How do clouds float? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Vinay!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Clouds stay up in the sky because their tiny water droplets fall so slowly that rising air can blow them back up. Additionally, clouds' moist air is lighter and more buoyant than dry air, and heat released during condensation helps keep them aloft. π The long answer Cloud watching is a...
8 days agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Why do some flowers bloom in the winter? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Aunt Kathy!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Winter-blooming plants evolved to take advantage of the limited competition for pollinators, light, and soil resources. Additionally, some wind pollinators benefit from the leafless winter canopy, allowing their pollen to travel more freely. π The long answer...
15 days agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Why is New Year's Day on January 1? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Aastha!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer January 1 became New Year's Day in 45 BCE when Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar, aligning it with the start of Roman consulsβ terms. Pope Gregory XIII later cemented this date in 1582 with the Gregorian calendar, now used worldwide. π The long answer New year,...
22 days agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Why do you feel sore the day after a workout? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Rodrigo!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Delayed onset muscle soreness is caused by tiny tears in your muscle fibers when you work out. During the repair process, inflammation increases the sensitivity of surrounding nerve endings, which triggers a sensation of pain. It's possible this adaptation...
29 days agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Why are there so many Union Stations in America? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Natalie!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Many train stations in the United States are named Union Station because it was common for private railroad companies to collaborate on building a single shared terminal within a city in an effort to save money and make train travel more convenient for...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
How does Drano work? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Saurav!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Drano's active ingredients create a series of chemical reactions to create heat and gas that breaks down the clog so it can flow through your pipes. π The long answer We've all been there. You're minding your own business, washing the dishes, when the water that's supposed to be flowing...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Are there more people alive today than have ever lived? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Duncan!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer No, the number of people who have ever lived is estimated to be around 117 billion, far greater than our current living population of 8 billion. π The long answer On November 15, 2022, the world population reached an estimated 8 billion people. Two...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Why donβt woodpeckers get brain damage? π The short answer Woodpeckers avoid brain damage thanks to special adaptations in their anatomy. Their skull, jaws, eyes, and tongue are all uniquely designed to help absorb the impact of the constant pecking and prevent concussions and retinal damage. π The long answer To us humans, banging your head against a wall sounds like a regrettable moment of frustration. To woodpeckers, it sounds like a Tuesday. Source: GIPHY Woodpeckers rapidly peck trees so...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Why does a wooden spoon stop water from boiling over in a pot? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Thomas!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Placing a wooden spoon across the top of a pot of boiling starchy foods, like pasta or potatoes, prevents spills by disrupting the bubbles as they rise. The wood's lower temperature and rough surface bursts the bubbles, keeping the foam from...
2 months agoΒ β’Β 3 min read