Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Grocery stores don't like to let in natural light.

Supermarkets don't let in much—if any—natural light. It's another example of how retailers mess with your mind.

Hotels like to use white sheets and towels.

Hotel guests are almost always treated to vibrant white sheets. And no, it's not because it's easier to see bedbugs.

The night sky is full of colors—except green.

You can look up and find white, red, blue, and yellow stars, but green stars are missing from the night sky.

That little pouch in the dog's lower left ear is called a Henry's pocket.

It's called a cutaneous marginal pouch, and while science is a little uncertain of its true purpose, it can double as a B&B for ticks.

Self-cleaning ovens are meant to spare users the hassle of manual cleaning.

You may not use the self-cleaning feature on your oven. If you do, be aware that it gets very, very hot and can kill your pet bird. (Seriously.)

If your bone china dinnerware is what it claims to be, it probably contains more than a little powdered cow.

What does branding or spanking have to do with whether something is factory-new or not? We investigate.

Kindergarten survived some early controversy to become part of the American education system.

This very German word became embedded in the American vernacular—but not before German politicians tried to ban kindergarten entirely.

Spoilers in movie trailers can frustrate film fans.

Movie previews can reveal big plot points or moments that can spoil everything. So why do studios do it?

Notable southpaw Tommy John pitching for the New York Yankees in the 1980s.

Southpaws are most often talked about in baseball and boxing. But which sport (if either) coined the term?

Cold brew and iced coffee are often lumped together, but there are major differences between the recipes that affect the taste and the price of the drink.

Butter and margarine are made from different ingredients, but that doesn't automatically make one product healthier than the other.

Many restaurants keep a basket full of carbs on the table. Why are so many eateries eager to serve up filling—and free—food?

View of the World, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

The shingled, domed-shaped salt storage structures you see on the side of the highway are an example of clever design.

Coats and jackets living together in harmony.

Though not everyone recognizes the technical difference between coats and jackets, Lands’ End definitely does.

The color of an egg's shell says nothing about its quality. The only difference between brown eggs and white eggs lies in the breed of the chicken that laid them.

Men's razors aren't necessarily better than women's razors, but they are different (and not just because they aren't pink).

In March 2021, digital artist Beeple sold a JPG of Everydays: The First 5000 Days for a record-setting $69.3 million.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those who know what an NFT is, those who don't, and those who don't care.

A hairy situation in more ways than one.

The FDA Food Code recommends food service employees wear “hair restraints,” but it might be more for appearance’s sake than safety.

A big yawn doesn't necessarily mean your pup is ready for a nap. If your dog yawns excessively, they could be signaling stress.

Spots on eggs are a common--and usually harmless--occurrence.

Despite rigorous quality control, eggs can sometimes arrive in stores with strange bumps or discolorations. Here's how to tell when it's cause for concern.