BIG QUESTIONS

Why Don't Chocolate Chips Melt in the Oven?

There's nothing better than a warm chocolate chip cookie. But how do the chips seemingly resist oven temperatures?

Why Does Santa Claus Live at the North Pole?

Political cartoonist Thomas Nast came up with his own answer to the “Where does Santa live?” question ... and it stuck.

What’s the Difference Between Crocheting and Knitting?

For one, dropping a stitch while knitting will probably upset you more than dropping one while crocheting.

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What’s the Difference Between Soup and Stew?

Two small but significant differences set your vegetable beef stew apart from your mom’s vegetable beef soup.

What's the Origin of White Elephant Parties?

The term 'white elephant' has been used since at least the 1800s to refer to a less-than-desirable gift.

Why Do Tires Have to Be Filled With Air?

At a time when a new hatchback has exponentially more computing power than the Space Shuttle, pneumatic tires filled with air seem little more than an anachronism. But there's a reason they're still the standard.

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What Are the 12 Days of Christmas?

Everyone knows to expect a partridge in a pear tree on the first day of Christmas. But when is that, exactly?

What’s the Difference Between Forests, Woods, and Jungles?

The differences between forests, woods, and jungles aren't exactly an apple trees to orange trees kind of comparison.

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Why Does Your Arm Hurt After You Get a Flu Shot?

If you’ve ever received a flu shot, you may have noticed that your upper arm is sore for a day or two afterward. Here’s why.

Why Don’t Bugs Eat People’s Bones?

In "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs," Caitlin Doughty explains why human bones usually don't make a very good snack.

Why Do We Wear Costumes on Halloween?

Much like Halloween itself, the practice of dressing up in costumes is the result of a hodgepodge of traditions from around the world.

What's the Difference Between a College and a University?

Certain traits define the difference between colleges and universities. (And no, tuition isn't one of them.)

Why Do We Eat Candy on Halloween?

Trick-or-treating for candy on Halloween only became common a few decades ago, but the tradition's roots stretch back to ancient pagan celebrations.

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What's the Difference Between Cement and Concrete?

The terms 'concrete' and 'cement' are often used interchangeably to describe hard, gray building material, but there is a difference.

Why Do You Stop Feeling Tired As Soon As You Climb Into Bed?

Do you feel tired everywhere but your own bed at home? The culprit may be a phenomenon known as conditioned arousal.

Does the Amazon Rainforest Really Produce 20 Percent of the World's Oxygen?

For years, media outlets have claimed that the Amazon rainforest is responsible for producing 20 percent of the world's oxygen. But is it true?

What Purpose Does the Belly Button Serve?

It may have done its most important work when it was attached to your umbilical cord, but it’s not completely useless.

What Are Those Squiggles of Tar You See on Roads?

Those black lines running through roadways are supposed to keep roads intact, but they can sometimes be dangerous.

What’s the Difference Between a Pirate and a Buccaneer?

Four hundred years ago, if you were a seafaring thief, the label that you received said a great deal—mainly about whoever it was doing the labeling.

What’s the Difference Between Cherry and Grape Tomatoes?

Their small size separates both from many other tomato varieties, but what separates them from each other?

How Did Siri Get Its Name?

When choosing a name, it was important that it be uncommon but easy to remember and simple to pronounce.

Do Bears Really Love Honey?

If your experience with bears is largely limited to reading Winnie the Pooh as a kid, you might think that these fuzzy mammals will do anything to get their gigantic paws on a jar of honey.

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How Does Alberta, Canada, Stay Rat-Free?

Alberta is the only province in Canada that does not have any rats and is, in fact, the largest inhabited area on the planet that is rat-free.

Why Do Students Get Summers Off?

Discover the real reason why students get summers off each year, which contrary to popular belief, wasn’t because kids had to work on the family farm.

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