June 2012
63 posts
What Is the Mystery Flavor of Dum Dums?
Another one of life’s big questions answered.
Quiz: Birth Control Brand or Star Wars Character?
Can you tell which is which?
When a Mosquito Sucks Too Much Blood
Mosquito image via Shutterstock
Blood pressure makes a mosquito’s meal easier by helping to fill its stomach faster, but urban legend says it can also lead to their doom. Story goes, you can flex a muscle close to the bite site or stretch your skin taut so the mosquito can’t pull out its proboscis and your blood pressure will fill the bug until it bursts. The consensus among entomologists seems...
Why Are There Different Names for the Same...
Germany image via Shutterstock
Why do we call other countries by names they do not use themselves?
What Does That Dangly Thing in the Back of Your...
Mouth image via Shutterstock
Scientists have spent centuries puzzling over the uvula’s function.
May 2012
54 posts
5 Signs Humans Are Still Evolving
Sign #1: We’re losing our wisdom teeth.
Crazy Variations on the Bicycle
To celebrate the end of National Bike Month, here are some alternative bikes you might see on the road one day.
Why Pluto Isn't a Planet
Everyone remembers where they were when they heard Pluto was no longer a planet. This video explains what led modern astronomers to that decision.
Quiz: Tip for Managing Millennials or Advice for...
There have been countless articles about how to manage “Millennials.” Sometimes it sounds like these eager, technology-loving employees are from another planet. Or puppies! Can you tell whether the tip is for dealing with a younger worker or raising a young dog?
Take the Quiz: Tip for Managing Millennials or Advice for Puppy Owners?
31 Acronyms and Initials All Spelled Out
For the past few weeks, every time I saw an acronym or initials, I took a picture. You know the brands, authors, and pieces of legislation, but do you know what all those letters stand for?
Arlington National Cemetery Was Built on Robert E....
UPI/Kevin Dietsch/LANDOV
Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs wanted to make sure the place was uninhabitable if the Lees ever tried to return. He ordered the graves placed as close to the mansion as possible.
More: The Scandalous History of Arlington National Cemetery
10 Things to Remember About Memorial Day
© Jeff Spielman/Corbis
In 2000, Congress established a National Moment of Remembrance, which asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3pm in an act of national unity. The time was chosen because 3pm is “the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday.”
Here’s a handy 10-pack of facts to give the holiday some perspective.
In 1992 Nickelodeon buried a time capsule that...
Joey Lawrence tossed in a hat that said “Whoa!” on it.
Thankfully this is all on YouTube.
30 Famous People With Law Degrees
Law degree image via Shutterstock
Second-guessing your career choice? You’re not alone. These people ditched their law degrees in favor of other pursuits — quite successful ones at that.
Neil Gaiman’s Commencement Speech on Creative...
“Nothing I did, where the only reason for doing it was the money, was ever worth it except as bitter experience. Usually I didn’t end up getting the money either. The things I did because I was excited and wanted to see them exist in reality have never let me down, and I’ve never regretted the time I’ve spent on any of them. The problems of failure are hard; the problems of success can be harder,...
Tomorrow is Geek Pride Day. There are prizes...
To celebrate, go try to win stuff.
Why Do Beans Make You Fart?
Baked beans image via Shutterstock
Matt Soniak explains why beans are the musical fruit.
Why Are Some Potato Chips Green?
Short answer: Chlorophyll.
Longer answer here.
Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Brain Damage?
Woodpecker image via Shutterstock
If you or I bump our heads hard enough on a hunk of wood, it might smart for a while. But to get through an average day, a woodpecker might ram its head into a tree trunk at a speed of 6 or 7 meters per second some 12,000 times without seeming the least bit bothered by it. What is going on here?
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Eye image via Shutterstock
A look at those tiny, oddly shaped objects that sometimes appear in your vision.
