Big Questions Answered, How and Why

They basically share a genome, but chimps and bonobos have some not-so-subtle differences.

Caffeine is just one of the things that may be to blame for the irritating spasms.

Apple pie is a classic fall treat for Americans.

The phrase “American as apple pie“ leaves out the dish’s complicated history as an English dessert made of fruit that originated in Asia.

If you drive the same route long enough, sign fonts become fascinating.

Attentive drivers will notice more than one kind of typeface during their travels.

It’s easy to recognize these political symbols.

Andrew Jackson’s 1828 political campaign kicked it off, and cartoonist Thomas Nast made the political symbols really gain traction.

Yes, they‘re often bullet holes. No, that‘s not the only explanation.

The official beverage of fall (sorry, PSL.)

They’re both fruit beverages, but apple juice and apple cider are not quite the same thing.

“God” and “Jesus” are the only Simpson characters that have five fingers.

It‘s normal for cartoon characters to be missing a digit, but how did the style originate?

Keep a look out for the origins of this weird phrase.

Popular theories involve pirates—and police.

May want to think twice about drinking straight from the faucet, too.

Depending on how weird your home’s tap water tastes, it could be due to the pipes or an old water heater, or be a problem with the water itself.

Thanks to modern technology, you don’t usually need to separate your laundry—though it can still be beneficial in certain cases.

Making a beeline for the buffet table? You’re buying into some bee stereotypes.

No wild geese were harmed in the making of this idiom.

The meaning behind the money.

There's a fancy term for forgetting a word—'lethologica.'

President George Washington delivering his inaugural address.

Here’s the history behind four-year presidential term limits, plus answers to all your other questions about presidential terms.

A wiggly tape measure isn't to blame for any mistaken measurements.

There's a good reason the metal hook on a tape measure wiggles, and it has to do with why the first inch is actually 1/16th of an inch short.

Synchronized swimming now goes by the name ‘artistic swimming.’ Here's why.

Volleyball doesn’t have goalkeepers, but it does have liberos—and the rules are a little different for them.

Léon Marchand at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

There are several reasons why a host country might see a boost in the Olympics medal count.

Some Olympic athletes still sport paper bibs.

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

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

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

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

Olympic individual neutral athlete Daniil Medvedev is one of the Russian competitors at the Paris Games.

No, they can’t pick their own anthem for their medal ceremony.

BIG QUESTIONS

Chimpanzees vs. Bonobos: What’s the Difference?

Why Does My Eyelid Sometimes Twitch?

How Did Apple Pie Become an Iconic American Dessert?

Why Does the U.S. Highway System Use Two Different Fonts?

How Did the Donkey and Elephant Become Political Mascots?

Why Do Some Road Signs Have Holes in Them?

What's the Difference Between Apple Juice and Apple Cider?

Why Do So Many Cartoon Characters Have Four Fingers?

Where Does the Expression ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ Come From?

Why Does My Tap Water Taste So Funny?

Do You Really Need to Separate Your Laundry?

Why Do We Say “Make a Beeline”?

What Exactly Is a ‘Wild Goose Chase’?

Why Do We Say “Cold, Hard Cash”?

What’s the Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word?

Why Do Presidents Serve Four-Year Terms?

Why Are the Ends of Measuring Tapes So Loose?

Why Did Synchronized Swimming Change Its Name?

Why Does One Volleyball Player Wear a Different Color Than Their Teammates?

Why Does the Olympic Host Country Win So Many Medals?

Why Do Some Olympic Athletes Wear Paper Numbers?

Why Do Hawaiian Soda Cans Have Ridges Around the Top?

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

What Song Is Played If a Stateless Olympian Wins a Gold Medal?