What Did We Use Before Toilet Paper?: 200 Curious Questions and Intriguing Answers

Cover......Page 1
ISBN 978-1-56975-814-4......Page 5
Contents......Page 8
WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?......Page 18
WHY ARE MOTHS ATTRACTED TO LIGHTS?......Page 19
CAN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA BE SEEN FROM SPACE?......Page 20
WHY WERE NECKTIES INVENTED?......Page 21
WHAT CAUSES JET LAG AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED AND CURED?......Page 23
WHY DO WE YAWN AND WHY IS IT CONTAGIOUS?......Page 25
WHAT IS A BLUE MOON?......Page 26
DOES WATER TRAVEL DOWN THE DRAIN IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES?......Page 28
DO YOU GET WETTER WHEN WALKING IN THE RAIN THAN YOU DO WHEN RUNNING?......Page 29
IS ONE DOG YEAR EQUAL TO SEVEN HUMAN YEARS?......Page 31
WHY DO BUSES OFTEN COME IN THREES?......Page 32
WHY DO WOMEN TALK MORE THAN MEN DO, BUT CAN’T READ MAPS AS WELL AS MEN?......Page 33
WHY DO PEOPLE NEED SLEEP?......Page 35
IS THE DRINK RED BULL DANGEROUS?......Page 36
WHY DO PEOPLE OFTEN WAKE UP JUST BEFORE THE ALARM?......Page 37
DO WE REALLY USE ONLY 10 PERCENT OF OUR BRAINS?......Page 38
HOW DO MOBILE PHONES WORK?......Page 40
WAS THE 1969 MOON LANDING A FAKE?......Page 41
WHEN DID THE GAME ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS BEGIN?......Page 43
WHY DO PEOPLE TWITCH AS THEY FALL ASLEEP?......Page 45
WHAT IS THE COMMON COLD AND HOW IS IT CURED?......Page 46
WHAT IS THE INTERNET AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB?......Page 47
WHEN WAS TOILET PAPER INVENTED AND WHAT WAS USED BEFORE THEN?......Page 49
WHY DO PEOPLE DREAM?......Page 50
HOW SIMILAR ARE HUMANS TO APES?......Page 51
WHO WROTE THE BIBLE, AND WHEN?......Page 53
WHERE DOES THE SAYING “AS MAD AS A HATTER” COME FROM?......Page 54
WHY DO WOMEN AND NOT MEN TAKE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS?......Page 55
WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TONSILS?......Page 56
HOW INTELLIGENT ARE DOLPHINS?......Page 58
HOW DO PEOPLE COUNT CARDS IN CASINOS?......Page 59
WHY DO SOME COINS HAVE RIDGES AROUND THE EDGE?......Page 61
DID ROBIN HOOD ACTUALLY EXIST?......Page 62
WHAT CAUSES HANGOVERS AND HOW ARE THEY CURED?......Page 64
WHERE DID THE TERM “ROCK ’N’ ROLL” COME FROM?......Page 66
WHY IS THE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CALLED THE WORLD SERIES?......Page 67
HOW DO PEOPLE PICK LOC......Page 68
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA?......Page 70
DO HAIR AND FINGERNAILS CONTINUE TO GROW AFTER PEOPLE HAVE DIED?......Page 72
WHY DO PEOPLE CRY?......Page 73
CAN BABIES HEAR VOICES WHILE INSIDE THE WOMB?......Page 74
ARE CATS AND DOGS COLORBLIND?......Page 75
HOW DO PEOPLE SPEED-READ?......Page 76
WAS NOSTRADAMUS ABLE TO PREDICT THE FUTURE?......Page 77
WHAT IS SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING AND DOES IT WORK?......Page 79
WHY DOES THE DATE FOR EASTER CHANGE?......Page 80
HOW DO SALMON FIND THEIR EXACT BIRTHPLACE?......Page 81
