Science
Exploring "Why" questions about Science
483 articles
Why do Flights from NYC to China go North above Alaska then back down, rather than Bee line to China
Because that's the shorter route. Flat maps sometimes don't do a good job of representing a spherical earth, especially at the poles. If you look at a globe, you can easily see that this is true.
Why has the global temperature spiked so dramatically in the last 10-20 years even though that’s the timespan we’ve become aware of global warming and started trying to combat it?
Guess what happened before 20 years ago? Rampant pollution while being oblivious. "Just exhaust it, planet Earth will pick up the slack and balance out" was the mentality back then.
Why does cold water from the sink feel warm if my hands are freezing cold from snow?
It's all because you are incapable of feeling temperature. You can only feel a change in temperature. Heat always flows from warmer things to colder things.
Why do french fries taste bad after they’re cold?
Yer not alone in askin', and kind strangers have explained: 1. [ELI5: Why do french fries taste awful if reheated, but something like pizza is comparable whether fresh or reheated? ](_URL_3_) 1.
Why doesn’t air separate into layers of each of its individual components based on density?
It would but air is far to volatile to stay separated. The sun heats the earth as the earth rotates on an axis as it orbits the sun. Everything is constantly changing as warm air rises creating winds
Why do gas stations charge an additional 10 cents per gallon for card transactions and why is it legal?
Because it isn't illegal. They are a business, and as a business they have the right to charge what they want for their goods/services. Your method of payment places a burden on them, why should they
why we sell gas by the volume but not mass, unlike in avionics and auto racing?
Planes and race cars care about how much weight they're moving around as it has a significant impact on performance. A plane needs more power to get more weight off the ground so extra mass is a probl
Why does a propane fire have that last “blow” when the gas supply is turned off?
The proper ratio of air and propane causes it to burn nicely, like when you are cooking on your bbq. But when close off the gas supply you decrease the propane to air ratio and it makes a less stable.
Why do electronics (mainly computers) get hot when used extensively?
Because they aren't 100% efficient, some of the energy you put into it is transformed into heat. It gets hotter and hotter of that heat isn't escaping faster than it is being made. Same thing goes for
Why are mercury compounds more dangerous than elemental mercury?
Many mercury compounds are more readily absorbed by the body. Even if you drink mercury metal, almost all of it will just pass through your digestive system. Inhaling elemental mercury vapor causes pr