MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

The Reason So Many Charities Ask for $19 Per Month

The number may seem random, but there's a clever reason why so many charity commercials list $19 a month as the default donation amount.

The Reason Grocery Store Bakeries Sell Fresh Bread in Brown Paper Bags

Paper bags let in more air than plastic, but supermarkets still use the material to sell fresh bread for a good reason.

What Does Goodbye Actually Mean?

You’re not really wishing someone a good ‘bye.’ ‘Bye’ is just an abbreviation—and ‘good’ is sort of a mistake.

Team USA's Nathan Chen during his gold medal-winning free skate at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Do Olympic Figure Skaters Have to License the Music They Skate To?

Nathan Chen won gold against a backdrop of Elton John songs. But who shelled out for the music license?

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/iStock via Getty Images

What Do the Numbers on Gas Pump Buttons Mean?

Whether you automatically press the 87 button at the gas pump or opt for a higher grade, this is what your fuel's octane rating measures.

Sweden's Oskar Eriksson delivers the stone during a mixed doubles match against Norway at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

What Are Those Red and Green Lights on Curling Stones?

Olympic curling stones are pretty self-policing—here's what those green and red lights can tell you.

U.S. freeskier Alexander Hall in the big air final at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Why Do Some Olympic Freeskiers Compete Without Ski Poles?

Freeskiers have been making their own rules since the inception of their sport. Here’s the skinny on why some choose to forgo the poles.

Netherlands' Suzanne Schulting and China's Qu Chunyu during a 500-meter short-track quarter-final at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Why Do Speed Skaters Wear Glasses?

Skiers and snowboarders have to contend with sun and snow—speed skaters don’t. So what are their glasses for?

U.S. biathlete Jake Brown at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Why Do Olympic Skiers Wear Tape on Their Faces?

It’s kinesiology tape, usually used to relieve muscle pain. But Olympic athletes co-opted it for another purpose.

Russia's Alina Zagitova, gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Why Don’t Figure Skaters Get Dizzy?

Figure skaters have the same neurological processes that cause dizziness in the rest of us. Here’s how they counteract them.

"Sweepers" clear the ice after Yuzuru Hanyu's short program at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Why Do People Throw Stuffed Animals at Figure Skaters?

Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu probably has enough plush Winnie the Poohs to open a store. But he’s not the only skater who gets stuffed animals—here’s why.

Why Do Snow Piles Take Forever to Melt?

It's warm, sunny, and nearly spring. Giant piles of nasty, filthy snow are still lining your streets. What gives?

Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals helmets set up at the Super Bowl Experience the week before the game.

The Super Bowl Is a Week Late This Year—Here’s Why

If you think it’s weird that this year’s Super Bowl is set for the day before Valentine’s Day, you’re right. Here’s what happened.

An 1875 illustration by artist Jules David.

How Did ‘The Gilded Age’ Get Its Name?

The time period that inspired HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ was opulent—but its golden veneer masked something less glamorous.

How do I tell if thee is a sonnet? Let me count the lines.

Poem vs. Sonnet: What’s the Difference?

Plenty of poems are love poems. Why aren’t all of them considered sonnets? In short, rhyme scheme, length, and structure.

A sign outside Amazon's Seattle headquarters.

Why ‘Relentless.com’ Redirects to Amazon

Amazon’s original name was actually ‘Cadabra.’ And that was far from the only moniker that Jeff Bezos considered.

‘FDA Cleared’ vs. ‘FDA Approved’: What’s the Difference?

FDA approval and FDA clearance aren’t used for the same products—but they’re both valid messages to see on packaging.

Why Does Fake Jewelry Turn Your Skin Green?

Learning how to stop a ring from turning your finger green is easy. So is understanding why it happens in the first place.

ZIP codes hold the answer to getting you your junk mail as quickly as possible.

Why Do We Use ZIP Codes?

The five- to nine-digit code that gets letters to their destinations started with a man who would become known as "Mr. Zip."

Do Camels Really Store Water in Their Humps?

Where do camels store water? The humps may be the most obvious answer—but that doesn’t mean it’s correct.

Aldi's 'Aisle of Shame' has become an internet sensation.

Aldi's 'Aisle of Shame,' Explained

Grocery chain Aldi has inspired devotion for one specific section of its stores that shoppers obsess over and make bird sounds in. Really.

The Real Reason Kate Middleton Isn’t Known as “Princess Catherine”

When Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot, she didn’t become “Princess Kate.” Here’s why not.

How to Poop in the Woods, According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Embrace your inner ursine and learn how to foul the Adirondacks like a pro, courtesy of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

This kid might be slaying the hill, but he's not sleighing it.

Sleigh vs. Sled: What's the Difference?

You might call anything you use to shoot down a snow-covered hill a sled, but there are some things that separate the two. Like reindeer.

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