MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

An illustration of human skeletons from an 1851 encyclopedia.

How Many Bones Are There in the Human Body?

While there's a common answer to the number of bones contained within the human body, it's not exactly accurate.

It's not even close to being this glamorous.

How Do Oysters Make Pearls?

It sometimes starts with a grain of sand—but not always.

How Many Teeth Do Sharks Have?

The answer to how many teeth a shark has is surprisingly complicated.

The Reason a Child's Car Seat Has an Expiration Date

It's not because manufacturers want to keep selling you car seats.

What Are Those Plastic Strips Hanging Off Truck Wheels?

The curious truck accessory may have caught your eye on the road. Here's how a tiny plastic strip keeps drivers safe.

Bookcase vs. Bookshelf: What's the Difference?

That unread copy of 'Ulysses' you bought to impress your friends needs to go somewhere.

Subconscious vs. Unconscious: What’s the Difference?

To Sigmund Freud, there wasn’t one. But the terms aren’t always cited as synonyms.

Why Is Latin a Dead Language?

Latin may be a dead language, but it’s far from extinct.

The Reason So Many Credit Card Companies Are Based in Delaware

Your credit card probably has a return address in Delaware. That's because the second smallest state in the country has some of the biggest corporate perks.

This could be you ... but only if you work for UPS.

UPS Won’t Let Their Delivery Vehicles Be Resold—Here’s Why

You can’t take your UPS driver Halloween costume to the next level by cruising around in an actual UPS truck.

Why Is It Called a Cesarean Section?

It may have something to do with Julius Caesar, but the story isn’t that straightforward.

The Reason UPS Drivers Always Leave Their Doors Open

UPS trucks do have passenger doors, but you almost never see them closed—for a good reason.

A little lad relieving himself is the Renaissance-era version of the peeing Calvin bumper sticker.

Why Are There So Many Ancient Fountains Featuring Little Boys Peeing?

Modern guidebooks offer nearly a dozen different explanations for why Brussels' 'Mannekin Pis' statue is relieving himself.

It's fallen out of fashion to use hydrogen peroxide on cuts, thankfully.

Why Hydrogen Peroxide Always Comes in a Brown Bottle

OK, occasionally you will see it in a white bottle—but probably not a see-through one.

Why Was June Chosen As LGBTQ Pride Month?

Answering “When is Pride Month?” takes one word: June. Why it’s June, on the other hand, is more of a short story.

Queen Elizabeth II in her signature three-strand pearl necklace.

Why Queen Elizabeth II Always Wore Pearls

Queen Elizabeth II's perennial strings of pearls were part of a long-standing royal tradition.

Seattle residents use air conditioning at half the rate of the national average.

It's Summer, But Many Seattle Residents Are Opting Out of Air Conditioning—Here's Why

Even in the dead heat of summer, stoic Seattle residents beg off on AC. Here's why.

Not the cookies you want to be thinking about all the time.

How to Block Those Annoying Cookie Banners That Follow You From Website to Website

You shouldn’t have to accept cookies a million times a day. Here’s how to stop it.

LA landlords expect tenants to provide their own appliance.

The Reason So Many Los Angeles Apartments Don't Come With Refrigerators

LA renters have come to expect they'll need to BYOF (Bring Your Own Fridge) when renting. Here's why.

She's dreaming about a giant insect melting into goo.

What Exactly Is a Fever Dream?

The meaning of your fever dream is probably just this: You have a fever.

Fire trucks are red because we expect them to be.

Why Are Fire Trucks Red?

The sight of a red fire truck will catch your eye, but it's not the reason emergency vehicles are painted scarlet.

Name your horse Odor in the Court and you'll probably stand out.

'Hoof Hearted': The Reason Racehorses Have Such Weird Names

Racehorse names may honor a pedigree, a First Lady, or make a fart joke.

The Simple Way to Deactivate Your Twitter Account for Good

The hardest part of not having Twitter in your life is actually deleting your Twitter account. Luckily, the process is easy.

U-Haul fleets have Arizona plates. But why?

The Reason Every U-Haul Truck Has an Arizona License Plate

It doesn't matter what state you rent a U-Haul truck in.

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