BIG QUESTIONS

Why Are Brown LEGO Bricks So Brittle?

LEGO bricks are notorious for being indestructible, but one color is an exception.

What Happens When an Astronaut Gets Sick in Space?

Sick astronauts on a space mission can’t just pop down to Earth to see a doctor. Here’s how they deal with bumps, bruises, and worse.

Why Are Potatoes Called “Spuds”?

We dig down to the root of the issue.

Does Dish Soap Ever Go Bad?

Common household cleaning products like dish soap and laundry detergent might get forgotten about for years before being found and used. Will they still be effective?

Who Is the Man in the Moon?

People have been observing faces and figures on the moon for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. There’s a perfectly scientific explanation as to why.

A bride and groom exchanging wedding rings.

Why Are Wedding Rings Worn on the Left Hand?

For years, couples have dedicated that finger to romance when any other digit would do.

Skylab 2 commander Peter Conrad attempts to take a shower aboard the spacecraft in 1973.

How Do Astronauts Shower in Space?

Here on Earth, we tend to take showering for granted. But getting clean isn’t so easy without the force of gravity helping you out.

Where did this weather-related idiom come from?

Why Do We Say “Right as Rain”?

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?

Where Did the Saying ‘Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb’ Come From?

The phrase dates back to the 19th century, but it took a fictional 20th century detective to take its popularity to new heights.

Why Do We Say That Love Makes People Go “Weak at the Knees”?

In honor of Valentine’s Day, discover the origins of the phrase ‘weak at the knees,’ including its ties to ancient Rome and even astrology.

Try not to hold any knife like this. It could lead to a mishap.

Why Do Some Chef’s Knives Have Dimples?

Also called scallops, these tiny indentations have a purpose. And it’s not just to make the knife look cute.

An old-timey fireman with some dead weight.

What Exactly Is ‘Dead Weight’?

Why your drunk friend feels so much heavier than your sober buddies.

Do Pillows Really “Expire”?

Pillows work tirelessly to hold your head up. Here's how to know when they've had enough.

Several factors make people more susceptible to the flu in winter.

Why Is the Flu Seasonal?

Like clockwork, flu viruses seem to strike more people in winter than in any other season—and there are several reasons for that.

What Does the Ship Designation ‘SS’ Mean?

The initialism was originally a bit of shipbuilder marketing—and now there are many different kinds of ship designations.

Why Does ‘Zzz’ Mean Sleep?

How did we come to associate sleeping and snoring with the letter ‘Z’? The origins trace back farther than you might think but are tied to early 20th-century American comic strips.

Why Do We Say Storks Deliver Babies?

There comes a point in every child’s life when they ask where babies come from, and some parents—not wanting to explain the details of reproduction just yet—turn to the story of storks. We explore the origins of a myth that has been around for centuries.