MF Explains It All

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.

'Clang, clang, clang' went the cookie tray.

Metal expands, which you can’t exactly prevent—but certain baking sheets weather the storm better than others.

Spots on eggs are a common--and usually harmless--occurrence.

Despite rigorous quality control, eggs can sometimes arrive in stores with strange bumps or discolorations. Here's how to tell when it's cause for concern.

Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, which stopped being a national landmark in 2006.

The National Park Service can revoke designation if a landmark “ceases to meet criteria.” Here’s what that means.

It's technically possible to pump gas with your car engine on, but doing so creates hazardous conditions for yourself and those around you.

A promising young restaurateur, ready to be called a restauranteur for the rest of her career.

If you’ve been spelling ‘restaurateur’ with an ‘n’ for your entire life, don't feel bad. But here’s why you’re wrong.

Tear stains on dogs are easily explained.

Matted brown or black fur under a dog's eyes is common, especially with certain breeds. Here's how it happens.

Mason jars solved a food storage problem.

John Landis Mason revolutionized food preservation in 1858. Too bad he didn't see jack in terms of money for it.

This bathroom-based practical magic is all thanks to your toilet’s siphon tube and the wonders of gravity.

An image of the March equinox taken by the GOES-13 satellite in 2013.

‘Vernal equinox’ isn’t just the technical term for the first day of spring, and 'summer solstice’ means something beyond ‘first day of summer.’

Those black lines do more than give a basketball its distinctive look—they actually make the sport easier to play.

Laurie Davidson and Francesca Hayward star in Cats (2019), a.k.a. The Worst Movie of the 2010s.

'Cats' gave viewers a lot to hate when it came out in 2019. Now, the movie musical has been named the worst film of the 2010s.

This metaphor doesn't mean what you think it means.

Anyone exceeding established boundaries of business, art, or safety is said to be 'pushing the envelope.' Why?

"The Wheels on the Bus" doesn't cover this.

Yellow school buses look extra eye-catching with black detailing, but the stripes aren’t just for design.

Bird droppings on cars are not only unsightly, they're actually little chemical attacks that can seriously damage the paint finish.

He's a little lukewarm about baths in general.

If you’re talking yeast activation or baby bath temperatures, ‘lukewarm’ might be more specific than “not hot or cold.”

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?

The Reason Why Baking Sheets Clang in the Oven—And How to Avoid It

Why Do Eggshells Sometimes Have Weird Bumps and Spots?

National Historic Landmarks Can Lose Their Status—Here’s How

Why You Should Never Let Your Car Run While Pumping Gas

Why Is There No N in Restaurateur?

The Reason Why Dogs Have Tear Stains

Who's the Mason of Mason Jar Fame?

Here’s Why Pouring Water in Your Toilet Bowl Causes an Automatic Flush

Solstice vs. Equinox: What’s the Difference?

The Smart Reason There Are Black Lines on Basketballs

It’s Official: Cats Is the Worst Movie of the 2010s

Where Does the Term 'Pushing the Envelope' Come From?

The Clever Reason Behind Those Black Lines on the Sides of School Buses

Can Bird Poop Damage Cars?

How Warm Is Lukewarm?