Wonder Log

Wonder: “A single day on Venus lasts 243 Earth days.”

Mia went totally quiet for like 30 seconds after hearing this. Then she asked: 'Does that mean Venusians would never have a birthday?' We spent 20 minutes talking about what it would mean to age on Venus. Genuinely one of the best dinner conversations we've had.

Wonder: “Cleopatra lived closer in time to the iPhone than to the pyramids.”

She didn't believe me at first. We got out paper and drew a timeline together. The look on her face when she realised how recent Cleopatra was, compared to how old the pyramids are — priceless.

Wonder: “Dogs see the world like someone with red-green colour blindness.”

Leo immediately ran to our dog Biscuit and asked him what colour his bowl was. Then Leo said: 'I feel sorry for Biscuit, he can't see how nice his red bowl is.' He has been treating the dog differently ever since — very gently, like Biscuit needs extra help.

Wonder: “A snail can sleep for up to three years.”

Leo's response: 'That's the BEST superpower.' Then he tried to sleep for three years. He lasted 12 minutes.

Wonder: “An ant colony behaves like a single brain with no leader giving orders.”

This triggered a huge philosophical conversation. Mia asked: 'Is there a brain in our family? Is it you and dad together?' We didn't have a good answer. She concluded: 'I think it's probably the fridge.'

Wonder: “Newborn babies recognise their mum's smell from over a metre away.”

Tested this with Zoe this morning. Held a t-shirt that wasn't mine near her. She turned away. Held mine. She turned right to it and went calm immediately. I actually cried a bit.