That’ll raise an eyebrow!
QUESTION What’s the point of eyebrows?
A PRACTICAL reason for eyebrows is to keep rain and sweat out of our eyes. This is important because humans rely on sight more than any other sense. They also deflect debris and shield our eyes from the sun.
Eyebrows, which can express a wide range of emotions, are thought to have played a crucial role in human evolution.
Our ancestors had a pronounced brow ridge, a signal of dominance and aggression. Modern humans have a flatter face and forehead with eyebrows capable of a range of movements.
Mobile eyebrows help us to express more nuanced emotions such as recognition, surprise and sympathy — allowing for greater understanding and co-operation between people.
The eyebrow flash is a recognised crosscultural social signal. The unconscious raising of the eyebrows for a fifth of a second communicates a wish to approach another whom the sender recognises and is preparing for social contact.
Pulling our eyebrows up in the middle is an expression of sympathy. Raising eyebrows is an expression of surprise.
Small movements of the eyebrows are also a key component in identifying trust or a falsehood.
There is evidence that those who have had plastic surgery or Botox that limit eyebrow movement are less able to express empathy.
Dr Ian Smith, Cambridge.
QUESTION What are the longest horse races in Britain?
ThE longest race is the Aintree Grand National. This steeplechase is commonly thought to be 4½ miles, but the official distance is 4 miles and 4 furlongs.
In 2013, the start position was moved
for safety reasons, reducing the distance to 4 miles and 3½ furlongs.
This was reduced again by a furlong in 2015 when the British horseracing Authority re-measured the course.
The longest hurdle race is the Long Walk hurdle, run in December at Ascot. The distance is just over 3 miles and 1 furlong.
The race is named after the Long Walk, an avenue of trees in Windsor Great Park, which adjoins the racecourse.
The longest flat race is the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. This race is over a distance of 2 miles and 5½ furlongs, give or take a few yards.
This distance has come down over the years due to alterations at the course. It
was famously won by Steve Donoghue riding Brown Jack for six consecutive years from 1929 to 1934 when the distance was 2 miles and 6 furlongs.
David urquhart, Burntisland, Fife.
QUESTION My late grandfather ate a concoction called sop. Does anyone remember this dish?
FuRThER to sop and pobbies, my Welsh grandfather enjoyed a similar dish called shenkin. he would cut up bread, butter and jam into cubes and place them in a bowl, then pour sweet tea over them.
H. Maddock- Jones, Epsom, Surrey.
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