BIG QUESTIONS

Why Are Coupons Worth 1/100th of a Cent?

The story behind all those slips you've been hoarding for months. Coupons are often worth 1/10th, 1/20th, or 1/100th of a cent; however to understand why, one must look at trading stamps.

How Does an Etch A Sketch Work?

In 1955, a French electrician named André Cassagnes got an idea for a new toy after seeing how an electrostatic charge could hold aluminum powder to glass.

Why Does My Gadget Say It's December 31, 1969?

If you’ve ever had the date on a cell phone or computer mysteriously switch to December 31, 1969, you may have thought it was simply random. However, the reason behind this odd glitch is a nice little tidbit of computer trivia.

Why Do They Use Sterile Needles for Lethal Injections?

“Lethal injection” isn’t a marketing term or a cute nickname. The intent of the injection is to execute someone. So why bother with the alcohol swab and sterile needle? Are they really worried about the condemned getting an infection?

Mail carrier Alberto Jo on his route in Miami, Florida, in 2010.

Why Can't You Start a Rival Post Office?

Sure, there are package delivery services—but the U.S. Postal Service is the only one that really does letters. Why?

Why Are Scrubs Usually Blue or Green?

Medical professionals can choose from a wide variety of scrubs with different colors and patterns. So why are plain blue and green ones so popular?

Why Do Coins Make Your Hands Smell Funny?

A lot of people assume that it's just the way that coins smell, and the odor is rubbing off on their hands, but you're not smelling the metal so much as you're smelling yourself.

Why Did Soap Operas Look Different From Other TV Shows?

Soap operas, "soaps" or "my stories," as many a <em>grandmother</em> has called them, are dramas presented in a serial format on daytime television or radio. Their name comes from a time when old serial dramas broadcast on radio had soap manufacturers (Pr

Why Do Your Dog's Feet Smell Like Popcorn?

You're not crazy—your dog's feet really are snack-food scented.

Do Fish Really Have a Three-Second Memory?

Modern myth would have you believe that goldfish can't remember anything that happened more than three seconds ago and, hence, their lives are filled with the constant excitement of never-before-seen sights and sounds.

Can Soap Get Dirty?

We all know washing our hands is important, but, like washcloths and towels, can the bars of hand soap we use to clean ourselves become dirty as well?

In Space, Can Anyone Hear You Scream?

"In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream." That was the tagline for the movie Alien, Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi/horror masterpiece. Released two years earlier, Star Wars allowed us to hear plenty of things in space, like the whine of TIE fighter engines and

The Origin of the Gatorade Shower

Bill Parcells was one of the first coaches to be doused with celebratory Gatorade after a win. But who came up with the idea? Here are the answers to some burning questions about this fairly new tradition.

Why Did Kamikaze Pilots Wear Helmets?

This is sort of a trick question, as they technically didn’t wear “helmets,” but leather “flight caps” that covered the head and ears. These kept the pilots from getting too cold or going deaf while flying with their cockpit canopies open, which they some

Can I Unlock Other People's Cars With My Remote?

Jason English, our esteemed editor, wonders, "How many other Camrys would my remote unlock? Is it really 1:1, or is there a chance my fob would open a Camry in Phoenix or Toronto?"

Why Does the NFL Have a Two-Minute Warning?

The two-minute warning comes up at the end of each half in every NFL football game. Most fans take it for granted, but why does the NFL stop the clock with two minutes or so left in each half? Is it just so the NFL can sneak an extra commercial break in

Why Are Barns Often Painted Red?

Beginning with the earliest American settlements and continuing into the 18th century, most barns weren't painted at all. So when did they become red?

What Causes Brain Freeze?

Reader Susann writes in to ask, "What exactly is the cause of a brain

How Do Countries Choose Which Side They Drive On?

Chaos has descended this week on the tiny Pacific island of Samoa after government officials decided to force the entire nation to switch sides of the road on Monday. While Samoan officials insist there have been no accidents as a result of asking drivers

Why is 10:10 the Default Setting for Clocks and Watches?

First things first, let's get the myths out of the way.

Why Do the English Hate the French?

Today's Big Question.

15 Film Production Credits Explained

Ever wonder what all those strange credits are when they roll by at the end of a film? From Gaffer to Boom Operator, here's some production roles to know

Why Do We Say "Cheese" When We're Having Our Photo Taken?

At one London photo studio, the precursor to "say cheese" was actually "say prunes," to help sitters form a small mouth.

Why Do Clothes Shrink in the Wash?

It's an everyday tragedy of the modern world: you have a favorite piece of clothing that fits just so, but when it comes out of the wash, it's shrunk.

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