BIG QUESTIONS

The historical narrative that began with one Italian scholar and lasted for centuries.

The phrase "elephant in the room" wasn't always about awkward topics. Here's how the idiom evolved over the past two centuries.

It depends on the location, but there are very important rules to the color of fire hydrants.

The tradition of wearing a yellow jersey in cycling races dates back to the Tour de France in the early 20th century.

U.S. mailboxes have been many different colors, but blue was adopted surprisingly recently. Here's the story behind the shade.

The phrase "put a sock in it" has been telling people to quiet down for more than a century. Here's the most likely story behind the expression.

From UN recognition to centuries-old history, here's why Turkey is now called Türkiye in the World Cup—and how the Thanksgiving bird ended up sharing its name.

Why are so many pencils painted yellow? The answer traces back to a prizewinning pencil, luxury branding, and graphite imported from China.

Why do we mow lawns? The tradition dates back centuries, when neatly trimmed grass was a luxury reserved for Europe's wealthiest landowners.

Why do soccer fans wear scarves? The tradition began as a practical way to stay warm at winter matches before becoming one of the sport’s most recognizable symbols of support.

Why is Wawa called Wawa? From its origins as a Pennsylvania dairy farm to its unexpected connection to an Indigenous word for "goose," here is the backstory of the iconic convenience store chain.

Lesbians are listed first in the LGBTQ+ acronym as a tribute to actions they took during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.