# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=267 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 268 --- ## [Egg size and egg makeup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egg-size-and-egg-makeup/946205)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egg-size-and-egg-makeup/946205 "2021-07-18T18:16:00Z")
Is the proportion of egg yolks to egg white the same for a small chicken egg as it is with a large or jumbo chicken egg? --- ## [How do police officers safely pull over "wrong-way" drivers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-police-officers-safely-pull-over-wrong-way-drivers/946656)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-police-officers-safely-pull-over-wrong-way-drivers/946656 "2021-07-18T16:44:34Z")
Last night, I was driving on a controlled-access highway when I was passed by a pickup truck going in the wrong direction. I was travelling east and the truck was going west, yet we were both on the eastbound side of th… --- ## [What compels humans and animals to have fun?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-compels-humans-and-animals-to-have-fun/946677)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-compels-humans-and-animals-to-have-fun/946677 "2021-07-18T16:27:32Z")
Something that humans and animals share in common, at many differing levels of intelligence, is their need to have fun. Humans, of course, do this in all number of ways, to the point where doing enough work to earn our … --- ## [How are emergency services able to get to highway crashes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-emergency-services-able-to-get-to-highway-crashes/946678)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-emergency-services-able-to-get-to-highway-crashes/946678 "2021-07-18T02:24:09Z")
In some countries, it’s actually a law that if there’s a crash that stops traffic, everyone clears off to the side to create a center lane for police, fire, and ambulances to get through to the crash site. That’s not th… --- ## [Why won't google let me sign in to my gmail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-let-me-sign-in-to-my-gmail/946175)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2021, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-google-let-me-sign-in-to-my-gmail/946175 "2021-07-18T01:13:36Z")
I tried to open my gmail from a computer at my local library. I used the right password, but it asked me for a verification code which it sent to my alternate yahoo email (which I could open) and the answer to a securit… --- ## [Are there countries where you can buy early retirement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-countries-where-you-can-buy-early-retirement/945961)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-countries-where-you-can-buy-early-retirement/945961 "2021-07-17T20:59:42Z")
In my country of Serbia once you are 60 years old you can pay into the state social fund for any missing work years and for 5 years in the future and go into early retirement (even though it’s just 5 years early from sta… --- ## [Another optical cable question - where did it fail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-optical-cable-question-where-did-it-fail/946716)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-optical-cable-question-where-did-it-fail/946716 "2021-07-17T16:06:25Z")
So I’m replacing an optical cable between my stereo system and the tv. (see previous thread). I apparently broke it while trying to attach it to the baseboard, since it worked before that DIY project but failed to work … --- ## [Self-represented defendants in custody; do they get any accommodation from the jail or prison for that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-represented-defendants-in-custody-do-they-get-any-accommodation-from-the-jail-or-prison-for-that/946581)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-represented-defendants-in-custody-do-they-get-any-accommodation-from-the-jail-or-prison-for-that/946581 "2021-07-17T15:11:24Z")
I’m listening just now to a podcast episode in which a murder defendant refused counsel and represented herself in court. Leaving aside all the questions this raises about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of doing so, this … --- ## [Could we put humans on Mercury?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-put-humans-on-mercury/945937)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-put-humans-on-mercury/945937 "2021-07-17T14:15:46Z")
Mars, whatever. What about Mercury? It’s only super hot on the part that faces the Sun. Is this doable? --- ## [Why doesn't anybody record conversations with government officials?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662)
**Author:** [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662 "2021-07-17T12:54:32Z")
This will probably end up in IMHO, but I thought I would try here first, just in case we happen to have some secret service agents on the board. :smiley: I’m sure by now most of you have heard about General Milley and h… --- ## [The how's of ubiquitin (& proteasome)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hows-of-ubiquitin-proteasome/946543)
