Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Léon Marchand at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

There are several reasons why a host country might see a boost in the Olympics medal count.

Some Olympic athletes still sport paper bibs.

The big paper tags seen on Olympic track and field athletes are both high-tech tracking devices and sentimental souvenirs.

Tourists will notice something different about their soda cans when visiting Hawaii.

Sodas in the Aloha State look a little different from what you’re probably used to.

The expression—which can be used for all things adorable—dates back to the early 20th century.

Olympic individual neutral athlete Daniil Medvedev is one of the Russian competitors at the Paris Games.

No, they can’t pick their own anthem for their medal ceremony.

Red eyes are a hallmark of many albino creatures.

It has nothing to do with red pigment.

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

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

Deodorant sticks often come with one outer cap and one inner cap, but the purpose of that extra inner cap isn’t really clear.

Italy's Laura Bruschini at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Beach volleyball's hand signals are a handy way for a blocker to clue their teammate into their next move.

There's a reason why two caps are better than one.

You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? It may have actually been a different type of palm tree.

French fencer Auriane Mallo-Breton at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Fencing body cords aren't a safety measure.

The sophisticated cephalopods have highly evolved vision and can use jet propulsion to escape predators, but there are a few key differences between squid and cuttlefish.

A few yards of clear air means the difference between a tornado and a funnel cloud.

People often confuse funnel clouds with tornadoes, but they're not the same. Learn how to tell the two apart.

Great Britain's Kieran Bird at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It's to get the blood flowing—or is it?

An Olympic swimmer sports circular bruises from cupping therapy.

In events where success or failure can be measured in tiny increments, it’s not surprising athletes will turn to any potential advantage. But does cupping actually work?

The idiom for demanding payment doesn’t quite have the equine origins one would think.

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

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

Whitewater rafters carry the Olympic torch on its way to Paris.

This year, the Olympic torch made a symbolic journey from Greece to Paris for the Summer Games.

America is the only country that refuses to do so.

There’s a lot of cultural and religious significance attached to this enduring Jewish wedding tradition. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Impress your crafty friends by actually knowing how their sewing equipment works.

The fabric strawberry is more than just a cute accessory to an already cute accessory. It also serves as an important tool.

Everyone here is someone's late someone.

There’s a historical reason, but there may be a social one as well.

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.

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Does the Olympic Host Country Win So Many Medals?

Why Do Some Olympic Athletes Wear Paper Numbers?

Why Do Hawaiian Soda Cans Have Ridges Around the Top?

Why Do We Say Things Are “Cute as a Button”?

What Song Is Played If a Stateless Olympian Wins a Gold Medal?

Why Do Albino Animals Have Red Eyes?

How Much Gold is in a Gold Medal?

Why Does Deodorant Have Two Caps?

What Do the Hand Signals Mean in Olympic Beach Volleyball?

Why Do Olympic Swimmers Wear Two Caps?

What’s the Difference Between Coconut Trees and Palm Trees?

Why Are Olympic Fencers Attached to Cables?

Squid vs. Cuttlefish: What’s the Difference?

Tornado vs. Funnel Cloud: What's the Difference?

Why Do Olympic Swimmers Slap Themselves?

Why Are Some Olympic Swimmers Covered In Dark Circles?

Why Do We Say “Pony Up” When We Want Money?

What Do the Olympic Rings Mean?

How Is the Olympic Flame Lit—and How Does It Stay Lit?

Why Won’t Team USA Dip the Flag at the Olympics Opening Ceremonies?

Why Do Grooms Break a Glass at Jewish Weddings?

What's the Purpose of the Little Strawberry Attached to Pincushions?

Why Does ‘Late’ Mean “Dead”?

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