MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Arenas and stadiums have some key differences.

What’s the Difference Between an Arena and a Stadium?

Seating capacity is just one part of it.

How Do Streets Get Named?

While developers can feel free to submit any name they’d like for a new street, cities usually have guidelines and standards.

Is It Safe to Eat Snow?

Fresh snow might look tasty, but just because it looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is.

The Reason Why You Can’t Drink Airplane Bathroom Water

Glugging tap water on a plane is a terrible idea.

Why Do We Use the Word ‘Mug’ as a Synonym for ‘Face’?

How a love of drinking and Britain’s 18th-century Toby jugs might have inspired the slang word for ‘face.’

Why Is Australia Both a Country And a Continent?

The definition of a continent isn't as concrete as you might expect, but a few qualities help earn Australia that distinction.

Fire trucks are a common sight at ambulance calls.

Why Do Fire Trucks Come When You Call for an Ambulance?

Why does the fire department show up for emergency calls if nothing is on fire?

The Scientific Reason Cheddar Cheese Tastes So Good

That delicious bowl of cheddar soup is really a big bowl of (good) bacteria.

Disc vs. Disk: What’s the Difference?

Deciding to write 'disc' or 'disk' depends on what kind of disc it is. Sometimes.

Eating good food can leave you lighter in the wallet.

The Reason Healthy Food Is Often More Expensive Than Junk Food

Eating well often comes at a premium price. Here’s why.

Here's What the 'A' Button Does in Your Car

Worried about pressing strange buttons in your new car? Us, too. But you'll probably like this one.

It‘s best to have dry oven mitts before taking anything out of the oven.

Why You Should Never Use a Wet Oven Mitt

Oven mitts allow us to handle delicious hot things, but using one that's not totally dry can result in kitchen mishaps.

Why Does the New Year Start on January 1?

Ever wonder why the new year officially starts on January 1? Turns out, you can thank Pope Gregory XIII—and Julius Caesar.

Here’s how to stop those post-shower sweats.

The Reason You Sweat After a Shower—and How to Stop It

Breaking out in a sweat after you take a hot shower is normal, but there are steps you can take to prevent it.

Sorry, Web Scholars: Reading Print Is Better for Comprehension

A meta-analysis found a greatly reduced level of information retention when people got their data from screens instead of physical books.

Why Is the Space Needle Shaped Like That?

Seattle’s iconic Space Needle debuted at the 1962 World’s Fair—and was inspired by America's Space Race with the Soviet Union.

What did Scrooge mean when he said “Bah! Humbug!” anyway?

What Does “Bah, Humbug!” Actually Mean?

The meaning of ‘Bah, humbug!’ is a little more layered than what people normally attribute to Ebenezer Scrooge of ‘A Christmas Carol.’

Where the ‘nog’ came from is a bit of a mystery.

How Did Eggnog Get Its Name?

The ‘egg’ part of ‘eggnog’ is obvious. The ‘nog’ is a little more mysterious—possibly involving noggins and/or grog.

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley are coming for you this Christmas (and "Last Christmas").

A Brief History of Whamageddon—the Game that Forces You to Avoid Hearing Wham!’s “Last Christmas”

“Last Christmas” is now the centerpiece of a growing holiday tradition based around ... not listening to it.

What Are Frankincense and Myrrh, Anyway?

Frankincense and myrrh are a fragrant part of traditional Christmas celebrations, but what exactly are these pebble-like perfumes?

Ho, Ho, No: The Reason So Many Kids Cry When Meeting Santa

Some children love meeting Santa. Others believe they're meeting the devil himself. Why?

Even a pair of siblings might not really know the difference.

Eldest vs. Oldest: What’s the Difference?

We often use ‘eldest’ and ‘oldest’ interchangeably, but the words shouldn’t be swapped out so easily. Here's how to use each.

Relaxing for some, headache-inducing for others.

Why Does Red Wine Give Some People Headaches?

Some people can drink a lot of wine without ill effect. Others are on the couch after a glass. Science might know why.

How Much Would It Cost to Live on Sesame Street in Real Life?

A home on Sesame Street may have been affordable when the show premiered, but that's no longer the case.

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