Big Questions Answered, How and Why

A quick sales attempt is said to be an “elevator pitch.” But does it actually have anything to do with elevators?

So, you're dead. Do you still need sunscreen?

Squeaky shoes can happen for a number of reasons, including friction and moisture. But whether they fart or squeak, here are a few things you can do about that noisy footwear.

They’re both in the camel family and live in South America, but alpacas and llamas aren’t the same species.

Space has a starting point, but where it begins is still a topic of debate for experts.

Some experts believe the Kármán Line is the deciding factor, but others aren't in agreement about where the frontier of space really begins.

There's an ice cream impostor lurking in grocery stores. Here's why it matters.

The phrase dates back to the 1960s, and has more than one meaning.

This weed slang originated in the 1960s and yep, you can thank Humphrey Bogart for it, but not for reasons you might expect.

Here's some helpful information about where chipmunks and squirrels live, what they eat, what sounds they make, and how to tell them apart visually.

If you’ve ever found yourself chuckling at the angry man-heads on human babies in medieval art, the joke is actually on you.

It’s not one you’re likely to use in everyday conversation—but you will find it in an dictionary.

Spoiler alert: Despite what you might have heard, it’s not ‘antidisestablishmentarianism.’

We can thank Shakespeare for popularizing it, sort of.

Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare wasn’t the one who invented this common idiom. But trying to unravel its origins will land you in a bit of a tricky situation.

Presidents have had a lot of titles and nicknames, but the wife of every president has one common honorific. Why do we call her “first lady”?

The reason maple syrup bottles have little handles involves the word 'skeuomorph.'

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn. The reason isn’t because Scotland is a nation of unicorn lovers; rather, it’s thanks to the country’s bygone kings.

If you think 'Wi-Fi' stands for 'wireless fidelity,' you should read this.

We don’t know a lot about where the phrase came from.

The phrase has evolved somewhat since its first uses—and its origin is something of a mystery.

A pixelated version of an illustration by Édouard-Henri Avril from the 1824 book ‘De figuris Veneris.’

The origins of the phrase 'missionary position' involve Alfred Kinsey, some shoddy research, and zero actual missionaries.

Before the word was used to describe hit movies, ‘blockbusters’ was a nickname for a highly destructive bomb.

Coyotes can sometimes look like wolves from a distance—but there are some key differences between the two species.

Your gut's microbiome can influence everything from digestion to immune health.

Supplements that promise to restore your gut health are everywhere. But not everyone can stomach them.

Taylor Swift is just the latest in a long line of musicians who like to employ a “fade-out,” where the song gets gradually quieter in the closing seconds.

‘Burnt’ and ‘burned’ are both acceptable, but they serve different purposes (at least, they do in American English).

A simple mistake on social media has turned into an internet event celebrated around the world for more than a decade.

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Is It Called an “Elevator Pitch”?

Can a Dead Body Still Get a Suntan?

Why Are My Shoes Squeaky?

Alpacas vs. Llamas: What’s the Difference?

Where Does Space Begin?

Ice Cream vs. Frozen Dairy Dessert: What’s the Difference?

Why Do We Call Things “Hot Button” Issues?

Did Humphrey Bogart Really Hog Joints? (And If Not, Why Do We Say ‘Bogart’?)

Chipmunks vs. Squirrels: What’s the Difference?

Why Do Babies in Medieval Paintings Look So Scary?

What’s the Longest Word in English?

Why Do We Say ‘In a Pickle’?

Why Do We Call a President’s Wife “First Lady”?

Why Do So Many Maple Syrup Bottles Have a Tiny Little Handle?

Why Is the Unicorn Scotland’s National Animal?

What Does ‘Wi-Fi’ Stand For? It’s Complicated

What Does the Phrase ‘Keep It Under Your Hat’ Mean?

The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase ‘Missionary Position’

Why Do We Call Hit Movies ‘Blockbusters’?

Wolves vs. Coyotes: What’s the Difference?

Prebiotic vs. Probiotic: What’s the Difference?

Why Do Some Songs Fade Out at the End?

‘Burned’ vs. ‘Burnt’: What’s the Difference?

What Is Ed Balls Day?