MF Explains It All

You set your washing machine for a 50-minute cycle. Sixty minutes later, it's still spinning. Here's why it lies to you.

Grocery stores don't like to let in natural light.

Supermarkets don't let in much—if any—natural light. It's another example of how retailers mess with your mind.

Hotels like to use white sheets and towels.

Hotel guests are almost always treated to vibrant white sheets. And no, it's not because it's easier to see bedbugs.

It’s not that your parents are bad at remembering names, it’s that they’re storing all your names in the same place.

Self-cleaning ovens are meant to spare users the hassle of manual cleaning.

You may not use the self-cleaning feature on your oven. If you do, be aware that it gets very, very hot and can kill your pet bird. (Seriously.)

If your bone china dinnerware is what it claims to be, it probably contains more than a little powdered cow.

Transplants from other parts of the country may notice that basements are uncommon in many Texas homes. The reason for the real estate quirk has to do with the state's unique terrain.

The iconic brass pole has been a fixture of fire departments for more than a century, but it might be more dangerous than it's worth.

A 19th-century illustration of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. Or are they emigrants?

Understanding the difference between ‘immigrate’ and ‘emigrate’ requires a fun little dive into the world of Latin prefixes.

Retail stores want to give you plenty of overhead space. There's a scientific reason why.

There's a surprising reason stores like consumers to have plenty of space above their heads. According to science, it's giving them room to think.

Jeans sometimes have a fake pocket. There are reasons for that, but not they're not necessarily good ones.

The illusion of a pocket has a lot to do with gender biases, fitting rooms, and the habits of the fashion industry.

Cats can often be found munching on plastic items, especially bags. Here's why they do it, and why they shouldn't.

A post-vaccine thumbs up is recommended.

Can you take Tylenol after your COVID-19 vaccine? What should you do with your vaccination card? Answers to those and more burning questions.

The origins of phrases aren’t always very clear, but this one is—and it all started with carnival barkers.

Being called a 'guest' of a retail business is not really grammatically correct.

Step into a Target or Walgreens and you might be labeled a 'guest.' The practice probably started for a very Goofy reason.

Butter and margarine are made from different ingredients, but that doesn't automatically make one product healthier than the other.

Many restaurants keep a basket full of carbs on the table. Why are so many eateries eager to serve up filling—and free—food?

View of the World, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

The shingled, domed-shaped salt storage structures you see on the side of the highway are an example of clever design.

Coats and jackets living together in harmony.

Though not everyone recognizes the technical difference between coats and jackets, Lands’ End definitely does.

It's actually less flashy than it looks.

Stainless steel rear doors are a pretty common sight on truck-heavy highways, but the surfaces are not all smooth.

Numbers stamped inside of eyeglass frames tell a story about your eyewear needs.

Most prescription glasses come with a series of numbers stamped inside of the frame. Here's how to read them.

In March 2021, digital artist Beeple sold a JPG of Everydays: The First 5000 Days for a record-setting $69.3 million.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those who know what an NFT is, those who don't, and those who don't care.

In 1920, an Eastern Michigan University football referee named Lloyd Olds got tired of being mistaken for an open teammate.

A hairy situation in more ways than one.

The FDA Food Code recommends food service employees wear “hair restraints,” but it might be more for appearance’s sake than safety.

Why Washing Machine Timers Get It Wrong

The Reason You Rarely See Windows in Grocery Stores

The Reason Hotel Sheets and Towels Are Almost Always White

When Your Mom Mistakenly Calls You By Your Sibling’s Name, It’s Because She Loves You

How Do Self-Cleaning Ovens Work?

Does Bone China Contain Any Actual Bone? The Answer Might Unnerve You

Why Many Houses in Texas Don't Have Basements

Why the Fire Pole Is Beginning to Disappear

Immigrate vs. Emigrate: What’s the Difference?

The Reason Retail Stores Have Such High Ceilings

The Reason Dresses and Jeans Have Fake Pockets

Why Cats Like to Chew on Plastic—and How to Stop Them

5 Important Dos and Don’ts When You’ve Gotten Your COVID-19 Vaccine

Why Do We Say 'Close, But No Cigar'?

The Reason Some Businesses Refer to Customers as Guests

Margarine vs. Butter: What’s the Difference—and Which Is Healthier?

Why Do Restaurants Serve Free Bread?

What Are Those Domes on the Side of the Highway Used For?

Coat vs. Jacket: What’s the Difference?

The Clever Reason Some Cargo Trucks Have Quilt-Patterned Rear Doors

What Those Numbers on Your Eyeglasses Mean

What Are NFTs Anyway?

Why Do Referees Wear Black and White Stripes?

Hair in Your Food Is Gross—But Is It Dangerous to Your Health?