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM “RULE OF THUMB”?......Page 83
WHERE DID THE NAME “KU KLUX KLAN” ORIGINATE?......Page 84
HOW DO RABBITS AND HARES DIFFER?......Page 85
WHAT IS THE SMALL THING THAT HANGS AT THE BACK OF THE MOUTH?......Page 86
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OCEAN AND A SEA?......Page 87
WHY IS NEW YORK CITY CALLED “THE BIG APPLE”?......Page 88
WHY DO MEN AND WOMEN GAIN WEIGHT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY?......Page 90
WHAT MAKES A VALUABLE DIAMOND?......Page 91
WHY DO WHALES BEACH THEMSELVES?......Page 93
WHY DOES COFFEE KEEP YOU AWAKE?......Page 94
WHY DO PHONE NUMBERS IN MOVIES ALL START WITH 555?......Page 95
WHY IS BELLYBUTTON LINT GENERALLY BLUE?......Page 96
HOW DID THE MARATHON RACE BEGIN?......Page 98
WHAT ARE APHRODISIACS AND DO THEY WORK?......Page 99
WHY DOES HUMAN HAIR TURN GRAY?......Page 100
WHY DOES CATNIP AFFECT CATS?......Page 101
HOW DO MIRRORS WORK?......Page 103
WHY IS FRIDAY THE 13TH THOUGHT TO BE UNLUCKY?......Page 104
HOW DID THE WORD “SHIT” ORIGINATE?......Page 105
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE IS LYING?......Page 106
WHY DO MEN FEEL SLEEPY AFTER SEX?......Page 108
WHY DO SNOOZE ALARMS GO OFF EVERY NINE MINUTES?......Page 109
WHY IS “GOD BLESS YOU” SAID AFTER A SNEEZE?......Page 110
WHY CAN’T YOU TICKLE YOURSELF?......Page 111
WHY DO BOTTLES OF TEQUILA CONTAIN WORMS?......Page 113
WHY DO MANY PRICES END IN NINETY-NINE CENTS?......Page 114
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIDS AND HIV?......Page 115
HOW CAN DIRECTION BE FOUND WITHOUT A COMPASS?......Page 116
WHERE DID THE FABRIC DENIM ORIGINATE AND WHY IS IT STITCHED WITH ORANGE THREAD?......Page 118
WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE APPENDIXES?......Page 119
WHY DO GOLF BALLS HAVE DIMPLES?......Page 120
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM “OK”?......Page 121
DOES AN ELEPHANT TRULY NEVER FORGET?......Page 123
WHY DOES SWEAT SMELL?......Page 125
WHY DOES METAL RUST?......Page 126
WHY DO WE HAVE EARWAX?......Page 128
WHY DO PEOPLE SHRINK WITH AGE?......Page 129
WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES?......Page 130
WHAT IS ACID RAIN AND WHAT CAUSES IT?......Page 131
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PUBIC HAIR AND WHY IS IT CURLY?......Page 132
DOES CHEWING GUM REALLY TAKE SEVEN YEARS TO DIGEST?......Page 133
WHY DID KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN CHANGE ITS NAME TO KFC?......Page 134
IS DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER BAD FOR YOU?......Page 135
WHY ARE UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE CALLED JOHN AND JANE DOE?......Page 136
WHAT IS COCA-COLA MADE FROM AND DID IT ONCE CONTAIN COCAINE?......Page 137
HOW DO CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS DIFFER?......Page 138
WHY DID THE ROMANS WEAR TOGAS?......Page 139
WHY DO WE HICCUP, AND WHAT CAUSES THEM?......Page 140
WHY DO ONIONS MAKE PEOPLE CRY?......Page 141
CAN IT BE TOO COLD TO SNOW?......Page 142
WHY IS GETTING MARRIED CALLED “TYING THE KNOT”?......Page 143
