Why and What Reasons, Inc.

Why doesn't glue get stuck in the bottle?

2010-05-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

There are two basic reasons: [1] In order for glue to set and solidify, it must dry out. Latex and water-based glues harden by losing water, either by absorption into a porous substrate (the surface to be bonded) or by evaporation into the air. The glue bottle, at least if it is capped tightly, seals in moisture.
[2] Different glues are formulated to adhere to particular substrates. If the glue does not have a chemical adhesion to the substrate, it will not stick.

Even when the cap is left off, and the glue does lose water, the adhesion is still spotty. We can see this effect with the cap of many glue bottles. In most cases, dried glue can and does cake onto the tip after repeated uses. But we have to point out that the adhesion is "tenuous," and one can easily clean the top while still wet and remove the glue completely. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2257/how-does-glue-work

Why do most Women's hairbrushes have long handles when Men's have short handles or no handles at all?

2010-05-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

According to the experts contacted, the answer seems to be that the longer the hair of the user, the longer the handle of the brush should be.
Traditionally, men have used what is referred to as a "Club" brush--a wide-based brush with densely packed bristles and a shorter length handle. This brush is best used for smoothing hair, not texturing or detangling, as most women's brushes are used for. Since men usually have closely cropped hair, they need o use a brush closer to the scalp to effectively smooth their hair.
Also, the short handled brush was designed to allow a man's hand to closely grip the brush and thus better control its smothing action. In addition, the shorter handle style is usually a wider or thicker handle, which fits a man's larger hand more comfortably and provides a stronger brush that won't break as easy.http://www.ehow.com/about_5091254_history-hair-brushes.html

Why does some Lowfat Milk contain One percent fat and other Lowfat Milk contain Two percent fat?

2010-05-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Determination of Fat in Milk, Bulletin LXIMost cows naturally produce milk containing from 3 to 5 percent butterfat. In most states, "whole" milk is defined as milk with at least 3.25 percent butterfat. Lowfat milk, then, is any milk that falls between .5 percent (skim or nonfat) and 3.5 percent (whole).
In practice, 1 and 2 percent milks are the most popular types of lowfat milk. In fact, we've never seen 3 percent milk, probably because that one half a percent would not reduce the calorie count enough to appeal to dieters.
Many customers were sick of looking at what looked like water residue on the bottom of their cereal bowls; lowfat had been steadily gained market share for the last thirty years, stealing customers from both skim milk and whole milk drinkers. In fact, lowfat milks outsell 'whole' milk in most parts of the country. Two percent seems to be winning the cash register battle against 1 percent, but not without a cost to the waistline; that extra percent of fat adds about thirty calories to each cup of 2 percent lowfat milk.www.annecollins.com/calories/calories-milk.htm

Why does Pasta create foam when boiling?

2010-05-21T02:55:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/pastaPasta is made from durum wheat, a particularly hard wheat. More precisely, pasta is created from durum wheat semolina, fine particles derived from the much coarser durum. The extraction of the semolina is largely responsible for the foaming of th pasta when cooking.
Durum wheat semolina consists of carbohydrates (starches) and protein. In the process of grinding wheat to extract semolina, some starch links are broken.
When pasta is put in boiling water, these starch links swell up, taking in tiny bubbles, along with water. These air bubbles come to the surface of the boiling water and appear as foam. So the foam is a combination of starch molecules, water, and air.

Why do most yogurts come with the fruit on the bottom?

2010-05-21T02:11:00.000-07:00

We had no idea that this topic so consumed yogurt lovers. But the dairy consultant contacted indicated that yogurt lovers have strong feelings about where to put the fruit in their yogurt containers. We were told that there is no difference in the contents of fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts versus prestirred varieties, but also added that many people like the idea of stirring the cup and doing their own mixing. Some claim that they like to see just how much fruit is really in the cup! Other people couldn't be bothered and much prefer to have the premixed product.
Some prefer the prestirred varietites because they tend to have a softer consistency. Others feel cheated if they can't stir the yogurt themselves. And some yogurtphiles, like to keep the fruit on the bottom, dipping in when desired. They alternate spoonfuls of pure yogurt with doses of fruit and yogurt. But not everyone eats yogurt straight out of the cup. Many folks like to eat yogurt out of a bowl. They tip the container upside-dowm into a bowl, and end up with what looks like a fruit sundae, with the topping where Nature intended it to be--on top.
Why don't yogurt makers try putting fruit on the top? The heavy fruit would sink to the bottom anyway, and unevenly at that.

Why aren't all automobiles designed so that the Headlamps shut off automatically when the ignition key is removed?

