# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=223 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 224 --- ## [How would Russia be a military threat against Sweden if it joined NATO?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-russia-be-a-military-threat-against-sweden-if-it-joined-nato/960211)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2022, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-russia-be-a-military-threat-against-sweden-if-it-joined-nato/960211 "2022-02-28T07:35:32Z")
According to this recent news story Russian spokespersons have said ““It’s obvious that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, which is first of all a military organization, it will entail serious military-political consequenc… --- ## [Could Victorian workhouses sell off orphan children?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-victorian-workhouses-sell-off-orphan-children/959990)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-victorian-workhouses-sell-off-orphan-children/959990 "2022-02-27T23:24:44Z")
In Victorian England, a workhouse was an institution where the indigent, including orphan children, were set to work in exchange for being housed and fed. In the 1968 film Oliver!, the title character is a child inmate … --- ## [Do people "raise" bees or "keep" bees?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-raise-bees-or-keep-bees/959828)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-raise-bees-or-keep-bees/959828 "2022-02-27T22:00:38Z")
I’m writing an article and I’m just not sure which is correct to use. They have the hives in their backyard and harvest the honey-My money is on “keep” as in “beekeeper.” --- ## ['How goes the war?' - Phrase origin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-goes-the-war-phrase-origin/960187)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-goes-the-war-phrase-origin/960187 "2022-02-27T18:22:27Z")
Several times in my life, though not at all recently, I’ve heard ‘How goes the war?’ used as a secondary greeting; as in: ‘Good morning, Bob. How goes the war?’ Where does the phrase originate? ‘How goes the night?’ i… --- ## [Traits, structures, or behaviors unique to a single species](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-structures-or-behaviors-unique-to-a-single-species/960028)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-structures-or-behaviors-unique-to-a-single-species/960028 "2022-02-27T17:56:00Z")
There are quite a few traits and behaviors that are unique to humans - writing comes to mind. It seems to me that this is different from human language, which is arguably (or not!) different from other animal acoustic co… --- ## [How quickly will dietary changes show up in bloodwork?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-will-dietary-changes-show-up-in-bloodwork/960110)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-will-dietary-changes-show-up-in-bloodwork/960110 "2022-02-27T11:54:54Z")
I’ve tried googling this, but maybe I don’t use the right terms. But consider two cases: 1 - You generally have a healthy diet, but you just got back from vacation - 2 weeks of rich foods and lots of sweets. Will your… --- ## [Why does graphite have high emissivity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-graphite-have-high-emissivity/959956)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-graphite-have-high-emissivity/959956 "2022-02-27T08:10:56Z")
Why does graphite have high emissivity? Infrared spectroscopy studies molecular structure by detecting resonances of atoms or atomic groups that swing back and forth, or twist, or go in and out, along their atomic bond … --- ## [Why won't my Gmail display?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-gmail-display/960168)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2022, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-gmail-display/960168 "2022-02-27T00:15:41Z")
It shows my mail in my various tabs, but when an individual email is clicked, this is what I get: clicking on View Messages doesn’t get it to display. Rebooting didn’t either. anyo… --- ## [Okay, what THE HELL is this object on Mars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-the-hell-is-this-object-on-mars/960128)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-what-the-hell-is-this-object-on-mars/960128 "2022-02-26T21:16:23Z")
--- ## [Police Interrogations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-interrogations/959024)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 341\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-interrogations/959024 "2022-02-26T18:38:52Z")
When you see footage of real police interrogations usually on some documentary or news magazine, like 48 Hours, they show a suspect being mentally beaten down but they NEVER show these people claiming their 4th or 5th Am… --- ## [Why does chewing gum melt or sort of fall apart in my mouth if I've been crying?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-chewing-gum-melt-or-sort-of-fall-apart-in-my-mouth-if-ive-been-crying/960108)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-chewing-gum-melt-or-sort-of-fall-apart-in-my-mouth-if-ive-been-crying/960108 "2022-02-26T17:26:53Z")
