# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=371 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 372 --- ## [What is a "digester" in a paper mill (one blew up big time in Maine today)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-digester-in-a-paper-mill-one-blew-up-big-time-in-maine-today/851889)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-digester-in-a-paper-mill-one-blew-up-big-time-in-maine-today/851889 "2020-04-20T14:32:10Z")
A paper mill in Jay, Maine exploded today. No one was injured which is surprising since it looked to be a big explosion. The linked article said it was a “digester” which turns wood chips into paper pulp. I am just cu… --- ## [Fire crackers on a relativity train.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-crackers-on-a-relativity-train/852144)
**Author:** [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2020, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-crackers-on-a-relativity-train/852144 "2020-04-20T14:28:45Z")
Okay, here’s the set up of the classic Einstein ToR problem that many of you are probably familiar with: You: standing on a platform with a pocket watch, keeping time. Train: coming in at some high rate of speed, say 9… --- ## [Is there a way to stop Windows 10(Home) from locking every time I close the computer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-stop-windows-10-home-from-locking-every-time-i-close-the-computer/852087)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-stop-windows-10-home-from-locking-every-time-i-close-the-computer/852087 "2020-04-20T00:41:42Z")
I have a new laptop and it is working very well. Windows 10, Home Edition. Oddly enough, that is the same system my old 2012 laptop was running on. When I closed the lid on that laptop, it went into regular standby. Whe… --- ## [Petroleum and Young Earth Creationists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petroleum-and-young-earth-creationists/633081)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petroleum-and-young-earth-creationists/633081 "2020-04-20T00:01:10Z")
What do YECs say about where crude oil comes from (besides “God made it”)? --- ## [Why would a house suddenly smell like pepper spray?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-house-suddenly-smell-like-pepper-spray/851879)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-house-suddenly-smell-like-pepper-spray/851879 "2020-04-19T22:10:28Z")
I’m trying to see if there could be a logical explanation for this. A week ago I get home and at the front door there is smell that I can only describe as peppery. The only thing that smells similar to it is my bear mace… --- ## [DVR recording question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvr-recording-question/852126)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvr-recording-question/852126 "2020-04-19T19:22:16Z")
Watching the at home concert last night and I hit the record button when there was 40 mins left. But it recorded the last 60 minutes, not 40. I assume this is by design. Does this mean it is already recording as… --- ## [What does it mean if a supercar has a paddle shift?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-if-a-supercar-has-a-paddle-shift/851967)
**Author:** [@Dunmurry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunmurry)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-if-a-supercar-has-a-paddle-shift/851967 "2020-04-19T19:21:21Z")
Well I was looking at experiences with driving a supercar at a racetrack and it says that a Lamborghini or Ferrari has a paddle shift but I don’t know what this means. I know what an automatic car is and a manual transmi… --- ## [Are Habanero leaves edible ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-habanero-leaves-edible/132147)
**Author:** [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-habanero-leaves-edible/132147 "2020-04-19T17:13:02Z")
While harvesting this years crop of peppers, I wondered if Habanero leaves (Capsicum chinense) would be good in a salad. So I tasted one, and found it to have a pleasant flavor, somewhat like mustard greens. The trouble … --- ## [Exceptionally powerful immune system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptionally-powerful-immune-system/851903)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptionally-powerful-immune-system/851903 "2020-04-19T11:05:41Z")
Are there any human beings recorded to possess an exceptionally powerful immune system? For example according to the following article, autoimmune disease is thought be a side effect of “too powerful” immune system: T… --- ## [Anthrax decontamination question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthrax-decontamination-question/852100)
**Author:** [@Permnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Permnut)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthrax-decontamination-question/852100 "2020-04-19T04:13:33Z")
When workplaces such as the US postal services has to be decontaminated along with all their contents, where there ever any major issues with an electronic items being returned unusable or otherwise broken? For example,… --- ## [Does the Book of Revelation actually say how people get to heaven in the end times?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-book-of-revelation-actually-say-how-people-get-to-heaven-in-the-end-times/851669)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-book-of-revelation-actually-say-how-people-get-to-heaven-in-the-end-times/851669 "2020-04-19T03:53:39Z")
