BIG QUESTIONS

Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?

It’s hard to make that first trip to the college bookstore for required texts without leaving with a bit of sticker shock. Why are textbooks so astonishingly expensive? Let’s take a look.

Firefighters battle a state of emergency.

What Does 'State of Emergency' Really Mean?

Governors across the U.S. are declaring states of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic. But what does the dire-sounding phrase really mean?

Why Are Moths Drawn to Flames?

Around the world, moths make kamikaze dives into light bulbs and open flames with such regularity that they have their own idiom. What is it about lights that make moths so crazy?

memoriesarecaptured/istock via getty images

What Does '100% Juice' Mean?

Buying fruit juice at the supermarket is a surprisingly complicated task that leads to myriad questions. What’s really in that “100% juice”? Why does that “juice” have the word “cocktail” loitering behind it? Let’s take a look at the exciting world of jui

Tony Webster / Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

"Chai" and "Tea" Both Mean the Same Thing

Next time you order a chai tea from your corner coffee shop, take a moment and appreciate your killer multilingual skills.

What Are Eye Boogers, Anyway?

You ever wake up and have lots of crust in the inner corner of your eye? What is this stuff, and where does it come from?

Why Do Coins Have Ridges?

The rims on U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars and some dollar coins are called reeded edges. They’ve been on American currency almost since day one as a way of keeping people honest.

How Does One Become a Life Coach?

Few individuals have done more to promote the field of personal life coaching than Oprah Winfrey. A virtual life coach to many in her own right, Oprah has introduced a slew of personal life coaches and motivators to her viewers over the last 25 years. Tod

Why Do Fake Phone Numbers Start With 555?

Since the early 1970s there’s been at least one 555 number callers can dial and get an answer—555-1212 is a standard number that rings directory assistance. The rest of the 555 numbers have largely gained fame as fake numbers in movies and on TV.

How Are Q Scores Calculated?

When celebrities go off the deep end, we’ll hear folks say they've “damaged their Q rating.” What does that really mean? It's actually a lot simpler than you think.

What Made The AK-47 So Popular?

Over the last 64 years, the AK-47 has become the iconic rifle of choice for everyone from the Soviet military to terrorists to drug lords. Let’s take a look at the world’s most common assault

How Do TV Sweeps Periods Work?

Television’s February sweeps period started Thursday and runs through March 2, so brace yourself for a slew of guest stars, wedding episodes, and other attention-grabbers.

What Else Does the Sergeant at Arms Do?

The Sergeant at Arms is perhaps most famous for being the guy at the State of the Union Address who shouts “Mister (or Madam) Speaker, the President of the United States!” But what does the Sergeant at Arms do the rest of the year?

The Nintendo Zapper offered a new angle on interactive television.

How Did the Duck Hunt Gun Work?

The 'Duck Hunt' gun, officially called the NES Zapper, seems downright primitive next to today's technology. But in the late '80s, it filled plenty of young heads with wonder.

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.

PREV NEXT