Question is in the title. I’m assuming it must be some sort of chemical reaction but, what specifically is happening. --- ## [“conspicuous revolution” in the Commons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspicuous-revolution-in-the-commons/959812)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2022, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspicuous-revolution-in-the-commons/959812 "2022-02-26T02:52:27Z")
I read the article: My Falklands War and Theirs by Jean J. Kirkpatrickthe, former US Permanent Rep. to the UN. In the article she noted "Labor government’s 1978 decision not to station a permanent task in the South Atla… --- ## [Current medical consensus on cold re: illness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-medical-consensus-on-cold-re-illness/960071)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-medical-consensus-on-cold-re-illness/960071 "2022-02-25T22:44:36Z")
Finally getting around to Jane Campion’s Bright Star and watching John Keats slowly die after catching a chill, and I wondered where the science is on this nowadays. I know it’s been proven that cold is an unlikely direc… --- ## [Ukraine Nuclear Agreement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ukraine-nuclear-agreement/960122)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ukraine-nuclear-agreement/960122 "2022-02-25T21:58:00Z")
What was the agreement that Western countries and Russia came to in exchange for Ukraine giving up their nukes? I’ve seen a range on this site and elsewhere that we (US, Europe, Russia) agreed just to leave their sovere… --- ## [Incandescent light bulbs in special applications, or in communist countries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incandescent-light-bulbs-in-special-applications-or-in-communist-countries/959870)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incandescent-light-bulbs-in-special-applications-or-in-communist-countries/959870 "2022-02-25T20:24:33Z")
It’s generally accepted as true that, at some time before 1950, the incandescent light bulb manufacturers in Europe and North America (Philips, Sylvania, etc.) agreed / conspired to make all light bulbs have an average l… --- ## [How well do electric vehicles handle extreme cold?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-electric-vehicles-handle-extreme-cold/957318)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-electric-vehicles-handle-extreme-cold/957318 "2022-02-25T20:11:52Z")
Just curious. The thread about the I-95 jam mentions in passing that EVs may not handle cold well and run out of charge. I’m going to drive to work in an hour in -36C, in my gas powered vehicle. How would an EV handle t… --- ## [Tankless Water Heater](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tankless-water-heater/959428)
**Author:** [@FortKnox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FortKnox)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tankless-water-heater/959428 "2022-02-25T18:37:23Z")
We decided against these things some years ago when we remodeled some years ago. Looking through some old threads on the subject, it seems we made the right decision. But, we had some house guests this weekend. And t… --- ## [Android phone might have a virus. Anyone know how to get rid of it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-phone-might-have-a-virus-anyone-know-how-to-get-rid-of-it/960050)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-phone-might-have-a-virus-anyone-know-how-to-get-rid-of-it/960050 "2022-02-25T06:59:39Z")
Hello Everyone, I have a Nord 100 Android running Android 11. I believe I’ve got a virus or malware and none of the anti virus programs are detecting anything. What is happening is that randomly no matter what app I’m … --- ## [Ebikes: how is the speed limit enforced](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebikes-how-is-the-speed-limit-enforced/959897)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebikes-how-is-the-speed-limit-enforced/959897 "2022-02-24T22:46:03Z")
No, not the speed limit on the road; the one that says if the bike can go over a specific speed, it’s a motorcycle. In Oregon here, I understand that limit is 21 mph. No doubt it may vary by jurisdiction. Not too long a… --- ## [Learning a language that's very similar to your own...how does that work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-a-language-thats-very-similar-to-your-own-how-does-that-work/959609)
**Author:** [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-a-language-thats-very-similar-to-your-own-how-does-that-work/959609 "2022-02-24T22:28:59Z")
I’ve been wondering about something of late, and thought I’d throw it open to European 'dopers, especially those who speak the Germanic languages. My first language was English, and I grew up on a media diet of Canadian… --- ## [If you are compelled by someone to commit a crime, are you still guilty of the crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-compelled-by-someone-to-commit-a-crime-are-you-still-guilty-of-the-crime/960035)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-compelled-by-someone-to-commit-a-crime-are-you-still-guilty-of-the-crime/960035 "2022-02-24T22:16:09Z")
