Dr. Nucleus is a humor column in which readers ask questions about ordinary phenomena and Dr. N. answers in a circuitous, zany, wacky fashion.

Published previously in SF Weekly and for several years through an underground email network, Dr. Nucleus has gathered a rather eclectic and extensive following of avid and devoted readers. He is particularly popular with college readers and others who are educated in technical or scientific fields.

Columns, which include a question and answer, vary from 400 to 800 words.

• Is Schroedinger's cat real?
• Why do I have to stay far back while watching TV?
• What would there be if there was only nothing?
• Does hamster longevity relate to the size of rodent populations?
• Do bees cough?
• Why is water written H₂O?
• Where does fog come from?
• Do hydrogen barks come from barking spiders?
• What is spring fever?