Origins

Big Question

Why Does Poop Stink?

Big Question

Where Exactly Did the Russian Meteor Come From?

A scientific team from Colombia was able to trace back the explosive space rock's origins using "simple trigonometry."... READ ON

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Why Are the Academy Awards Statuettes Called Oscars?

This year's Academy Awards ceremony—the 85th—has been rebranded as simply The Oscars, after the statuette winners receive. But how did the statuette get that nickname?... READ ON

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What Did People Use Before Toilet Paper?

Using the bathroom has come a long way from when ancient Greeks used stones and pieces of clay for personal hygiene. Toilet paper is one of those things that often gets taken for granted in modern times, except for places where Charmin has yet to infiltrate. This is definitely one of those unavoidable things in life, so through many centuries and in many cultures, everyone had their own method of staying clean. Be warned: We’re going to get specific.... READ ON

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Why Don't We Celebrate Washington's Birthday On His Birthday?

Happy Washington's Birthday! Oh, did you think we were celebrating Presidents' Day? In fact, the federal holiday on the third Monday in February is officially known as Washington's Day to celebrate the birthday of the first president.... READ ON

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Are Snails Born With Shells?

Snails are objects of fascination for kids playing outside. Lucky for the snails, they have their hard shells to protect them from children and predators alike. But are they born with that natural armor, or do they have to find it or grow it for themselves?... READ ON

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What Do the Words of the Mardi Gras Song Mean?

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What is Gaslighting?

The term itself was popularized by the 1944 film Gaslight, an adaptation of the 1939 play Angel Street.... READ ON

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Where Did High Heels Come From?

High heels, though a staple of nearly every woman’s closet these days, aren’t exactly the most reasonably designed footwear. We wobble and slip and turn our ankles on every uneven stone, but refuse to trade them in for more sensible flats and sneakers. Where did these impractical shoes come from, and why are women so determined to hold onto their Louboutins and Jimmy Choos?... READ ON

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Why is a Fake Doctor Called a Quack?

Quack, in the sense of a medical impostor, is a shortening of the old Dutch quacksalver (spelled kwakzalver in the modern Dutch), which originally meant a person who cures with home remedies, and then came to mean one using false cures or knowledge.... READ ON