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...
9 days agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Why do we say "make a beeline"? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Georgia!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer The phrase "make a beeline" comes from how honeybees fly directly back to their hive after gathering nectar or return straight to a bountiful food source. π The long answer In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you'll find this entry for the word "beeline":...
16 days agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Why are there more decimals between 0-1 than whole numbers between 0-β? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Stephen!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer The set of numbers between 0-1 contains a bigger infinity than the set of whole numbers from 0-β. This is because the numbers between 0-1 form an "uncountable" infinity, while the whole numbers make up a "countable" infinity. π The...
23 days agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Hey Reader! This week, I'm doing something a little different. Iβm excited to introduce Madeline, whoβs joining us for a special guest post. Madeline is a longtime reader of Today You Should Know and also runs Bluestocking, her own educational newsletter and YouTube channel. As the leaves are changing colors up here in the Northern Hemisphere, Madeline suggested doing a writeup of why tree leaves go from green to orange to ... gone. Okay, Madeline, take it away! Caitlin Why do leaves change...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
How did Dr Pepper get its name? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Roger!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer The origin of Dr Pepper's name is unclear. Theories range from the soft drink being named in honor of different real-life Dr. Peppers to the name being chosen for its marketing potential as a medicinal beverage. π The long answer If you're unfamiliar with Dr Pepper, it's the...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 6 min read
How do noise-canceling headphones work? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Aunt Patty!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Noise-canceling headphones work by using microphones to pick up ambient noise and then producing sound waves that are the exact inverse, effectively canceling out the unwanted noise. π The long answer Whether or not you own a pair yourself, you've probably heard...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
21 weird and wonderful Wikipedia pages I recently put together a collection of some of my favorite Wikipedia articles. If you want to check it out, just click the link below and you'll get a fresh email delivered to your inbox. π¦ Click here to receive some weird Wikipedia π¦ Why does salt make food taste better? π The short answer Salt makes food taste better because it enhances sweetness by reducing bitterness, concentrates flavor compounds by decreasing unbound water, improves the smell and...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Why do joints crack? 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 The two most common reasons why joints crack are because a gas bubble is forming or collapsing within the fluid in your joints, and that your ligaments and/or tendons are rolling over each other. Cracking your joints, as long as there is no pain, is harmless to your body. π The long...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
How do birds navigate during migration? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Tej!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Birds navigate by developing an internal map of visual and scent landmarks. Also birds rely on sun and star positions to orient themselves. Additionally, birds use Earthβs magnetic field, which they can possibly sense through tiny magnetic particles in their beaks or...
2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read