WHY DO PEOPLE STICK OUT THEIR TONGUE WHILE CONCENTRATING?......Page 144
HOW DOES THE ATKINS DIET WORK?......Page 145
WHAT MAKES STOMACHS GROWL?......Page 146
WHY DO PEOPLE SOMETIMES SEE “STARS”?......Page 147
IS CHOCOLATE ADDICTIVE?......Page 148
IS USING A TANNING BED BAD FOR YOUR SKIN?......Page 149
HOW DOES VIAGRA WORK?......Page 151
WHY IS A DOLLAR CALLED A “BUCK”?......Page 152
WHERE DO FLIES AND MOSQUITOES GO IN WINTER?......Page 153
WHY ARE PEOPLE’S EYES DIFFERENT COLORS?......Page 154
DOES SHAVED HAIR GROW BACK THICKER AND DARKER?......Page 155
WHAT ARE RAINBOWS AND HOW ARE THEY FORMED?......Page 156
DO SWIMMING POOLS REALLY CONTAIN A CHEMICAL THAT REVEALS URINE?......Page 157
HOW DID THE SAYING “DRESSED TO THE NINES” ORIGINATE?......Page 158
WHY DO PEOPLE GET DIZZY IF SPUN AROUND?......Page 159
WHAT CAUSES “RINGING” IN THE EARS?......Page 160
WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE HAMBURGER AND THE HOT DOG?......Page 161
WHAT IS MENSTRUAL SYNCHRONY AND DOES IT EXIST?......Page 163
DOES WATER PRESSURE PLUMMET DURING TELEVISION COMMERCIALS DURING THE SUPER BOWL?......Page 164
WHY DO RESTAURANTS ALLOW YOU TO TASTE WINE BEFORE BUYING IT?......Page 165
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ST. VALENTINE’S DAY?......Page 167
WHAT ARE COMPUTER VIRUSES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?......Page 168
WHY DOES ALCOHOL CAUSE PEOPLE TO URINATE SO MUCH?......Page 169
WHEN WAS LIPSTICK INVENTED AND WHAT WAS ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE?......Page 170
WHY DOES THE SOUND OF SCRAPING FINGERNAILS MAKE PEOPLE CRINGE?......Page 171
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HURRICANE AND A TYPHOON?......Page 172
HOW DID THE WORD “COCKTAIL” ORIGINATE FOR SOME ALCOHOLIC DRINKS?......Page 173
WHY IS IT THOUGHT THAT BLONDE WOMEN HAVE MORE FUN?......Page 175
WHY IS THE PIRATE FLAG CALLED THE “JOLLY ROGER”?......Page 176
WHY DOES THE PENIS SHRINK WHEN IT’S COLD?......Page 177
IS THE CAESAR SALAD NAMED AFTER JULIUS CAESAR?......Page 178
HOW DO FLIES LAND AND WALK UPSIDE DOWN?......Page 179
DOES SPEAKING TO PLANTS ENCOURAGE THEM TO GROW?......Page 181
WHAT MAKES PEOPLE GET MOTION SICKNESS?......Page 183
WHAT IS THE HORIZON AND IS THE DISTANCE TO IT ALWAYS THE SAME?......Page 184
WHY DO PREGNANT WOMEN GET MORNING SICKNESS?......Page 186
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TATTOO?......Page 187
WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE’S EARS TO POP?......Page 189
WHAT IS THE G SPOT AND WHERE IS IT?......Page 190
HOW DO HUMMINGBIRDS HOVER?......Page 191
WHAT IS CANCER?......Page 192
WHY DO YOU NEVER SEE BABY PIGEONS?......Page 194
WHY DO PEOPLE GET ACNE?......Page 195
HOW DID THE “MISSIONARY POSITION” GET ITS NAME?......Page 196
WHY DON’T IGLOOS MELT ON THE INSIDE?......Page 197
DOES WEARING TIGHT UNDERPANTS AFFECT A MAN’S SPERM COUNT?......Page 198
WHY ARE PARROTS THE ONLY BIRDS THAT TALK?......Page 200
WHY DO PEOPLE SNEEZE?......Page 202
DOES SITTING CLOSE TO THE TV OR READING IN POOR LIGHT RUIN YOUR EYES?......Page 203
