Big Questions Answered, How and Why

It's big and black and white and all over the place.

They’re so-called minimalist modern farmhouses, painted white, with black roofs, window frames, and railings, seemingly adrift from architectural context. Where did the big black-and-white look come from, and why is it so popular?

Before tiles and vinyl reigned supreme, some folks put carpet next to the tub. But why?

Bussers are an important part of restaurants.

What do the terms “busser” and “busing a table” have to do with public transportation? Nothing, it turns out.

If linguistics is any indicator, it would appear that everybody in the spirit realm speaks Scots English.

We explain the science behind the answer.

Who wouldn't want to tuck into a bowl of golden-brown, crispy hush puppies?

Hush puppies might seem like a simple side dish, but they carry a pretty interesting history.

There is a good reason why baby carrots tend to be slimier than their full-sized counterparts—and it has to do with the white stuff you sometimes see on the outside of them.

Red cars are bold, but are they really targeted by cops the most?

It turns out there’s another, much less flashy shade that has a higher chance of getting flagged.

The origin of the multipurpose saw's catchy name, explained.

Answering the same question over and over and over again can get grating. But there are important developmental reasons behind why young children are so into asking “why.”

Just because seat belts make cars and planes safer doesn’t mean they’d do the same for trains, which are built differently, move differently, and, most importantly, seat their passengers differently.

A lot of evidence from real-life crime scenes does end up being stored inside the same type of container otherwise used to carry home-made lunches. But why?

Learn the meaning behind the hand motion.

Pay attention next time you see this hand gesture on the road—it could save you from an accident (or a speeding ticket).

Their paws may come for your water, too.

Cats sometimes act like a bowl of water is something to approach with extreme caution. There’s a reason for it, though.

Just hanging out on bare pavement, as gulls do.

Parking lots offer a lot of the benefits of gulls’ natural habitats, plus a few key perks.

The textured ceiling pattern was all the rage in the 1950s. Then things got bumpy.

The prying tool's distinctive name may come from its resemblance to a certain bird's beak. (Or not.)

We need burial space equivalent to the size of Philadelphia to accommodate our dead. We don't have it. What now?

Sloths can take as long as one minute to move just 12 inches. It seems like a chill existence, until you consider what a glacial pace means for their pooping habits.