Bite-sized knowledge for the hungrily curious

Why is October the 10th month of the year not the 8th?

How ‘deep’ is 20,000 leagues?

How ‘deep’ is 20,000 leagues?

If you buy 1 million Lotto Max tickets, what are your odds of winning?

If you buy 1 million Lotto Max tickets, what are your odds of winning?

In how many films did Michael Douglas play Batman?

In how many films did Michael Douglas play Batman?

What is a single strand of spaghetti called?

What is the tallest mountain on earth?

What is the tallest mountain on earth?

What is Wi-Fi short for?

What is Wi-Fi short for?

What was the last letter added to the alphabet?

When and where was the fastest recorded temperature change?

When and where was the fastest recorded temperature change?

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Which came first – Burger King or Dairy Queen?

Which came first – Burger King or Dairy Queen?

Which came first – chess or checkers?

Which came first – field hockey or ice hockey?

Which came first – field hockey or ice hockey?

Which way do helicopter blades rotate?

Which way do helicopter blades rotate?

Why are Wham-o flying discs called Frisbees?

Why are Wham-o flying discs called Frisbees?

Which came first – American or Canadian Thanksgiving?

Which is correct, down the pike or down the pipe?

What’s the air pressure inside a commercial aircraft?

What’s the air pressure inside a commercial aircraft?

How does an exception prove a rule?

What is “eye of newt”?

What is “eye of newt”?

Which came first, M&Ms or Smarties?

Which came first, M&Ms or Smarties?

Which “duck” came first: The action or the aquatic bird?

Which “duck” came first: The action or the aquatic bird?

Why do dump trucks say “do not push” on the back?

Why do dump trucks say “do not push” on the back?

What’s the difference between persons and people?

What’s the difference between persons and people?

Who’s older, Gary Oldman or Gary Numan?

Who’s older, Gary Oldman or Gary Numan?

What’s the difference between an outlaw, a bandit, and a crook?

What’s the difference between an outlaw, a bandit, and a crook?

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Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s?

Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s?

Why do we say “Bob’s your uncle?”

Why do we say “Bob’s your uncle?”

Was Rolling Stone magazine named after The Rolling Stones?

Was Rolling Stone magazine named after The Rolling Stones?

Why is there no E grade?

Why is there no E grade?

What’s the difference between a meteor and an asteroid?

What’s the difference between a meteor and an asteroid?

Did Coca-Cola originally contain cocaine?

Did Coca-Cola originally contain cocaine?

Do partridges live in pear trees?

Do partridges live in pear trees?

From where did Engelbert Humperdinck get his name?

From where did Engelbert Humperdinck get his name?

How deep would the dimples be if the earth was a golf ball?

How deep would the dimples be if the earth was a golf ball?

How far can porcupines shoot their quills?

How far can porcupines shoot their quills?

How long is an eon?

How many senses do humans have?

How many senses do humans have?

How many volumes would Wikipedia fill in print?

How many volumes would Wikipedia fill in print?

How much is a butt-load?

If you skydive in the rain, which side of you gets wet?

If you skydive in the rain, which side of you gets wet?

Is Sodium Pentothal real and is it actually a truth serum?

Is Sodium Pentothal real and is it actually a truth serum?

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Kramer’s name on Seinfeld wasn’t originally Kramer. What was it?

Kramer’s name on Seinfeld wasn’t originally Kramer. What was it?

On which continent would you find Hawaii?

On which continent would you find Hawaii?

Do you have an idea for a Wisdom Biscuit?

Do you have an idea for a Wisdom Biscuit?

What are close encounters of the first and second kind?

What are the Seven Seas?

What average speed is required in order to go Around the World in 80 Days?

What average speed is required in order to go Around the World in 80 Days?

What Canadian political party famously vowed to repeal the law of gravity?

What Canadian political party famously vowed to repeal the law of gravity?

What connects Stanley Kubrick, JRR Tolkien, and The Beatles?

What do they call Danish pastries in Denmark?

What do they call turkey in Turkey?

What do they call turkey in Turkey?

What does a blobfish look like?

What does a blobfish look like?

What does the acronym Taser stand for?

What does the acronym Taser stand for?

What is a camelopard?

What is a camelopard?

What is a fatal dose of bananas?

