Matt Soniak

Joined: Nov 21, 2012

Matt writes about science, history, etymology and Bruce Springsteen for both the website and the print magazine. His work has also appeared in print and online for Men’s Health, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Philly.com and others. He tweets as @mattsoniak and blogs about animal behavior at mattsoniak.com. He lives in Philadelphia with his girlfriend, two cats and a large collection of bourbon whiskeys.

Why Do We Go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?

What Does “SOS” Stand For?

What’s the Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern?

Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell Funny?

You better knock, knock, knock ... on wood.

Why Do We Knock On Wood?

Discover the origins of the classic phrase 'knock on wood,' which could be tied to a Victorian-era children's game or have more direct ties to old pagan traditions.

It’s easy to recognize these political symbols.

How Did the Donkey and Elephant Become Political Mascots?

Andrew Jackson’s 1828 political campaign kicked it off, and cartoonist Thomas Nast made the political symbols really gain traction.

An athlete holds up a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

How Much Gold is in a Gold Medal?

The amount of gold in Olympic medals is regulated, and there’s a lot less than there used to be.

Olympic fans take selfies in front of the iconic rings in Paris.

What Do the Olympic Rings Mean?

Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, intended the rings to represent nations “united by Olympism.”

Who Was General Tso, and What Does He Have to Do with Chicken?

The most popular Chinese takeout dish in the U.S. is a sweet, spicy, saucy chicken entree named after a famous Hunanese general who actually preferred pork.

Judge Judy really was a judge for family court.

What Legal Authority Does Judge Judy Have?

While Judith Sheindlin was once a real, live judge, she’s not acting as one on her show.

How One Grieving Father Got Lawn Darts Banned

Lawn darts were banned in 1988, but not before seriously injuring many children and killing at least one.

What's the Difference Between Ketchup and Catsup?

Tomato, tomahto.

Why Do Birds Fly South for the Winter?

Genetics, seasonal changes, and Earth's magnetic field all play a role.

Why Do We Capitalize ‘I’?

Some languages capitalize several of their pronouns. Some don’t capitalize any of them. English just capitalizes ‘I’—but why?

Why Aren’t There B Batteries?

Once upon a time, there used to be B batteries, but they’re not manufactured anymore. Here’s why they disappeared from shelves.

The Library of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson Building

How Big Is the Library of Congress?

The ”world’s largest public library,” the Library of Congress holds more than 160 million items.