BIG QUESTIONS

Why Do Cats Like to Slap and Swat at Things?

According to animal behavior science, cats don't just swat at things because they're lovable little jerks.

Are Magazines Recyclable?

The glossy pages of most catalogues and magazines can be recycled along with the rest of your paper products.

Bare feet and driving don't always go together.

Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?

Going for a summer drive while barefoot can be tempting, but is it safe and legal? Here's the answer.

What’s the Scratch in Made From Scratch?

Whoever started 'from scratch’ didn’t actually do it in the kitchen—and ‘scratch’ has nothing to do with clawing ingredients together with your bare hands.

Do Firefighters Really Rescue Cats From Trees?

You can call the fire department if you see a cat stuck in a tree, but they might decline your plea for help.

The baby carrot can liven up any social gathering.

Where Do Baby Carrots Come From?

The bite-sized vegetable snack makes for a crunchy appetizer. But how do baby carrots get on your plate?

Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox wields a bat with a ring in 2013.

What's That Round Thing on a Baseball Bat?

Major League players often warm up with a special ring on their bats. What is it, who invented it, and is it going to help your team win?

Why Does the Sun Make Hair Lighter?

If you get natural blond highlights in the summer, your hair may be damaged by too much exposure to the sun.

Why Are Lengthy Bureaucratic Processes Known As Red Tape?

Bureaucratic red tape is a tale as old as time. Or, to be a little more precise, roughly 400 years old.

Grocery stores don't like to let in natural light.

The Reason You Rarely See Windows in Grocery Stores

Supermarkets don't let in much—if any—natural light. It's another example of how retailers mess with your mind.

Hotels like to use white sheets and towels.

The Reason Hotel Sheets and Towels Are Almost Always White

Hotel guests are almost always treated to vibrant white sheets. And no, it's not because it's easier to see bedbugs.

The night sky is full of colors—except green.

Why Are There No Green Stars?

You can look up and find white, red, blue, and yellow stars, but green stars are missing from the night sky.

That little pouch in the dog's lower left ear is called a Henry's pocket.

Why Do Some Dogs Have a Pocket in Their Ears?

It's called a cutaneous marginal pouch, and while science is a little uncertain of its true purpose, it can double as a B&B for ticks.

Self-cleaning ovens are meant to spare users the hassle of manual cleaning.

How Do Self-Cleaning Ovens Work?

You may not use the self-cleaning feature on your oven. If you do, be aware that it gets very, very hot and can kill your pet bird. (Seriously.)

Does Bone China Contain Any Actual Bone? The Answer Might Unnerve You

If your bone china dinnerware is what it claims to be, it probably contains more than a little powdered cow.

Why Do We Say Something Is Brand-New or Brand-Spanking New?

What does branding or spanking have to do with whether something is factory-new or not? We investigate.

Kindergarten survived some early controversy to become part of the American education system.

Why Do We Call Kindergarten Kindergarten?

This very German word became embedded in the American vernacular—but not before German politicians tried to ban kindergarten entirely.

Spoilers in movie trailers can frustrate film fans.

The Reason Movie Trailers Give So Much Away

Movie previews can reveal big plot points or moments that can spoil everything. So why do studios do it?

Notable southpaw Tommy John pitching for the New York Yankees in the 1980s.

Why Are Left-Handed People Called Southpaws?

Southpaws are most often talked about in baseball and boxing. But which sport (if either) coined the term?

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: What's the Difference?

Cold brew and iced coffee are often lumped together, but there are major differences between the recipes that affect the taste and the price of the drink.

Margarine vs. Butter: What’s the Difference—and Which Is Healthier?

Butter and margarine are made from different ingredients, but that doesn't automatically make one product healthier than the other.

Why Do Restaurants Serve Free Bread?

Many restaurants keep a basket full of carbs on the table. Why are so many eateries eager to serve up filling—and free—food?

View of the World, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

What Are Those Domes on the Side of the Highway Used For?

The shingled, domed-shaped salt storage structures you see on the side of the highway are an example of clever design.

Coats and jackets living together in harmony.

Coat vs. Jacket: What’s the Difference?

Though not everyone recognizes the technical difference between coats and jackets, Lands’ End definitely does.

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