BIG QUESTIONS

What Happens If You Shoot a Gun in Space?

Space shootouts are possible. The Soviets proved it.

Why Did Toys Disappear From Cereal Boxes?

The days of police badges and lightsaber spoons lurking in boxes are over. Kids now get QR codes. What happened?

Astronauts Piers J. Sellers (left) and David A. Wolf in the midst of a pre-breathe exercise in preparation for a spacewalk.

How Do Astronauts Breathe in Space?

Engineers have had to come up with some interesting ways to generate oxygen for astronauts in the vacuum of space.

St. Patty’s Day vs. St. Paddy’s Day: Which Is Correct?

You can always avoid the issue by spelling out “St. Patrick’s Day,” but here’s how to properly abbreviate it.

The SAT and ACT are both standardized tests, but what‘s the difference between the two?

ACT vs. SAT: What’s the Difference?

Learn about the SAT and ACT differences, including test format, scoring systems, and duration.

Everybody gets to be Irish after they smooch this stone.

Where Does the Phrase ‘Gift of Gab’ Come From?

This St. Patrick’s Day, discover the origins of this old Irish idiom and how it all ties back to the Blarney Stone in Ireland.

Why Does Easter’s Date Change Every Year?

Easter always happens sometime in March or April—but the date is never the same each year.

A mass of shipping containers at the port of Shenzen, China.

How Do Tariffs Work?

Tariffs are a means for one country to wrangle better trade terms with another country and to protect domestic manufacturing. Unfortunately, they don’t always deliver.

Room temperature is a frame of reference.

What Exactly Is ‘Room Temperature’?

Misunderstanding room temperature can have some surprisingly serious consequences.

This is a scene you might recognize from every police procedural ever.

How Do Two-Way Mirrors Work?

And how you can tell a two-way mirror from a standard one.

Believe it or not, soda containers can change how the product tastes.

What Makes Canned and Bottled Sodas Taste Different?

Ever wondered why canned soda tastes different from one in a plastic bottle? Learn how container materials impact flavor.

Aldi has a good reason for charging a quarter to use carts.

Why Does Aldi Charge a Quarter to Use Their Shopping Carts?

Find out why Aldi‘s quarter system is a smart way to save money and ensure carts are always available.

People with mind blindness cannot visualize things in their minds.

What Is Mind Blindness?

Aphantasia is a little-understood phenomenon that affects about 4 percent of the population. There are several theories behind what causes it.

Think of them as shields for your wheels.

Why Do Cars Have Hubcaps?

Hubcaps might seem purely decorative, but they serve an important purpose for your car.

You can avoid brain freeze with a couple of easy precautions.

What Causes Brain Freeze?

Here's what’s happening in your body when you eat ice cream or drink a chilled beverage too fast.

It’s easier to forecast earthquakes than predict them.

Why Can’t We Predict Earthquakes?

To predict quakes, scientists have to understand how they occur, what happens just before and during the start of one, and whether it shows signs that movement is imminent. So far, none of those things is known.

Why Do Cars Catch Fire?

A car accident in a movie usually ends in a huge fireball. But what really causes vehicle fires?

Flags on planes need to adhere to specific standards.

Why Are Some Flags Painted Backwards on Airplanes?

Depicting the mirror image of a flag on aircraft is done for a very specific (and very patriotic) reason.

Where Did the Expression ‘Gung Ho’ Come From?

We get this byword for enthusiasm from an officer in the Marines named Evans Fordyce Carlson.

Why Is Coffee Called a “Cup of Joe”?

There are many slang terms for coffee, but where does a “cup of joe“ come from? There are a few theories.

Palm coolers are a relatively new sports science innovation.

What Are Those Devices Basketball Players Are Holding on the Sidelines?

Athletes are embracing a new kind of performance enhancer.

Why Do We Call Someone a “One-Trick Pony”?

Maligning ponies has become a go-to way to dismiss someone. How did that happen?

Sleeping naked might improve your sleep quality.

Should You Sleep in the Nude? Here’s What the Experts Say

Sleeping in your birthday suit may feel good, but is it good for you?

Why Do Bridesmaids Traditionally Wear the Same Dress?

Bridesmaid traditions can get pretty bizarre, but the real reason behind why they usually wear the same dress is perhaps the most fascinating of all.

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