HOW DID APRIL FOOL’S DAY ORIGINATE?......Page 204
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONKEYS AND APES?......Page 205
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE IS FLIRTING WITH YOU?......Page 206
WHY IS THE NUMBER THIRTEEN REFERRED TO AS A “BAKER’S DOZEN”?......Page 208
WHEN AND WHERE DID THE GAME OF CHESS ORIGINATE?......Page 209
WHY ARE THE TERMS “BULL” AND “BEAR” USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE STOCK MARKET?......Page 210
WHAT ARE THE JFK ASSASSINATION THEORIES?......Page 211
WHY DOES ALCOHOL MAKE PEOPLE DRUNK?......Page 213
DOES PENIS SIZE VARY DEPENDING ON RACE?......Page 215
WHAT MAKES ANIMALS WARMOR COLD-BLOODED?......Page 216
WHY DO PEPPER SHAKERS HAVE MORE HOLES THAN SALT SHAKERS DO?......Page 218
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DONKEY, AN ASS AND A MULE?......Page 219
IS SUICIDE ILLEGAL?......Page 220
HOW DO MICROWAVE OVENS COOK FOOD?......Page 221
IS HOMOSEXUALITY A GENETIC TRAIT?......Page 223
DID DRACULA REALLY EXIST?......Page 224
WHY DO KAMIKAZE PILOTS WEAR HELMETS?......Page 226
WHY DO MEN OFTEN SHIVER AFTER URINATING?......Page 227
WHAT ARE THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD?......Page 228
WHAT CAUSES A HEART ATTACK?......Page 229
WHY DO SOME BEER HEADS DISAPPEAR FASTER THAN OTHERS?......Page 231
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS AND IS IT POSSIBLE?......Page 232
WHERE DOES THE WORD “HOORAY” COME FROM?......Page 234
WHY ARE MEN MORE LIKELY TO CHEAT ON THEIR PARTNERS THAN WOMEN ARE?......Page 235
DO CAMEL HUMPS CONTAIN WATER?......Page 237
WHAT IS GRAVITY AND EINSTEIN’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY?......Page 238
WHY DO PEOPLE CRAVE SALT, AND WHY IS TOO MUCH CONSIDERED BAD FOR YOU?......Page 239
ARE GREEN POTATO CHIPS POISONOUS?......Page 240
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN HERB AND A SPICE?......Page 241
DO TAXI DRIVERS HAVE BETTER THAN AVERAGE MEMORIES?......Page 242
CAN STRESS CAUSE ILLNESS OR DEATH?......Page 243
HOW CAN WATER BE FOUND IN DRY CONDITIONS?......Page 244
WHY DOES THE SOUND OF RUNNING WATER GIVE PEOPLE THE URGE TO URINATE?......Page 245
WHERE DID THE TERM “RED HERRING” ORIGINATE?......Page 246
WHAT ARE THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING?......Page 247
WHY WAS STONEHENGE BUILT?......Page 248
WHY IS THE MONA LISA PAINTING SO FAMOUS?......Page 250
WHAT ARE CROP CIRCLES AND WHAT CAUSES THEM?......Page 251
WHY DO PEOPLE SAY “CHEERS” AND CLINK GLASSES BEFORE DRINKING?......Page 252
HOW CAN A FIRE BE LIT WITHOUT MATCHES?......Page 253
WHAT EVIDENCE EXISTS ABOUT THE LOCH NESS MONSTER?......Page 254
WHAT IS SEA LEVEL AND DOES IT VARY?......Page 256
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMMOBILIZE OR KILL A PERSON USING BARE HANDS?......Page 257
WHAT CAUSED THE TWO WORLD WARS?......Page 258
WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?......Page 260
Photo Credits......Page 262
Other Usses Press Boo......Page 264
About the Author......Page 265