What is a fatal dose of bananas?

What is a nibling?

What is a nibling?

What is a Pittsburgh Pirate?

What is a Pittsburgh Pirate?

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What is a quokka?

What is a quokka?

What is a semordnilap?

What is a wisdom biscuit?

What is an “REO Speedwagon”?

What is an “REO Speedwagon”?

What is brimstone?

What is brimstone?

What is Chevy Chase’s real name?

What is Chevy Chase’s real name?

What is the highest-scoring Scrabble word?

What is the highest-scoring Scrabble word?

What is the horsepower of one horse?

What is the horsepower of one horse?

What is the origin of Groundhog Day?

What is the origin of Groundhog Day?

What is the origin of the word defenestration?

What is the origin of the word defenestration?

What is the volume of a “ten gallon” hat?

What is the volume of a “ten gallon” hat?

What material was Mr. Potato Head originally made from?

What material was Mr. Potato Head originally made from?

What percentage of the human body is made up of other organisms?

What state is home to Springfield from The Simpsons?

What state is home to Springfield from The Simpsons?

What state of matter is Jell-O in?

What state of matter is Jell-O in?

What two parts make up the word helicopter?

What two parts make up the word helicopter?

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What was the best thing before sliced bread?

What’s the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard?

What’s the difference between a possum and an opossum?

What’s the difference between a possum and an opossum?

What’s the difference between a ship and a boat?

What’s the difference between a ship and a boat?

What’s the difference between jail, prison, and penitentiary?

What’s the difference between jail, prison, and penitentiary?

What’s the difference between poison and venom?

What’s the difference between poison and venom?

What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation?

When was the first known use of OMG?

When was the first known use of OMG?

Where did the song Mahna Mahna make its debut?

Where did the song Mahna Mahna make its debut?

Where does the word quarantine come from?

Which came first – the Chicken McNugget or the Egg McMuffin?

Which came first – the Chicken McNugget or the Egg McMuffin?

Which came first – the electric car or the gasoline car?

Which came first – the match or the lighter?

Which came first – the match or the lighter?

Which is correct – “octopuses”, “octopi” or something else?

Which is correct – “octopuses”, “octopi” or something else?

Which orange was named first, the fruit or the colour?

Which orange was named first, the fruit or the colour?

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Which planet was originally known as “George”?

Which was named first, Pluto the dog or Pluto the planet?

Why are non-drinkers called teetotalers?

Why are non-drinkers called teetotalers?

Why did Gene Roddenberry write lyrics to the Star Trek theme then not use them?

Why did Gene Roddenberry write lyrics to the Star Trek theme then not use them?

Why do kids “trick or treat” on Halloween?

Why do kids “trick or treat” on Halloween?

Why do some refer to Toronto as the 6ix?

Why do some refer to Toronto as the 6ix?

Why do we say “beforehand” but not “afterhand”?

Why do we say “big brown dog” instead of “brown big dog”?

Why do we say soccer instead of football in North America?

Why does Tim Hortons restaurant have no apostrophe?

Why does Tim Hortons restaurant have no apostrophe?

Why is a big purple vegetable called an eggplant?

Why is a big purple vegetable called an eggplant?

Why is the same side of the moon always facing earth?

Why is the same side of the moon always facing earth?

Why isn’t ATM an acronym?

Why isn’t there a cartoon “sailor man” in Popeyes restaurant marketing?

Why isn’t there a cartoon “sailor man” in Popeyes restaurant marketing?

Which came first, flammable or inflammable?

Which came first, flammable or inflammable?

Is a tarantula hawk an arachnid or a bird?

Is a tarantula hawk an arachnid or a bird?

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An interrobang‽ What the what‽

An interrobang‽ What the what‽

On which film is Airplane! based?

On which film is Airplane! based?

Did you know you can get Wisdom Biscuits by email?

Did you know you can get Wisdom Biscuits by email?

Why are poppies the symbol of Remembrance Day!

Why are poppies the symbol of Remembrance Day!

What is a poop deck?

What is a poop deck?

Is it “The” Ukraine or just Ukraine?

Is it “The” Ukraine or just Ukraine?

How do viruses jump from animals to humans?

Where is Old Zealand?

Where is Old Zealand?

