MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Some Olympic athletes still sport paper bibs.

Why Do Some Olympic Athletes Wear Paper Numbers?

The big paper tags seen on Olympic track and field athletes are both high-tech tracking devices and sentimental souvenirs.

The song may not actually have much to do with a weasel at all.

‘Pop! Goes the Weasel’: The Real Meaning Behind the Nursery Rhyme

You may think you know the words to “Pop! Goes the Weasel.” The tune is everywhere from jack-in-the-box toys to Data and Riker’s first encounter in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’. But it may not even be about a weasel at all.

Tourists will notice something different about their soda cans when visiting Hawaii.

Why Do Hawaiian Soda Cans Have Ridges Around the Top?

Sodas in the Aloha State look a little different from what you’re probably used to.

Why Do We Say Things Are “Cute as a Button”?

The expression—which can be used for all things adorable—dates back to the early 20th century.

Red eyes are a hallmark of many albino creatures.

Why Do Albino Animals Have Red Eyes?

It has nothing to do with red pigment.

Dutch field hockey player Lars Balk during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Why Is the Olympic Field Hockey Pitch So Wet?

Here’s why high-level field hockey competitions keep the turf nice and watered.

Why Does Deodorant Have Two Caps?

Deodorant sticks often come with one outer cap and one inner cap, but the purpose of that extra inner cap isn’t really clear.

No one wants to see anything near 100°F on their dashboard.

Why Your Car Dashboard Says It’s a Lot Hotter Than It Really Is

You aren’t imagining things: Your weather app and your dashboard don’t often agree.

Italy's Laura Bruschini at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

What Do the Hand Signals Mean in Olympic Beach Volleyball?

Beach volleyball's hand signals are a handy way for a blocker to clue their teammate into their next move.

Why Do Olympic Swimmers Wear Two Caps?

There's a reason why two caps are better than one.

What’s the Difference Between Coconut Trees and Palm Trees?

You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? It may have actually been a different type of palm tree.

French fencer Auriane Mallo-Breton at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Why Are Olympic Fencers Attached to Cables?

Fencing body cords aren't a safety measure.

The pools at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are built with speed in mind.

How Olympic ‘Fast Pools’ Are Designed for Maximum Performance

Learn the science behind the most advanced swimming pools out there.

Great Britain's Kieran Bird at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Why Do Olympic Swimmers Slap Themselves?

It's to get the blood flowing—or is it?

Why Do We Say “Pony Up” When We Want Money?

The idiom for demanding payment doesn’t quite have the equine origins one would think.

Whitewater rafters carry the Olympic torch on its way to Paris.

How Is the Olympic Flame Lit—and How Does It Stay Lit?

This year, the Olympic torch made a symbolic journey from Greece to Paris for the Summer Games.

Why Do Grooms Break a Glass at Jewish Weddings?

There’s a lot of cultural and religious significance attached to this enduring Jewish wedding tradition. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Impress your crafty friends by actually knowing how their sewing equipment works.

What's the Purpose of the Little Strawberry Attached to Pincushions?

The fabric strawberry is more than just a cute accessory to an already cute accessory. It also serves as an important tool.

Everyone here is someone's late someone.

Why Does ‘Late’ Mean “Dead”?

There’s a historical reason, but there may be a social one as well.

This American icon has become a rare sight.

Why Are Convertible Cars Disappearing From American Roads?

Consumer tastes have shifted over the past 20 years.

You ‘aught’ to know the answer of this question.

Why Do We Call the 2000s “the Aughts”?

Suggestions for what to call the period of time from 2000–2009 ranged from ‘the nillies’ and ‘the oh-ohs’ to ‘the double zeroes’ and ‘the noughties.’ So how’d we land on ‘the aughts’?

Pick-up truck beds have surprising versatility.

Why Do Pick-Up Truck Beds Have Grooves on the Sides?

Pick-up truck beds are here to make your life easier—if you know how to use them.

This is what Amelia Bedelia would picture.

Why Are They Called “Deviled Eggs” If There’s No Devil in Them?

Eggs aren’t the only things you can devil.

Here's Why Most Tornadoes Occur in the U.S.

The United States sees more tornadoes than anywhere else on the planet. Geography explains why.

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