# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=317 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 318 --- ## [Fermi's Paradox Notwithstanding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fermis-paradox-notwithstanding/926199)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fermis-paradox-notwithstanding/926199 "2020-11-23T15:16:49Z")
Fermi’s Paradox notwithstanding, is it still obvious that there are advanced ET’s out there? Notice I use the word ‘obvious’. And I put this question in GQ. :slight\_smile: --- ## [Exposing human body to super-high temperature for super-short time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exposing-human-body-to-super-high-temperature-for-super-short-time/925822)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exposing-human-body-to-super-high-temperature-for-super-short-time/925822 "2020-11-22T23:43:35Z")
Suppose that a human body in its entirety were exposed to something like 1 million degrees Celsius for a millionth of a second (if such a thing were technologically possible.) Would the outcome be a merely-singed body, o… --- ## [Are there any estimates on each drug's popularity globally?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-estimates-on-each-drugs-popularity-globally/926054)
**Author:** [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-estimates-on-each-drugs-popularity-globally/926054 "2020-11-22T19:39:40Z")
Hi there, I was reading an article about methamphetamine, and a question popped up in my mind. How popular is meth when compared to other substances? Like, if the total number of addicts in the world is 100 millions, t… --- ## [Biochemistry technique?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biochemistry-technique/926076)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biochemistry-technique/926076 "2020-11-22T12:19:53Z")
I have wondered how scientists figured out how various chemicals interact with each other in our bodies or in some cases even within cells? Is this all done within test tubes or other similar containers. for examp… --- ## [Who is that woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-that-woman/926181)
**Author:** [@jimmyjoeraybubbabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmyjoeraybubbabob)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-that-woman/926181 "2020-11-22T12:17:36Z")
Sydney Powell was behind Rudy and off to his right during his meltdown but who is the blonde woman directly behind him off of his left shoulder who kept nodding and smiling? --- ## [How does an A-10 cannon kill tanks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-a-10-cannon-kill-tanks/926013)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-a-10-cannon-kill-tanks/926013 "2020-11-22T01:23:27Z")
AIUI, the A-10 Warthog’s 30mm cannon is meant for a tank-killing role. What I’m trying to understand, though, is what a 30mm shell can do when supposedly even some 105mm rounds can’t necessarily penetrate tank armor. Is… --- ## [Lethal injection without lethal injection drugs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lethal-injection-without-lethal-injection-drugs/926105)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lethal-injection-without-lethal-injection-drugs/926105 "2020-11-21T20:30:42Z")
I know this is a controversial issue, but I’m looking for an objective answer. According to this CNN article, an inmate in South Carolina is scheduled to be executed in less than 2 weeks. The state, however, does not h… --- ## [Why is it easier to run upstairs than down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-easier-to-run-upstairs-than-down/925949)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-easier-to-run-upstairs-than-down/925949 "2020-11-21T16:07:50Z")
Physics and physiology aren’t my strong suits, so could someone please explain to me why it’s so much easier and faster to bound up the stairs than down them? Intuitively one would think that going down would be faster … --- ## [Japanese language: why does "n" sometimes get anglicized into "m"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-why-does-n-sometimes-get-anglicized-into-m/924119)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-why-does-n-sometimes-get-anglicized-into-m/924119 "2020-11-21T09:53:10Z")
There are a number of Japanese words which, when rendered in Latin script (“romaji”), have an “n” sound that gets translated/rendered as an “m”. A few examples: Tempura; the first kanji character, 天, is “ten” (although… --- ## [Laser, Paper, Vacuum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-paper-vacuum/925887)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-paper-vacuum/925887 "2020-11-21T04:52:57Z")
While this could be a great variant of Rock-Paper-Scissors, it’s actually a proposed experiment. I learned in cub scouts that fire requires three things: fuel, heat, and oxygen. My question, in short, is what happens wh… --- ## [Thomae's function and continuity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomaes-function-and-continuity/925833)
