The Straight Dope: Why were dinosaurs so big?

[Send questions for Cecil Adams: cecil@straightdope.com](mailto:cecil@straightdope.com) FOLLOW CECIL ADAMS ON [TWITTER]( AND [FACEBOOK](! [940408rescan.gif] THREADSPOTTING: THE BEST OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD — 03/08/2019 Must have been one helluva party. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #1 04/08/1994 Dear Cecil: When I look at dinosaur skeletons in museums the thing that always impresses me is their incredible size. It has occurred to me that perhaps these animals could grow to such enormous size because effective gravity was lighter then. If earth spun faster at the time of the dinosaurs then centrifugal force might have counteracted gravity enough to make a substantial difference in the weight of massive animals. What are the scientific merits of this idea? I read somewhere that the Earth's day is getting shorter by a fraction of a second every year. Extrapolating backwards, how much faster [etc.] — Andrew Murphy, Philadelphia Cecil replies: We have two questions here, Andrew — the one you asked, and the one you would have asked if the drugs hadn’t kicked in first. The best that can be said for question #1 is that if you mention it to a stranger on the bus you’re guaranteed to get the seat to yourself. Question #2 is more interesting: why were dinosaurs so big? Some theories … [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 04/18/2000 Dear Straight Dope: Why is Rice-A-Roni the "San Francisco Treat"? I was recently in San Francisco, and this question popped into my mind. There is nothing about the rice product that makes me think of San Francisco; in fact the only treat that does is Ghiradelli chocolate, so please explain if you can, why Rice-A-Roni is "The San Francisco Treat"? — Kevin R., Houston TX "The Edgewater Treat" Dogster replies: I’d like to tell you there’s an amazing story behind the legend of Rice-a-Roni’s slogan, my friend. A tale of adventure, of deception betrayal, redemption, folly, love, and victory! But, alas, I can’t, not really. It’s a case of location, location, location. San Francisco, specifically the Mission District, happens to be where the original family-owned pasta company that created Rice-A-Roni had set up shop. I give you this from the Official Rice-A-Roni website (www.ricearoni.com) … [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #2 — 01/07/2005 Dear Cecil: Various health and yoga websites claim that iceberg lettuce contains chemicals similar to laudanum, morphine, or other opiates. There are also reports of people being admitted to hospitals after injecting themselves with lettuce extracts, and papers about smoking lettuce. I have found no information about the chemical constitution of lettuce that mentions morphine or opiates. Are there such things in supermarket lettuce? — Curious Lettuce Eater, via e-mail Cecil replies: You’re thinking: How can iceberg lettuce be a drug? It barely qualifies as a food. Little do you know. While the stuff from the supermarket isn’t likely to do much, lettuce generally speaking does contain psychoactive compounds. Enough to get you high? Hard to say. Judging from available evidence, the stuff might do nothing, give you a buzz, or kill you. Here’s what we know … [Click here]( for more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [View this message as a webpage](. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To advertise on The Straight Dope, contact Rich Hummel at rhummel@suntimes.com [Privacy Policy/Terms of Use]( • [Unsubscribe]( © 2019 Straight Dope, LLC. 30 N Racine Ave. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607