Big Questions Answered, How and Why

A little lad relieving himself is the Renaissance-era version of the peeing Calvin bumper sticker.

Modern guidebooks offer nearly a dozen different explanations for why Brussels' 'Mannekin Pis' statue is relieving himself.

Answering “When is Pride Month?” takes one word: June. Why it’s June, on the other hand, is more of a short story.

The difference between light and dark brown sugar boils down to one simple factor: molasses content.

A female elephant goes with the flow in South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park.

Voyeuristic scientists discovered a “golden” rule when it comes to how—and for how long—animals urinate.

UPS trucks carry many secrets. And lots of socks.

It's not a satellite, it's not GPS, and it's not a camera.

The Blue Plate Special has been a diner staple for decades.

Diners love to highlight their blue plate special. But what's so special about it?

She's dreaming about a giant insect melting into goo.

The meaning of your fever dream is probably just this: You have a fever.

Estimates vary widely—but it’s generally agreed that your words-per-minute rate for a speech should be lower.

White and black pepper both start as berries from the same plant.

The specifics of each EMS job vary by state—but the job titles aren’t interchangeable.

A doctor with the latest in medical technology: A head mirror.

It's a favorite accessory of doctors in movies, television, and Spirit Halloween stores. But what does it do?

What causes a runny nose? Spicy foods, cold weather, and—strangely—crying. Here’s why.

If you need a rice vinegar substitute, reach for the rice wine vinegar—not the rice wine.

Fire trucks are red because we expect them to be.

The sight of a red fire truck will catch your eye, but it's not the reason emergency vehicles are painted scarlet.

For those about to rock 'Stairway to Heaven': stop.

The overplayed song has scorched the ears of many a guitar store employee. But can they legally ask you to stop playing it?

The high-speed patter of the auctioneer is called 'the chant,' and it's designed to separate bidders from their money.

Is it stock or is it broth? And does it really matter?

If you've been using the terms pretty much interchangeably, you're technically wrong. But you're not alone.

Newer car models make it obvious when you're due for an oil change.

When discussing Marilyn's measurements, you have to take vintage clothing sizes into account.

Though they differ in taste and appearance, white asparagus and green asparagus are the same plant species.

Bowling shoes might be gross, but they're also necessary.

Bowling shoes aren't top-line kicks, but they do more to keep you safe than you might think.

The silhouette on the NBA logo—a player dribbling and swiveling between a red and blue background—is Lakers legend Jerry West. But how does he benefit, if at all?

If it were up to Alexander Graham Bell, we probably wouldn’t.

Though you can use them interchangeably in recipes, canola oil and vegetable oil are not the same thing.

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Are There So Many Ancient Fountains Featuring Little Boys Peeing?

Why Was June Chosen As LGBTQ Pride Month?

Light Brown Sugar vs. Dark Brown Sugar: What’s the Difference?

Do Larger Animals Take Longer to Pee?

What Are Those Spinning Things on Top of UPS Trucks?

What Is the Blue Plate Special, and How Did It Get Started?

What Exactly Is a Fever Dream?

How Many Words Per Minute Does the Average Person Speak?

What's the Difference Between White Pepper and Black Pepper?

Paramedic vs. EMT vs. EMR: What’s the Difference?

What Are Those Round Metal Things Doctors Wear on Their Heads?

Why Does Your Nose Run When You Cry?

Rice Vinegar vs. Rice Wine Vinegar: What’s the Difference?

Why Are Fire Trucks Red?

Could a Guitar Store Really Ban Someone From Playing 'Stairway to Heaven'?

Why Do Auctioneers Talk So Fast?

Broth vs. Stock: What's the Difference?

How Often Should I Really Get the Oil in My Car Changed?

What Dress Size Was Marilyn Monroe, Actually?

What Is White Asparagus?

Why Do We Have to Wear Bowling Shoes?

Does Jerry West Get Royalties For Being the NBA Logo?

Why Do We Answer the Phone With ‘Hello’?

Canola Oil vs. Vegetable Oil: What's the Difference?