# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the Factual Questions category](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-factual-questions-category/910999)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-factual-questions-category/910999 "2020-06-19T22:44:19Z")
Got a factual question for the Teeming Millions (and possibly Cecil) to consider? Post it here. Moderators: @Chronos @engineer\_comp\_geek --- ## [Factual Questions Rules & FAQs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-questions-rules-faqs/447561)
**Author:** [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-questions-rules-faqs/447561 "2010-08-03T13:01:29Z")
Please be aware of the general rules for the Straight Dope Message Boards, which applies to all forums: FAQ - Rules for Posting on the Straight Dope Message Boards includes how to report bad posts, copyright rules, fo… --- ## [What's our longest-lived technology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-our-longest-lived-technology/1033377)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-our-longest-lived-technology/1033377 "2026-09-25T21:03:04Z")
Triggered by another thread, where I learned that apparently fax machines have existed since only 10 years after the telegraph, I wondered, are fax machines our longest-lived, still functional technology? If not, what i… --- ## [Fleeing the United States](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fleeing-the-united-states/1033327)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fleeing-the-united-states/1033327 "2026-09-25T19:47:18Z")
Here is the story of Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, an official in Connecticut who recently fled the United States to Greece. The story of how he did it needs explanation for me. He drove to Florida. He took a boat (l… --- ## [How do I protect myself from an AI agent taking over my life savings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-protect-myself-from-an-ai-agent-taking-over-my-life-savings/1033014)
**Author:** [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-protect-myself-from-an-ai-agent-taking-over-my-life-savings/1033014 "2026-09-25T19:40:58Z")
Perhaps I’m getting overly paranoid in my old age, but I’ve been thinking more and more about the possibility of waking up one morning and finding that my Vanguard account no longer exists because some AI agent has taken… --- ## [Why does Walmart allow service vendors to set up in the main aisles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-walmart-allow-service-vendors-to-set-up-in-the-main-aisles/1033312)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-walmart-allow-service-vendors-to-set-up-in-the-main-aisles/1033312 "2026-09-25T19:10:10Z")
“Sir, sir - what cable company do you have” Damn, I will go through the women’s clothing section to avoid those salesmen. --- ## [What is the longest ex-marriage in history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-ex-marriage-in-history/1024635)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-ex-marriage-in-history/1024635 "2026-09-25T18:25:45Z")
I mentioned this in the “Abe Vigodas” thread but I’m spinning it off into its own thread. For purposes of this thread, we’ll define an ex-marriage as the period after the divorce where both parties are still alive. As … --- ## [Why are appliance water filters so expensive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-appliance-water-filters-so-expensive/1033290)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-appliance-water-filters-so-expensive/1033290 "2026-09-25T16:13:21Z")
I have a hot water dispenser for my kitchen sink that needs to be replaced (dispenses 200°F water on demand). The Insinkerator brand offers a water filter “system” for over $120. The system is just a cap with the hose fi… --- ## [How are sailors selected for leave at port calls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-sailors-selected-for-leave-at-port-calls/1033364)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-sailors-selected-for-leave-at-port-calls/1033364 "2026-09-25T14:11:58Z")
The USS Abraham Lincoln’s extended deployment has recently been in the news. The ship just left Guam. Their last port call was a five-day port call in Thailand from Sept. 2-6. How is Liberty managed for 5,000 sailors? … --- ## [American Civil War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-civil-war/1033306)
**Author:** [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-civil-war/1033306 "2026-09-25T08:02:51Z")
I often wonder why the civil war is so called. In the usual meaning a civil war is war fought between two, occasionally more, factions for the control of a nation. But in 18612 the Confederate states were not fighting t… --- ## [Does burning food release the same amount of energy as digesting it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burning-food-release-the-same-amount-of-energy-as-digesting-it/1033256)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-burning-food-release-the-same-amount-of-energy-as-digesting-it/1033256 "2026-09-25T01:18:40Z")
