Tina Marie Washer, age 10, of Kingston, Ont., Canada, for her question:

HOW DO JUMPING BEANS JUMP?

In the hot deserts of Mexico are certain bushy shrubs, plus lots of little gray moths. Come spring, the spurge bush puts on a crop of mini flowers, just when the little moth is ready to lay her eggs. We may not notice the flowers, but she finds them and places one egg into each of the blossoms.

Soon the petals fade and the blossoms begin to prepare seeds. The tree cornered bean seeds grow around the moth eggs. When an egg hatches into a hungry grub, it finds itself inside a tasty bean. He eats and eats, while the grub and bean grow bigger. The grubby caterpillar is shut inside his own pantry. There is plenty of food, but sooner or later he needs a bit of exercise.  So he coils up like a spring  and lets go with a snap. This is what makes the jumping bean jump.