How long is a piece of string?

You'd think it was a straightforward enough question, but as Alan Davies discovers in tonight's Horizon (BBC 2, 9pm), things are never that straightforward. The programme is full of the sort of fascinating facts we love here at Match Wits.


For example, did you know that if all the space around the molecules in the human body was removed the whole human population on Earth would be reduced to the size of a sugar cube? Also, if you hit a sugar cube in a cupboard (or anywhere dark) you can sometimes see little blue sparks.

What is Myrrh Anyway? The Ultimate Christmas Quiz

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday 10 November, I shall be appearing at the Beyond Words Festival, at University College School from 2.30-3.45pm. I shall be talking briefly about the how I came to write What is Myrrh Anyway? and will then be hosting a fun - but challenging - Christmas quiz, as well as signing copies of my books. It's not too late to reserve your ticket for this event, just ring the UCS Box Office on 020 7433 2219, or you could try turning up on the day.


Might see you there.

What is Myrrh Anyway? at Ealing's leading Art and Craft fair

Just a reminder that I will be at St James' Art and Craft Fair tomorrow - Saturday 7 November - between 10.00am and 4.00pm, selling - and of course signing! - copies of What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas.


I also have a limited number of copies of the brand new American edition of the book Christmas Miscellany available, as well as some of my latest Fighting Fantasy adventure gamebook Stormslayer.


Admission is free, so if you're in the area, why not pop along and say "Hello"?

The Periodic Table of Elements

Back in 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, came up with the idea of presenting all chemical elements as a table, to illustrate recurring trends in the properties of the different elements. As new elements have been discovered, the layout of the table has been refined and extended.

But I have never seen it represented like this before...