THE BIG QUESTIONS

I’m just about to do all my Christmas shopping on the internet, which has me wondering what the first thing sold on the web was? – A

Would you believe it was a Sting CD?

It’s widely accepted that the first legitimate transaction on the web came in 1994 when Dan Kohn created a website called NetMarket in Philadelphia. A friend bought the CD – Ten Summoner’s Tales, released the year before – for $12.48, plus postage.

I can remember Fred, Bunty and Jack as three of the presenters on How. But who was the fourth? – N

Fred Dinenage, Bunty James, Jack Hargreaves and John Miller were the original presenters of How, a children’s magazine show which started in 1966.

Each episode began with the presenters all raising one hand and saying “How!” at the same time (mimicking the stereotypical Native American greeting).

Topics commonly covered included science, history, maths and puzzles.

The show ran until 1981 but was revived in 1990 as How 2 and was presented by, among others, Gareth Jones, Carol Vorderman, Sian Lloyd and Gail McKenna.

I heard on the radio this week that lemons float, but limes don’t. I just can’t get my head around that. – F

It’s true, and it’s all to do with density. Both are very similar in density to water, but limes are very slightly – about 1% – denser so they sink.

That’s why if you want to garnish a drink with a slice of citrus fruit, go with a lemon.

And lemons are slightly healthier for you, as they contain more potassium, protein and fibre.

Cream rises but lemons float unlike limes and they are slightly healthier than their citrus cousins