Answers »
Why Proper Sterlization Procedures are Used During Lethal Injections
Jeremy R. asks: Why do they bother sterilizing the needles when executing people? Besides the fact that manufacturers sterilize the needles (so no real extra effort is needed), other sterilization procedures are also used
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Where the Word “Sneeze” Came From and the Origin of “Nothing to Sneeze At”
Martin A. asks: Where did the expression “nothing to sneeze at” come from? For that matter, why is sneezing called sneezing? Thanks! As with so many etymologies, it’s difficult to definitively say exactly where
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Who Is Stanley and Why is There a Cup Named After Him?
S. Katz asks: Who is Stanley and why is there a cup named after him? Thanks! The oldest championship trophy in professional sports in North America, the Stanley Cup’s rich history is only matched
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The Green Children of Woolpit
Crystal asks: Is there any truth to the story of the “Green Children of Woolpit”? English folklore is filled with green people – the Green Knight, green fairies, the Green Man and Jack-in-the-Green. Two
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The Truth About Aspartame and Your Health
Our resident medical expert, Scott, and a buddy of his recently started The Medicine Journal, where you can learn all sorts of interesting facts about all things medical related. Below is a sample article
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Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
Jennifer asks: I’ve read that vaccines cause autism and that they don’t. What’s the truth with this? In 1998, there was a groundbreaking study telling parents that their children were at risk of getting
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What A “Bane” Is
Meghan asks: In “The bane of my existence” what is a bane? The phrase “the bane of my existence” is extremely popular, and you’ve probably said it once or twice yourself, perhaps about a
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Why Don’t Commercial Airplanes Have Parachutes for Passengers?
BR522 asks: Why aren’t commercial airplanes have parachutes? Seatbelts and airbags in cars save passengers lives. Parachutes save people who, for a variety of reasons, exit a plane in mid-flight. So why aren’t parachutes
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When Did Teen Girls Stop Commonly Getting Married?
Jamie M asks: When did having young teenage girls marry stop being so widespread? A long, long time ago. Marriage in the Ancient World In the Western world (and generally speaking) before imperial Rome,
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The Difference Between Brown and White Eggs
Harriet W. asks: What is the difference between brown and white eggs? There are all sorts of rumours surrounding brown eggs and white eggs. Some people say that brown eggs are better for you
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What Causes Morning Sickness
Laury asks: What causes morning sickness? Most mothers will tell you that “morning sickness” is a misnomer, and that it should really be called “all day sickness.” In fact, it’s sometimes called “nausea and
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The Surprising Truth About Cousins and Marriage
Jamie M. asks: When did people stop thinking it was OK to marry your cousin? In modern western society, marrying your cousin is not well accepted, particularly in the United States. Through a combination
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Why the Standard Retirement Age Is Set Where It’s At
Sheel P. asks: How was the official retirement age for people first determined? The idea of “retirement” from working is a relatively recent one in the Western world. In fact, even at the end
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The Differences Between British and American English
Thandi asks: What are some key differences between the UK English and US English? Most people are well aware of some of the more obvious differences between British and American English. For instance, American
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What Exactly is Malt?
Ryan asks: What exactly is malt? For millions of drinkers, it is perhaps the most important ingredient in the world. Malt, Exactly Malt is the product that is left over after a cereal grain
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Why Hubble Has a Telescope Named After Him
Nissi U. asks: Why is the Hubble telescope called that? Just about everyone has heard of the Hubble Space Telescope. A space-based observatory on “the highest mountain” the world can provide; it is the
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Why Japan is Called the Land of the Rising Sun
Noah asks: Why is Japan called the land of the rising sun? Ancient, China developed all of the hallmarks of advanced civilization, including written language, advanced cities, specialized labor and bronze technology, as much
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Why There Is No E in the A-F Grading Scale
Shany asks: Why is there no E in the grading scale? Some schools do hand out E letter grades instead of an F, but they are in the minority. A majority of schools in
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