# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=170 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 171 --- ## [I knew cauliflower (before it was a superstar)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-knew-cauliflower-before-it-was-a-superstar/975804)
**Author:** [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-knew-cauliflower-before-it-was-a-superstar/975804 "2022-12-10T22:30:26Z")
I have consumed an abundance of cauliflower over the past couple of decades (long before it became so ubiquitous) and usually purchase a “head” every two weeks. It seems to me that more often than not over the past coupl… --- ## [Question about gravity as a force](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-gravity-as-a-force/975868)
**Author:** [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-gravity-as-a-force/975868 "2022-12-10T19:32:38Z")
I have a question about gravity that has puzzled me for some time. I assume it’s based on my misunderstandings and I’m hoping someone can clarify things for me. As I understand it, Newton’s view of the world is that an … --- ## [Apple power cords: OEM vs aftermarket](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-power-cords-oem-vs-aftermarket/976180)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-power-cords-oem-vs-aftermarket/976180 "2022-12-10T18:26:02Z")
What is the reason an aftermarket power cord charges Apple products much, much slower that the Apple cords do? I have noticed this on my Ipad and my wifes Iphone and when brought up other people have said they noticed t… --- ## [1 trillion a year on U.S. Pharma](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-trillion-a-year-on-u-s-pharma/976234)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2022, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-trillion-a-year-on-u-s-pharma/976234 "2022-12-10T07:46:58Z")
Would drug cost expenditures reports include insurance costs? Or any money that doesn’t go directly into drugs? --- ## [Carbon Feedback Loop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-feedback-loop/976270)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2022, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-feedback-loop/976270 "2022-12-10T07:36:28Z")
I am not a science person I have just been doing some reading and have some questions about the carbon feedback loop. I don’t want to make this political as my question is very specific. Looking for scientific answers. … --- ## [If what Trump said was true, and mass voter fraud elected Biden, what happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-what-trump-said-was-true-and-mass-voter-fraud-elected-biden-what-happens/976050)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-what-trump-said-was-true-and-mass-voter-fraud-elected-biden-what-happens/976050 "2022-12-09T18:50:22Z")
I’m not talking about Trump’s version where he magically becomes president again because Trump said so, but if it was found out 2+ years into the term that Biden should not have won enough states to get the electoral vot… --- ## [How do I Replace These Batteries with an AC Adaptor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-replace-these-batteries-with-an-ac-adaptor/976209)
**Author:** [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-replace-these-batteries-with-an-ac-adaptor/976209 "2022-12-09T15:51:32Z")
I have a gadget that runs on 2 sets of 4 D batteries wired in parallel. That is, each set of 4 D batteries is in serial and the two sets of 4 batteries each are wired together at the ends. Rather than buy tons of D batt… --- ## [Does cost basis of inherited securities also step \*down\*?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cost-basis-of-inherited-securities-also-step-down/976229)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cost-basis-of-inherited-securities-also-step-down/976229 "2022-12-08T21:49:59Z")
If I inherit stocks that went up since they were originally purchased, they assume a cost basis of the value on the day I inherit them. So I can sell them and pay no capital gains tax. Suppose the price went down since … --- ## [Page layout for printing a book signature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/page-layout-for-printing-a-book-signature/976176)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/page-layout-for-printing-a-book-signature/976176 "2022-12-08T18:53:03Z")
I often have to copy vintage county directories for my hobby of identifying old aerial photos. Of course I buy a copy of a county directory when I can find it but rural directories from 1950 to 1970 or so are very rare. … --- ## [What is Discord?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-discord/976175)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-discord/976175 "2022-12-08T16:42:46Z")
I’ve encountered a reference to “Discord” on a Patreon account I support. What is Discord? How do use it? Yes, I know. But I am trying to find out if this is something I can benefit from. --- ## [Joseph Stalin and the Bomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joseph-stalin-and-the-bomb/975956)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joseph-stalin-and-the-bomb/975956 "2022-12-08T09:09:06Z")
