Why do we feel the urge to squish cute things? π The short answer Cute aggression is thought to be your brain's way of balancing out an emotional overload so you stay functional enough to actually care for the thing you're fawning over. π The long answer Have you ever spotted a baby with those adorable chubby cheeks and felt the urge toβ¦squish them? Well, youβre not alone. Source This phenomenon, known as βcute aggression,β is the paradoxical pairing of intense adoration with aggressive...
10 days agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Why do we feel colder as we age? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Gary!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Aging causes your body to produce less heat, lose it more easily through thinner skin, and be slower to trigger warming responses, so we feel colder than we did when we were younger. π The long answer Aging β if we're lucky β comes for us all. One day you're a reckless...
17 days agoΒ β’Β 6 min read
Why does a shuttlecock turn when you hit it? This question came from a reader submission (thanks anonymous!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer A shuttlecock turns when you hit it because most of the mass sits near the compact cork, while the wide skirt catches most of the aerodynamic resistance. That offset creates a torque that flips it cork-forward within about 20 milliseconds of impact. π The long...
24 days agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Are humans affected by the Moon? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Soju!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer While science hasn't found convincing evidence linking the lunar cycle to mental health or menstruation, there is evidence that moonlight disrupts sleep around a full moon, possibly through an innate circalunar rhythm. π The long answer The Moon: Earth's little sidekick, the...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 8 min read
Longtime readers of Today You Should Know may recognize this question β it's a repeat! Life has been very full lately (in good ways, fortunately!), and I'm trying to be better at taking rest when I need it. So please enjoy this re-run of a newsletter all about Κ°αΆ¦α΅Κ°β»α΅αΆ¦α΅αΆΚ°α΅α΅ voices. All my best, π Caitlin Why does helium make your voice higher? π The short answer When you inhale helium, the gas's lower density speeds up sound waves, amplifying higher frequencies in your voice while dampening...
about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Why is the "ring finger" the ring finger? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Rayvan!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer We typically wear rings on the βring fingerβ because the ancient Egyptians believed a special vein ran from the fourth finger on the left hand straight to the heart. The Romans later gave this idea a romantic name: the βvein of love.β π The long answer Humans (and...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
How do QR codes work? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Nathan!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer A QR code is a binary message your camera can read. The grid of black and white squares encodes data, while built-in structural markers tell the scanner how to orient the code, how it's formatted, and how to reconstruct any missing pieces. π The long answer Back in the 1990s, Masahiro...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 6 min read
How do contact lenses work? This question came from a reader submission (thanks anonymous!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Contact lenses correct refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, by using precisely shaped lenses to bend incoming light so it lands on the retina instead of in front of or behind it. π The long answer As someone with a mild aversion to putting...
about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Why do nuthatch birds walk upside down? This question came from a reader submission (thanks Nancy!). Has a curious question stumped you lately? Feel free to submit your own question here: Submit your question π The short answer Nuthatches climb down trees headfirst to forage more efficiently. By approaching the bark from above, they can spot hidden food that upward-climbing birds may miss. π The long answer Say hello to the nuthatch. ππ "Sitta-carolinensis-001" by Mdf is licensed under CC...
2 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read