Matt Soniak
Joined: Nov 21, 2012
Matt writes about science, history, etymology and Bruce Springsteen for both the website and the print magazine. His work has also appeared in print and online for Men’s Health, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Philly.com and others. He tweets as @mattsoniak and blogs about animal behavior at mattsoniak.com. He lives in Philadelphia with his girlfriend, two cats and a large collection of bourbon whiskeys.
Where Does the Easter Bunny Come From?
What Does Marijuana Do to Spiders?
Why Do We Scream “Geronimo” When Jumping Out of Airplanes?
The Origins of 10 Food Phrases
From ‘piece of cake’ to ‘the apple of my eye,’ these food-related phrases have fascinating histories.
How Foxes Might Use Earth's Magnetic Field to Hunt Prey
Foxes are highly skilled hunters, which allows them to eat a variety of small animals.
How Do Baby Birds Breathe Inside Their Eggs?
Discover the fascinating ways eggs provide everything a baby bird needs, including oxygen through a sophisticated system of membranes and air pockets.
Did a Cow Really Cause the Great Chicago Fire of 1871?
Many believed the origin of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a cow kicking over a lantern. A map of the fire’s path suggested otherwise.
Why Don’t We Want to ‘Open a Can of Worms’?
Opening a can of worms, metaphorically speaking, is trying to solve a problem and ending up in more trouble. And the idiom really does refer to actual worms.
Why Does Snow Squeak When You Step On It?
Snow crunches underneath your feet during the winter months and makes a loud sound. Turns out, science is the reason why it does.
What Are Frankincense and Myrrh, Anyway?
Frankincense and myrrh are a fragrant part of traditional Christmas celebrations, but what exactly are these pebble-like perfumes?
Why Does the New Year Start on January 1?
Ever wonder why the new year officially starts on January 1? Turns out, you can thank Pope Gregory XIII—and Julius Caesar.
Why Does Santa Claus Give Coal to Bad Kids?
The tradition of giving misbehaving children lumps of coal predates the Santa Claus we know and love today.
11 Surprising Facts About Vampire Bats
Only three bat species, out of some 1100 in the world, actually have a taste for blood.
How One Grieving Father Got Lawn Darts Banned
Lawn darts were banned in 1988, but not before seriously injuring many children and killing at least one.
Why Are Unidentified People Called John or Jane Doe?
From the courts to the morgue, if the government doesn't know someone's name or wants to withhold it, they give them one of these as a placeholder. Why?