The war in Ukraine has led to some speculation about just how much power Putin has to unilaterally order the use of nuclear weapons, and have that order be obeyed. Which makes me wonder about the situation in Stalin’s US… --- ## [Google Sheet formula, need answer fast: countif (or countifs) on a sheet, multiple ranges but same criteria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-sheet-formula-need-answer-fast-countif-or-countifs-on-a-sheet-multiple-ranges-but-same-criteria/976189)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-sheet-formula-need-answer-fast-countif-or-countifs-on-a-sheet-multiple-ranges-but-same-criteria/976189 "2022-12-08T04:46:06Z")
Hi, I’ve tried searching for this but can’t seem to find the answer. In one cell I want to count the number of cells containing “A” but there are two separate ranges to look for those As. What’s the formula for this? I… --- ## [If there is no right blood type to be had for a hemorrhaging patient, would hospitals give wrong blood and hope for the best?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-no-right-blood-type-to-be-had-for-a-hemorrhaging-patient-would-hospitals-give-wrong-blood-and-hope-for-the-best/973504)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-no-right-blood-type-to-be-had-for-a-hemorrhaging-patient-would-hospitals-give-wrong-blood-and-hope-for-the-best/973504 "2022-12-08T01:32:20Z")
Say it’s a highly improbable situation where 1) a patient is bleeding to death and 2) the hospital just happens to be out of the correct blood type (say, no O blood for an O patient.) Would doctors just give the wrong b… --- ## [Explain the whole bullet and train thing to me.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-bullet-and-train-thing-to-me/384642)
**Author:** [@sager1212](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sager1212)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2022, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-bullet-and-train-thing-to-me/384642 "2022-12-08T00:47:00Z")
Ok say I am on a train that is going 1000 MPH and am facing the back of the train, now i have a gun and i shoot and the bullet goes out at 1000 MPH, now reletive to me the bullet is going 1000 MPH but what if someone was… --- ## [Cosmological redshift and a pulsed laser](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cosmological-redshift-and-a-pulsed-laser/976114)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cosmological-redshift-and-a-pulsed-laser/976114 "2022-12-07T19:18:25Z")
As God-Emperor, I declared that a Dyson sphere be constructed around Sol to power a really big UV laser that sends a 1-second-duration pulse every 10 seconds at, oh, 200 nm wavelength, aimed into deep space. 20 billion … --- ## [Can a life insurance company demand that a death benefit be returned?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-life-insurance-company-demand-that-a-death-benefit-be-returned/975987)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-life-insurance-company-demand-that-a-death-benefit-be-returned/975987 "2022-12-07T15:07:04Z")
So, I’ve started watching the NBC series Manifest on Netflix. I am up to the fourth episode and an important plot point is that an insurance company is demanding that a death benefit be repaid. In the story, a group of… --- ## [Weird question about carbon dating](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-question-about-carbon-dating/975946)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-question-about-carbon-dating/975946 "2022-12-06T17:03:16Z")
I don’t know how or why this question popped into my head (and I apologize, in advance, if I get the physics wrong) but… Things age slower when traveling a substantial portion of the speed of light, right? Britannica: … --- ## [Is typing a rare skill in the military?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-typing-a-rare-skill-in-the-military/975861)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-typing-a-rare-skill-in-the-military/975861 "2022-12-06T14:13:13Z")
There’s a scene early in the movie Black Hawk Down where an incoming Ranger is being checked in to the base and at some point in their interaction, this exchange occurs: Ranger 1: “I have a rare and mysterious skill tha… --- ## [Are eclipses of planets by the moon a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-eclipses-of-planets-by-the-moon-a-thing/974767)
**Author:** [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-eclipses-of-planets-by-the-moon-a-thing/974767 "2022-12-06T13:56:54Z")
I notice that the moon must have passed very close to Mars a few hours ago, and it was the same last week with Jupiter. So it occurs to me, do planets ever get obscured by the moon? I would expect that if you knew that, … --- ## [Dating A Bible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-a-bible/523571)
**Author:** [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2022, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dating-a-bible/523571 "2022-12-06T08:45:58Z")
My SIL asked me to ask y’all if you’d help us “date” a very old Bible we found that has no printing information. Here’s what we have (and all of this is on the title page) Self-Pronouncing Edition The Holy Bible Con… --- ## [How did people cut their nails before clippers were invented?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-people-cut-their-nails-before-clippers-were-invented/658930)