I know this is a weird question, and I’m not asking for any particular reason, but: Is the process by which the body digests food analogous in any way to combustion, in the sense that the amount of energy released is the… --- ## [Waymo/Firearm Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waymo-firearm-question/1033233)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waymo-firearm-question/1033233 "2026-09-25T01:10:45Z")
I’ve been reading about a couple incidents relating to Waymo somehow sensing firearms in their vehicles. It’s possible it sensed bad behavior by passenger who were carrying forearms, not the firearms themselves. I’ve als… --- ## [What aircraft did I see? (Airfoils on nose)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aircraft-did-i-see-airfoils-on-nose/1033352)
**Author:** [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aircraft-did-i-see-airfoils-on-nose/1033352 "2026-09-24T19:31:05Z")
I live in St Louis about 12 miles from Lambert International, and a couple days ago saw an unusual plane. I’m not an aviation maven, so any detail of my description could easily be an error. The craft was flying low — no… --- ## [Were there any areas where the Imperial Japanese Navy exceeded the US Navy during WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-areas-where-the-imperial-japanese-navy-exceeded-the-us-navy-during-wwii/1032689)
**Author:** [@spacecadet86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spacecadet86)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-areas-where-the-imperial-japanese-navy-exceeded-the-us-navy-during-wwii/1032689 "2026-09-24T19:16:57Z")
The Japanese Navy got beat by the quantitatively and qualitatively superior US Navy pretty bad, but were there any areas where they were better? --- ## [Is it unconstitutional for Trump to ban some reporters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unconstitutional-for-trump-to-ban-some-reporters/818710)
**Author:** [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unconstitutional-for-trump-to-ban-some-reporters/818710 "2026-09-24T18:17:03Z")
The constitution prohibits Congress making a law abridging the freedom of the press. Does that mean the prez can bar select members of the press who annoy him? --- ## [AI data centres (datacenters) in space!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-data-centres-datacenters-in-space/1031098)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-data-centres-datacenters-in-space/1031098 "2026-09-24T14:32:40Z")
So commercial artificial intelligence operations (OpenAI, Anthropic and so on) require some high-performance processors with high power and cooling requirements. Now there is a trend of talking about putting such data c… --- ## [Did British soldiers in WWII drink tea or coffee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-british-soldiers-in-wwii-drink-tea-or-coffee/1033018)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-british-soldiers-in-wwii-drink-tea-or-coffee/1033018 "2026-09-23T18:35:27Z")
I know the US soldiers had vats of coffee available when possible. Did the British still make cups of tea with tea bags? --- ## [Question about a birth certificate (adoption related/Utah)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-birth-certificate-adoption-related-utah/1029091)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-birth-certificate-adoption-related-utah/1029091 "2026-09-23T14:41:23Z")
Short question: Is there anything to identify an adoption birth certificate as such? Joseph Kearns was known to a generation of a certain age as the cranky “Mr. Wilson” in the old “Dennis the Mennace” TV series. He di… --- ## [How do "decibels" work (in an easily, layman's understandable way)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-decibels-work-in-an-easily-laymans-understandable-way/1033031)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-decibels-work-in-an-easily-laymans-understandable-way/1033031 "2026-09-23T13:41:30Z")
What I am really after here is an easy and understandable way to describe decibels to someone else without a lengthy description. I know decibels is a logarithmic scale but I am hard pressed to say what that means in rea… --- ## [What are the actual, as in legally established, rules regarding inheriting royal status? (English)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-as-in-legally-established-rules-regarding-inheriting-royal-status-english/1033204)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-as-in-legally-established-rules-regarding-inheriting-royal-status-english/1033204 "2026-09-22T17:06:16Z")
Okay, I’ve now seen way too many offers of YouTube videos questioning the genetic parentage of the Sussex kiddos. There some haggard looking blond woman who seems to go by “Lady C” that has a whole slew of 'em, but plen… --- ## [Repaving roads - why the wait?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repaving-roads-why-the-wait/1033250)