We’ve seen this trope many times in movies and on TV. A bad guy points a gun at someone or threatens their family or puts a bomb vest on them (to name a few examples) and tells that person to commit a crime (be it kill … --- ## [Backup data against EMP/solar flare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backup-data-against-emp-solar-flare/959958)
**Author:** [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backup-data-against-emp-solar-flare/959958 "2022-02-24T21:36:06Z")
Is it possible to have a backup of important data that can withstand an EMP or similar event (solar flare?). (see an earlier brief thread about these phenomena and their effect on electronics) I came up with this questio… --- ## [Fake Facebook message - link not clicked](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-facebook-message-link-not-clicked/960058)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-facebook-message-link-not-clicked/960058 "2022-02-24T21:32:37Z")
Yesterday I appeared to receive a message on Facebook from a cousin. ‘She’ was asking weather an award from Costco was legitimate, and there was a link. I replied that it’s certainly a scam, and pointed out that the do… --- ## [How can black holes be sending out jets of energy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-black-holes-be-sending-out-jets-of-energy/960053)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-black-holes-be-sending-out-jets-of-energy/960053 "2022-02-24T20:43:56Z")
This story recounts how some astronomers have figured out that a pair of super-massive black holes are orbiting each other and will likely merge 10,000 years from now. But what I don’t get is that the story says that … --- ## [A question about a certain type of rifle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-certain-type-of-rifle/959497)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-certain-type-of-rifle/959497 "2022-02-24T20:08:05Z")
I have a dachshund named Mauser. He is not named for the German bolt action rifle but for a dog in a story that WAS named for the rifle. I don’t actually know that much about firearms, so if I was to name a dog for an … --- ## [Why is dividing by an irrational a no-no in algebra?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dividing-by-an-irrational-a-no-no-in-algebra/959975)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dividing-by-an-irrational-a-no-no-in-algebra/959975 "2022-02-24T18:10:09Z")
My online lessons insist that one reformulates answers so there are no irrationals in the divisor. So for example 3/ √2 gets rewritten as 3√2/ 2. Is this just a convention or is there a logical/mathematical reason why on… --- ## [By what margin does a top athlete increase their performance ability from novice-to-pro level in various sports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/by-what-margin-does-a-top-athlete-increase-their-performance-ability-from-novice-to-pro-level-in-various-sports/959567)
**Author:** [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/by-what-margin-does-a-top-athlete-increase-their-performance-ability-from-novice-to-pro-level-in-various-sports/959567 "2022-02-24T15:11:02Z")
To minimize differences between individuals, imagine comparing the same fully grown but completely novice athlete on the first day they ever try a sport, to 10 years later when they are competing for the gold medal or eq… --- ## [How do Thorium reactors work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-thorium-reactors-work/960045)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-thorium-reactors-work/960045 "2022-02-24T12:35:15Z")
Thorium based fuel cycle.. Ok, I understand the cycle involves the transmutation of Thorium into U-233. My question is, how does that start? Take Thorium and put it in a reactor…and? --- ## [Bifold doors: replacements?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bifold-doors-replacements/959761)
**Author:** [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bifold-doors-replacements/959761 "2022-02-24T07:56:19Z")
We have 4 bifold doors in our place. We hate them. So am wondering can they be upgraded? To be clear, it’s the rickety mechanism we most dislike in bifold doors, not the style of the doors. Are there “industrial grade” t… --- ## [Where do people keep large amounts of cash?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-people-keep-large-amounts-of-cash/959104)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-people-keep-large-amounts-of-cash/959104 "2022-02-24T02:21:22Z")
What do people do with a super duper huge boatload of money that they want swift access to? Say a guy wins 100 mil in the lottery. He wants to keep the cash as liquid and quickly available as possible but safe. So inve… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=222) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=224)