Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Taco Bell's Nacho Fries often pull a disappearing act.

When it comes to making their wildly popular Nacho Fries widely available, Taco Bell is nacho friend.

ZIP codes hold the answer to getting you your junk mail as quickly as possible.

The five- to nine-digit code that gets letters to their destinations started with a man who would become known as "Mr. Zip."

Cats never look more majestic than when they're sunbathing, but there's a practical reason for this behavior.

Dogs have a tendency to preface their bowel movements with a bit of rotating before getting down to business. Is there evolution behind their revolution?

Unclear whether this is a memoir or an autobiography.

What’s an autobiography? The story of someone’s life as told by them—which isn’t exactly the same thing as a memoir.

Cheesemakers have been adding yellow and orange food dye to their cheese products since the 17th century.

Kissing is a New Year's Eve tradition. But...why?

End-of-year smooching has roots in the parties of ancient Rome, but Thomas Edison had a part to play, too.

It's true that wine starts to oxidize the moment you uncork it, but that's no reason to pour the leftovers down the drain.

The names ‘18-wheeler,’ ‘big rig,’ and ‘tractor-trailer’ aptly convey the size and scope of the vehicle. ‘Semi’ seems a little misleading. What gives?

Semi trucks’ tire spikes mainly protect the wheels’ lug nuts. They also offer drivers a chance to give their trucks a bit of personality.

What color are a zebra's stripes? Though it may sound like a philosophical query, it is possible to answer this question with science.

Turkey is good enough for your holiday dinner, but the eggs are a bit too pricey for your omelet.

Turkey eggs are perfectly edible, but you definitely won't find them at your local grocery store. Here's why.

What does ‘chip on your shoulder’ mean? These days, nothing literal. But actual chips and shoulders used to be involved.

Queen Victoria visits the HMS Resolute, a British naval ship used for Arctic exploration, in December 1856.

The Victorian era brought changes that reached far beyond England’s borders. In fact, England’s borders also reached far beyond what we now know as England’s borders.

You're excited to set out on a road trip. By hour two, you're nodding off. The answer may have something to do with "highway hypnosis."

Good thing Napster's Sean Parker wasn't around to tell Bronx officials to drop the the.

The Bronx’s appellative history began with Jonas Bronck, an intrepid Swedish settler who didn't even live there for that long.

Not all dogs drool, but when they do, bring a towel.

Dogs have a tendency to soak furniture and shirt sleeves in their saliva. In humans, this would be cause for concern. So why do dogs do it?

The drink may be orange and it may be juice-like, but Sunny D isn't orange juice. After reading the ingredients list, you might never drink it with breakfast again.

The difference between jealousy and envy comes down to what’s motivating your feelings—but there’s often overlap.

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's (green) Monster in James Whale's Frankenstein (1931).

In the more than 200 years since Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' helped shape the horror genre as we know it today, there have been dozens of interpretations of Frankenstein’s Monster. But when and why did he become green?