Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Fire trucks are red because we expect them to be.

The sight of a red fire truck will catch your eye, but it's not the reason emergency vehicles are painted scarlet.

For those about to rock 'Stairway to Heaven': stop.

The overplayed song has scorched the ears of many a guitar store employee. But can they legally ask you to stop playing it?

The high-speed patter of the auctioneer is called 'the chant,' and it's designed to separate bidders from their money.

Is it stock or is it broth? And does it really matter?

If you've been using the terms pretty much interchangeably, you're technically wrong. But you're not alone.

Newer car models make it obvious when you're due for an oil change.

When discussing Marilyn's measurements, you have to take vintage clothing sizes into account.

Though they differ in taste and appearance, white asparagus and green asparagus are the same plant species.

Bowling shoes might be gross, but they're also necessary.

Bowling shoes aren't top-line kicks, but they do more to keep you safe than you might think.

The silhouette on the NBA logo—a player dribbling and swiveling between a red and blue background—is Lakers legend Jerry West. But how does he benefit, if at all?

If it were up to Alexander Graham Bell, we probably wouldn’t.

Though you can use them interchangeably in recipes, canola oil and vegetable oil are not the same thing.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. But having a second birthday is one of the many reasons why it's good to be the queen.

Does the 'Mona Lisa' have eyebrows? It's puzzled experts.

Her forehead seems strangely free of follicles.

These color-coding labels don’t exactly say what they mean—but you can make some educated guesses.

Broccoli rabe isn't the same as broccoli, but once you know how to treat it, you can cook it just as easily.

Semi truck sleeper cabs can be much more tricked out than you might expect.

Whether you say 'car-mel' or 'car-a-mel', your pronunciation of 'caramel' is technically correct.

Pucker your mouth when you eat something sour? You're not the only one.

If you can't resist puckering your mouth when you lick a lemon or snack on Sour Patch Kids, you can thank evolution.

This guy won't come take your Oscar away.

Will Smith’s AMPAS resignation prompted a lot of questions about resignee privileges. Here are some answers.

Do kids these days even know what this is?

And what do ‘AM’ and ‘FM’ stand for, anyway?

A special ingredient helps sour candy pack a mouth-puckering punch.

Like a game of Russian roulette for your taste buds.

From rotten eggs to stinky socks, the most bizarre Jelly Belly flavors often seem to come out of nowhere. Here’s how the brand actually creates those weird jelly beans.

If you’ve ever picked up a softball, you probably realized that the name is a misnomer.

‘Spick’ doesn’t mean ‘clean.’ And ‘span’ doesn’t mean ‘clean.’ So what’s going on here?

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Are Fire Trucks Red?

Could a Guitar Store Really Ban Someone From Playing 'Stairway to Heaven'?

Why Do Auctioneers Talk So Fast?

Broth vs. Stock: What's the Difference?

How Often Should I Really Get the Oil in My Car Changed?

What Dress Size Was Marilyn Monroe, Actually?

What Is White Asparagus?

Why Do We Have to Wear Bowling Shoes?

Does Jerry West Get Royalties For Being the NBA Logo?

Why Do We Answer the Phone With ‘Hello’?

Canola Oil vs. Vegetable Oil: What's the Difference?

Why Does the Queen Have Two Birthdays?

Does the 'Mona Lisa' Have Eyebrows?

What Do the Colored Flags Outside Your Doctor’s Office Mean?

What is Broccoli Rabe, Anyway?

Where Do Truck Drivers Sleep?

How Do You Pronounce 'Caramel'?

Why Do We Make Weird Faces When We Taste Something Sour?

What Happens If You Resign From the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences?

AM vs. FM Radio: What’s the Difference?

What Makes Sour Candy So Sour?

How Does Jelly Belly Create Its Weird Flavors?

Why Is a Softball Called a Softball?

Why Does ‘Spick-and-Span’ Mean ‘Really Clean’?