What is a balductum?

Apple’s position is that the headphone jack is an old technology, and that its removal allows the company to produce better phones with more features. Specifically, the removal of the headphone jack allows Apple engineers to do more with the iPhone’s architecture. “It was holding us back from a number of things we wanted to put into the iPhone,” Apple executive Dan Riccio told BuzzFeed News. “It was fighting for space with camera technologies and…

We’re not here to talk about your Windsors, Half-Windsors, Prince Alberts, or Kelvins. No, we’re here to show off some of the craziest necktie fastenings out there so you can really step up your tie game. Check out this diverse collection of unconventional knots. Eldredge Knot. This unorthodox and ostentatious knot involving 15 separate steps is named after its creator, Jeffrey Eldredge, who invented this complex procedure in 2007. Unlike the majority of necktie knots…

You can eat most foods after their expiration date, but dozens of factors can affect food spoilage. Contrary to popular belief, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require manufacturers to list an “expiration,” “use by,” or “sell by" date, with one notable exception that we’ll cover in a moment. Some states require the labels on some foods, but for the most part, manufacturers apply them at their own discretion. Manufacturers want consumers to have…

Imagine a world where drought-ridden areas can get the rain they need, on demand. A place where airports can eliminate dangerous fog that could potentially lock thousands of passengers on land and compromise the safety of those in the air. Think about having the ability to reduce the size of hail during thunderstorms, especially in areas that see frozen pellets the size of softballs wreak havoc on homes and property. Although these scenarios sound like…

To put it simply, you want lemonade mixes to taste good, and you want furniture polish to actually clean your stuff. First, one issue with the question: Some furniture polishes don’t use lemon, even if they’re advertised as “lemon scented.” Likewise, some lemonade mixes use real lemon flavoring, but many use natural flavors like citric acid to provide the tart flavor that consumers expect. That citric acid can come from citrus fruits, although it can…

Yes, you can be friends with an ex. Whether or not that's a good idea depends on your personality, your ex's personality, the nature of your relationship, and a host of other factors. For many people, the idea of staying friends is untenable. After all, that's why breaking up is called "ending a relationship." In most cases, the relationship...ends. Scientists have looked into post-breakup friendships, and some of the research has interesting implications for these…

No. Equifax will issue payouts to those affected by the company’s 2017 data breach who file a claim, but the amount of those payouts will be much, much less than $125. Here’s the deal: In July 2019, Equifax reached a $700 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other government entities. As part of that settlement, the company agreed to pay up to $125 to each American affected by the breach. The FTC…

If you hold your face like that, it’ll get stuck that way. At least, that’s what your elementary school teacher probably told you. (Also, why were you pulling so many goofy faces when you were supposed to be focusing on the math lesson?) As an adult, of course, you see how ridiculous that claim turned out to be—unless you’re one of the few people whose faces did stay that way, in which case we are…

You can call them whatever you’d like, as all three names are acceptable. However, if you’re trying to order them from a bakery, you might have better luck with one of these names, depending on where you’re at. First, a brief description of the treat so that we all know what we’re talking about: They’re small, fried balls of dough, identical in taste to a donut. They might be sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, sprinkles, or…

Not officially. While the United States planted a flag on the moon, the astronauts' intention wasn’t to claim ownership, and there’s actually an international treaty that forbids any country from claiming the moon (or other celestial bodies) as its own. Back in the late 1950s, there was significant global concern that a country would eventually try to weaponize outer space. After the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik in 1957, the United Nations General Assembly formed…

The short answer: Probably not, but most people still get the same emotional experience from looking at the same colors. To really address this question in detail, however, we need to consider two factors that affect how we see color. The first factor is the rods and cones in the retina of our eyes—the “hardware” that detects light. Rods detect light and dark, and cones detect color. There are three types of cones, which individually…

Much like the question of whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich (it isn’t, really), the answer here depends on how you define the terms. Here’s the Merriam-Webster definition of soup: “A liquid food especially with a meat, fish, or vegetable stock as a base and often containing pieces of solid food.” While you could make the case that a cereal qualifies as a “liquid food,” it’s not made with any sort of…

Can you believe it’s been nine years since the last Indiana Jones film came out? As much as we might wish to forget Shia LaBeouf swinging from vines amidst a family of monkeys, the reality is that Harrison Ford’s scruffy-faced adventurer made archaeology cool for generations of young boys and girls. Now, a similarly exciting first look at the rebooted Tomb Raider franchise proves Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft is set to become Jones’ worthy successor…

