If you watched this year’s Olympics (or any Olympics, really), you may have noticed several winners full-ob old-timey prospector by chomping on their medal. Why do Olympians bite their medals? Do they believe the International Olympic Committee would actually try to pull a fast one? Or are they hoping it’s chocolate? Biting on gold used…
We’ve all known people or businesses that have fallen prey to “phishing” attacks. But what is a “phishing” scam? And why is it called that? Back when the word originated, “phishing” attacks were specific to one single spot: AOL. In 1994, a group of enterprising hackers from across the country started impersonating AOL representatives in…
A cake with frosting. A doughnut with icing. What’s the difference between frosting & icing? The dictionary defines icing as “a sweet flavored usually creamy mixture used to coat baked goods … called also ‘frosting’.” And the definition for frosting? “Icing.” So, is there a difference? From a culinary standpoint, frosting & icing are not…
We’re all trying our best to keep ourselves safe as the pandemic wears on. And one of the most frequently asked questions amidst our precautionary efforts is, “How long can I wear my N95 mask before I need to throw it out?” N95 masks, which are the most effective masks available, don’t have a rigid…
Why is February spelled weird? We have a plethora of oddly spelled words in the English language, but February is pretty much the only of our calendar months to be classified as oddly-spelled. Why is that? Well, like the eleven other, more intuitively spelled months, we have Latin to thank (or blame, as the case…
When you go to the movies, you first get your tickets at the box offices, those enclosed, sometimes detached booths just in front of the theaters. But why do we call them “box offices”? Not once have I ever taken a box to them, have you? The actual beginning of the box office involved a…
Your kitty may love that adorable toy you bought specifically for it that some extra special love potion inside of it, but what happens if (when) your dog gets hold of it? Is catnip safe for dogs? Catnip is basically just an herb, called Nepeta cataria, from the mint family. It contains something called nepetalactone,…
Ever wondered why, despite most of their items being stocked on shelves that aren’t much over 6 feet high, many supermarkets & other stores’ ceilings are so high? As in, dozens of feet high. In stores like Sam’s Club or Costco, it makes sense, they stock their bulk inventory to the rafters. But why do…
There are two main ways to take your coffee: hot & cold. But if you prefer your coffee chilled, there are two main ways to consume coffee cold: iced coffee & cold brew. So, what’s the difference? Iced coffee & cold brew often get lumped together, but there are some pretty big differences in how…
Whenever you’re drinking with friends, you may find yourself clinking all your glasses together before you all knock back some shots, sort of like a receptacle version of a high-five. And that’s pretty much the most popular theory behind the how that tradition originated. Because, while in ancient times people would just pass around a…