JOURNAL ARTICLE

Almost the last word.

  • Published In: New Scientist, 2025, v. 267, n. 3555. P. 46 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Dippold, Ron; Kvaalen, Eric; Simons, Peter; Bursztyn, Peter; Méndez, Inés Antón 3 of 3

Abstract

The article explores two main topics: the effects of eating ice cream on body temperature and the historical reasons behind the division of time into seconds and minutes. It explains that while ice cream contains calories that could theoretically warm the body, the actual physiological response is more complex, with the body regulating temperature and potentially cooling down due to the energy required to melt the ice cream. The second part discusses the origins of the sexagesimal (base 60) system used for measuring time, tracing it back to the Babylonians and the Egyptians, who divided the day into 24 hours. This historical context highlights the advantages of the base 60 system and its continued use in modern timekeeping. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:New Scientist. 2025/08, Vol. 267, Issue 3555, p46
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Anthropology
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0262-4079
  • Accession Number:187174202
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