Big Questions Answered, How and Why

See that crispy texture? That’s the Maillard Reaction.

There’s science behind that seemingly random number.

You can binge Netflix in any room you like, but there are some key differences between these living areas.

Fences have a little something to do with it.

To get to the answer, we need to discuss Latin, wooden stakes, Catherine the Great, and, of course, Shakespeare.

The meaning behind “phony“ has to do with fake jewelry.

The origins of the term come from the Irish word for “ring.”

As far as cucumbers go, they're getting the royal treatment.

English cucumbers have a few qualities that make them superior to regular cucumbers, but one causes some problems, too.

You may have been taught that Earth has seven continents. Or is it six? Or eight?

Returns can be a costly proposition for retailers.

The fate of your unwanted air fryer, explained.

Members of Robert Falcon Scott's 1910-1913 expedition to reach the South Pole.

Here's how to tell frostbite symptoms from hypothermia symptoms.

They are several differences between the two.

Tsunamis and tidal waves may look similar, but they differ in crucial ways.

They come in handy in more ways than one.

Whether you’re trying to get rid of wrinkles or reduce static electricity, dryer sheets can be useful in more ways than you might expect.

There are several important factors to take into consideration. And if your dog does wear a collar, you need to make sure it fits well and is safe.

A dish of homemade cranberry deliciousness.

Your Thanksgiving cranberry sauce—be it homemade or Ocean Spray’s canned classic—is all part of America’s history.

There are several reasons why cats have this adorable habit.

Spoiler alert: They’re not just sitting around.

As anyone who has seen ‘A Christmas Story’ knows, licking a cold metal object can be dangerous. Here’s why you should never stick your tongue to a metal pole in winter.

Mary Janes have an early-20th-century comic strip to thank for their name.

A 1920 mural by paleoartist Charles Robert Knight depicting Cro-Magnon people painting on cave walls at Font-de-Gaume, France.

These prehistoric members of our genus, ‘Homo,’ occupy different branches of the human family tree.

As with many words, we have Latin to thank.

Grandfather clocks often become family heirlooms.

The imposing clocks have an origin story, but it doesn't have much to do with any actual grandfathers.

“Fido” is a name that has become synonymous with all things dog. But where did the name come from?

Alexander Hamilton argued that lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court were the only way, but some modern scholars disagree.

Here are the differences between green onions or scallions (left) and chives (right).

One of these things is not like the others.

A hearse with S-shaped bars in place of back windows.

Those evocative scrolls you see on hearses actually have a name—and going back in the 1800s, they actually served an important purpose.

It’s common for many little kids to go through a “dinosaur phase.” Here’s why.

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Do We Cook So Many Foods at 350 Degrees?

Living Room vs. Family Room vs. Den: What’s the Difference?

Where Does the Phrase ‘Beyond the Pale’ Come From?

Why Does ’Phony’ Mean Fake?

Why Do English Cucumbers Come Wrapped in Plastic?

How Many Continents Are There?

Where Do Online Orders Go When You Return Them?

Frostbite vs. Hypothermia: What’s the Difference?

Tsunami vs. Tidal Wave: What’s the Difference?

What Do Dryer Sheets Actually Do?

Should You Remove Your Dog’s Collar When at Home?

Why Do We Eat Cranberry Sauce on Thanksgiving?

Why Do Cats Cover Their Faces While Sleeping?

What Do Referees Do Between Periods of a Game?

Can You Really Get Your Tongue Stuck to a Metal Pole?

How Did Mary Jane Shoes Get Their Name?

Neanderthal vs. Cro-Magnon: What’s the Difference?

Why is 12 of Something Called “a Dozen”?

Why Is It Called a ‘Grandfather Clock’?

Why Do We Call Dogs Fido?

Why Do Supreme Court Justices Serve for Life?

Scallion vs. Chives. vs. Green Onion: What’s the Difference?

Why Do Hearses Have Metal S-Shaped Scrolls Where the Back Windows Should Be?

Why Do So Many Little Kids Love Dinosaurs?