BIG QUESTIONS

Why Do Your Dog's Feet Smell Like Popcorn?

You're not crazy—your dog's feet really are snack-food scented.

Do Fish Really Have a Three-Second Memory?

Modern myth would have you believe that goldfish can't remember anything that happened more than three seconds ago and, hence, their lives are filled with the constant excitement of never-before-seen sights and sounds.

Can Soap Get Dirty?

We all know washing our hands is important, but, like washcloths and towels, can the bars of hand soap we use to clean ourselves become dirty as well?

In Space, Can Anyone Hear You Scream?

"In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream." That was the tagline for the movie Alien, Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi/horror masterpiece. Released two years earlier, Star Wars allowed us to hear plenty of things in space, like the whine of TIE fighter engines and

The Origin of the Gatorade Shower

Bill Parcells was one of the first coaches to be doused with celebratory Gatorade after a win. But who came up with the idea? Here are the answers to some burning questions about this fairly new tradition.

Why Did Kamikaze Pilots Wear Helmets?

This is sort of a trick question, as they technically didn’t wear “helmets,” but leather “flight caps” that covered the head and ears. These kept the pilots from getting too cold or going deaf while flying with their cockpit canopies open, which they some

Can I Unlock Other People's Cars With My Remote?

Jason English, our esteemed editor, wonders, "How many other Camrys would my remote unlock? Is it really 1:1, or is there a chance my fob would open a Camry in Phoenix or Toronto?"

Why Does the NFL Have a Two-Minute Warning?

The two-minute warning comes up at the end of each half in every NFL football game. Most fans take it for granted, but why does the NFL stop the clock with two minutes or so left in each half? Is it just so the NFL can sneak an extra commercial break in

Why Are Barns Often Painted Red?

Beginning with the earliest American settlements and continuing into the 18th century, most barns weren't painted at all. So when did they become red?

How Do Countries Choose Which Side They Drive On?

Chaos has descended this week on the tiny Pacific island of Samoa after government officials decided to force the entire nation to switch sides of the road on Monday. While Samoan officials insist there have been no accidents as a result of asking drivers

Why is 10:10 the Default Setting for Clocks and Watches?

First things first, let's get the myths out of the way.

Why Do the English Hate the French?

Today's Big Question.

15 Film Production Credits Explained

Ever wonder what all those strange credits are when they roll by at the end of a film? From Gaffer to Boom Operator, here's some production roles to know

Why Do We Say "Cheese" When We're Having Our Photo Taken?

At one London photo studio, the precursor to "say cheese" was actually "say prunes," to help sitters form a small mouth.

Why Do Clothes Shrink in the Wash?

It's an everyday tragedy of the modern world: you have a favorite piece of clothing that fits just so, but when it comes out of the wash, it's shrunk.

What Is Catnip and Why Are Cats Crazy For It?

The stuff that drives your kitten crazy goes by the Latin name 'Nepeta cataria.'

Obscenity vs. Profanity vs. Vulgarity: What's the Difference?

The Dilemma: You just stubbed your toe or opened your 401(k) statement and you want to let loose with some language that would make a sailor blush. Which category do those colorful words fall under?

Can Opera Singers Really Shatter Glass?

Saturday morning cartoons would have us believe that anyone in a dress and Viking helmet can shatter wine glasses, monocles and even the opera house chandelier with one powerful high note.

How Does Scratch and Sniff Work?

Scratch and sniff was born of the noble endeavor of making copies. In the dark ages before word processors, inkjet printers, and the Xerox machine, copies of documents were made by placing carbon paper between the sheet you were typing on and the sheet th

How Did Hypercolor Shirts Work?

Readers of a certain age might remember Hypercolor or Hypergrafix clothing, the color-changing T-shirts produced by Generra that were all the rage in the early '90s. Now that the '90s are back, it's a good time to finally figure out the science behind the

Who Pays for the Obama Family's Food?

Like all presidents, Barack Obama and his family will have to pay for their own food while they're living in the White House. But does someone actually send them a bill? How does this system work?

How Do Fire Eaters Eat Fire?

Very carefully. No, I'm not being a smart aleck; fire eaters, from fakirs to sideshow performers, have very few secrets about their craft.

Who Was Ponzi & What Was His Scheme?

Investigators are trying to figure out whether the financial fraud allegedly perpetrated by Bernard L. Madoff was, in fact, the largest Ponzi scheme in history. The alleged scam, which cost investors $50 billion, sounds like a classic Ponzi racket. But

Everything You Wanted to Know About the Electoral College But Were Afraid to Ask

Who makes up the Electoral College? Where and when does the Electoral College vote? What happens if no candidate received 270 electoral votes? And all your other Electoral College questions answered.

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