BIG QUESTIONS

How Do Houses Get Numbered?

You’d think that if you lived on a small cul-de-sac with only four houses, it would be simple: The house numbers would simply be one, two, three and four. But Government is not about “simple.”

Do Fetuses Go to the Bathroom in the Womb?

A couple of months into their development, fetuses begin peeing freely into the amniotic fluid that surrounds them in the womb.

Why Are Introductory Classes Called "101"?

Ever wonder how the number “101” came to describe the basic or introductory level of any and everything?

Why Do I Wake Up Right Before My Alarm Goes Off?

Because your body’s internal clock is just as good, if not better, than the contraption shrieking atop your nightstand.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Why Is Ice Slippery?

If you’ve ever shakily stepped onto the ice at your local skating rink, you are intimately familiar with the fear of falling on slippery ice. But what makes ice so slippery in the first place? Interestingly enough, scientists are still trying to figure th

Where Did the Phrase "Ay Yai Yai" Come From?

It happened to me just this morning, when I was fiddling with my closet doors, trying to get them back on their tracks so they would slide correctly. As one door fell off and slammed into the other, my response was automatic. “Aye yai yai, these doors!”

Why Do We Call Our Galaxy the Milky Way?

There are two questions that have haunted wannabe astronomers for decades: “Why is our galaxy called the Milky Way?” and “Does it have anything to do with the delicious candy bar?”

How Do Postal Workers Decipher Sloppy Handwriting?

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night will keep the post office from delivering the mail. And neither will chicken scratch.

What’s the Deal with Those Last 4 Digits on ZIP Codes?

Is Home Field Advantage Real?

What's the Origin of the Word "Dude"?

For some time now, we have known the basic outline of the story of “dude.” The word was first used in the late 1800s as a term of mockery for young men who were overly concerned with keeping up with the latest fashions.

Do Animals Dream?

If you’ve ever seen a cat wiggling around in its sleep, or come across three different-sized beds after eating porridge in a bear family’s inexplicably furnished home, you’ve probably wondered if animals are capable of dreaming.

How Do You Juice a Prune?

Dried prunes can be juiced by steaming or simmering them to rehydrate them, running them through a strainer to remove the pits, seeds and skin, and then adding more water to the resulting paste.

When Did Baseball Players Start Chewing Sunflower Seeds?

It’s rare to see a single pitch thrown without at least one emptied shell being orally expelled by someone. But when did players start taking them out to the ballgame?

Should Men Sit Down to Pee?

Some argue that standing to pee helps spread disease and ruins men's sex lives. Is that actually true?

Why Are Countries Feminine?

“Stand beside her, and guide her,” we sing in “God Bless America.” Come to think of it, most nations of the world are referred to in the female gender. Why is that?

Blimp vs. Zeppelin: What's the Difference?

The Dilemma: You're at a football game and there's a large, cigar-shaped object hovering suspiciously close to you. Question: Is it a blimp or a zeppelin? And more important, why didn't you get better seats?

Where Does the Phrase “To Turn the Tables” Come From?

According the Oxford English Dictionary, if you “turn the tables” on someone, it is generally understood that you have reversed the fortunes in your favor to some capacity, so as to “reverse one’s position relative to someone else, especially by turning a

What’s the Origin of “Chinese Fire Drills"?

Why Is Junk Food So Addictive?

Short answer: Because food companies have designed it to be that way.

How Do Astronauts Scratch Their Noses on Space Walks?

Astronauts can use the microphone in their helmet, or sometimes they attach patches of velcro to the inside of their helmets, so they can scratch their nose.

How Many Spaces Should There Be at the End of a Sentence?

The question of whether you should put one or two spaces after the period at the end of a sentence elicits strong reactions on both sides.

What Exactly is Ricin?

Here’s what you need to know about the toxin everyone is talking about.

Why Are They Called "Barbershop Quartets"?

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