Family

Dear Dr. Universe: Why do some humans like to do bad things? Is it the thrill or were they always born bad? – Leonel, 14, Texas

On Aug. 21, Frank and Carolyn Payne celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Dr. Universe: Why do we age? – Ines, 17, Tunisia

Triple toil, trouble and crushed popcorn ball rubble, it was nearly Halloween night. With Green Bluff cider in hand, three Spokane musketeers scanned wicked costume websites with devilish grins of delight. Faceless beasts brandished sinister beaks. Morbid clowns clutched menacing hatchets and scythes. Tapping and swiping, the trio howled along to a cryptic brew of monstrous tunes devouring each blood-curdling sight.

When Stevey Seymour, executive director of the Inchelium Language and Culture Association, began planning what would become Kwu Kcnwixw: An Evening of Story, Song and Community, she knew exactly who to call: author Sherman Alexie and musician Tony Louie.

Dr. Universe: How does epinephrine work? – Annabelle, 15, Missouri

Katrina Doty heard about Lion’s Heart because her children’s therapist gave her a flyer, suggesting she check them out. Doty’s husband died in a car accident in 2023, and her three sons, ages 7, 8 and 10, were struggling with their grief. Lion’s Heart was then a new organization established to provide grief support for children, founded by president Krista Reeder and clinical committee member Maggie Rowe, who noticed the need while working in pediatric oncology at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Universe: Why can we sometimes see the moon during the day? – Eli, 7, Texas

When it comes to her kids’ Halloween costumes, Devon Weaver has learned to take a laid-back approach.

Dr. Universe: What is the life cycle of a ladybug? – Rachel, 6, Virginia

The runner had trained for months to attempt a world record, enduring calluses, rolled ankles and questions from friends who couldn’t understand why she pushed herself so hard.

Dr. Universe: What is the most poisonous thing in the world? – Macmillan, 16, India

Dr. Universe: Why do dogs have pads on their feet? – Izzy, 10, Louisiana

The black and white photo caught my eye at a local yard sale. A sly smile graced the face of a 1920s-era newsboy as he clutched his stack of papers. Perched against a downtown Spokane fire hydrant, his shirt was ragged and torn. Vintage autos sat parked behind him on the street. They say a picture paints a thousand words, and this one was a historic goldmine.

When Taylor Swift announced she said “yes” to Travis Kelce, the internet squealed. And then it nitpicked.

Dr. Universe: What happens if you get eaten by a shark? – Prince, Georgia

Local author and retired Eastern Washington University professor of recreation management Barbara Brock suspects you might be in need of a fun date. In a world where loneliness has become an increasing concern on even a governmental level, she’s probably right.