Life's Little Mysteries

Life's Little Mysteries answers fascinating questions about the world around you and the stuff in it, from things in the news and on your mind to crazy questions you didn't even know you had.

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How Strong Can a Hurricane Get?

September 05, 2017 | Article

The Saffir-Simpson hurricane only goes up to Category 5. But in theory, winds from a powerful hurricane could blow the scale out of the water, scientists say.
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Are Octopuses Smart?

August 18, 2017 | Article

Octopuses have many neurons, appear to play, and may have individual personalities, but does this mean they're smart?
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How to Make a Solar Eclipse Viewer (If You Can't Get Eclipse Glasses)

August 16, 2017 | Article

The moon will pass directly between the sun and the Earth on Monday, Aug. 21, causing a total solar eclipse. If you want to see it happen, learn how to build a simple eclipse viewer out of a shoe box.
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Why Does Being in the Heat Make Us Feel Tired?

August 14, 2017 | Article

If you're out and about on a sweltering day, it probably won't be long before you start to feel tired and sluggish. But why does being out in the heat bring on feelings of drowsiness?
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Do Other Planets Have Solar Eclipses?

August 05, 2017 | Article

As Earthlings, we have the privilege of ooohing and aaahing at total solar eclipses, those celestial events in which the moon blocks the sun's light from hitting our planet. But is Earth the only world in our solar system that experiences this phenomenon?
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Why Does Hunger Vanish When You Ignore It Long Enough?

July 22, 2017 | Article

Why is it that when you're tremendously hungry, you're able to forget about it if you're in the middle of an intriguing activity, such as reading a good book?
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Why Dog Breeds Look So Very Different, But Cats Don't

July 20, 2017 | Article

Why don't pedigreed cats show the extremes in body size and shape that dog breeds do?
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Why Do We Sleep?

July 18, 2017 | Article

Researchers who study sleep now have a few theories about why we spend one-third of our lives in dreamland.
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How Much Pee Is in Swimming Pools?

July 13, 2017 | Article

Before you take a dip, know this: There is definitely pee in the swimming pool. But, it's probably not that much.
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How Do Fireworks Get Their Glorious Colors?

July 03, 2017 | Article

Each firework is packed with just the right mix of chemicals to create their colorful lights.
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