BIG QUESTIONS

'Noise' and 'sound' are often used interchangeably—even when they shouldn't be.

The origin of the phrase ‘silver screen’ is less about movies and more about how people watched them in the good old days.

Like so many other phrases, the meaning of ‘pass with flying colors’ has nautical roots.

You may need a vacation after seeing how many hours the average employee spends working per year.

The conditions for stifling heat are pretty easy to explain, and so is the solution: Keep cool.

The five-pointed star is common in the northeast and has been rumored to represent everything from the Amish to swingers.

While there's a common answer to the number of bones contained within the human body, it's not exactly accurate.

Parents everywhere have scared kids into thinking that pre-pool hot dog could spell the end. Boy Scouts may be to blame.

The most populous city on Earth has more residents than the entire state of Texas or the whole continent of Australia.

The white roofs on school buses help keep things cool in more ways than one.

People have been “dropping like flies”—often due to weather—since at least the mid-19th century.

The curious truck accessory may have caught your eye on the road. Here's how a tiny plastic strip keeps drivers safe.