Curiosity thrills the cat!

In the course of a conversation, someone asked: "How are construction cranes hoisted atop buildings, and how are they taken down?"

It was an intriguing question. What's more, Singaporeans have dubbed the construction crane, or tower crane, the country's "national bird" since it is seen everywhere here.

Being the curious cat (I am born in the Year of the Tiger), I Googled for answers. As the picture above shows, the tower crane is actually set up on one side. It "grows" with the building and is progressively dismantled later. But how is it kept from toppling over?

All such whys and wherefores are revealed in this excellent website:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Just search under the topic "How Tower Cranes Work". Or just click on this link:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/tower-crane.htm

If you are naturally curious, like me, you'll find a cornucopia of topics and fun quizzes, eg:

* 10 of the Biggest Lies in History
* Top 5 Myths about Video Games
* 8 Stars Who Died During the Filming of a Movie
* 10 Great iPhone Apps
* 5 Ways to Cut Your Monthly Living Expenses
* 15 Oxymorons
* 5 NASA Inventions You Won't Believe
* What Happens in the Brain During An Orgasm?

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Yet another interesting question, "Bubbles in urine", was posed in today's Mind Your Body supplement of ST (22 Dec, page 17). Here's the Q&A:

Q: I am a 16-year-old boy. When I urinate, bubbles can be seen in the toilet bowl. Usually, the urine is yellow. But if I drink enough water before urinating, the bubbles disappear. Is this a sign of any disease?

A: Bubbles in the urine are usually caused by the impact of the urine jet on the water. They are usually not significant.

However, occasionally, they may be due to the presence of protein in the urine.

If the bubbles are persistent and associated with leg swelling, you will need to consult a doctor, as you might be suffering from nephrotic syndrome -- a condition in which the kidneys are damaged, leading to the release of too much protein in the urine.

The kidneys can be damaged by different disorders, such as kidney diseases, diabetes and infections.

When the urine is yellow and smelly, it may mean that a person is dehydrated, usually due to insufficient water intake. The strong colour and smell of the urine will clear up if you drink more water.

But if the strong colour and smell are persistent and are associated with pain and an urgency to pass urine, then it may be due to a urinary tract infection. This is an infection that affects any part of the urinary system in the body, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.

In this case, you will need to see a doctor.