**Author:** [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2021, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hows-of-ubiquitin-proteasome/946543 "2021-07-17T09:57:13Z")
I’ve just learned about ubiquitin, proteasome and their functions. As usual, wikipedia is useless with its hard words, so I resort to asking here. Can ubiquitin detect its own malfunction, or another ubi’s fault? T… --- ## [Can you enumerate all the lattice points in infinite dimensions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-enumerate-all-the-lattice-points-in-infinite-dimensions/946528)
**Author:** [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-enumerate-all-the-lattice-points-in-infinite-dimensions/946528 "2021-07-16T23:00:47Z")
In a 2-dimensional Cartesian plane, i.e. x and y axes, with the origin at (0,0), suppose you want to enumerate all the lattice points. By lattice points I mean all the points whose coordinates are integers, like (1,1), … --- ## [Using an optical cable - caps on the ends?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-optical-cable-caps-on-the-ends/946641)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2021, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-optical-cable-caps-on-the-ends/946641 "2021-07-16T19:02:51Z")
I just bought an optical cable to connect my tv to my sound system. Never having dealt with or even seen optical cables before, I notice that there are small plastic looking caps on the ends of the cable. Are these to … --- ## [How do websites know you're about to close the tab, and pop up an advertisement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-websites-know-youre-about-to-close-the-tab-and-pop-up-an-advertisement/946646)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-websites-know-youre-about-to-close-the-tab-and-pop-up-an-advertisement/946646 "2021-07-16T18:06:34Z")
Occasionally, when I move my mouse cursor up to where my tabs are, a website will pop up with something to try and entice me to stay-- an advertisement for other content they have on their site, or a sale offer, or somet… --- ## [Possible Unique Function Math](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-unique-function-math/946363)
**Author:** [@Someonewastaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Someonewastaken)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-unique-function-math/946363 "2021-07-16T16:21:16Z")
Say someone gives you two points on an xy-plane, (0,0) and (2,4). Your job is to find a function that fits this criteria. f(x) could be 2x, x^2, or many other functions. My question is if there are any points, doesn’t h… --- ## [Why do websites have a "Click here to continue reading" button?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-websites-have-a-click-here-to-continue-reading-button/946465)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2021, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-websites-have-a-click-here-to-continue-reading-button/946465 "2021-07-16T08:16:53Z")
The entire text has apparently already loaded. Is this just to prove that I’m a human? --- ## [Why aren't events from Google Calendar not showing on my other devices?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-events-from-google-calendar-not-showing-on-my-other-devices/946564)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-events-from-google-calendar-not-showing-on-my-other-devices/946564 "2021-07-15T22:31:44Z")
I use Google Calendar on my Android phone. I was on my Android Tablet today and opened Google Calendar. None of my events come up? I pressed refresh. No change. I went to Google and confirmed the Tablet is signed into … --- ## [How much is this DVD of the Who worth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-dvd-of-the-who-worth/946580)
**Author:** [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-dvd-of-the-who-worth/946580 "2021-07-15T18:50:25Z")
Firstly I hope it’s OK to ask this as a General Question. (If the topic belongs in Cafe Society, please could a Mod move it.) So a former Who roadie has given me a DVD of the Who performing in Columbus, Ohio on Dec 11 … --- ## [What’s the best way to wield a knife in a fight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-wield-a-knife-in-a-fight/945455)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-way-to-wield-a-knife-in-a-fight/945455 "2021-07-15T17:34:46Z")
There’s a scene in Halloween (2018) where Michael Myers is following someone while holding a knife and he flips the knife around in his hand. If you had to kill someone with a knife that was capable of fighting back wou… --- ## [Retail credit card reimbursement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retail-credit-card-reimbursement/946389)
**Author:** [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retail-credit-card-reimbursement/946389 "2021-07-15T17:20:29Z")
So, I have a contractor working (sort of, a probably mini-rant for another day) on my house. He finished a project and showed up to get paid. My wife was going to write him a check, he insisted on a credit card. I thin… --- ## [Another card draw probability question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-card-draw-probability-question/946566)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-card-draw-probability-question/946566 "2021-07-15T16:45:50Z")