**Author:** [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomaes-function-and-continuity/925833 "2020-11-20T21:52:57Z")
Thomae’s function is similar to the Dirichlet function. But, while the Dirichlet function is nowhere continuous, Thomae’s function is continuous at the irrational numbers. The thing is, I just can’t figure out how this… --- ## [Fast Food Restaurant buildings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-restaurant-buildings/925665)
**Author:** [@ric62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ric62)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-restaurant-buildings/925665 "2020-11-20T17:52:19Z")
I was thinking about this even before the pandemic, do fast food restaurants need dining rooms that are big as they have been or even at all? Some people used to eat in but then over time most people used and are now us… --- ## [Rough idling, Ford Fusion with turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-idling-ford-fusion-with-turbo/925914)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-idling-ford-fusion-with-turbo/925914 "2020-11-20T15:19:16Z")
I have a 2016 Ford Fusion with turbocharger. It has 75000 miles on it. It is idling rough. Occasionally it almost dies, then recovers and idles OK for a while. When under load, it seems to run well. No hesitation that … --- ## ["nixon is tyranny which is death to us all"? Did anyone else see that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixon-is-tyranny-which-is-death-to-us-all-did-anyone-else-see-that/465354)
**Author:** [@Diaspora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diaspora)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixon-is-tyranny-which-is-death-to-us-all-did-anyone-else-see-that/465354 "2020-11-20T14:54:25Z")
When I was a little kid, our family would always vacation at Ocean City, Maryland, in the summer. The time period was the early seventies, during Nixon’s second term. I can remember seeing a small airplane flying above… --- ## [Did I permanently mess up this rechargeable battery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-permanently-mess-up-this-rechargeable-battery/925994)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-permanently-mess-up-this-rechargeable-battery/925994 "2020-11-20T03:15:49Z")
I bought this rechargeable fan to use outside on my deck to blow mosquitoes away. I also use it in my laundry room in the garage partly because in the middle of summer it’s hot as hell’s front porch in there and yet t… --- ## [Temporarily close a Microsoft Teams team, then restart it later without content or member list loss?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporarily-close-a-microsoft-teams-team-then-restart-it-later-without-content-or-member-list-loss/925820)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporarily-close-a-microsoft-teams-team-then-restart-it-later-without-content-or-member-list-loss/925820 "2020-11-19T22:28:36Z")
In Microsoft Teams, is there a way to temporarily close or disable or hide a Team from all its members and owners, and then bring it back a couple months later without losing any content and without having to readmit all… --- ## [Does anyone make a wagon/SUV with rear-facing jump seats any more?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-wagon-suv-with-rear-facing-jump-seats-any-more/923698)
**Author:** [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-wagon-suv-with-rear-facing-jump-seats-any-more/923698 "2020-11-19T20:52:03Z")
Looking at getting a new (to us) vehicle. We currently have a minivan, but we want something that can tow more. We have 2 kids in carseats, so the minivan is nice because we can bring the whole family and a few other pe… --- ## [Adobe Illustrator, fonts, ai files and links](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adobe-illustrator-fonts-ai-files-and-links/925940)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adobe-illustrator-fonts-ai-files-and-links/925940 "2020-11-19T20:13:52Z")
I am not an AI user, so don’t worry about being too simple or too dumb for me. Is there a way to find the original font name, for the font with no name that is displaying correctly in the .ai file, but not correctly in … --- ## [Is "good paying jobs" grammatically correct?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718)
**Author:** [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718 "2020-11-19T03:55:53Z")
My first OP in the new board format, I think. Anyway, the question is exactly what it says on the tin. This seems to have become a common phrase among politicians around the time of Bush II, but to my ear/eye it grates h… --- ## [Any chicken experts here? New chick help needed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicken-experts-here-new-chick-help-needed/925931)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicken-experts-here-new-chick-help-needed/925931 "2020-11-19T00:10:36Z")
Hello Everyone, We’ve had chickens for quite some time now and have had many successful hatchings. We’ve always known a hatchling was on its way and made sure we’ve had plenty of chick starter foods on hand. After rea… --- ## [LED Flashlights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-flashlights/681709)
