Big Questions Answered, How and Why

It’s kind of weird that ‘ghost’ is spelled with a ‘gh.’

Only a handful of English words start with ‘gh’—what gives?

You better knock, knock, knock ... on wood.

Discover the origins of the classic phrase 'knock on wood,' which could be tied to a Victorian-era children's game or have more direct ties to old pagan traditions.

Dogs love a good sensory experience. But letting them stick their head out of a moving car’s window is not a good idea. Here’s why.

There’s a reason they’re not rectangular.

Believe it or not, the shape of airplane window is a matter of life and death.

Shiitake mushrooms (left) are edible, while fly agaric (right) is extremely toxic, causing serious symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and hallucinations.

The definitions of toadstools and mushrooms are a bit intertwined.

Showers are great for getting a fresh start to your day or winding down for the night.

The answer isn‘t as straightforward as you’d think.

Believe it or not, nobody named Phillips actually invented it.

The teddy bear has a very specific origin story.

The origins of the teddy bear involve President Theodore Roosevelt, a bear hunt, a political cartoon, and the owner of a candy shop in New York.

Blowing gray bubbles just wouldn’t feel as fun.

We uncover why bubblegum is traditionally pink—and also explore what flavor bubblegum even is.

They basically share a genome, but chimps and bonobos have some not-so-subtle differences.

Caffeine is just one of the things that may be to blame for the irritating spasms.

Apple pie is a classic fall treat for Americans.

The phrase “American as apple pie“ leaves out the dish’s complicated history as an English dessert made of fruit that originated in Asia.

If you drive the same route long enough, sign fonts become fascinating.

Attentive drivers will notice more than one kind of typeface during their travels.

It’s easy to recognize these political symbols.

Andrew Jackson’s 1828 political campaign kicked it off, and cartoonist Thomas Nast made the political symbols really gain traction.

Yes, they‘re often bullet holes. No, that‘s not the only explanation.

The official beverage of fall (sorry, PSL.)

They’re both fruit beverages, but apple juice and apple cider are not quite the same thing.

“God” and “Jesus” are the only Simpson characters that have five fingers.

It‘s normal for cartoon characters to be missing a digit, but how did the style originate?

Keep a look out for the origins of this weird phrase.

Popular theories involve pirates—and police.

May want to think twice about drinking straight from the faucet, too.

Depending on how weird your home’s tap water tastes, it could be due to the pipes or an old water heater, or be a problem with the water itself.

Thanks to modern technology, you don’t usually need to separate your laundry—though it can still be beneficial in certain cases.

Making a beeline for the buffet table? You’re buying into some bee stereotypes.

No wild geese were harmed in the making of this idiom.

The meaning behind the money.

There's a fancy term for forgetting a word—'lethologica.'

BIG QUESTIONS

Why are ‘Ghost,’ ‘Ghastly,’ and ‘Ghoul’ Spelled with ‘gh’?

Why Do We Knock On Wood?

Why Do Dogs Stick Their Heads Out of Car Windows—And Is it Safe?

Why Are Airplane Windows Round?

Mushrooms vs. Toadstools: What’s the Difference?

Should You Shower at Morning or Night? Here’s What the Experts Say

Why Is It Called a “Phillips Head” Screwdriver?

How Did the Teddy Bear Get Its Name?

Why Is Bubblegum Pink?

Chimpanzees vs. Bonobos: What’s the Difference?

Why Does My Eyelid Sometimes Twitch?

How Did Apple Pie Become an Iconic American Dessert?

Why Does the U.S. Highway System Use Two Different Fonts?

How Did the Donkey and Elephant Become Political Mascots?

Why Do Some Road Signs Have Holes in Them?

What's the Difference Between Apple Juice and Apple Cider?

Why Do So Many Cartoon Characters Have Four Fingers?

Where Does the Expression ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ Come From?

Why Does My Tap Water Taste So Funny?

Do You Really Need to Separate Your Laundry?

Why Do We Say “Make a Beeline”?

What Exactly Is a ‘Wild Goose Chase’?

Why Do We Say “Cold, Hard Cash”?

What’s the Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word?