MF Explains It All

Squeaky shoes can happen for a number of reasons, including friction and moisture. But whether they fart or squeak, here are a few things you can do about that noisy footwear.

Space has a starting point, but where it begins is still a topic of debate for experts.

Some experts believe the Kármán Line is the deciding factor, but others aren't in agreement about where the frontier of space really begins.

The bison and bald eagle have been chosen to represent the U.S. Here's why.

There's an ice cream impostor lurking in grocery stores. Here's why it matters.

A mushy pickle isn’t always a sign the food has gone bad. Here’s how to tell if your pickles are no longer safe to eat.

The phrase dates back to the 1960s, and has more than one meaning.

Here's some helpful information about where chipmunks and squirrels live, what they eat, what sounds they make, and how to tell them apart visually.

'IJBOL' (for 'I just burst out laughing') is an acronym. 'LMAO' is an initialism.

Here's everything you need to know about the difference between acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms.

If you’ve ever found yourself chuckling at the angry man-heads on human babies in medieval art, the joke is actually on you.

Patient portals unfortunately aren't yet of the teleportal variety.

Here’s everything you ever wondered about ‘stat’: its meaning, its origins, and whether ER doctors really shout it all the time.

It’s not one you’re likely to use in everyday conversation—but you will find it in an dictionary.

Spoiler alert: Despite what you might have heard, it’s not ‘antidisestablishmentarianism.’

A spoonful of sugar would definitely taste a lot better.

There's a reason that cough syrup you're trying to choke down tastes like cherry.

We can thank Shakespeare for popularizing it, sort of.

Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare wasn’t the one who invented this common idiom. But trying to unravel its origins will land you in a bit of a tricky situation.

“Pomp and Circumstance,” also popularly known as “The Graduation March,” is typically used during graduation processionals. Here’s why.

The reason maple syrup bottles have little handles involves the word 'skeuomorph.'

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn. The reason isn’t because Scotland is a nation of unicorn lovers; rather, it’s thanks to the country’s bygone kings.

If you think 'Wi-Fi' stands for 'wireless fidelity,' you should read this.

We don’t know a lot about where the phrase came from.

The phrase has evolved somewhat since its first uses—and its origin is something of a mystery.

A pixelated version of an illustration by Édouard-Henri Avril from the 1824 book ‘De figuris Veneris.’

The origins of the phrase 'missionary position' involve Alfred Kinsey, some shoddy research, and zero actual missionaries.

Have a pet? Prepare to pony up some serious cash.

Owning a cat or dog can cost a lot of money. And inflation isn't the only reason vet bills have gotten so expensive.

Before the word was used to describe hit movies, ‘blockbusters’ was a nickname for a highly destructive bomb.

Coyotes can sometimes look like wolves from a distance—but there are some key differences between the two species.

Taylor Swift is just the latest in a long line of musicians who like to employ a “fade-out,” where the song gets gradually quieter in the closing seconds.

Red foxes in particular are very adaptable carnivores.

Uncover the unique culinary preferences of foxes, including the differences in what rural vs. urban foxes eat and how red foxes fit into the equation.

Why Are My Shoes Squeaky?

Where Does Space Begin?

What Are the National Animals of the United States?

Ice Cream vs. Frozen Dairy Dessert: What’s the Difference?

Why Is My Pickle Limp?

Why Do We Call Things “Hot Button” Issues?

Chipmunks vs. Squirrels: What’s the Difference?

Acronym vs. Initialism: What’s the Difference?

Why Do Babies in Medieval Paintings Look So Scary?

Why Does ‘Stat’ Mean “Immediately”?

What’s the Longest Word in English?

Here’s Why So Many Medicines Are Cherry-Flavored

Why Do We Say ‘In a Pickle’?

Why ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ Became the Soundtrack of American Graduations

Why Do So Many Maple Syrup Bottles Have a Tiny Little Handle?

Why Is the Unicorn Scotland’s National Animal?

What Does ‘Wi-Fi’ Stand For? It’s Complicated

What Does the Phrase ‘Keep It Under Your Hat’ Mean?

The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase ‘Missionary Position’

The Many Reasons Why Your Vet Bills Are Rising

Why Do We Call Hit Movies ‘Blockbusters’?

Wolves vs. Coyotes: What’s the Difference?

Why Do Some Songs Fade Out at the End?

What Do Foxes Eat?