Why does the CDC want you to hum Happy Birthday – twice?

Why does the CDC want you to hum Happy Birthday – twice?

What was the name of The Beatles’ white album?

When is a word opposite of itself?

Why does February have 28 days?

Which “second” came first, the unit of time or the place following first?

Why isn’t it the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Why isn’t it the Toronto Maple Leaves?

How big is a cubit?

How big is a cubit?

Why did a Peppa Pig episode get banned in Australia?

Why did a Peppa Pig episode get banned in Australia?

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Why drop a ball at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Why drop a ball at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Is the name Xmas a secular creation?

Is the name Xmas a secular creation?

What is Yule?

Who was Rube Goldberg?

Who was Rube Goldberg?

Do non-human animals get cavities?

What does “Auld Lang Syne” mean?

Which came first, the word “crap” or Thomas Crapper’s toilet innovations?

When was the longest year in history?

When was the longest year in history?

Why can’t you own a single Guinea Pig in Switzerland?

What is an LA “Dodger”?

What is an LA “Dodger”?

Was Colonel Sanders a real colonel?

Was Colonel Sanders a real colonel?

Is a scientific theory less certain than a scientific law?

What is a “Foo Fighter”?

What is a “Foo Fighter”?

Do sharks die if they stop moving?

Do sharks die if they stop moving?

What colour is neon light?

What colour is neon light?

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How far was Willie Mays from home plate when he made “The Catch”?

How far was Willie Mays from home plate when he made “The Catch”?

Who was Jethro Tull?

Who was Jethro Tull?

Why do we say “close but no cigar”?

Why do we say “close but no cigar”?

Are redheads going extinct?

Who’s idea was it to put pineapple on pizza?

Who’s idea was it to put pineapple on pizza?

What’s special about Agloe, NY?

What’s special about Agloe, NY?

What’s the difference between obliged and obligated?

Are there any areas of unclaimed land left on earth?

What was the longest war in history?

What was the longest war in history?

Is “combobulated” a word?

What’s the difference between cream, lotion, and ointment?

What’s the difference between cream, lotion, and ointment?

Why don’t woodchucks chuck wood?

Why don’t woodchucks chuck wood?

Why do we go to hell “in a handbasket”?

Why do we go to hell “in a handbasket”?

What do they call French toast in France?

What do they call French toast in France?

Who was Chef Boyardee?

Who was Chef Boyardee?

What is Michael J. Fox’s middle name?

What is Michael J. Fox’s middle name?

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Why “polka” dots?

Why “polka” dots?

Why is Kansas City located in Missouri?

Is it “chomping at the bit” or “champing at the bit”?

Is it “chomping at the bit” or “champing at the bit”?

How long is a “moment”?

What is zero to the power of zero?

What is zero to the power of zero?

When does “literally” really mean “figuratively”?

Why do bullfighters use red capes?

Why do bullfighters use red capes?

How did people open cans before can openers were invented?

How did people open cans before can openers were invented?

What is the name of Frankenstein’s monster?

What is the name of Frankenstein’s monster?

Why do we call successful movies blockbusters?

Why do we call successful movies blockbusters?

Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?

Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?

When to use palate, palette, and pallet?

What’s the difference between an idiot, an imbecile, and a moron?

What’s the difference between an idiot, an imbecile, and a moron?

What’s up with tennis’s scoring system?

What’s up with tennis’s scoring system?

Why do we get wisdom teeth?

Why do we get wisdom teeth?

What is a ‘fatberg’?

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Was Sputnik the first man-made object in space?

How did Def Leppard get their name?

How did Def Leppard get their name?

How did Lynyrd Skynyrd get their name?

How did Lynyrd Skynyrd get their name?

Why don’t printers use the primary colours, red, blue, and yellow?

Why don’t printers use the primary colours, red, blue, and yellow?

What US states are Gotham and Metropolis in?

What US states are Gotham and Metropolis in?

Is there such a thing as a single shenanigan?

Is there such a thing as a single shenanigan?

What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?

What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?

Is there “zero-gravity” in space?

Is there “zero-gravity” in space?

Why is the fall season also called autumn?

Why is the fall season also called autumn?

Does the medical symbol have one snake or two?

Does the medical symbol have one snake or two?