Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Odor neutralizers can work some chemical magic on your smelly sofa.

A clever chemical reaction does more than just mask that wet dog smell. It can actually render it invisible to your nose.

Other than when you spill a Big Gulp on them, we mean.

St. Augustine's Flagler College—originally the Ponce de León Hotel, constructed in 1888.

The oldest city in the U.S. predates Jamestown by more than 40 years.

Though the meanings of ‘cc’ and ‘bcc’ haven’t changed over the years, the technology that uses them definitely has.

Some dogs munch on dirt the way humans dig into ice cream. But why?

The boast has become a signal that someone is about to do something very stupid. But who said it first?

'Noise' and 'sound' are often used interchangeably—even when they shouldn't be.

Movie-goers prepare to be entertained in 1935.

The origin of the phrase ‘silver screen’ is less about movies and more about how people watched them in the good old days.

Like so many other phrases, the meaning of ‘pass with flying colors’ has nautical roots.

You may need a vacation after seeing how many hours the average employee spends working per year.

Would a consignment shop take your collection of fuzzy scarves?

The differences between consignment and thrift stores go a little deeper than profit margins.

In the decades since Tootsie Roll Industries first posed the question, several people have attempted to find the answer.

Postage stamps don't expire, but you also can't use some of them forever.

Can you really use that book of Elvis stamps you grabbed back in the 1990s? Yes, but there's a catch.

The conditions for stifling heat are pretty easy to explain, and so is the solution: Keep cool.

Stars on homes have been an enduring mystery for some.

The five-pointed star is common in the northeast and has been rumored to represent everything from the Amish to swingers.

An illustration of human skeletons from an 1851 encyclopedia.

While there's a common answer to the number of bones contained within the human body, it's not exactly accurate.

Parents everywhere have scared kids into thinking that pre-pool hot dog could spell the end. Boy Scouts may be to blame.

A baby deer’s white spots aren’t there to make it look extra cute.

Here’s a quick guide to keg sizes and capacities.

The answer to how many teeth a shark has is surprisingly complicated.

The most populous city on Earth has more residents than the entire state of Texas or the whole continent of Australia.

The white roofs on school buses help keep things cool in more ways than one.

People have been “dropping like flies”—often due to weather—since at least the mid-19th century.

The curious truck accessory may have caught your eye on the road. Here's how a tiny plastic strip keeps drivers safe.

BIG QUESTIONS

How Do Odor Neutralizers Like Febreze Work?

Why Do Car Steering Wheels Feel Sticky?

What's the Oldest City in America?

What Do ‘Cc’ and ‘Bcc’ Actually Stand For?

Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt?

Where Did the Phrase 'Look Ma, No Hands!' Originate?

What's the Difference Between a Sound and a Noise?

Why Do We Refer to Movies as “The Silver Screen”?

Why Do We Say People Pass ‘With Flying Colors’?

How Many Hours Do People Spend Working in a Year?

Consignment Shop vs. Thrift Store: What’s the Difference?

How Many Licks Does It Really Take To Get To The Center Of A Tootsie Pop? Scientists Have Attempted to Find Out

Do Postage Stamps Expire?

What Causes a Heat Wave?

What's the Meaning Behind the Metal Stars You Often See on Old Houses?

How Many Bones Are There in the Human Body?

Do You Really Need to Wait 30 Minutes After Eating to Go Swimming?

Why Do Baby Deer Have Spots?

How Many Beers Are in a Keg?

How Many Teeth Do Sharks Have?

What Is the World’s Largest City?

Why Do Some School Buses Have White Roofs?

Why Do We Say Things Are “Dropping Like Flies”?

What Are Those Plastic Strips Hanging Off Truck Wheels?