BIG QUESTIONS

Why Is ‘February’ Spelled So Strangely?

Why is February spelled the way it is? Delve into the linguistic evolution of the month’s name and its journey from Latin to modern English.

Barking at nothing is a popular dog pastime.

Why Do Dogs Bark at Nothing?

Barking into the abyss is a frequent complaint of pet owners, but there's an explanation. (And no, it's not aliens.)

Why Was February Chosen to Celebrate Black History Month?

Since 1976, Black History Month has been celebrated in February—and it's because of two specific dates on the calendar.

Why Do We Call Them Bobby Pins?

There’s a surprisingly rich history at the root of this hair accessory.

Where Does the Phrase ‘… And the Horse You Rode in On’ Come From?

Why are we still employing a kiss-off that references a near-obsolete form of transportation?

Where Does the Word ‘Née’ Come From?

Née’s meaning is technically “born,” and we borrowed it from the same place we got the terms ‘déjà vu’ and ‘cul-de-sac.’

Arenas and stadiums have some key differences.

What’s the Difference Between an Arena and a Stadium?

Seating capacity is just one part of it.

How Do Streets Get Named?

While developers can feel free to submit any name they’d like for a new street, cities usually have guidelines and standards.

What’s the Difference Between Pigeons and Doves?

What’s the actual scientific difference between the birds we call 'doves' and those we label 'pigeons'? The answer might surprise you.

What Does ‘Military Grade’ Really Mean?

Is calling something ‘military grade’ legit? Find out the truth behind this marketing strategy and how it's applied to products.

Is It Safe to Eat Snow?

Fresh snow might look tasty, but just because it looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is.

Your dog's adorable brown eyes were no mistake.

Why Do Most Dogs Have Brown Eyes?

The "buy her brown contacts pls" meme is backed up by evolutionary science.

The Reason Why You Can’t Drink Airplane Bathroom Water

Glugging tap water on a plane is a terrible idea.

What Happened to the Physical Copy of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech?

For two decades, the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speech was stashed inside a Harry Truman biography for safekeeping.

Why Do We Use the Word ‘Mug’ as a Synonym for ‘Face’?

How a love of drinking and Britain’s 18th-century Toby jugs might have inspired the slang word for ‘face.’

Why Is Australia Both a Country And a Continent?

The definition of a continent isn't as concrete as you might expect, but a few qualities help earn Australia that distinction.

Fire trucks are a common sight at ambulance calls.

Why Do Fire Trucks Come When You Call for an Ambulance?

Why does the fire department show up for emergency calls if nothing is on fire?

Why Don’t We Want to ‘Open a Can of Worms’?

Opening a can of worms, metaphorically speaking, is trying to solve a problem and ending up in more trouble. And the idiom really does refer to actual worms.

Disc vs. Disk: What’s the Difference?

Deciding to write 'disc' or 'disk' depends on what kind of disc it is. Sometimes.

Why Does the New Year Start on January 1?

Ever wonder why the new year officially starts on January 1? Turns out, you can thank Pope Gregory XIII—and Julius Caesar.

Why Is the Space Needle Shaped Like That?

Seattle’s iconic Space Needle debuted at the 1962 World’s Fair—and was inspired by America's Space Race with the Soviet Union.

What did Scrooge mean when he said “Bah! Humbug!” anyway?

What Does “Bah, Humbug!” Actually Mean?

The meaning of ‘Bah, humbug!’ is a little more layered than what people normally attribute to Ebenezer Scrooge of ‘A Christmas Carol.’

It wasn't always associated with the holidays.

Why Is Holly a Symbol of Christmas?

The hardy plant’s ability to stay vibrant through the winter made it a natural choice for pre-Christian winter festivals, but why is holly now associated with Christmas?

Can You Bring Knitting Needles On a Plane?

Traveling with two sharp sticks can get a little tricky.

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