2010-05-21T01:24:00.000-07:00

The most common explanation for why they stay on when the ignition is shut off is that consumers want to be able to mark their vehicles' presence at night, particularly in emergency situations. Some drivers may also want to use the headlamps, on occasion, as a giant flashlight, to illuminate a dark area in front of them. Increasingly, automakers are listening to consumers' concerns on the matter. Many vehicle manufacturers are experimenting with delayed turn-off options for headlamps, allowing peopleto get out and see their way into their home at night. Others automatically turn the headlamp off. . .but leave the parking and tail lamps on to conserve the battery. Currently, certain big automakers are running experiments rolling out this feature on selected models to see if consumers prefer the change. If they do, the automatic shut-off feature will join the list of the now standard features such as automatic transmissions, power steering and brakes; radios; and air conditioning.

What do Paper Manufacturers do with the "Holes" punched out of looseleaf paper?

2010-05-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

You can bet that manufacturers recycle the liberated hole punches. But they differ in how they recycle. Forest products giant International Paper, for example, boils more than 90 percent of its paper byproducts to power the very plant that manufacturers looseleaf paper. But more commonly, "Hole punches," as well as other paper trim or waste is baled and sold for scrap. It is and has always been recycled (for approximately 100 years), usually winding up in chipboard, boxes, etc.
Many other paper manufacturers that mostly produce toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels, napkins, etc. are made from 100% recycled paper fiber.
Bet you never considered that the missing dots in your notebook paper made their way into your toilet paper!http://www.ehow.com/about_5398882_history-loose-leaf-paper.html

Why do Hockey Goalies sometimes bang their sticks on the ice while the puck is on the other end of the rink?

2010-05-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

No, they are not practicing how to to bang on the opponet's head--the answer is far more harmless. In most sports, such as baseball, football and basketball, play is stopped when substitutions are made. But ice hockey allows unlimited substitution while the game is in progress, one of the features that makes hockey such a fast-paced game.
It is the goalie's job to be a dispatcher, announcing to his teammates when traffic patterns are changing on the ice. For example, a minor penalty involves the offender serving two minutes in the penalty box. Some goalies bang the ice to signal to teammates that they are at even strength.

But to many hockey officials, the banging is most commonly used by goalies whose teams are on a power play (a one-man advantage). The goalie will signal to his teammates on the ice that ther penalty is over and that they are no longer on the power play. Because the players are working hard and cannot see the scoreboard, the goalie is instructed by his coach to bang the stick on the ice to give them a signal they can hear.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hockey_League_rules

Will Super Glue stick to Teflon?

2010-05-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

Super Glue will not stick to Teflon, at least not very well and certainly not reliably.
The reasons why not are as follows: [1] The combination of fluorine and carbon in the polytetrafluoroethlene (ptfe) forms one of the strongest bonds in the chemical world and one of the most stable. [2] The fluorine atoms around the carbon-fluorine bond are inert, so they form an "impenetrable shield" around the chain of carbon atoms, keeping other chemicals from entering. 'Ptfe' contains no chemical sites for other substances to bond with. [3] Adhesives need to wet the substrate directly or creep into porus areas in the substrate. But the low surface energy of 'ptfe' prevents wetting and bonding.
To answer the question more, Teflon lacks the cracks necessary for Super Glue to enter in order to bond properly; there would be nowhere for the glue to get into the pan.
Super Glue would probably just bead up if applied to a Teflon pan.http://www.supergluecorp.com/

Why do many streets and sidewalks have a shine to them?

2010-05-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

Two main ingredients create the shinning appearance of our concrete and asphalt roadway surfaces: natural rocks and glass. When it comes to asphalt and concrete, the contents are always hybrids, mixes of stones, sand, petroleum derivatives, and "fillers," ingredients that aren't necessary for the integrity of the pavement but provide bulk.
Sand, glass, silicon, and many natural stones, such as quartz, and all stones that glitter are sometimes used. Glass is included in roadways as a way of recycling used byproducts. Used tires are also sometimes thrown into the mix.
Road engineers are sensitive to the aesthetics of streets and sidewalks.
Portland cement, a mix made primarily of limestone and clay, becomes a particularly glittery surface when it bonds with sand and other filler agents to become concrete. Portland cement concrete becomes shinier and shinier as it is used. The aggregate on the very top of the street or sidewalk will lose part of its coating of concrete due to weathering and vehicular or pedestrain traffic. Once exposed, the light from the sun, headlights, street lights, or other sources bounces off the tiny surfaces of the aggregate, causing the streets and sidewalks to shine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_surface

What exactly is McDonald's referring to on their signs when they say "Over (a certain amount) Served"?

2010-05-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

This question has caused more than one argument. The 'certain amount' does not refer to the amount of customers served, sandwiches served, food items served, or even hamburgers served.
The number pertains to the number of beef patties served. A hamburger counts as one patty. A Big Mac counts as two. A quarter-pounder with cheese counts as one. A double cheeseburger counts as two. Got it? The pratice undoubtedly started when McDonald's served nother sandwiches besides (single-patty) hamburgers and cheeseburgers.
http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd

Can one spider get caught in the web of another spider?

