Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Those mysterious white lines you often see on the road right before a storm aren't just for show.

In the United States, the most common pronunciation is “FEB-yoo-air-ee.” Both Merriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries consider the common pronunciation correct, along with the less common, more traditional standard “FEB-roo-air-ee.”

You've probably been within spitting distance of a nuclear warhead without even realizing it.

The U.S. government is constantly moving its nuclear weapons from one facility to another, which means you may have passed one on the highway without even realizing it.

Why is February spelled the way it is? Delve into the linguistic evolution of the month’s name and its journey from Latin to modern English.

Barking at nothing is a popular dog pastime.

Barking into the abyss is a frequent complaint of pet owners, but there's an explanation. (And no, it's not aliens.)

Since 1976, Black History Month has been celebrated in February—and it's because of two specific dates on the calendar.

There’s a surprisingly rich history at the root of this hair accessory.

Why are we still employing a kiss-off that references a near-obsolete form of transportation?

Née’s meaning is technically “born,” and we borrowed it from the same place we got the terms ‘déjà vu’ and ‘cul-de-sac.’

Arenas and stadiums have some key differences.

Seating capacity is just one part of it.

While developers can feel free to submit any name they’d like for a new street, cities usually have guidelines and standards.

What’s the actual scientific difference between the birds we call 'doves' and those we label 'pigeons'? The answer might surprise you.

Is calling something ‘military grade’ legit? Find out the truth behind this marketing strategy and how it's applied to products.

Fresh snow might look tasty, but just because it looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is.

Your dog's adorable brown eyes were no mistake.

The "buy her brown contacts pls" meme is backed up by evolutionary science.

Glugging tap water on a plane is a terrible idea.

For two decades, the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speech was stashed inside a Harry Truman biography for safekeeping.

How a love of drinking and Britain’s 18th-century Toby jugs might have inspired the slang word for ‘face.’

The definition of a continent isn't as concrete as you might expect, but a few qualities help earn Australia that distinction.

Fire trucks are a common sight at ambulance calls.

Why does the fire department show up for emergency calls if nothing is on fire?

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.