MF Explains It All

The answer is a bit complicated.

There‘s a scientific reason you love the smell of gas so much.

If you find the pungent aroma of gas pleasant at the pump, you're not alone. Here's why fuel tickles your brain.

‘Of course’ is one of the most versatile ‘yes’ synonyms we have. But what does it actually mean?

Spoiler alert: This ladybug isn’t actually a bug.

The difference between bugs and insects comes down to more than just semantics. Both terms have scientific definitions.

A baby corn plant and a corn plant are one and the same.

We’re all familiar with the feeling of having an idea or subject stuck in your head that makes it difficult to think about anything else. But why (and when) did we start comparing that experience to a bee buzzing around in your hat?

Airports are not exactly laptop-friendly.

TSA agents need a closer look at your computer. Here's why.

You may have never noticed the extra holes on the sides of your Chuck Taylor All-Stars, but they serve a clever purpose.

Here's how to figure it out once and for all.

All you need for this easy grammar check is a couple of pronouns you already know how to use correctly.

Here’s how to nail the pluralization of your name—even if there’s a possessive involved.

Pluralizing a last name can seem confusing—and it gets even more confusing when you want to make a name both plural and possessive. Here’s how to correctly do both.

A strong El Niño in 2016 appears like a red tongue in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

How can warm water in the Pacific Ocean affect the weather thousands of miles away? Everything is connected.

Don't press this button unless you're sure it's necessary.

The big red triangle should only be pushed in case of emergency. (And no, double-parking doesn't count.)

Bats are homographs, homophones, and homonyms.

Here’s why some homophone examples also work as homograph and homonym examples.

Plastic bags are an environmental disaster.

Technically, they really don't.

If you’re wearing jeans, you’ll probably spot some tiny metal rivets surrounding the front pockets. Like a lot of details in life, we’ve become accustomed to seeing them. So why are they there?

Getting locked out of your iPhone is frustrating. But it’s possible to solve the problem of a forgotten passcode without hiring a hypnotist.

Marylanders pledge allegiance to Old Bay.

The original Old Bay seasoning recipe had dozens of ingredients—but McCormick’s current one is shrouded in secrecy.

The location of a car's gas tank can be a guessing game.

To annoy you? Possibly. For other good reasons, like keeping you alive? Also yes.

There are a few reasons why manhole covers around round. Here's how to answer if it ever comes up.

A sign on the Hoover Dam warns of dangerous heat levels on September 16, 2022, in Boulder City, Nevada.

Heat domes are masses of hot air trapped within the atmosphere by high pressure. And they're becoming more common, thanks to climate change.

How does this image of a lotus pod make you feel?

Many people report fearing clusters of holes. If you're one of them, this post is for you. But don't say we didn't warn you.

There are more than 500 pubs in the United Kingdom called The Red Lion. It all traces back to King James VI and I.

Microwave popcorn bags are often covered in words—here’s why you should pay attention to “This Side Up.”

Putting diesel in a gas-powered car can be an expensive mistake.

Depending on how much diesel you’ve poured into the tank, there’s a good to fair chance you will need a mechanic to drain your car’s fuel system.

Are There Any Synonyms for the Word ‘Synonym’?

There’s a Scientific Reason Why Some People Love the Smell of Gasoline

Why Does ‘Of Course’ Mean ‘Yes’?

What’s the Difference Between Bugs and Insects?

What Is Baby Corn, Anyway?

The Origins of the Phrase ‘Bee in Your Bonnet’

The Real Reason You Need to Take Your Laptop Out at Airport Security

The Reason Your Converse Sneakers Have Extra Holes on the Side

A Simple Trick for Remembering When To Use ‘Who’ vs. ‘Whom’

To Apostrophe or Not to Apostrophe: How to Pluralize Your Last Name

What Is El Niño, and Why Does It Have Such a Big Impact?

Steer Clear: When You Should (and Shouldn't) Use Your Car's Hazard Lights

Homonym vs. Homophone vs. Homograph: What’s the Difference?

How Long Does It Really Take for a Plastic Bag to Decompose?

The Riveting Reason Blue Jeans Have Those Little Metal Studs Over the Pockets

Forgot Your Passcode? There's a Way to Unlock Your iPhone Without It

What Is Old Bay Seasoning, Anyway?

Why Aren't Car Gas Tanks Always on the Same Side?

The Reason Why Manhole Covers Are Round

What Is a Heat Dome?

What Is Trypophobia (And Is It Real)?

The Reason So Many British Pubs Are Named ‘The Red Lion’

The Scientific Reason You Should Microwave Popcorn With “This Side Up”

Here’s Why Confusing Diesel With Gas at the Pump Is a Problem