Where Is The Hottest Place on Earth?
The biggest scorcher ever noted was on September 13, 1922, in El Azizia (also known as Al ‘Aziziyah), Libya, when the mercury hit 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
Series: Deep Questions
We’ve all had the experience of suddenly wondering why something is referred to into a particular way, how things work, or where something comes from. In this series, I’ve used the inter-tubes to find what I can about a particular nagging question.
Why Psychiatrists Are Called Shrinks
Psychiatric MDs and their psychoanalytical brethren probably don’t like it, but the term “shrink” has been around since the 1950s. Back then, the full label was “headshrinker.”
Why does it cost more to mail a square greeting card than a rectangular one?
Assuming they weigh the same, why should a square envelope cost more to mail than a rectangular one? That’s completely ridiculous. There must be a mistake here.
Why You Can’t Sneeze With Your Eyes Open
The received wisdom states that if you don’t blink when you sneeze, your eyes will fly out of your head. Thankfully, as is often the case with urban legends, this theory is a load of hooey.
Who Invented Long Island Iced Tea
The strip of land near New York City has long been a launchpad for icons of American culture, including a cocktail that carried the Long Island name to frat parties everywhere.
Do You Know The Difference Betwee e.g. and i.e.?
Basically, i.e. means “in other words” and e.g. means “for example.”
From Whence Comes Pepper
Black pepper was valued for two main reasons. One, it helped preserve foods in the pre-refrigeration era. And two, the long distance it traveled to get to European kitchens made it pricey.
How Do Touchscreens Work?
A touchscreen’s main components are a touch sensor, controller, and software driver, combined with a display and computer processor. The sensor is a touch-responsive glass panel, usually employing one of three technologies: resistive, surface wave, or capacitive.
Why Do We Scratch Our Itches?
Science has come to few conclusions about the biology of itching. The itch reflex likely shares some of the same neural mechanisms and pathways as the pain reflex, but they’re obviously not the same thing. A nasty cut will make you pull your hand back, while a mosquito bite provokes an itch.
Why Golf Courses Have 18 Holes
Golf courses didn’t always have 18 holes. The number of holes used to vary widely: 11, 22, 24, etc. As with most golf tradition-related questions, the reason why 18 became the standard goes back to St. Andrews of Scotland, the granddaddy of all golf courses.
What Does The “Rx” Sign Mean?
Once again, we can blame Latin for a curious term. In English, “Rx” doesn’t seem to have any connection to “pharmacy.” However it does in Latin, albeit in a roundabout way.