Ever wonder where “brain freeze” comes from? What about the hiccups? How about goose bumps? While you might not spend much time thinking about these strange body phenomena, they’re fairly complex neurological events. In some cases, they serve important biological functions (or they did at one time). James Giordano, PhD, is a professor in neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center. We spoke with him to discuss some of these strange neurological phenomenon—and to…

First of all, understand that your risk of a shark attack is incredibly small unless you purposely swim around sharks. Beaches can be dangerous places, but sharks aren’t a serious risk at most of them; according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), your chances of drowning are 1 in 2 million, while your chances of a shark attack are 1 in 11.5 million. Shark attack fatalities are even more rare. In 2018, four people…

As of 2019, an F1 pit stop typically involves a tire change and a front wing adjustment. Up to 20 team members perform a perfectly choreographed set of actions to get the car back onto the track as quickly as possible, often completing their work in two seconds or less. Currently, Red Bull Racing holds the record for the fastest pit stop at 1.88 seconds. For pit crews, consistency is more important than breaking records—but…

The Brady Bunch In the episode "The Cincinnati Kids," the script called for the cast to be filmed riding a rollercoaster. However, the camera that was mounted at the front of the coaster looked loose to Robert Reed (aka Mike Brady), and he ordered a test run of the coaster to ensure safety. Reed's gut proved to be right as the camera flew off its mount, and it would have potentially killed the cast had…

Both copyrights and trademarks protect intellectual property, but they differ in several significant ways: Usage - Per the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a copyright protects any original work “fixed in any tangible medium of expression.” That could include books, poems, business reports, and any other intellectual work. The copyright holder also holds exclusive right to produce derivative works—if a new songwriter wants to sample an original composition, they’ll have to get permission from…

Čachtice Castle, Slovakia.In the early part of the 17th century, a Hungarian countess named Elizabeth Bathory was accused of murdering some 650 women across what is today known as Slovakia. Legend has it that Bathory's servants lured young women to Čachtice Castle with the promise of work and education, only to help butcher them. Although she was never officially punished for her crimes, the infamous murders said to take place at the castle have led…

The FaceApp mobile application does present some serious privacy concerns, based on a reading of its terms and conditions. However, it would be inaccurate to say that the app steals “all of your data,” or that it gives its developer permanent access to all of your photos. It’s also inaccurate to say that the app gives user data to “the Russians,” but we’ll take a closer look at that question in a second—in short, the…

The world lost another movie icon in Dutch actor and environmentalist Rutger Hauer at the age of 75. Known for his chilling delivering of dialogue, Hauer came to prominence in Hollywood films with his nuanced take on now classic villains. Here are some of his most memorable performances. Earle, Batman Begins. Cold and calculating, Earle in Batman Begins is a subtle performance portraying the greed of corporate executives. After gaining control of Wayne Enterprises after…

In terms of magnitude, the largest earthquake ever measured in the United States occurred on March 27, 1964, in Alaska, registering a whopping 9.2 on the Richter scale. If you’re looking for more information, here’s a breakdown of the largest U.S. earthquakes by magnitude. Note that when discussing the biggest earthquakes in history, there’s a minor issue: Charles Richter invented his magnitude scale in 1935, and earthquakes prior to that are assigned magnitudes based on…

The primary difference between the Nintendo Switch Lite and the original Switch is that the Switch Lite is designed strictly for portable play. It cannot be docked or hooked up to an external screen, and its controls are a permanent part of the device (as opposed to the original Switch’s detachable Joy-Con controls). The new console also has a direction pad (or D-pad) incorporated into the left side of its face. As such, it’s more…

There are many defining aspects of the James Bond film series, from the music, to the witty dialogue, to the incredible gadgets. Ranging from iconic to absurd, here’s some of the more memorable pieces of technology that 007 came in contact with. Walther PPK (Dr. No).It’d be difficult to talk about gadgets in the James Bond movies without mentioning his iconic firearm. Introduced by his superiors, the Walther PPK became Bond’s weapon of choice for…

The “smithereens" in question are small pieces of something. The word entered the English language in the late 1700s, per Merriam-Webster. It probably comes from the Irish Gaelic smidiríní, which roughly translates to “little bits.” Usually, “smithereens" refers to the small bits created by an explosion or a sudden impact. So, why do people use the phrase “blown to smithereens,” and why don’t we ever refer to “smithereens" on their own? You’ll never hear someone…

Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road" debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, thanks in part to the rapper’s tireless self-promotion efforts. The song spread virally, but as it climbed the rankings, Billboard quietly removed it from its country charts. That decision sparked controversy, along with conversations about what “country music" really means in 2019. In a statement to Rolling Stone, Billboard explained that “upon further review, it was determined…

Defined by muscle cars, ostentatious sports car designs, and turbochargers, the “Me” Decade is unforgettable for vehicle lovers out there. Here are our picks for the coolest cars of the 1970s. BMW 2002 Turbo. Although it wasn’t the first turbocharged car in the world, the 2002 was the first turbocharged European passenger car, and kicked open the door to the turbo world, helping to transform the word into a euphemism for performance. Ferrari 308 GT4…

They actually do have calories—for the most part, they’re the same oils you’d find in bottles on store shelves, along with propellants and a few other ingredients (which we’ll discuss in a moment). However, if you check the nutrition facts on a bottle of cooking spray, you’ll often see “Calories: 0.” You might also see them marketed as “fat free.” What gives? Look closer on that bottle, and you’ll see a serving size of “one-third…

For starters, sales taxes are handled at the state and local levels. Five states don’t have sales taxes: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, Oregon, and New Hampshire. Some states have a high sales tax—currently, Tennessee leads the pack with a hefty 9.47 percent rate. In California, many cities have their own sales taxes, which can push the total rate to over 10 percent. If a company operates on a large scale, they’d have to price every product…

It’s not just luck. Dozens of factors can affect mosquitoes' taste preferences—and make you a better-looking target during your next barbecue. Scientists disagree on the finer aspects of mosquito attraction, but here’s an overview of some of the factors that probably make you especially delicious to the little blood suckers: You’re breathing Female mosquitoes have a receptor that allows them to track carbon dioxide, so every time you breathe out, you’re sending a signal that…

ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and it’s a phenomenon some people experience when exposed to certain auditory/visual stimuli. To put that in plain English, it’s a relaxing, tingling feeling that occurs when you watch certain videos or listen to certain sounds. In the YouTube era, ASMR has exploded in popularity. Creators make videos designed with various “triggers" intended to give people the sensation—and some of those videos have tens of millions of views…

Australia has diverse and beautiful wildlife, but among those many creatures come many dangers. What animals should you avoid in the Land Down Under? Here’s our Answer. Common Lionfish With seventeen venomous fin spines, this gorgeous fish found all over Australia’s coasts is an extreme danger to swimmers. Their natural defense mechanism of extending their dorsal fins towards predators allows them to survive amongst even deadlier creatures of the sea. Bluebottle Also known as the…

Cameron Boyce was an American actor who was most famous for his starring roles in the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie and the television movie franchise Descendants. He died on July 6, 2019, at the age of 20, after suffering an epileptic seizure while sleeping at his Los Angeles home. Boyce began his on-screen career at age 9, appearing in Panic! At The Disco’s 2008 music video for “That Green Gentleman.” That same year, he appeared…

The quick answer: Nobody really knows for sure...however, there probably aren’t any aliens there. Nonetheless, we’ve got some information on the legendary site’s secrets. First, a quick primer: Area 51 is about 150 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada, and it’s a military testing facility shrouded in secrecy. You won't hear the government call it Area 51—publicly, they use names like Groom Lake, Homey Airport, or the Nevada Test and Training Range. The United States government…

Recently, Twitter went wild when Canadian comedian Seth Rogen started posting about his country’s favorite foods (including, uh, McDonald’s pizza). When I was a kid in Vancouver, McDonald’s had pizza, and on Tuesdays they had all you can eat pizza. I think about this a lot. That’s all. pic.twitter.com/XYPn39IdGM— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 5, 2019 That turned into a wider conversation, in which people tried to name the most Canadian food. While it’s probably impossible…

Ariana Grande fans expressed concern for the singer after she broke down in tears while singing “R.E.M.” during a July 6 concert in St. Louis, Missouri. Clips of the performance made the rounds on Twitter and Instagram, then went viral following the concert. omg i luv her sm i rlly hope she takes this off the setlist if she needs to pic.twitter.com/s5501Aavwd— blake | alicia stan | saw ffh 🏳️‍🌈 (@thnkusabrina) July 7, 2019 One…

