BIG QUESTIONS

What Is a Credit Union—and How Is it Different From a Bank?

Just like banks, credit unions accept deposits and make loans—so what, exactly, sets them apart?

Are Santa's Visits Legal?

When that jolly old elf shimmies down your chimney, is he actually breaking the law?

What is the Origin of the Christmas Tree?

It's complicated.

What Does 'Ms.' Stand For?

The title was made up as a way to avoid commenting on the marital status of a woman.

Why Are Poinsettias Associated with Christmas?

Certain Christmas traditions never seem to go out of style. Along with wreaths, gingerbread cookies, and reruns of 'A Christmas Story' sits the poinsettia, a red-tinged leafy arrangement that’s become synonymous with the holiday.

When Did Human Beings Start Using Containers?

Does Drinking a Hot Drink Really Cool You Down?

It sounds like an old wives' tale, but hot drinks really can make you cooler.

How Do Scientists Measure the Speed of Light?

Simply put: They dont.

Can the Electoral College Reverse the Results of an Election?

Every four years, people talk about the oddness of the Electoral College, often leading to questions of whether it can change or reverse the results of an election.

Why Do We Get a Lump in Our Throats Before We Cry?

When you're sad, so angry you could cry, or trying not to weep at that ASPCA commercial (again)...

Why Do Politicians Kiss Babies?

“The parent who always expects the baby to be kissed, and the person who feels bound to kiss every baby that comes within reach are equally foolish and obnoxious characters."

How Bad Is it to Go Weeks Without Washing Your Office Coffee Mug?

Also: Think twice before washing it with a communal kitchen sponge.

Is It Illegal to Take a Voting Booth Selfie?

You might want to think twice before whipping out your iPhone and snapping a pic at the polls, or even from your couch, this year.

Why Do Criminals Go “On The Lam”?

Call us mint jelly ...

What Happens to the President’s Twitter Account When He Leaves Office?

The next POTUS will inherit Barack Obama's followers, but not his tweets.

If Oxygen Masks on Airlines Have Empty Bags, Where is the Oxygen Stored?

Humans and airplanes both need oxygen, but high speed airliners operate much more efficiently at high altitudes where the air is thinner.

Few follicles cause as much stress as a synophrys, the medical term for a unibrow.

What Is a Unibrow? (And What's the Best Way to Remove It?)

Ever wonder why some people manage to rock a unibrow and some don't? Or what you can do to alleviate a unibrow making you look perpetually annoyed? We have answers.