It’s always kind of implied if not outright said by people who riff on the prophecies that the true believers are magically lifted into heaven. Thus avoiding all that unpleasant dying stuff. Is there anything to suppor… --- ## [Any meaningful difference between C Drive and D Drive? (computer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-meaningful-difference-between-c-drive-and-d-drive-computer/852038)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-meaningful-difference-between-c-drive-and-d-drive-computer/852038 "2020-04-19T01:16:56Z")
I know that C drive is usually meant for the operating system while D Drive is used as the recovery, but seeing as how I have used about 80% of my C-drive memory but only about 5% of my D-drive, what would be the ramific… --- ## [Medical Research 'bodies' in large pools?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-research-bodies-in-large-pools/254143)
**Author:** [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-research-bodies-in-large-pools/254143 "2020-04-18T23:34:20Z")
I’ve got another one that really sounds like an urban legend. A friend of mine is in med school, and he had to disect a cadaver. He told me that cadavers are hard for the school to get, so they ‘horde’ them. Basically… --- ## [Comparing the security of online audiovisual chat/conferencing platforms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-the-security-of-online-audiovisual-chat-conferencing-platforms/851930)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-the-security-of-online-audiovisual-chat-conferencing-platforms/851930 "2020-04-18T23:23:24Z")
Like many people, I have been trying out a range of platforms for hosting group meetings. I’ve tried Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Discord, Twoseven.xyz, Netflix Party, WebEx, … that’s what I can think of WebEx is a pai… --- ## [Gay cakes elsewhere in the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-cakes-elsewhere-in-the-world/815416)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-cakes-elsewhere-in-the-world/815416 "2020-04-18T21:03:45Z")
Is America the only modern country with a Christian problem when it comes to baked goods? How do other societies handle the conflict between free practice of religion and anti-discrimination? --- ## [Program for entering accented letters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/program-for-entering-accented-letters/851981)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/program-for-entering-accented-letters/851981 "2020-04-18T20:08:16Z")
There used to be a program called AllChars which made it easy to type accented letters. For example, if I hit Ctl and released it then typed 'e the result was an acute accented e. It stopped working after Win-7 and has… --- ## [Desktop computer- Windows Xp problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-computer-windows-xp-problems/851925)
**Author:** [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-computer-windows-xp-problems/851925 "2020-04-18T17:01:48Z")
The thread on “do you still use your desktop” got me thinking to ask here for help. My desktop is a Dell Dimension e521 with Windows Xp. I think is “giving up the ghost”. At startup I get a blue setup screen with a mes… --- ## [Current conduction due to gravity.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-conduction-due-to-gravity/852026)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-conduction-due-to-gravity/852026 "2020-04-18T16:26:54Z")
Suppose a very long copper rod. The rod moves through a very concentrated gravity well, such that there is a large difference in gravitational effect at different points on the rod. Ignore all the bending, deflecting, e… --- ## [Why does my car still work after 100K miles of not changing the oil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-car-still-work-after-100k-miles-of-not-changing-the-oil/286208)
**Author:** [@Roland\_Deschain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Deschain)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2005, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-car-still-work-after-100k-miles-of-not-changing-the-oil/286208 "2005-01-29T07:34:09Z")
I have a 1994 Toyota Corolla with over 300K miles on it. It burns or leaks a quart of oil about every 1500 miles, and I add a quart of Duralube maybe every 30,000 miles or so. However, in the over ten years that I’ve o… --- ## [Do individual states in the US have the authority to borrow from other countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-individual-states-in-the-us-have-the-authority-to-borrow-from-other-countries/852000)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-individual-states-in-the-us-have-the-authority-to-borrow-from-other-countries/852000 "2020-04-18T14:03:36Z")