For several decades, Hollywood has been remaking many classic films, but there have been some major duds. What are the most unnecessary franchise reboots? Here is our Answer. Robocop (2014) Retaining none of the original’s biting satirical tone, 2014’s reboot of Paul Verhoeven’s masterpiece missed the mark almost completely, instead focusing on the emotional journey of the robotic police officer. It also just didn’t feel like Robocop with the PG-13 rating and the modern-day effects…

Origins The name-brand fastener that has become a staple of many industries got its start in 1941, when Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral was walking his dog. He noticed that the both of them were covered in burrs, and after examining one under a microscope, was inspired to design a fastener that had the similar rough hooks on one side and loops on the other. It took 14 years for de Mestral to perfect…

Halle Bailey is an American musician and actress. She started her career with her sister, Chloe, performing cover songs on YouTube as a duo under the name Chloe x Halle. In July 2019, Disney announced that Halle would star as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, prompting some controversy over the casting decision. Born in Atlanta on March 27, 2000, Halle’s profile rose considerably when the Chloe x Halle cover of Beyoncé’s…

Many vintage homeowners and tourist attractions like to claim that they’re haunted, but that can be tough to prove. What are the truly scariest haunted places in the United States? Here is our Answer, counting down to #1. The Shanghai Tunnels, Portland, Oregon. Portland was one of the most dangerous ports in the United States during the early 19th century and was the epicenter of an illicit maritime practice known as shanghaiing, which is a…

The Bottle Cap Challenge is a viral trend that started sometime in June 2019. While the origins of the trend are uncertain (though The New York Times credits taekwondo champion Farabi Davletchin with jump-starting the challenge), the feat itself is fairly straightforward: Participants try to remove the cap from a bottle in extravagant ways, usually using martial-arts-style kicks. The challenge is particularly popular on Twitter and Instagram, and most videos are accompanied by #BottleCapChallenge. It…

Come holiday season, many parents keep a close eye on toy trends to find the perfect gift for their child. What were some of the most hotly desired toys and gadgets during the 1980s? Here’s our answer. 1980: The Rubik’s Cube. Now the most popular puzzle toy in the world according to the National Toy Hall of Fame, the Rubik’s Cube had an accidental origin. Teaching at the Academy of Applied Arts and Crafts in…

When you’re famous, social media can feel especially intimidating—think of all of the stress that comes with maintaining your online persona, then think about how you’d feel if millions of fans were watching your every move. While some celebrities seem to revel in the attention, others avoid services like Twitter and Instagram entirely. While we couldn’t write an exhaustive list of every celebrity who avoids social media, here are a few major names. Jennifer Lawrence…

The movie was pushed back due to a negative reaction from online commenters. The film version of Sonic the Hedgehog was originally scheduled for release in November 2019, but it’s been pushed back to Feb. 14, 2020, to give designers time to rework the iconic hedgehog’s design. “Thank you for the support. And the criticism. The message is loud and clear,” director Jeff Fowler wrote on Twitter. “You aren’t happy with the design & you…

“My sister was left at the altar by my best mate, and I was best man, He met my sister through me, and they went out with each for two years and were engaged for a year before the big day.” “We're in the church, at the front, waiting for the bride with about 15 minutes to go. He says he needs the toilet and walks to the back of the church. A minute or…

Come holiday season, many parents keep a close eye on toy trends to find the perfect gift for their child. What were some of the most hotly desired toys and gadgets from 1968 to 1977? Here’s our answer. 1968: Hot Wheels. The brand name has nearly become synonymous with toy cars since Mattel debuted the line in the late 60s, but a lot of that success comes from how they differed from Matchbox, as their…

The Olympic rings have been a powerful part of the international competition’s brand for nearly a century. Here’s how the Olympic charter describes the iconic symbol: “The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions (the Olympic rings), used alone, in one or in five different colours. When used in its five-colour version, these colours shall be, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. The rings are interlaced from left…

When humans need transfusions, they can usually get them easily, thanks to organizations like the Red Cross that sponsor blood drives across the country. Animals also regularly need transfusions, but finding appropriate donors can be much more difficult. Generally speaking, veterinarians are responsible for finding their own sources, and to keep their supplies consistent, they’ll often rely on a few reliable donor animals. These are often pets belonging to the clinic’s staff. When donors aren’t…