The letter-sized standard actually has roots in the 1660s, when paper was made by hand—and Herbert Hoover had something to do with it, too.

MF EXPLAINS IT ALL
Caves and volcanoes don’t often go hand-in-hand in our imaginations, but the second most common type of cave in the world is made from the power of volcanoes.
Scare crows may deter crows and blackbirds, but you'll have to make some modifications for them to really work.
The "creme" in Oreo cookies isn't really cream at all, but does that make Oreos vegan? The answer is complicated.
The ancient art of sword swallowing may seem like some sort of elaborate trick—but it’s very, very real (and very, very dangerous).
The dent (or “punt”) in the bottom of a wine bottle served an important function centuries ago, but it’s there for different reasons today.
You’re watching a scary movie or the music swells during your favorite song—the shiver up and down your spine is your body responding to a range of emotions.
Their (often literal) blood feud is a relatively modern creation. So how did vampires and werewolves end up at each other’s throats?
To find the easternmost point in the United States, look west.
You know planes cover hundreds of miles per hour. So why doesn't it look like they do?
Some denim devotees never wash. Others find that disgusting. The head of Levi's weighs in.
If you were an 18th-century settler in Australia with no knowledge of marsupials, you just might decide to call a koala a ‘bear,’ right?
Are you not up to snuff when it comes to knowing the origin of ‘up to snuff’? We can help you with that.
Among nicknames like “The Athens of America,” “The Cradle of Liberty,” and “The Hub of the Universe,” “Beantown” sounds very out of place.
A bacteria-related food recall is troubling but understandable. It’s a little weirder when one involves golf balls.
Is your 'tortie' a sassy monster? You're not alone.