BIG QUESTIONS

What’s the Smallest Country In the World?

Determining the world’s smallest country isn’t as easy as simply calculating area or population.

Why Do Shells Sound Like the Ocean?

The fact that all shells sound just a little bit like the ocean is purely coincidental.

Where Does the Expression ‘Pull Out All the Stops’ Come From?

‘Pulling out all the stops’ means that someone is holding nothing back and making every conceivable effort to do or accomplish something. But where did the phrase come from? Pipe organs have a little something to do with it.

Where Does the Expression ‘Put Your Foot in Your Mouth’ Come From?

Made an awkward blunder in a conversation? You might have just put your foot in your mouth. Learn more about the history and origins surrounding this commonly used phrase here.

And more importantly: Is it actually worth the higher cost?

Why Is It Called “Extra Virgin” Olive Oil?

You’ve seen that “extra virgin” olive oil label plenty of times at the grocery store. Ever stop and wonder what it actually means?

Feeling fatigued can get in the way of work and other important things.

Fatigued vs. Tired: What‘s the Difference?

Fatigue and tiredness are often confused, but it‘s important to understand the differences between them.

Why Do People Drink Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby?

Discover how the bourbon-mint concoction was embraced by the horse-racing world and became the default drink at the Kentucky Derby.

What Exactly Is Cool Whip?

Cool Whip’s ingredients aren’t a total mystery—but they’re also not as simple as cream and sugar.

A supermarket poultry case containing packages of raw chicken.

How Can I Tell If I Have Food Poisoning?

Salmonella, norovirus, and other germs are often found in raw poultry and fresh produce—and can find their way into your digestive system. Here’s what to know about the symptoms and treatments for food poisoning.

Blissfully unperturbed by hormonal fluctuations.

When Does Menopause Actually Start?

The wide-ranging symptoms and timing of menopause have caused some confusion.

Why Is It Called a “Duffel Bag”?

The duffel is perfect for weekend trips or cocaine smuggling. But why is it called a duffel?

What’s the Story Behind Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate Mexico’s cultural heritage. Like a lot of days earmarked to commemorate a specific idea or event, its origins can be a little murky. Who started it, and why?

Can Astronauts Get Drunk in Space?

NASA officially prohibits alcohol aboard its missions, but that didn’t stop some American astronauts from enjoying a wee nip with their Russian colleagues.

If you didn't know they had them before, now you do.

Why Does Bottled Water Have an Expiration Date?

Bottled water might seem like it lasts forever, but containers have expiration dates attached. Discover why and whether it’s safe to drink after it’s expired.

A crowd of workers gathered at a May Day event in New York City, early 20th century.

What Is May Day?

May Day isn’t just for Maypole-dancing anymore. Here's how May 1 evolved from a pagan holiday to a communist day of remembrance.

There have been 23 Pope Johns, but only one Pope Francis.

Why Do Popes Change Their Names?

For centuries, men assuming the top job in the Roman Catholic Church kept their birth names. That changed with Pope John II.

An aerial view of a sinkhole in Wales that appeared in December 2024.

What Causes Sinkholes?

Sinkholes have gulped down suburban homes, Corvettes, the White House lawn, a sizable chunk of Louisiana, and even people. How does the ground just open up like that?

‘Why, yes, I am from Long Island! How did you know?’

Do Animals Have Regional Accents?

Can a Boston dog bahk?

When the conclave of cardinals have elected a new pope, white smoke is emitted from the chapel chimney.

How Do They Make the Smoke for a Papal Conclave?

When Catholic cardinals meet to pick a new pope in a papal conclave, they have signaled their progress by sending colored smoke up the chapel chimney.

Just a proud pup and his stash of bones.

Why Do Dogs Like to Bury Things?

Dogs can tear up a lawn with an overwhelming desire to dig and bury things. Where does that impulse come from, and what do they think they’re accomplishing?

Senators can be expelled, but it doesn’t happen often.

Can You Expel a Sitting Senator?

Once you’ve been voted into the Senate, it’s difficult to get you out.

One of the reliable perks of airline travel.

Why Does Airplane Coffee Taste So Bad?

Why you can't get a good cup of joe at 35,000 feet.

Does De-Extinction Actually Work?

“It’s like if you took a chimpanzee and edited its genome to be a little taller and hairless, and then said you brought back Neanderthals,” one scientist said.

Here‘s the dreaded wisdom tooth doing its thing.

Why Do People Have Wisdom Teeth?

Once essential for early humans, wisdom teeth are now more of a nuisance than a necessity.