**Author:** [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2022, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-people-cut-their-nails-before-clippers-were-invented/658930 "2022-12-06T01:31:47Z")
How did people cut their fingernails before modern nail clippers were invented? --- ## [King Tut question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-tut-question/308077)
**Author:** [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-tut-question/308077 "2022-12-05T21:59:29Z")
Apparently a new King Tut exhibit opens this week in LA, which makes me feel old, as I remember seeing the last King Tut exhibit in the 70’s or 80’s. But what’s the significance of King Tut? I thought he was a relatively… --- ## [Do all four legged animals have all four basic(?) gaits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-four-legged-animals-have-all-four-basic-gaits/975979)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-four-legged-animals-have-all-four-basic-gaits/975979 "2022-12-05T21:23:40Z")
We’re used to seeing/talking about horses walking/trotting/cantering/galloping. How about all the rest of the tetrapods? If you take a dog that is well-trained to the leash out for a “walk” and gradually increase your … --- ## [How do stores that sell extremely expensive items vet customers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-stores-that-sell-extremely-expensive-items-vet-customers/975640)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2022, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-stores-that-sell-extremely-expensive-items-vet-customers/975640 "2022-12-05T13:12:51Z")
For most of us, we walk into a store, ask to see some item and the store hands it to us. Or, we walk into a car dealership and say we want to test drive the latest Buick and they hand us the keys. How does this work wi… --- ## [Explain this business model to me (winner winner)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-business-model-to-me-winner-winner/974966)
**Author:** [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-business-model-to-me-winner-winner/974966 "2022-12-04T17:20:08Z")
My kid found this app called winner winner. (I promise this isn’t spam or an ad. play it or don’t, I am not affiliated in any way.) Apparently you can remotely control carnival game machines through it, like claw mac… --- ## [Wrapping My Cold Groceries in a Warm Insulating Grocery Bag](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrapping-my-cold-groceries-in-a-warm-insulating-grocery-bag/974860)
**Author:** [@Caribbean\_cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caribbean_cruiser)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrapping-my-cold-groceries-in-a-warm-insulating-grocery-bag/974860 "2022-12-04T15:15:01Z")
This happened in August in the D.C. area. I left Costco with my groceries, which included cold milk, orange juice, yogurt, ice cream, and similar. Facing a 20-minute ride home, I wrapped the cold stuff inside an insulate… --- ## [Question on new maximum amounts we can contribute to 401(k)s in 2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-new-maximum-amounts-we-can-contribute-to-401-k-s-in-2023/975973)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-new-maximum-amounts-we-can-contribute-to-401-k-s-in-2023/975973 "2022-12-04T13:51:05Z")
I understand the IRS is bumping the amount you can annually contribute to your 401(k) from $20,000 to $22,500. In addition, for those of us over 50, the catch-up amount will bumped from $6,500 to $7,500. Both of these … --- ## [Assuming Jewish word like Gentile is not derogatory; are there other cultures/language with such word/s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2022, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-jewish-word-like-gentile-is-not-derogatory-are-there-other-cultures-language-with-such-word-s/973433 "2022-12-04T11:05:05Z")
My introduction to words like Gentile have been through Seinfeld and Curb your Enthusiasm. I maybe wrong but my reading on the internet has shown these words to be not derogatory. I find it fascinating that Jews have no… --- ## [Computer connection problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-connection-problem/975769)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-connection-problem/975769 "2022-12-03T22:32:11Z")
My wife’s email account is an alumna account at McGill of the form name.name@mail.mcgill.ca. We flew to our son’s in Boston 8 days ago with my travel computer, an MS Surface running Win-10 and using Firefox. I signed o… --- ## [Is it normal for heart rate to increase at the same level of exertion over time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-for-heart-rate-to-increase-at-the-same-level-of-exertion-over-time/975985)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-normal-for-heart-rate-to-increase-at-the-same-level-of-exertion-over-time/975985 "2022-12-03T20:51:23Z")
I’ve been using a smartwatch with heart rate monitoring for a while as well as cardio equipment with built in heart rate monitors. Something I’ve noticed is that for the same level of exertion, my heart rate is significa… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=169) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=171)