Why does February (usually) only have 28 days?
You can thank the ancient Romans and their superstitions for February sometimes only having 28 days. Though records of early Roman calendars are hard to come by, legend has it…
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random trivia
38 Articles
38
Does Black Forest ham come from a black forest?
Black Forest ham, or Schwarzwälder Schinken in German, is a variety of dry-cured smoked ham that comes from the hind leg of a pig. It was originally produced in the…
Is plastic used in plastic surgery?
No, plastic is not generally used in plastic surgery. Like many other English medical terms, the origin of the word ‘plastic’ is Greek. It comes from the word, ‘plastikos,’ which…
Why are prescription drugs also referred to as Rx drugs?
The most widely accepted explanation for why prescription drugs are also referred to as Rx drugs is because the term Rx was derived from the Latin word, “recipe,” which essentially…
Why do quarters have ridges on their edges?
According to the U.S. Mint, ridges were added to the edges of quarters (aka reeded edges) to help prevent fraud and counterfeiting. Up until about 50 years ago, quarters were…
What is the temperature inside my refrigerator and freezer?
The temperature in your refrigerator (fridge) should be between 34° F (1.7° C) and 39 °F (3.3° C), while the temperature inside your freezer should be below 0° F (17.8°…
What would happen if I dug a hole through the earth and jumped in it?
Digging a hole through the center of Earth is impossible with current technology and for many other reasons. However, let’s do a thought experiment with this post. The first issue…
What company makes funeral hearses?
The chassis of funeral hearses (aka funeral coaches) in America are mostly made by Cadillac, Buick, and Lincoln, although no company has a dedicated hearse division. Since the 1990’s most…
How can the oceans be saltwater when the rivers that flow into them are freshwater?
The freshwater found in rivers originates from rainwater and melting snow/ice. As this water flows downriver towards the ocean (or sea), it picks up trace amounts of minerals (including salt)…
Why do we light fireworks on New Year’s Eve?
Fireworks (aka firecrackers) were invented in China in the seventh century. Historically, many cultures thought fireworks could scare off evil spirits. According to Chinese legend, a monster called the Nian…