MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Why the Iowa Caucus Comes First

The Iowa caucus doesn’t always predict the presidential nominee, but it’s been an important part of the process since the 1970s.

The Reason Your Local ALDI Grocery Store Doesn’t Have a Phone Number

ALDI would rather have you look up weekly ads, store hours, and FAQs on its website—which benefits customers in the long run.

Tetiana Garkusha/iStock via Getty Images

The Reason Dogs Twitch in Their Sleep

Dogs dream during the REM cycle of sleep just like humans do, and the results can be quite adorable.

Rostislav_Sedlacek/iStock via Getty Images

The Reason Doctors Have Such Sloppy Handwriting

It seems like detail-oriented people would have good handwriting, but doctors don’t always have the time to spend on it.

You Should Never Put Batteries In Your ‘Junk’ Drawer. Here’s Why

Loose batteries—especially 9-volt batteries—can become a fire hazard in the catch-all chaos of a junk drawer.

The Reason Why Button-Down Shirts Have Loops On the Back

Those strange loops on the back of your dress shirts actually serve a purpose, though it might not be the one you think.

The Reason Traffic Lights Are Red, Yellow, and Green

Traffic lights have origins on the railways, but they weren't always red, yellow, and green. There was once a white light, and that was not such a great idea.

The Reason Why Airplane Seats Are Blue

Blue might be a soothing color, but there are a few other reasons so many airlines opt for the shade when selecting their seat fabric.

The Real Reason Bartenders Rinse Already Clean Beer Glasses Before Using Them

Luckily for all of us, especially during flu season, bartenders aren’t counting on glass rinsers for a thorough clean.

The Reason So Many Prices End in .99

It’s a clever trick that retailers use to make consumers think items cost less than they actually do.

Allan warren, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Why a King’s Wife Is the Queen, But a Queen’s Husband Isn’t the King

At 133 words long, Prince Philip’s full title included the words 'duke,' 'earl,' 'baron,' 'royal knight,' and just about every other noble designation you can think of. But the highest and perhaps most obvious moniker that was conspicuously missing: king.

Why You Should Never Charge Your Phone in Public USB Ports Without a USB Data Blocker

Public USB ports could be an easy way for hackers to steal your device’s passwords and other important data.

The Ingenious Reason Medieval Castle Staircases Were Built Clockwise

It was a pretty clever defense strategy in the Middle Ages—that is, as long as you weren’t left-handed.

The Queen makes a toast with King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in October 2018.

The Reason Queen Elizabeth II Demands Her Ice Cubes Be Round

The Queen apparently likes her drink of choice—gin mixed with Dubonnet—to be served on perfectly round rocks.

The Reason You Should Never Rinse a Turkey

Rinsing raw poultry is the worst turkey sin people commit at Thanksgiving. Here's what you should really do to minimize your salmonella risk.

H. Armstrong Roberts/iStock via Getty Images

The Great Tryptophan Lie: Eating Turkey Does Not Make You Tired

Turkey and other tryptophan-containing foods can produce melatonin, but that’s not why you’re tired on Thanksgiving.

The Best Way to Get Your Stuck Tongue Out of a Bottle

Kids who find their tongues stuck in juice bottles can experience pain, swelling, or possibly airway obstruction. A technique used to uncork wine bottles could help.

The Reason White Castle Slider Burgers Have Five Holes

The popular slider burger always has five perfect holes in the patty. The reason? The franchise likes to cook vertically.

Rattankun Thongbun/iStock via Getty Images

We've All Been Riding Escalators Wrong, According to the Manufacturers

Want to avoid an escalator accident? Forget everything you know about proper escalator rules of the road (and try to ignore the withering stares of your fellow commuters).

Where Do Cobwebs Come From?

The sticky spider streamers tend to appear in room corners. Here's why they hang around even after a spider has left the premises.

The Reason Newborn Babies Don't Produce Tears

Newborns can wail like emergency sirens, but you don't typically see them producing tears. Here's why.

The Reason Why Ships Are Often Painted Red on the Bottom

No matter the color of a vessel, the hull below the water line is often painted red. The reason has something to do with worms.

Roger Higgins, Library of Congress // Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Reason Adults Are Never Visible in Charles Schulz's Peanuts Comic Strips

The stories of Charlie Brown and his cast of supporting characters are told entirely from their kid (and dog and bird) perspectives, with adults rarely intruding on their adventures.

Here's Why You Should Always Tip Your Delivery Driver With Cash

It’s not always clear how tips get factored into delivery drivers’ wages for services like DoorDash and UberEats, so we break it down for you.

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