Everyday Life
Exploring "Why" questions about Everyday Life
479 articles
Why are bitter citrus fruit harder to peel?
The bitter ones we humans haven't cultivated into tasty fruits that are easy to eat. The closer to natural you go, the less sweet and harder to peel citrus get.
Why do TV shows like “House of Cards” have different directors for each episode?
Principal photography (filming the actors etc.) may only take a week or so (depending on the show), but there's always weeks of pre-production (location scouting, script revisions etc.) and post-produ
Why does water dry out our hands?
Your skin has a layer of oils which it uses for waterproofing, making it more difficult for water to escape your tissues. However, it's not invincible, so enough washing (particularly with soap, or ho
Why does some tap water have so many small air bubbles that it looks like its actually white?
I think OP asks the milky white type of water that takes some time to clear up. That's caused by the pressure in the main pipes. Water needs pressure so it can travel from the reservoir to your home.
Why is it a bad idea to freeze food that’s been defrosted?
Ice crystals form during freezing. These crystals cause microscopic damage to the food by poking tiny holes in the food's structure. When thawed the food's texture has changed.
Why does pouring water on grease fire increase the amount of flames?
Grease is an oil, it's a liquid at burning temperatures. Oil and water don't mix, so when you squirt water on grease you get balls of water in oil and vice versa. The balls of water in oil are a big p
Why does thoroughly washing frequently not prevent acne?
Acne can also be caused by diet, and sometimes washing too frequently can irritate your skin and make breakouts worse.
Why are foods associated with times of the day?
Not scientific at all, just a possible observation. Imagine it's 1910. You don't own a refrigerator.
Why is desalination not yet a cost effective solution for the world’s clean water demands?
There are only a few ways to desalinate water. One way is to boil and condense the water, a process called distillation. The problem with this is that it takes a relatively enormous amount of energy t
Why does it hurt to wash my nostrils with pure water while salty water is fine?
The insides of your nostrils (sinuses) are lined with mucous membranes, which are made of cells which are filled with slightly salty water. Water can flow through cell walls through osmosis, and in su