DrRabiah answers a question.

I received an email today with a question about why water responds differently to the cold than other molecules or compounds. It's a great question, so I thought I'd share:

If cold air molecules move slower and take up less space than hot air molecules, why does water expand when it becomes ice? -Andrea

Neat! That's one of my favorite questions, since we always talk about things expanding when warm and contracting when cool - think about the air in your tires, or metal, just to name two. But one of the most obvious examples of a molecule that we see everyday - water - violates the rule. Sort of . . . Here's a summary of why water is so odd:

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Taffii talks about a pathetic killer.

Cowardly, you hide yourself in the most innocent people, my friends and family. You have no remorse. How could you drain them of their lives, their character, and their beauty? You pathetic killer. You break them and bend them into puppets. Until their last breath, you might finally smile. For you have won. Like always. Left and right my friends and family fall to you. I've lost teachers, an aunt, cousins, and a grandparent to you. I've donated every last dollar to causes that fight you. But, it seems like you always win. Why?

The only thing I have to say is very predictable. I hate you more than anything in this world. I will always hate you. I hate you. And you means cancer.

The last few months have been simply a nightmare for my family and I. This also relates to my absence from the Times. My nightmare began in August, where I lost my grandmother to cancer. In September, I lost a cousin to the same monster. How about October? (You get the pattern.) Right now, I have another cousin taking on cancer and I hope the best for her. She has cancer in her spinal cord, bones, and brain.

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