MF Explains It All

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

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.

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.

The names ‘18-wheeler,’ ‘big rig,’ and ‘tractor-trailer’ aptly convey the size and scope of the vehicle. ‘Semi’ seems a little misleading. What gives?

Two people can, however, look at the same photo of a rainbow.

How do rainbows form? It’s all about light waves, water, and angles—and that includes the angle from which you see one.

Queen Victoria visits the HMS Resolute, a British naval ship used for Arctic exploration, in December 1856.

The Victorian era brought changes that reached far beyond England’s borders. In fact, England’s borders also reached far beyond what we now know as England’s borders.

Whether Gen Z or even Generation Alpha will carry forth the Millennial Pink torch remains to be seen, but they’re wearing a lot of hot pink lately …

Is this Bloody Mary part of the problem or solution?

The hair of the dog is one of the oldest hangover cures still around today. But can it really save you from that pounding headache?

This dog is obviously shaking because it's soaking wet.

A full-body shake after a bath is self-explanatory. But why do dogs shake so often when they’re totally dry?

One historical definition of ‘whereas’ is ‘preamble.’ But that’s probably not the one you’re looking for.

“What size turkey do I need?” is not an impossible question to answer as long as you have a headcount.

Britons may take milk in their tea for the flavor today, but that wasn't the original intention centuries ago.

The difference between jealousy and envy comes down to what’s motivating your feelings—but there’s often overlap.

The purpose of a dog’s dewclaw is often overlooked—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Here are all the details on the digit.

If you're writing a conditional statement, then you should use then.

‘More than’ or ‘more then’ isn’t a matter of opinion. But there was a time when they were interchangeable.

What does a fire department chaplain do? It all depends on where they work—here’s how they help out.

Getting a traffic ticket can be an expensive mistake. But is there a difference between a ticket and a citation? And what about a warning?

To some, Grimace is a dimwitted creature hailing from McDonaldland. To others, he looks like a ruptured scrotum. A McDonald's manager may have finally revealed what he really is.

Why does heat make you so tired? Because even if you’re just lounging around, your body is working hard.

Saying “Coffee makes me sleepy” might earn you a few puzzled looks, but there’s a science behind the phenomenon.

The figurative meaning of ‘spitting image’ couldn’t be clearer. The literal meaning depends on which linguist you ask.

They really could be immunologists, virologists, or epidemiologists.

What does an epidemiologist do? Not the same thing as an immunologist or a virologist. Here’s how to keep them straight.

mihailomilovanovic/iStock via Getty Images

Though it may be annoying, sudden muscle fatigue during exercise is nothing to worry about. It's a byproduct of the way your body uses energy.

Nelson Rockefeller (left) resigned as New York's governor after Gerald Ford (right) chose him as vice president. Rockefeller's lieutenant governor Malcolm Wilson took over.

The lieutenant governor is to the gubernatorial line of succession what the vice president is to the presidential line of succession. Yes, there are exceptions.

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

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

Sleigh vs. Sled: What's the Difference?

Why Is It Called a 'Semi Truck'?

Rainbow Disconnection: Why No Two People Can Ever See the Same Rainbow

When Exactly Was the Victorian Era?

What Exactly Is Millennial Pink, And Why Are People Still So Obsessed With It?

Can Drinking More Alcohol Cure a Hangover? The Truth Behind the Hair of the Dog

Why Do Dogs Shake Their Bodies?

Where vs. Whereas: When to Use Each One Correctly

How to Pick the Right-Sized Turkey for Your Thanksgiving Dinner

The Historic Reason Why Brits Put Milk in Their Tea

Jealousy vs. Envy: What’s the Difference?

Why Do Dogs Have Dewclaws?

Then vs. Than: When to Use Which

Why Do Fire Departments Have Chaplains?

Traffic Citation vs. Ticket: What's the Difference?

What Is Grimace? A McDonald's Manager May Have Solved the Mystery

The Reason Heat Makes You So Tired

The Reason Coffee Makes Some People Sleepy

Where Do We Get the Term Spitting Image?

Immunologist vs. Virologist vs. Epidemiologist: What’s the Difference?

The Surprising Reason Your Muscles Get Tired When You Exercise

What’s the Gubernatorial Line of Succession in the United States?