Big Questions Answered, How and Why

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Are Rabbits as Prolific as Everybody Says?

Pope Francis is in the news for saying Catholics don't have to breed "like rabbits." How prolific are rabbits anyway? Is there any truth to the phrase "breed like rabbits"?

Can Caffeine Make You Better at Sports?

Did Americans Really Call French Fries "Freedom Fries"?

Does Your Vote Count if You Write in a Joke Candidate?

What happens if you write in Kermit the Frog for president? Well, not only won't he get elected, but you'll probably just make everyone's job a little harder.

Why Are Electrical Plugs Different in Europe?

Not all plugs are created equal. Plugs and sockers differ from region to region, sometimes even from country to country.

Why Do Hitchhikers Say “(Destination)...Or Bust!”?

If a Restaurant Critic Gets Food Poisoning, Can They Mention It In The Review?

Do Pufferfish Hold Their Breath While Inflating Themselves?

Where Do Sesame Seeds Come From?

Are Cuban Cigars Legal Now?

This week, President Obama announced plans to "normalize relations between" the United States and Cuba. What does this mean for the cigars?

Just How Dirty are Public Restrooms?

Why Is a Liquor's Proof Double Its Percentage Alcohol by Volume?

How Much Does Pop Culture Affect the Prevalence of Certain Baby Names?

What's the Difference Between Biweekly and Semiweekly?

Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips and is known for her Grammar Girl website, podcast, and games.

Why Do Clowns Wear Big Shoes?

Was Elvis Actually Any Good at Karate?

Is Speaking a Language Different From Being Fluent in It?

Are you bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual? A polyglot or hyperpolyglot?

If The United States Retires The Penny, Where Will All The Old Ones Go?

Why Does the Scent of Blood Attract Carnivores?

Why Do Trick Candles Keep Relighting?

For children of a certain age, there are few things more amazing than blowing out a birthday candle only to have it relight—as if by magic!—soon after the flame has been extinguished.

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Brain Damage?

The lives and livelihoods of these birds revolve around slamming their heads into things. Does it hurt them? Do they benefit from doing so?

How Do You Calculate the Wind Chill?

What does it really mean when the weatherman says it feels like minus-20 today? Is there a wind chill thermometer somewhere, or is he just using a mathematical formula? Let's answer these and some of the other pressing questions about the ubiquitous winte

BIG QUESTIONS