen?Category: Words |
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Why is the corner of my shoe's heel cut off?Why is there a corner section of the heel of shoes cut out? What is the point?Category: Human Body |
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Why are trousers called strides?Why are trousers called "strides". It happens especially in London.Category: Words |
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Why do you get a rainbow in an oil puddle?We saw a puddle of oil on the ground and it was showing a rainbow. How does it happen?Category: Science and Technology |
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Has football ever finished exactly on 90 mins?Has there ever been a football match that finished dead-on 90 minutes?Category: Sport and Games |
On The Mystery Hour - 20th May |
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Why do men go bald on their crown?My wife noticed my hair was receding. But why do men go bald on the top of their head first?Category: Human Body |
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Why do we call doctors "quacks"?Why do we call doctors "quacks" and psychiatrists "shrinks"?Category: Words |
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Why do you get a stitch when you're running?When you are exercising, what is a stitch and why does it happen?Category: Human Body |
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Why doesn't leg hair turn grey?Why do you go grey on the top half of your body, but your leg hair remains brown?Category: Human Body |
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Who are Western Countries in debt to?Both the Western World and Third World is in debt. So who are they in debt to and what would happen if they decided not to pay?Category: Culture |
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Where is Ham in between East and West Ham?You've got West Ham and you've got East Ham, so what is Ham? What are they West and East of?Category: Culture |
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What are 10 Downing St's black bricks made of?Ten Downing Street has black bricks, but I don’t know any other buildings that have black bricks. How come? What are they made of?Category: Culture |
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Why is fried fish cheaper than grilled fish?I ate grilled fish last week and noticed that the same fish grilled is more expensive than fried. Why is that?Category: Culture |
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Why don't bigger muscles mean you're stronger?At the gym, I struggled to push 65kg, but my friend who has much smaller muscles than me managed to push 85kg. How come? Don’t bigger muscles make you stronger?Category: Human Body |
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Why are pilot's headsets always pale green?Every time I watch a film, a helicopter pilot always wears headphones which are pale green. Is there a reason for this?Category: Culture |
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Do cars rust more inside or outside?I'm a car enthusiast and want to know whether my car are likely to rust more if it's in the garage or outside of the garage?Category: Science and Technology |