Lame duck presidents date back to the beginning of U.S. history, but we didn’t start calling them that until the 20th century.

BIG QUESTIONS
Understanding the manufacturing process will also help you decide whether that shiny side should face up or down.
Kate Rubins cast her ballot from the International Space Station with the help of a county clerk and a nifty technology known as the PDF.
The tradition of judges wearing black robes goes back centuries, but the meaning behind it is as timely as ever.
The Constitution never specified a number of Supreme Court justices, and it’s fluctuated quite a lot over the years.
It's a bit of an oversimplification, but the food you eat really can take a wrong turn before it hits your stomach.
Some shots can barely be felt while others feel like you've been punched in the arm. Is it technique, the vaccine, or something else?
The August Complex fire ravaging California is being called a "gigafire," and it's every bit as imposing and destructive as the name implies.
Genetics probably play a part in dimple formation, and so does a muscle called the “zygomaticus major.”
Some people are confused by the DO designation for health care providers, but it's not really so unusual.
Our ancestors may have predisposed us to fear spiders, insects, and other many-legged creatures, but there's a lot more to it.
The pumpkins sold around Halloween for carving and decoration aren't the same pumpkins used in pies.
In order to cure halitosis, you have to realize you have bad breath in the first place. Here’s why that’s hard to do.
The coronavirus has brought new attention to air quality on airplanes. And while it's better than you think, there are still risks to consider.
Anyone running for federal office is required to endorse their own television ads. While it's supposed to make their political statements more honest, it might be having the opposite effect.
Dogs tend to get a little exercise in even when they're resting. Is it really because they're dreaming about running?
When your bread dough doubles in size overnight, you have a hard-working team of microorganisms to thank.
The facts on where it comes from, how it works, and whether it could happen with the novel coronavirus.
Only certain people can submit nominations, and the Nobel Committee isn’t allowed to reveal nominees or nominators until 50 years later.
Planes sometimes need to dump fuel to keep their weight down for a safe emergency landing. Here's why it doesn't hit anything.
Ironically, a skillet is better for sautéing than a sauté pan is. (But sauté pans have their own skill set.)
Even Emily Post, the queen of table manners, sometimes graced the tabletop with her elbows. What gives?