BIG QUESTIONS

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.

What Happens if I Don’t File My Taxes on Time?

If you fail to file or pay your taxes in time for the April 15 deadline, you could end up dealing with a lot of hassle—and get stuck paying a lot of fees.

Why Do We Call a Dollar a “Buck”?

Everyone knows a buck means a dollar. But not everyone knows why.

Why Do Cowboys Say “Yee-Haw”?

Even though it’s a classic cowboy trope, you have to wonder: Did cowboys actually say that popular phrase?

What’s the Difference Between a Bull and a Bear Market?

The economic terms get tossed around a lot these days, but one market is clearly better for investors.

Where Does Astronaut Poop End Up?

It burns up in the atmosphere like a fecal shooting star.

White makes a surprising amount of sense for a painter.

Why Do Professional Painters Wear White?

Here’s why the seemingly worst color to use for a messy job is actually the best.

Where Does the Phrase ‘Going to Hell in a Handbasket’ Come From?

A popular myth says that the phrase originated due to the use of the guillotine during French Revolution—but here’s the real deal.

The passenger's side-view mirror serves an important function, too.

Why Are Objects in a Car’s Side-View Mirror Closer Than They Appear?

Learn more about the safety benefits of side-view mirrors while driving, plus why objects are so much closer than they actually seem.

Tomatoes can be either fruit or vegetable, depending on who you talk to.

Is a Tomato a Fruit?

One vendor’s dispute against a 19th-century import tariff led the U.S. Supreme Court to classify the tomato as a vegetable. But botanists disagree.

Passengers aren’t always referred to as passengers.

Why Do We Refer to Airplane and Ship Passengers as ‘Souls’?

Hearing the phrase ‘souls on board’ usually portends bad news. Why do we use it?

Not quite a Brundlefly, but still too close for comfort.

What Happens When a Fly Lands on Your Food?

Learn more about how common house flies eat (and poop), plus what’s really going on when one of them ends up in your dinner.

Why Did Ronald McDonald Disappear?

The McDonald’s mascot has been keeping a low profile for years. Some people think they know why.