**Author:** [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repaving-roads-why-the-wait/1033250 "2026-09-22T14:45:10Z")
Partial rant, partial actual question. They have been re-surfacing a patch of road near my house pretty much all summer. Well, it started not long after school let out, and they’re not done yet. There were HUGE chunks… --- ## [Soviet technology that was on par with, or better than it's Western counterpart](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soviet-technology-that-was-on-par-with-or-better-than-its-western-counterpart/1031816)
**Author:** [@spacecadet86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spacecadet86)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soviet-technology-that-was-on-par-with-or-better-than-its-western-counterpart/1031816 "2026-09-21T17:49:30Z")
It is pretty much a given that the West did most things better than the USSR, but were there areas, or technologies where the Soviet Union was ahead? --- ## [Trivia questions which, amazingly, have two answers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-questions-which-amazingly-have-two-answers/803849)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 613\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-questions-which-amazingly-have-two-answers/803849 "2026-09-21T12:04:03Z")
I was watching a game show recently (The Chase, which I recommend quite highly, currently available on Netflix), and the question asked was: “What movie actor immediately preceded Jerry Brown as governor of California?” … --- ## [Why would a corn field be cut 3-4 ft high?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-corn-field-be-cut-3-4-ft-high/1022619)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-corn-field-be-cut-3-4-ft-high/1022619 "2026-09-20T21:23:44Z")
First, this is not ‘detasseling’ to control pollination. There are several corn fields near me now, in late August, that have the top half of the plants cut off. Those fields still have corn plants at about 3 to 4 ft hi… --- ## [What is a booger, exactly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-booger-exactly/1033134)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2026, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-booger-exactly/1033134 "2026-09-20T03:25:04Z")
So the stuff that comes out of your nose… often yellowish-green, sometimes bloody, sometimes soft and slimy, sometimes hard like a slab of petrified disgust. What exactly… is it? What does it do? How is it different or … --- ## [Missouri Arrest Deck Collapse Follow-up](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missouri-arrest-deck-collapse-follow-up/1032841)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missouri-arrest-deck-collapse-follow-up/1032841 "2026-09-20T00:17:47Z")
A few weeks ago, six deputies and marshals were on a rickety deck to arrest a “sexual predator” and the deck collapsed beneath them, sending them on a ten foot plunge. I can find plenty of news stories about the collapse… --- ## [What is this antique (c. 1900) device that I believe is almost certainly toilet-related](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-c-1900-device-that-i-believe-is-almost-certainly-toilet-related/1033187)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-c-1900-device-that-i-believe-is-almost-certainly-toilet-related/1033187 "2026-09-19T20:41:13Z")
Look at the wall behind the left shoulder of the girl in the middle. The entire contraption, I think, is for, shall we say, personal business. The big bowl for washing one’s hands, and the big circular gizmo above it I t… --- ## [Interest rates, inflation, and the economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interest-rates-inflation-and-the-economy/1033145)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interest-rates-inflation-and-the-economy/1033145 "2026-09-19T16:35:02Z")
My brain won’t let me understand the fundamentals of the Fed raising or lowering interest rates and its effect on the economy. The basics that I do understand (correct me if I’m wrong): Inflation is currently too high… --- ## [How can psoriasis medication cause suicidal thoughts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-psoriasis-medication-cause-suicidal-thoughts/1033039)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-psoriasis-medication-cause-suicidal-thoughts/1033039 "2026-09-19T06:46:29Z")
One of the side-effect warnings one sees in TV ads for prescription psoriasis medication is “May cause suicidal thoughts.” This boggles my mind. The larger question is really: how can any external agent generate though… --- ## [(Why) do the highest global average temperatures occur in July and August?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-highest-global-average-temperatures-occur-in-july-and-august/1033069)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-highest-global-average-temperatures-occur-in-july-and-august/1033069 "2026-09-17T15:02:52Z")
The World Meteorological Organization says the warmest day in recorded history in terms of global average temperature was 22 July 2024, at 17.15 °C / 62.85 °F. That same press release also gives a few previous record ho… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1)