BIG QUESTIONS

Did the Bouncing DVD Logo Ever Actually Hit the Corner of the Screen?

Dunder Mifflin employees aren't the only people curious about whether that now-iconic DVD logo ever really does hit the corner of the screen.

Can You Actually Suck the Poison Out of a Snakebite?

You may have been taught the old cowboy trick of applying a tourniquet and using a blade to cut the bite wound to suck out the poison. It looks dramatic, but does it really work?

Why Do We Like to 'Nip It in the Bud'?

The idiom goes back centuries. And no, it's not 'nipping it in the butt.'

There are some key differences between the two devices.

What’s the Difference Between a Router and a Modem?

You need to set up both a router and a modem if you want Wi-Fi internet in your home, but there are major differences between the two devices.

Are You Really More Likely to Die on Your Birthday? The ‘Birthday Effect,’ Explained

“We concluded that birthdays end lethally more frequently than might be expected."

There probably isn't any brandy in there.

Why Are St. Bernards Always Depicted With Barrels Around Their Necks?

The barrels we see around St. Bernards' necks in paintings and cartoons is the invention of an artist named Edwin Henry Landseer.

Chicken fingers or chicken tenders? It's complicated.

Chicken Tenders vs. Chicken Fingers: What's the Difference?

All fried chicken tenders qualify as fingers, but not all chicken fingers are tenders.

Wearing white after Labor Day? Oh, the horror!

Why Can’t You Wear White After Labor Day?

The unofficial—but widely known—fashion rule can be traced back more than 100 years to some snobby millionaires.

Phone numbers with letters look like gibberish to most people making a phone call today.

Why Did Old Phone Numbers Start With Letters?

You may have noticed these weird phone numbers while watching reruns of your favorite ’50s-era TV show—and though they look like gibberish to modern phone-users, they were perfectly normal at the time.

Turn left for endurance, right for enthusiasm.

Hearty vs. Hardy: What’s the Difference?

You can’t spell ‘hearty’ without ‘heart,’ or ‘hardy’ without ‘hard.’

What Is Vocal Fry?

Vocal fry describes a specific sound quality caused by the movement of the vocal folds—and it’s nothing new.

The Mega Millions jackpot stands at approximately $1.55 billion in August 2023.

If You Win Mega Millions or Powerball, Should You Take the Cash Payout?

Here's what financial experts say.

Why So Many Burger Chains Use Thousand Island Dressing as Their Special Sauce

It's no secret that most fast food "secret sauces" are a riff on Thousand Island dressing.

For Pete’s Sake—Who Is Pete?

‘For Pete’s sake’ originated around the early 20th century, but the Pete in question may have lived long before that.

It's a wheel. Also a tire. With a rim. And a hubcap.

Hubcaps vs. Rims: What’s the Difference?

Get up to speed on your car lingo.

The position he's in could actually increase his chances of surviving a high fall.

How Far Can You Fall and Still Survive?

How and where you land is one of the major factors in whether you get up from the ground or go 6 feet further into it

Are There Any Synonyms for the Word ‘Synonym’?

The answer is a bit complicated.

There are two main ways for getting a pimento inside an olive.

What Are Pimentos, And How Do They Get Inside Olives?

Until the early 1960s, pimentos were sliced and then stuffed into olives by hand.

Some string theorists predict at least 10 dimensions, most of which humans can’t perceive.

How Many Dimensions Are There in the Universe?

According to string theory, there are at least 10 dimensions of space, most of which are impossible for humans to perceive.

Why Does ‘Of Course’ Mean ‘Yes’?

‘Of course’ is one of the most versatile ‘yes’ synonyms we have. But what does it actually mean?

Spoiler alert: This ladybug isn’t actually a bug.

What’s the Difference Between Bugs and Insects?

The difference between bugs and insects comes down to more than just semantics. Both terms have scientific definitions.

What Is Baby Corn, Anyway?

A baby corn plant and a corn plant are one and the same.

The Reason Your Converse Sneakers Have Extra Holes on the Side

You may have never noticed the extra holes on the sides of your Chuck Taylor All-Stars, but they serve a clever purpose.

Why Is TV Called the ‘Boob Tube’?

When TVs became popular in the 20th century, some people started calling it ‘the tube.’ That nickname soon spawned an even catchier one: ‘the boob tube.’

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