2010-05-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, spiders get caught in the web of other spiders frequently. And it isn't usually a pleasant experience for them. They might be able to navigate another spider's web but they are rarely given a choice. Spiders attack other spiders, and, if anything, spiders from the same species are more likely to attack each other than from another species.
More commonly, a spider will grasp and bite its intended victim and inject venom. Paralysis from the bite causes them to be unable to defend themselves and eventually they will succumb whatever awaits them.
Different species tend to use specialized strategies to capture their prey. Spiders will capture prey by either grasping, biting, and then wrapping the victim with silk while others will use webbing to alert them to the presence of prey. Still, others will throw sticky-like glue strands over its prey item.
Not all spiders attack their own. The main enemies of spiders are spiders themselves.

Why are the burgers upside-down when you unfold the wrapper of a McDonald's hamburger?

2010-05-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

Ronald McDonald's International Burger Book For the same reason you put a gift upside down before you wrap it.
To provide a neat appearance, a hamburger is placed upside-down on its wrapper, then the ends of the wrapper are brought together on the bottom side of the hamburger. The hamburger is placed ride side up in the transfer bin for sale.
If the burger was placed on the wrapper upright, the "loose ends" of the wrapping paper would land atop the finished product, giving it an unkempt appearance and threatening the unraveling of the paper. Using the preferred method, the loose ends of the wrapping paper end up on the bottom of the wrapped burger as it is put in the bin for sale, allowing gravity and the weight of the burger to hold the loose ends in place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_McDonald's

What, exactly, is the McDonalds character "The Grimace" supposed to be?

2010-05-18T00:51:00.000-07:00

McDonald's McDonaldland Figure - Grimace
We are proud to announce the official position of McDonald's on the exact description of The Grimace : "He is a big fuzzy purple fellow and Ronald's special pal." That's it. Regardless of our prodding, our cajoling, our interrogating, and our acts of hostility, this was the most we could learn from our golden-arched pals. But we are assured that this is as much as Ronald McDonald himself knows about his fuzzy purple friend.
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view?132903

Why do we wave Polaroid prints in the air after they come out of the camera?

2010-05-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, Polaroid prints used to come out of the camera in a two-part sandwich, with the positive print sticking to the negative. The two parts were peeled apart. Often, a little polymer, an agent used to transfer the negative to the positive print, stuck to the positive print.
Photographers often waved the print in order to dry off the tacky polymer, in the mistaken belief that the photograph would develop sooner. Now Polaroid uses "integral film," so that the print comes out of the rollers in a self-contained unit, so that the exposed print isn't moist.
Flapping the print around does nothing except kill time until the photo is developed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/polaroid_corporation

Why have so many pigeons in the big cities lost their toes?

2010-05-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

The three main dangers to pigeons' toes are illnesses, predators, and accidents. Pigeons are susceptible to two diseases that can lead to loss of toes: avian pox, a virus that first shrivels their toes to the point where they fall off, and eventually leads to death; and fungal infections, the price that pigeons pay for roaming around in such dirty environments. Nonflying predators often attack roosting pigeons, and the toes and lower leg are the most vunerable part of the pigeons' anatomy. Accidents will happen, too. Toes are lost in tight places, namely, cracks or crevices that their toes can become stuck in. Also, toes can get lost while pigeons are in flight, with television antennas and ulity wires being the main culprits.
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Pigeons/BRKPigeon.html

What's the difference between "French" and "Italian" bread?

2010-05-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

Not a whole lot, it turns out. But there are enough differences in ingredients to account for the subtle differences in taste and, particulary, texture. French and Italian breads are made from the same basic ingredients: flour; water; salt; and yeast. Both use "strong" flours.
And they both develop crisp crusts in the oven due to the injection of live steam. But there the similarity ends, because "French" breads, but not "Italian," also incorporate small amounts of shortening and sugar in the formulation. The effect of these addtional ingredients is to allow the French dough to expand more and become larger in volume, lighter in consistency, and more finely textured in the interior. In contrast, Italian breads are denser and less finely structured in the interior. The shape of the loaf may also tip off the type of the bread. "Italian" bread is formed more to a 'football-shape' and is sometimes topped with sesame seeds, where as the "French" has more of a sleeker look with no seeds.
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/

Why do some insects fly in a straight line while others tend to zigzag?

2010-05-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

An insect might zigzag because it is trying to avoid an enemy or because it doesn't have an accurate sighting of a potential food source. A predatory insect might be flying in a straight line because it is unafraid of other predators or because it is trying to "make time" when migrating; the same insect in search of food might zigzag if its target wasn't yet selected.
Flight paths are usually determined by visual, auditory, or olfactory stimulation. For example, bees and butterflies orient to the color and size of flowers; dragonflies orient to prey items; moths orient to a wind carrying a specific smell, usually a "pheromone."
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_flight

Why are pigs roasted with an apple in their mouths?

