BIG QUESTIONS

Why Is Gas So Expensive in California?

The cost of gasoline at the pump is up across the United States, but no state appears to be feeling the sting more than California.

Trucks need to be weighed because the DOT says so.

Why Do Trucks Have to Be Weighed?

There are two main reasons: taxation and safety.

Yeah, we're not so sure about those toppings, either.

Why Do Round Pizzas Come in Square Boxes?

You can thank the cardboard industry.

Mistrust vs. Distrust: What’s the Difference?

Even the most well-respected dictionaries consider ‘mistrust’ and ‘distrust’ interchangeable. But people do tend to use them a little differently.

It's not so your plugs look like they have eyes.

Why Do Electrical Plugs Have Holes in the Prongs?

The original reason electrical plugs had holes isn’t the same reason they have holes these days.

What Really Happens If You Can’t Pay Your Restaurant Bill?

Restaurant employees probably won’t make you wash dishes to settle the debt. Here’s what they might do instead.

Has Anyone Named Oscar Ever Won an Oscar?

The Oscars celebrating nominees named Oscar may sound silly, but it's happened more than you think.

The Chicago River gets a colorful makeover every St. Patrick's Day.

How Do They Dye the Chicago River Green for St. Patrick's Day?

It wouldn’t be a St. Patrick's Day celebration in the Windy City without the Chicago River sporting a (temporarily) emerald green tinge.

What’s the Smallest Bone in the Body?

The smallest bone in your body is one of a set of three whose collective name literally means ‘small bones.’

Why Is It Called ‘Plastic’ Surgery?

Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery’s name origin has nothing to do with breast implants being made of plastic.

Why Are So Many Pop Songs Roughly Three Minutes Long?

The roughly three-minute limit dates back to the early 20th century—but the digital music landscape is affecting the custom.

It doesn't matter if you're wearing your shoes or someone else's—but it does matter how tall you are.

How Many Steps Are in a Mile?

How many steps it takes to walk a mile depends on your height and speed—but there is an average number.

Should You Really 'Rinse and Repeat' When Shampooing Your Hair?

Shampoo bottles tell you to 'rinse and repeat,' but washing hair twice in a row only makes sense for some people.

Why Do Trucks Use Diesel Fuel Instead of Gasoline?

Fasten your seatbelts—this gas-vs.-diesel answer involves compression ratios, spark plugs, and torque vs. horsepower.

Gotta pee but don't have a bathroom handy? Try dancing.

Why Do Some People "Dance" When They Have to Pee?

Busting out your best dance floor moves when you have to pee may actually prevent you from soiling yourself.

Does Breathing Into a Paper Bag While Hyperventilating Actually Help?

The next time someone hands you a paper bag to breathe into during a panic attack, you’ll know what to do—or what not to do.

Pennsylvania state capitol building in Harrisburg.

What’s the Difference Between a State and a Commonwealth?

Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Massachusetts are technically commonwealths, not states. Here's the meaning behind the term.

That wallpaper is giving us the willies.

Why Do We Say Something Gives Us 'The Willies'?

To get the willies is to feel a sudden onset of nervousness or skittishness. But why 'willie'? It may have something to do with itchy underwear.

Cheese wheels are more than just fancy--they make cheese tastier.

Why Is Cheese Made in Wheel Form?

A round cylinder of cheese can influence its taste and overall quality, but old-school grocers just wanted something they could roll on the ground.

What Is Imitation Crab Made Of?

When imitation crab appears in dishes like California rolls and crab rangoon, its true identity is rarely advertised. So, what is the product really made of?

Stuffed animals are common sights on trucks and other vehicles.

Why Do Truck Drivers Attach Stuffed Animals to the Front of Their Vehicles?

The next time you see a garbage truck with a stuffed penguin strapped to its grille, know the driver has a good reason—one that may or may not involve warding off ghosts.

Why Are Most Jeans Blue?

Blue may seem like an odd choice for a pair of pants that many people wear every day, but there's a good reason it became the standard color for denim jeans.

Is “As I Lay Dying” Grammatically Incorrect?

Musician Sufjan Stevens recently jumped on the “open letter to Miley Cyrus” bandwagon with a tongue-in-cheek critique of her grammar in the song “Get It Right.”

Where Does NFL Fine Money Go?

The NFL has a reputation for being a little overzealous in levying fines against its players and coaches. But just where does the money go?

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