**Author:** [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-flashlights/681709 "2014-02-20T14:24:04Z")
I am trying to make sense of LED flashlight pricing and features. Some flashlights that sound to me similar, as far as light output, can cost 10 times as much as others. Some cheaper lights claim 1800 lumens while more… --- ## [Why does Ozzy shuffle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-ozzy-shuffle/98708)
**Author:** [@samsmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samsmomma)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-ozzy-shuffle/98708 "2020-11-18T20:37:46Z")
I’ve been watching Ozzy Osbourne’s show on MTV, the Osbournes. My question for you all is, why does Ozzy shuffle when he walks,like an old man, he is only in his early fifties? I’ve heard the shuffling is due to a Grand … --- ## [Creepy Info Sharing or Anonymously Linked Databases?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-info-sharing-or-anonymously-linked-databases/925839)
**Author:** [@Raucous84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raucous84)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-info-sharing-or-anonymously-linked-databases/925839 "2020-11-18T13:20:03Z")
Hi All. I called a local area health group to make an appointment. The office manager began asking questions, and I gave my name, birthdate, and current address. Within a few moments after her entries, she asks if my pre… --- ## [Would putting the wrong coin into a gumball machine break it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-putting-the-wrong-coin-into-a-gumball-machine-break-it/925649)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-putting-the-wrong-coin-into-a-gumball-machine-break-it/925649 "2020-11-18T12:49:21Z")
Many years ago when I worked at Blockbuster, I was waiting on a woman and her rather unruly son at the register. He kept fiddling with the gumball machine and was trying to put a nickel in the quarter slot, which freake… --- ## [Placebos (testing new medicine)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/placebos-testing-new-medicine/925558)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2020, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/placebos-testing-new-medicine/925558 "2020-11-18T08:27:57Z")
A question about testing a new medicine. When testing a new medicine for safety and effectiveness it is common to divide the test subjects into two groups. One group gets the experimental medicine, the other group is a … --- ## [Have any authoritarian regimes fallen due to their “base” turning on them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-authoritarian-regimes-fallen-due-to-their-base-turning-on-them/925334)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-authoritarian-regimes-fallen-due-to-their-base-turning-on-them/925334 "2020-11-17T23:07:45Z")
Inspired by the threads in P&E about parler and Trump’s supporters. It’s my opinion that Trump’s supporters, at least the MAGAs, will support Trump no matter what. The question for this thread is about historical examp… --- ## [Four astronauts on SpaceX Crew Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-astronauts-on-spacex-crew-dragon/925702)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-astronauts-on-spacex-crew-dragon/925702 "2020-11-17T21:14:46Z")
The recent launch of Crew Dragon has four people on board. Is that number a record number for any spacecraft other than the Shuttle? I can’t recall any other launch with more than three on board. --- ## [Do saved baby teeth usually crack into pieces over the years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-saved-baby-teeth-usually-crack-into-pieces-over-the-years/925201)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-saved-baby-teeth-usually-crack-into-pieces-over-the-years/925201 "2020-11-17T21:07:10Z")
In a sweetly sentimental gesture, my father saved all my baby teeth in a small box. When both my parents had passed away, when I was about 58, I came into possession of the box. The teeth in the box were not whole - it … --- ## [How do you pronounce Ypres?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ypres/925758)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ypres/925758 "2020-11-17T19:16:29Z")
Ypres, the WWI battle? I’ve heard it pronounced “wipers” once in a film about WWI, but I’m not sure if that’s correct. --- ## [Problem with colors on my Win-10 computer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-colors-on-my-win-10-computer/924564)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-colors-on-my-win-10-computer/924564 "2020-11-17T16:54:56Z")
Some things just disappear on my computer, a relatively new LeNovo IdeaPad. This morning there was a survey I wanted to take and it started with “Click on the next button”, but there was no next button. I finally went … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=316) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=318)