Why is Connecticut Called the “Nutmeg State”?
Technically, it’s not. Connecticut’s “official nickname” is the “Constitution State.”
1970-01-01 08:00
The Reason Boston is Called “Beantown”
Among nicknames like “The Athens of America,” “The Cradle of Liberty,” and “The Hub of the Universe,” “Beantown” sounds very out of place.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do People Say the Moon is Made of Cheese?
The moon-made-of-cheese rumor may have started with a hungry wolf and a crafty fox.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Is Sneakily Leaving Called an “Irish” Goodbye or Exit?
What is an Irish goodbye—and why is it called that?
1970-01-01 08:00
How Old Is Too Old for Trick or Treating?
Some communities have ordinances banning teens from knocking on doors. But are they justified?
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do Dogs Scratch Their Beds Before Lying Down?
Your dog’s instinct to furiously dig at their bed before falling asleep would make a lot more sense in the wild.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do Cats Respond to “Pspsps”?
Cats and “Pspsps” go together like toddlers and the crinkling wrapper of a candy bar that you were trying to eat in secret. What gives?
1970-01-01 08:00
The Reason Why People Who Cross Picket Lines Are Called ‘Scabs’
By the late 1700s, laborers adopted the insult to refer to workers who wouldn’t join a strike, a union, or take part in organized labor and undermined their fellow workers.
1970-01-01 08:00
How Much Does Earth Cost?
Earth may be the most precious place we have, but it isn't priceless. We know because one scientist did the math.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do We Sometimes Call Aluminum Foil “Tin Foil”?
Tin foil and aluminum foil are not the same thing.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do Truck Drivers Say “10-4”?
“10-4” isn’t any quicker than saying “OK.” But it is a storied trucker tradition.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do Goats Have Such Weird Eyes?
The shape of an animal’s pupils is a clue to its place in the food chain.
1970-01-01 08:00