James O'Brien's Mystery Hour

Why does the Queen's head face left on a stamp, how do fans make hot air cold? Why does honeysuckle smell more at night? When after the Norman conquest did we start to speak English again? And more...

Why are most batteries round, what is 20/20 vision, is the emergency siren copyrighted and why are there silent words in the English language?

Why do your eyelids puff up when you're tired. Why are some counties 'shires' and do Downing Street have to reply to all letters?

Today's questions included: How much saliva do we produce in a day, can different breeds of birds understand each other, what is 'duff' as in 'up the duff'? Plus why do Americans swap their fork to their right hand to eat?

If you've ever wondered "why", then this is the hour for you. Sometimes simple, sometimes intelligent, but almost always entertaining, probably the best hour of radio you could ever download!

What would happen if all the ice caps melted, do we defy age if we travel in space, is it true that dolphins are the only other creature to enjoy sexual relations?

Why do old buildings have an X or S on the side, where does the expression 'house on fire' come from and if the tide goes out here, is it going in somewhere else?

Lottery Bonus Ball, Police Horses, Lazy Susan, Where do all the dead Deer go?

What's healthier bread or toast, where does the saying 'pass the buck' come from and is old fat in the body really old or does it keep renewing itself?

Mystery hour today included: what's the difference between a jacket and a blazer, why do we brush our teeth with cold water and why does it smell of cheese behind Mustapha's ear?

Who was the fat lady in the phrase, 'the fat lady sings?', how far does daylight stretch and how does someone become a saint?

Today's questions included: whats the point of having a letter box at the bottom of the door and Kids want to know why don't windows wind all the way down in the back seats?

Mystery hour questions this week included: do baby girls have eggs that could be fertilised, how do they remove a Banksy painting from the wall, why are vehicle tyres black and can music really be described as a colour?

Any truth in a saying that if 2 people pour from the same t-pot they'll have ginger twins? Could a tree remain green all year round if the weather stayed the same?

Could you fly through Saturn and Jupiter as surrounded by gas? Why is hippos milk pink? Why are hardback books published before paperbacks?

Why do we say 6th round of FA cup, how do you explain a lump in the throat, what makes it a controlled explosion and can you be tickiled to death?

Questions today included-Why is a fan oven hotter than other ovens?; Why does white wine give you headaches but red wine doesn't?; Where does the phrase 'best foot forward' come from?; Why are there so many 'Food&Wine' Shops?

Questions today included: why do we call it 'how's your father'? why don't plane wheels skid backwards when the plane lands and why is chicken pox given that title?

What happens to a cow's udders if she's not milked? What are the secret herb and spices in KFC? Why is it easier to sleep on your side and is there another name for horsemeat?

Mystery hour today included, Are pancakes, cakes? Do animals have accents, why do we use the expression 'pear shaped' and why do we drink brandy when we're ill?