Answers »
Where Did the Expression “Let the Cat Out of the Bag” Come From?
Ryan asks: Where did the phrase “let the cat out of the bag” come from? The famous humorist and writer Will Rogers once said, “Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole
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Why Does the New Year Begin on January First in Many Countries?
Jamie asks: Why is New Year’s day January 1st? Because Julius Caesar said so. Early Roman Calendar Since long before Caesar’s time, date keeping was dicey. In fact, the 355-day Roman calendar that immediately
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Why the NFL is Tax-Exempt
John K. asks: I heard that the NFL is tax-exempt. Why is this when they make billions every year? The NFL made over nine billion dollars this past year in gross revenue. That is
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Why Is Ketchup Red and Mustard Yellow?
Jason asks: Why is ketchup red and mustard yellow? Although in other food traditions, ketchup and mustard may be different colors, in classic American cuisine, ketchup is red and mustard is yellow. Here’s why:
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How the Axis and the Allies in WWII Got Their Names
Derek asks: Why were the two groups in WWII called the Axis and the Allies? Marking the two main groups of belligerents in the Second World War (1939-1945), the Axis and the Allies slugged
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How Can People Be Held in Contempt after Invoking the 5th Amendment?
Duane asks: Why/how can a person be held in contempt of court after taking the 5th amendment? I read about this taking place quite often. Most Americans know they cannot be forced to incriminate
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The Jiggly History of Jell-O
Daniel asks: Who invented Jell-O? For over a century, Jell-O has been a part of American culture and, according to a 1904 edition of the Ladies Home Journal, “America’s Favorite Dessert” (conveniently enough named
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The Origin of the Expression “Open a Can of Worms”
Seth asks: Where does the expression “open a can of worms” come from? For the uninitiated, the expression “to open a can of worms” means to attempt to solve one problem, or to do
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United States: Republic or Democracy?
Mike asks: Why does everyone say the U.S. is a Democracy when it’s really a Republic? Frequently, politicians, and many ordinary Americans, refer to the United States as a democracy. Others find this aggravating
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Did Unicorns Ever Exist?
Kara asks: Did unicorns ever exist? On November 30, 2012, the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s government “news” agency, reported that scientists had “reconfirmed” the existence and location of the final resting place
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Why Figure Skaters Don’t Seem Dizzy After Spinning
Justina asks: Why don’t figure skaters get dizzy after they spin? To understand why, it’s important to know why people get dizzy in the first place. Dizziness is controlled by the vestibular system in
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What Happens When You Freeze Water in a Container So Strong the Water Can’t Expand Into Ice?
Kevin asks: What would happen if you froze water, but the container was so strong the water couldn’t expand into ice? Some readers may recall a science class in which an excitable teacher walked
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The Origin of the Hokey Pokey
Karla asks: Where did the “Hokey Pokey” come from? There’s no one definitive answer to where the Hokey Pokey (or Hokey Cokey) ultimately derives from. Even the modern history of it is somewhat convoluted.
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How Does Organic Matter Become Fossil Fuels?
Kateri asks: How did organic matter become fossil fuels? Three hundred million years ago (or so), about the time amphibians first emerged from primordial seas, enormous, lush swamps filled with large trees, ferns and
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Do Bats Get Confused by Other Bats’ Sonar?
Brian asks: How do bats tell whether it’s their own squeaks they’re hearing or another bat’s? Does this ever confuse them? Seeing with sound, bats can find their way around by bouncing sound waves
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What Causes Spontaneous Combustion
Dev asks: What causes spontaneous combustion? Most of us experience combustion, a chemical process where a fuel combines with oxygen to produce heat and light, in the form of a fire where both the
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The Filibuster and The Nuclear Option
Lisa asks: Why are filibuster’s allowed? In its modern incarnation, the filibuster demands no personal and political sacrifice by an idealistic legislator who is willing to stand up for what he believes in (e.g.,
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Who Was Sadie Hawkins and Why Does She Have a Dance Named After Her?
Becky asks: Why is there a dance called “Sadie Hawkins”? Was this a real person? Sadie Hawkin’s renown, which evolved into an American folk-holiday in some places, doesn’t really originate from a dance, but
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