WHAT DINOSAUR WOULD BE MOST DANGEROUS TO US?

If you believe the films, it would be a never-ending battle if dinosaurs and humans had to coexist. But, as with animals today, some dinosaurs would have been dangerous, and others would have been harmless … at least if left alone. We would probably be a bigger threat to them than vice versa.

The most dangerous would surely have been the meat-eating theropods, like Tyrannosaurus and Giganotosaurus. These animals were the size of buses, with heads the size of bathtubs, and an average human could have fit into their jaws. But many of them, particularly Tyrannosaurus, were also intelligent animals, with large brains and keen senses of smell, hearing and vision. Our best hope would be if they found us too small to make a satisfying meal.

Most dinosaurs, however, were plant-eaters. They wouldn’t actively hunt us, but they could still be dangerous as many of them were enormous. Some long-necked sauropods like Patagotitan and Argentinosaurus were heavier than passenger jets. One misstep and they could crush a human like we might step on a bug. Also, many horned and duck-billed herbivores were herd animals, which lived in big groups, and their social dynamics would probably make them wary of outsiders.

Some little dinosaurs would have looked cute and fluffy, with their feathery coats. These were the raptor ancestors of birds, like Velociraptor, no bigger than lapdogs. Yet they would be tenacious pests, liable to slash you with their sickle-shaped foot claws and bite you with razor-sharp teeth. SB

TikTokkers have been mixing protein powder into their coffee as a convenient way to increase their protein intake, a combination that has become known as ‘proffee’. It isn’t necessarily harmful, but there are a few factors to consider.

Firstly, protein is an essential nutrient that’s crucial for various bodily functions, including muscle repair and immune system support. Ideally, whole sources of protein from foods are more beneficial than powders, as they contain additional, essential vitamins, minerals and compounds that aren’t found in all protein powders. Similarly, a lot of protein powders are often filled with added sugars, additives and sweeteners.

If you’re going for a powder, try to choose a high-quality, well-balanced one without excessive added sugars or artificial ingredients.

Coffee can of course boost alertness and energy, but may also lead to increased heart rate and potential digestive discomfort in some people. You also need to be mindful of just how much caffeine you’re consuming, especially if you struggle with sleep. Sensitivity to caffeine varies, but sleep experts advise avoiding caffeine at least 8-10 hours before bedtime to ensure a better, more restful night’s sleep.

The other thing to bear in mind is that some people may experience digestive discomfort when consuming both protein and coffee together – anyone with irritable bowel syndrome will tell you how uncomfortable they can both be!

So overall, there’s probably not a great deal of harm in trying a ‘proffee’, but, as with anything, it should be consumed in moderation and with consideration of any side effects you might experience. NM

Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity says that the presence of mass warps or bends space (it actually warps the fourdimensional construct known as ‘space-time’). Gravity is the force that objects experience due to that curvature of space-time. It’s strongest where space-time is most curved and vanishes where space-time is ‘flat’. The curvature influences how an object moves through space-time. So, it’s true to say that gravity both distorts space and (as a consequence) influences how objects move through it. AG

DOES GRAVITY DISTORT SPACE, MOVE THINGS THROUGH IT, OR BOTH?