2010-05-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

The pork experts who guided us said that if an apple was put into the suckling pig's mouth before roasting, it would quickly turn to a texture more like apple sauce than an apple. The pristine apple is put into the pig's mouth after it is removed from the spit.
So the apple is purely a decorative item.
Suggestion has it that place a small block of wood into the pig's mouth before roasting to brace it so an apple can be inserted later. Cranberries or cherries are often used in the eye sockets and some people like to give the pig a collar of cranberries, parsley or flowers.

The poor pig, whose very name conjures up filth and sweat in common parlance, is subjected to even greater indignities before it is consumed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_roast

Why are most people buried without shoes?

2010-05-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

For those who are buried in half-way open caskets, the shoes wouldn't be visible and are thus unnessary. To be aware of this precarious logic- "Why are we buried with underwear--I don't know!" (A funeral expert told us that one so don't get mad at us) Several members of the funeral profession claimed that nearly as many folks are buried with shoes as without these days. Indeed, the "options" many bereaved families are given, when arranging the ceromony, is "burial slippers." Also told to us was that some people believe that a dead person can rest better and "the spirit will not wander if shoes are omitted." Also, being without shoes is a the typical
sleeping position, and many people like to think of death as a kind of sleep. But following this logic, wouldn't we be buried in pajamas?
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/510712

Why do Recreational Vehicle owners put cardboard or plywood covers over their wheels?

2010-05-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

The ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight oxidizes the rubber in tires rapidly, leading to premature cracking and drying. Recreational vehicle owners sometimes buy vinyl covers for this reason.
http://www.olingertravelhomes.com/

Why do people sometimes find sand in the pockets of new blue jeans?

2010-05-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

Conceivably, you might pick up a pair of jeans returned by a previuos customer who went to the beach, but that is highly unlikely. We aren't gamblers by nature, but we would be willing to wager a small sum that the jeans in question were stonewashed.
Stonewashed jeans are softened by rubbing against pumice stones during washing. Pumice is a soft white stone that is placed in huge washers along with jeans to be "stonewashed."
Pumice stones used in the stonewashing process sometimes disintegrate into tiny particles (or sand) that end up in the pockets of the jeans.
Obviously, pockets are the one portion of the jeans most susceptible to trapping loose pumice.
Any other sand would tend to get rinsed away with the wash water.http://www.atozbluejeans.com/

Why do most Buses and Trucks keep their engines idling rather than shutting them off while waiting for passengers or cargo?

2010-05-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

The key to the answer is the fuel used in the bus or truck. If you observe carefully, you'll notice that the "idlers" are diesel-powered vehicles. We always thought that bus drivers were leaving engines idle out of laziness but these diesel-powered engines require a certain level of heat to operate most efficiently. It is cheaper to leave them running than cold starting. Diesel fuel will last last almost twice as long as gasoline when used under the same atmospheric conditions.
Idling can also be a safety issue. Most buses and many big trucks, operate with air brakes. Air brakes can't operate effectively until sufficent air pressure has built up, a process that can sometimes take up to ten minutes.
And one issue pertains specifically to school or public buses--comfort. Bus riders want and expect comfort--air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. Buses have a massive amount of air space that takes a longer period of time to heat or cool than an individual's automobile.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/naos-ife0110.php

Why are Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennslyvania, and Kentucky called "Commonwealths" instead of "States"?

2010-05-01T02:23:00.000-07:00

These four states chose to call themselves commonwealths, yet trying to find a reason why they did so is a futile exercise. The word "state" preceeded the word "commonwealth." Etymologists argue over whether the term predated medieval Europe, but all agree that the concept of "state" was established by then. Most social scientists define a "state" could be taken over by a military dictator and still retain its "stateness."
The social philosophers of the seventeenth century argued that the government should work for the common welfare of the governed while also indicating there was no evidence that they consciously tried to separate themselves from the other colonies that deemed themselves "states." Indeed, looking over the constitutions of the four commonwealths, we see that the crafters of the documents often used "commonwealth" and "state" interchangeably.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth#UnitedStates

Why do Geese honk repeatedly while migrating? And on long flights?

2010-04-30T00:05:00.000-07:00

Basically, honking allows geese to maintain communication during long flights. Most importantly, it helps them to avoid midair collisions.
Also, the call and response of birds is the main reason for flying in "V-formation." The theories about the etiology of (cause) V-formations range from greater aerodynamics to superior defense against predators to better vision or auditory communication.
Another Ornithological (bird) expert told us that honking doesn't sap geese of vital energy: "They honk while exhaling, which they obviously have to do anyway."
http://birdcommunications.org/