What is a banjo-mandolin?

What is true, half true, or a complete fabrication we tell students about the first Thanksgiving?

We all know by now—or at least we should—that what our history textbooks told us in school is not exactly the gospel truth. Time and centuries’ worth of oral and written tradition tend to distort and reshape the facts to the sensibilities of modern audiences, so one person’s intrepid discoverer of the Americas becomes another person’s

What are the best books from your childhood that every kid should read?

You might say the books you read when you were a child are some of your fondest memories growing up. You may even go on to say these tales you enjoyed with loved ones or by yourself contributed to the person you became as an adult. It’s a solid truth that reading to children and spending time with them creates a bond that can last for a lifetime. When you’re ready to begin your literary…

How do we get our dog to stop passing gas?

Dog farts are no joke. Canine flatulence can clear out a room and ruin a sweet, cuddly moment in an instant. Your pet might not seem to be bothered by their gas, but if you're reading this, you probably are. And there's a good reason to take doggie gas seriously: Along with other symptoms that we'll get into in a little bit, excessive gas could indicate gastrointestinal issues or a food allergy, according to PetMD…

Who wrote the Statue of Liberty poem?

Emma Lazarus wrote the sonnet “The New Colossus” on Nov. 2, 1883 as part of a fundraising effort for the construction of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. Lazarus was born on July 22, 1849, into a wealthy Sephardic Jewish family (Sephardic Jews descend from people who were expelled from Spain during the Inquisition in the 15th century). While her Jewish heritage played a minor role in her early work, it eventually became a major part…

What are some things about Americans that make non-Americans cringe?

Tourists adventuring in America are losing their appetites over conversations about tipping. After all, what's the fun of facing off against an absurdly-sized triple cheeseburger that could feed a family of four if you're focused on remembering the guidelines of gratuity. Oh wait; that's right, there are no guidelines! Instead, there are only arguments about percentages for tourists to contemplate as they chew and that's enough to put a bad taste in their mouths that…

Where does the saying "bite the bullet" come from?

The exact origins of the phrase are difficult to pin down, but it’s generally attributed to the practice of biting on a bullet during warfare to deal with pain or discomfort. According to one theory, soldiers would bite bullets during field amputations during the Civil War. Patients would either die or “bite the bullet" and undergo a horrific operation. The lead balls, while not exactly nutritious, would absorb the bite without damaging their teeth. While…

What is the best way to fold a fitted sheet?

There’s really only one way to fold a fitted sheet without succumbing to the frustration that usually accompanies the task. The elastic bands do present an issue, see, and most of us end up shoving unfolded linens into our closets. That wastes space, and it’s completely unnecessary—folding a fitted sheet is fairly simple, once you’ve mastered the technique. Here’s the best method: Start by holding the sheet lengthwise by the top two corners (the short…

Where does "bury the hatchet" come from?

It comes from a tradition followed by some Native American tribes. At the end of a war, the tribes' chiefs would literally bury a hatchet as a symbolic gesture of their new peace. Not all tribes followed this tradition. However, it likely predated the European settlement of the Americas, and it was seen as a solemn and important ceremony. One 1664 account describes the Iriquois proposing peace as “proclaim[ing] that they wish to unite all…

Where does the phrase "run the gamut" come from?

It’s based on a musical notation system used in the Middle Ages. First, let’s look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of the phrase: “To encompass an entire range of something. Ex: Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to despair.” To put that another way, “run the gamut" means to go from the start of something to the ending, and this meaning has an origin in medieval music theory. The monk Guido of Arezzo developed a system…

What do roly polies taste like?

If prepared well, they taste similar to shrimp. And yes, they’re edible. Contrary to popular belief, roly polies (also known as pill bugs, doodle bugs, potato bugs, and by their scientific order name, Armadillidiidae) aren’t insects or arachnids. They’re land crustaceans, and as such, they’re more closely related to lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp. As a general disclaimer, you shouldn’t eat random crustaceans you find walking across your basement, but if you decide to eat roly…

How do you flip a coin?

Here’s the basic process. After you’ve got this down, we’ll look at a few ways to influence the outcome of the coin flip. Step One - Make your hand into a fist, wedging your thumb against your index finger or in the crease between your index finger and middle finger. Point the thumb side up. Step Two - Place the coin on top of your fist on the space between your thumb and index finger…

Is the person who types up movie credits in the movie's credits?

Sometimes, but not typically. The film’s producer makes that decision. Many film productions outsource it to a motion graphics company like Scarlet Letters, which claims to be the number one company in the world specializing in end titles. The company might receive a credit for that work, but the specific person who types the names into the end credits won’t usually receive their own individual credit. That’s because they’re not doing a ton of work—the…

How many shuffles does it take to randomize a deck of cards?

The answer depends on the type of shuffle you use. With a bit of math, we can determine that a brand-new deck will be effectively randomized after seven traditional (or “riffle") shuffles. First, a quick definition of a riffle shuffle: Divide the deck into two roughly equal halves, then use your thumbs to pull up (or down) on the ends of each stack. Allow the halves to fall so that the cards alternate. If you’re…

Why did Apple remove the headphone jack?

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…

What are some crazy ways to tie a necktie?

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…

How long can I eat food after its expiration date?

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…

What is cloud seeding?

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…

How come lemonade mixes use artificial lemons, but furniture polish uses the real thing?

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…

Can you ever really be friends with an ex?

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…

Will Equifax really pay $125 to every American affected by its data security breach?

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…

What are some facts you were taught in school that are no longer true?

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…

Do you call little donut balls "munchkins," "timbits," or "donut holes"?

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…

Does any country own the moon?

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…

Does everyone see colors the same way?

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…

Is cereal a soup?

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…

What Were The 5 Biggest Archaeological Discoveries Of The Last Decade?

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…

Brain Freeze, Goose Bumps, And Other Weird Stuff Your Body Does Without Asking. What are they?

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…

What's the best way to survive a shark attack?

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…

What happens in a Formula One pit stop?

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…

What were tv moments that were almost fatal?

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…

What is the difference between a copyright and trademark?

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…