Spot a surplus of pumps in one small area? You're seeing Hotelling's Law in action.

BIG QUESTIONS
Let’s explore the origins of America's most disrespected lettuce.
Italian ice has a sorbet-like texture, but these frozen desserts really aren’t the same thing. So, where does this summer treat really come from—and more importantly, is it even from Italy in the first place?
Inside the complicated compromise that created the District of Columbia and the City of Washington—which are kind of the same thing.
Despite what the name suggests, most modern ginger ales lack both real ginger and ale.
The Arnold Schwarzenegger–starring Netflix series takes its title from World War II military slang. Here’s what 'fubar' means.
Dive into the history of soccer balls, including how they evolved from their earliest form, when they were made out of pig bladders, into the hexagon design we see today.
Here’s the invisible etymology that turned Johns into Jacks.
Lemonade kickstarted the trend. But there’s more to the story than that.
On June 19, 2025, the United States will celebrate Juneteenth and the anniversary of Black emancipation. Here’s the meaning behind the holiday’s official flag.
With privatized space travel growing, it's inevitable we'll one day find ourselves faced with a space murder. How would the law deal with it?
Think the shark in ‘Jaws’ was huge? Find out how big great white sharks really get and how they compare to megalodons and whale sharks.
Here’s a hint: It has a little something to do with hunting.
The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.
Ingloriously crammed between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Flag Day tends to get overlooked. Here’s a brief history of the patriotic day.
Ginger is a proven anti-nausea remedy. But ginger ale (or any soda, really) probably won’t do you much good.