BRAIN DUMP
Why are beavers’ teeth orange?
Janice Myers
■ The same reason that blood is red and rust is brown: iron. Humans and many other animals make their teeth out of an enamel material that contains magnesium, which looks whitish. Beavers have iron in their enamel instead, which gives it more of a red colour. Iron makes beavers’ teeth stronger, which is why they can use them like a power tool. It also protects them better against tooth decay from acid released by bacteria. AE