There’s a extremely simple solitaire game where you draw the first card and if it’s an ace, you lose. Then the second card, and if it’s a two, you lose. Keep going, naming cards in order (ace, two, three…ten, jack, que… --- ## [Engineering: Can a new home's plumbing be made "bulletproof"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-can-a-new-homes-plumbing-be-made-bulletproof/944898)
**Author:** [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/engineering-can-a-new-homes-plumbing-be-made-bulletproof/944898 "2021-07-15T06:47:40Z")
(Inspired by this thread.) Let’s say Jeff Bezos was hell-bent determined to build a new home with an interesting feature: plumbing that absolutely would not have to be serviced anytime within the next few hundred years.… --- ## [Question about DNA testing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dna-testing/946490)
**Author:** [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dna-testing/946490 "2021-07-15T06:06:55Z")
A friend of mine was contacted by someone claiming to be their long-lost cousin. This person states that they got a 23&me DNA test, which ‘proves without a doubt’ that my friend’s uncle was this person’s father. The 23&m… --- ## [I can't install anything in Win 10 - No user is admin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-install-anything-in-win-10-no-user-is-admin/946519)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-install-anything-in-win-10-no-user-is-admin/946519 "2021-07-15T05:30:08Z")
All my searches lead me to options I don’t have. Family and Other Users does not appear in Accounts in Settings. Managing accounts merely takes me to the Microsoft page to set up things about One Drive and such. I can’t … --- ## [Could an American fighter plane blow up a locomotive in WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-an-american-fighter-plane-blow-up-a-locomotive-in-wwii/613128)
**Author:** [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-an-american-fighter-plane-blow-up-a-locomotive-in-wwii/613128 "2021-07-15T02:48:28Z")
So, there was a discussion (dormant for the past few weeks now) about Red Tails, a movie that came out a few weeks back about the 332d Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. One of the complaints someone rais… --- ## [Height h at which something d miles away is visible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/height-h-at-which-something-d-miles-away-is-visible/946399)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/height-h-at-which-something-d-miles-away-is-visible/946399 "2021-07-14T23:37:34Z")
Assume a sphere, sea level, blah blah. How tall does something have to be for me to see it above the horizon if it’s 70 miles away? All I can find online are distance to the horizon calculators…though maybe those would… --- ## [Moment of inertia Integrals Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moment-of-inertia-integrals-question/946498)
**Author:** [@Someonewastaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Someonewastaken)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moment-of-inertia-integrals-question/946498 "2021-07-14T23:33:12Z")
Why is it for a cylinder, the integral goes from 0 to the outside r, but for a sphere, it goes from -r to r? --- ## [One key not working on keyboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-key-not-working-on-keyboard/946446)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-key-not-working-on-keyboard/946446 "2021-07-14T23:21:29Z")
This morning, when I was trying to use my other computer, I discovered that the main “Enter” key (the one on the alphabetic part of the board) wasn’t working, in any application. All other keys, including the numpad Ent… --- ## [Why is such strange characteristic of the atmosphere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-such-strange-characteristic-of-the-atmosphere/945958)
**Author:** [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-such-strange-characteristic-of-the-atmosphere/945958 "2021-07-14T13:37:51Z")
This is the pic I’m referring to. My questions are: Why is the atmosphere transparent to visible & radio wavelengths? Among the infrared & microwave windows, the atmosphere’s opacity fluctuate wildly. Why is it so?… --- ## [Why is my Post Office giving me such a hard time with "hold mail" requests - and how do I escalate a complaint?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-post-office-giving-me-such-a-hard-time-with-hold-mail-requests-and-how-do-i-escalate-a-complaint/946358)
**Author:** [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-post-office-giving-me-such-a-hard-time-with-hold-mail-requests-and-how-do-i-escalate-a-complaint/946358 "2021-07-14T12:19:33Z")
I have been having an issue with my post office regarding “hold mail” requests submitted online. First, some background. I live in a single family house \* and my husband and I do not share a surname. The first time I had… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=266) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=268)