Science
Exploring "Why" questions about Science
484 articles
Why aren’t more electronics waterproof?
It is significant extra expense and engineering challenge for something most users don't need. Most of your life is in a dry environment, why spend a lot of work so you can dunk your laptop in the tub
Why do aeroplanes/airplanes have headlights?
> Why do aeroplanes/airplanes have headlights? Aircraft commonly land at night when it is dark. Being able to see the ground when coming in for a landing is important because they need to touch dow
Why do our noses run when we are cold
You have small hairs inside your nose that are constantly doing the wave and pushing the snot back up your nose where it drains down your throat. These are cilia. When it's cold they say fuck this and
Why does cold water feel way more FREEZING than it actually is when I’m chewing minty gum?
The receptors that sense cold are partially activated by chemicals in the mint, and respond as though they're feeling a chill... when you hit them with something cold as well - they get a double whamm
Why does nausea seem to come in waves?
It can come in waves as the natural movement (muscle contractions of the digestive system known as peristalses) is reversed, and involuntary contractions in the walls of the stomach and esophagus forc
Why hot/boiling water freezes faster than cold water?
[Mpemba Effect](_URL_0_) TL:DR It doesn't always freeze more quickly and when it does no one really knows why
why does it seem so many gas and convenience stores (US) are owned by foreigners?
They probably mostly are. It's not something someone born here would strive for necessarily, whereas for foreigners it's an opportunity to make a pretty decent amount of money for themselves, while no
Why is the measurement of time (seconds, minutes, hours) based around the number 60? Why not a more common base, like 10 or 100?
60 is divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30. Lots of options for splitting time into neat segments. You can divide 60 into halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, sixths, tenths, twelfths, fift
Why can’t you point lasers at a plane?
To be accurate, you *can* do it. You also *should* get arrested if you do. A laser could possibly blind a pilot.
Why do American cities often have to take large public transport projects such as light rail and metro system to the voters but don’t have to do the same for massive highway and road construction?
Large road projects usually exist to keep the existing road network running, or to improve its relation to the rest of the city. Bridges need to be retrofitted, underpasses capped, tarmac replaced. Th