MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

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The Reason Why Stop Signs Are Red

The idea of red meaning "stop" dates back to British railroad regulations of the 1840s—but for a while, a dearth of fade-proof red materials meant that many American stop signs were yellow instead.

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The Surprising Reasons Why Animals Play Dead

Entering a vulnerable position may seem like the worse way to get out of an emergency, but "playing dead" can be life-saving for some animals.

The Reason Why Your Car’s Turn Signal Makes a Clicking Sound

The sound of your car's signal used to be a product of the technology, but in many modern cars, it's artificially recreated with computers.

The Reason We Celebrate Flag Day

Support for Flag Day, a sometimes-overlooked holiday, was ignited during the Civil War. But there was a commercial purpose behind it.

The Reason Dogs Dig (and How to Make Them to Stop)

If your dog is spending hours tearing up the backyard, or attempting to burrow holes into your couch, you're no doubt anxious to find a way to make it stop.

What Is Candy Corn Made Of?

Of all the candies handed out around Halloween, candy corn may be the most divisive. But even if you're a die-hard fan, you might have second thoughts about the seasonal staple after reading the ingredients list.

Team Canada's Laura Stacey of takes a bite of her gold medal after the Women's Ice Hockey Gold Medal match between Team Canada and Team United States at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Why Do Olympians Bite Their Medals?

Watch the Olympics and you might notice a number of medalists gnawing on their gold or silver prize like an old-time prospector. They already know it tastes like victory, so what's the deal?

How Hand Sanitizer Works (And Why It Isn't a Substitute for Soap)

Hand sanitizer doesn't look, smell, or feel like the stuff doctors use to clean their tools? (Or the kind we drink, for that matter.) It also doesn't physically wash dirt from your hands.

Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda star in 9 to 5 (1980).

14 Facts About 9 to 5 for Its 40th Anniversary

Whether you think of it as a statement on female empowerment or simply a fun workplace comedy, the 1980 hit '9 to 5'—which featured Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton as a trio of secretaries who turn the tables on their "sexist, egotistical, lying

The Reason You Can't Smell Your Own House

Your house smells. Don’t feel bad—everyone's abode has a distinctive odor. But not one of you could pick your own home’s aroma out of a scent lineup.

Why Engagement Rings Are Made With Diamonds

Purchasing a diamond engagement ring? You can thank a De Beers marketing campaign that started in the 1930s.

A Brief History of People Tampering With Halloween Candy

Every Halloween, adults worry that their kids will bring home dangerous and/or poisonous Halloween candy. Does it actually happen?

Londoners undergo a gas exercise for civilians, using tear gas, in 1941.

(Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Tear Gas

Militaries have been messing around with tear gas—a chemical weapon that dates back to the early 20th century—since World War I.

Firefighters battle a state of emergency.

What Does 'State of Emergency' Really Mean?

Governors across the U.S. are declaring states of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic. But what does the dire-sounding phrase really mean?