Big Questions Answered, How and Why

The truth behind the trope.

Diners were the original pop-up stores.

Clapping is a nearly subconscious act—but when and why did we start standing up to do it?

If they did, it would be a basketball-sized elimination.

They're not completely interchangeable.

On the final day of the typical office workweek, many employers give their workers the opportunity to dress down and loosen the rules on the standard dress code.

Not all cats love it.

It's a marvel of poop-related engineering.

Today, people around the globe will feel uneasy about getting out of bed, leaving their homes, or going about their normal daily routines, all because of a superstition.

It doesn't always mean you're anxious.

Before the 20th century, concert musicians might tune their instruments to wildly different pitches, depending on where they were playing.

One technological breakthrough left the common pencil in the dust.

Most of us just know to light the fuse and stand back.

There's a lot going on under the felt.

It may rankle purists, but American English isn’t the culprit.

Everything you know is a lie.

At the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is wait 30 minutes to pour a fresh glass of wine.

You can thank two Californian cardiologists from the 1950s.

Here's what the "play bow" really means.

And why do they have to be so loud?

According to the U.S. Flag Code, you shouldn’t let the flag touch the ground or hang it upside-down. While there’s no express prohibition about reversing the image, it’s probably a safe bet you shouldn’t do that, either.

Don't blame the government if you're unhappy with a speed limit—blame your fellow drivers.

It starts in the brain.

BIG QUESTIONS

Do Lobsters Really Mate for Life?

Why Do So Many Diners Look Like Train Cars?

How Did the Standing Ovation Originate?

Do Big Cats Get Hairballs?

Supper vs. Dinner: Is There a Difference?

Who Started Casual Fridays?

How Does Catnip Work?

What Happens When You Flush an Airplane Toilet?

Why is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?

Why Do We Bite Our Nails?

Why Do Orchestras Tune to an A Note?

Why Do Astronauts Use Space Pens Instead of Pencils?

How Do Fireworks Actually Work?

How Does a Pool Table Recognize the Cue Ball?

Why Do Americans Call It ‘Soccer’ Instead of ‘Football’?

Do 'Close Door' Buttons in Elevators Actually Do Anything?

Is There Any Point in Letting Red Wine Breathe?

Is There Any Point in Letting Red Wine Breathe?

Why Do We Call Some People 'Type A'?

Why Do Dogs Crouch Forward When They’re Playing?

Why Do Fire Stations Still Use Sirens?

Why Is the American Flag Displayed Backwards on Military Uniforms?

How Are Speed Limits Set?

What Is Foreign Accent Syndrome?