Answers »
Why Does Rhode Island Have “Island” in the Name When It is Not One?
Aaron asks: Why is Rhode Island called an island when it is not? Most think the history of Rhode Island starts with Roger Williams, but the state’s “discovery” (at least by Europeans) dates back
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Why Graduates Wear Caps and Gowns
Karla asks: Why do graduates wear caps and gowns? Also, why do we throw our caps in the air when we graduate? Inquiring minds want to know!!! Wearing academic robes is a tradition that
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Why Do We Still Have Pubic and Armpit Hair?
Stefan asks: Why do we still have pubic and armpit hair when we lost most of the rest of the hair on our bodies? What purpose does it serve? It’s a biological mystery that
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Why is Toilet Paper Always White?
mgh23 asks: Why is toilet paper always white? Toilet paper is an odd thing. Despite the fact that we often rub it against one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies on a
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The Basics of 3D Printing
Fatima asks: How do 3D printers work? Originally built on the same technology as an ink jet printer, the basic process behind 3D printing is so easy to understand, replicate and implement, today it
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Why Does Stepping On A LEGO Hurt so Much?
James asks: Why does it hurt so much when you step on legos with bare feet? Right up there with how the gun on the original Duck Hunt game worked, why it hurts so
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The Making of Vinegar
Jeff asks: Is it true that wine vinegar is just wine with acetobacter added? Yep, but the process from start to finish is a little more complicated than just that. More than Just Wine
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The Fascinating Story of How the “What Would Jesus Do?” Slogan Came About
What Would Jesus Do?, often shortened to WWJD? or W.W.J.D. is a slogan so famous that millions of objects have been emblazoned with it. However, the person who came up with “W.W.J.D.” never saw a
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What Does the Arabic Prefix “al-” Mean?
Gina asks: What does “al” mean in Arabic? Roughly translated to “the,” the Arabic word “al-” is prefixed to nouns to make them definite. For example: “kitab ‘book’ can be made definite by prefixing
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Where Do the Gypsies Originally Come From?
Brian T. asks: Where do the Gypsies originally come from? They do not have a shared homeland or national identity. They are a people who are scattered across the globe and whose origins have
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How is the Pope Chosen?
Candie asks: How is the Pope chosen? When a pope goes to his eternal reward or otherwise retires, there are certain traditions that are dusted off each time to elect his successor. Only the
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What Does Rx Mean and Where Did It Come From?
K. Jones asks: Where does the symbol “Rx” come from? The phenomenon of ubiquitous prescription drugs (retail sales in recent years have topped $200 billion in the U.S. alone) is a relatively new experience
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What Causes Dark Circles Under Your Eyes?
Kaiden asks: What causes the dark circles under my eyes when I’m tired? It is often claimed that periorbital dark circles are caused by tiredness or working too hard or even just staying up
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What is the Difference Between Black, White and Red Pepper?
Rodney asks: What’s the difference between black, white, and red pepper? Do they all come from the same plant? Although black pepper is the most popular spice in the world, it is by no
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What Causes the Smell After Rain
Joe T. asks: What causes the smell after rain? There are three primary sources of smells that commonly occur after rain. The first, the “clean” smell, in particular after a heavy thunderstorm, is caused
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Is it Possible to Target Belly Fat When Losing Weight?
This is yet another great article from our friends over at The Medicine Journal- Jessica asks: Is it true there are ways to target losing the fat around your stomach? If so, how? A
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When Women Started Growing Out and Painting Their Nails
Becky asks: When did women start growing out and painting fingernails? On humans and other primates, nails are a flattened version of a claw which likely developed to aid in gripping and climbing. However,
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The Origin of the Phrase “Pulling Your Leg”
Diane M. asks: Where did the expression “pulling my leg” come from? For those who aren’t familiar with the phrase, when someone says, “You must be pulling my leg!” they usually mean, “You must
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