Straight Dope Archive

Does flushing the toilet cause dirty water to be spewed around the bathroom?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
April 16, 1999
Why is Humpty Dumpty portrayed as an egg, even though eggs aren't mentioned in the nursery rhyme?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dex
April 16, 1999
Does baking soda really eliminate refrigerator odors?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Ian
April 14, 1999
What's the story on genetically engineered foods?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
April 9, 1999
What does "pop goes the weasel" mean?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
April 2, 1999
What's a cholera belt?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
April 2, 1999
What does "CE" mean on consumer products?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
April 2, 1999
What's the origin of "abracadabra," "hocus-pocus," and "presto"?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 26, 1999
What happens in electroshock therapy?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 19, 1999
Do nickel-cadmium batteries develop "charge memory" if not fully discharged?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 12, 1999
Why don't dogs get frostbite on their feet?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 12, 1999
Do nickel-cadmium batteries develop "charge memory" if not fully discharged?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 12, 1999
Does Preparation H cure baggy eyes?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 5, 1999
Why do some wine bottles have indented bottoms?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
March 5, 1999
Do some people remain alert—but paralyzed—under anesthesia?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
February 26, 1999
Is it true that armadillos carry leprosy?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
February 19, 1999
Was there an animated TV series featuring a purple ape?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Scott
February 15, 1999
Did Nietzsche's philosophy arise from his lack of success with women?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
February 12, 1999
Why do you feel groggy after oversleeping?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
February 5, 1999
Is hepatitis C the next AIDS?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 22, 1999
Was there really such a thing as "white slavery"?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 15, 1999
Why did the Magi consider frankincense and myrrh such valuable gifts?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 8, 1999
Why does an atom bomb form a mushroom cloud?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 1, 1999
What's the difference between vanity publishing and self-publishing?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 1, 1999
Is it possible to be addicted to Chap Stick?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 25, 1998
What's the story with the Taos hum?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 18, 1998
Is laughter good medicine?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 11, 1998
What happens during cremation?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 4, 1998
Why is white meat white and dark meat dark?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 4, 1998
We know air bags can kill people; do they actually save anybody?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 27, 1998
How can they format a movie to fit my TV screen? How do they know what size my TV is?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 20, 1998
Did the Celts burn human sacrifices in a huge "wicker man"?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 13, 1998
Why are there no seatbelts on school buses?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 6, 1998
Why do we feel both hot and cold when we're sick?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 6, 1998
Who is Jimmy, and why does he crack corn?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 30, 1998
What's the story on the ancient Chinese custom of binding women's feet?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 23, 1998
Does it make sense to keep minting pennies?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 9, 1998
Most towns beginning with "Santa" are named after saints. So who was Fe?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 9, 1998
Do some tumors contain the beginnings of a baby?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 2, 1998
Why is cheddar cheese orange?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 2, 1998
Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene lovers?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 18, 1998
What does "kumbaya" mean?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 11, 1998
Why do they play bagpipes at police funerals?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 11, 1998
What's the origin of "the finger"?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 4, 1998
Is it illegal to take a newborn home from the hospital without naming it first?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
August 28, 1998
Do identical twins have different fingerprints?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
August 21, 1998
How do you diagram the sentence, "See Spot run"?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
August 14, 1998
Do copper bracelets ease pain?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
August 14, 1998
When will average people be able to afford commercial space flight?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
August 7, 1998
How are shrunken heads made?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
July 31, 1998
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