Hi Do individual states in the US have the authority to borrow from other countries to shore us their economies? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Were states during call-up/the draught WWII/Korean War/Vietnam within their rights to withhold men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-states-during-call-up-the-draught-wwii-korean-war-vietnam-within-their-rights-to-withhold-men/851970)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-states-during-call-up-the-draught-wwii-korean-war-vietnam-within-their-rights-to-withhold-men/851970 "2020-04-18T13:29:18Z")
Hi Were governors of states during call-up/the draught during WWII/Korean War/Vietnam ever within their rights to withhold men from the draught? How far does a state’s governor’s powers extend? I look forward to your … --- ## [Light Switch Wiring Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-switch-wiring-question/851880)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-switch-wiring-question/851880 "2020-04-18T03:08:15Z")
I bought this Leviton LTB60-1LZ timer for our shower light since my wife keeps forgetting to turn it off. When I took it out of the box I noticed it had 5 wires. White, Black and green as expected, and a yellow and red w… --- ## [Can someone summarize the ventilator supply situation in New York state?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-summarize-the-ventilator-supply-situation-in-new-york-state/851980)
**Author:** [@keno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keno)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-summarize-the-ventilator-supply-situation-in-new-york-state/851980 "2020-04-18T02:52:18Z")
Several weeks ago, Gov Cuomo repeatedly asserted they needed 30,000 ventilators. This week the news is reporting NY is sending 400 ventilators to California. Did NY acquire the 30,000? Did they ultimately not need 30,… --- ## [When law enforcement shows you ID how are we supposed to know it is legit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-law-enforcement-shows-you-id-how-are-we-supposed-to-know-it-is-legit/851887)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-law-enforcement-shows-you-id-how-are-we-supposed-to-know-it-is-legit/851887 "2020-04-17T23:06:21Z")
I was watching an episode of “Supernatural” where the two main characters pose as FBI agents (this happens nearly every episode with the running gag that they use rock star names to ID themselves) and the person they sho… --- ## [How far away can you get from anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-away-can-you-get-from-anything/851793)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-away-can-you-get-from-anything/851793 "2020-04-17T21:57:40Z")
Encountering a line in a set-in-19th-century story got me to thinking: the scout rides up and informs the people, “The nearest settlement is 50 miles away.” The question is thus framed as, in the part of the US between … --- ## [Help me with Google Rewards and Google Play on Android Phone.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-google-rewards-and-google-play-on-android-phone/839068)
**Author:** [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-google-rewards-and-google-play-on-android-phone/839068 "2019-08-22T18:08:54Z")
So I have Google Rewards app on my phone. Accumulated about 11 bucks. This is attached to what we’ll call my “Rewards” google account that do nothing with but accumulating (and hopefully using) Google Rewards money. P… --- ## [Is there any evidence of a Viking transfer of technology in medieval Greenland whale-hunting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-evidence-of-a-viking-transfer-of-technology-in-medieval-greenland-whale-hunting/851979)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-evidence-of-a-viking-transfer-of-technology-in-medieval-greenland-whale-hunting/851979 "2020-04-17T18:31:26Z")
Hi I’m interested in whether or not the Viking of Greenland taught the indigenous whale-hunting Thule anything about whaling or perhaps transferred their technology to the Thule culture. I haven’t been able to find an… --- ## [Wifi signal boosters - Question about location](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-signal-boosters-question-about-location/851863)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-signal-boosters-question-about-location/851863 "2020-04-17T17:29:40Z")
First of all, I guess…do they really work? Secondly, where should a signal booster be place for optimal performance? Halfway betwixt the router and the laptop? More toward the router? More toward the laptop? mmm --- ## [Lots of discarded latex gloves in the streets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lots-of-discarded-latex-gloves-in-the-streets/779281)
**Author:** [@Ziofilippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziofilippo)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lots-of-discarded-latex-gloves-in-the-streets/779281 "2020-04-17T17:28:32Z")
I suspect that most of the world has not noticed - but in the last couple of years, I’ve started seeing an increasing proliferation of used latex gloves in the streets. I live in Chicago, but I have noticed them in other… --- ## [Phrogging - is this for real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrogging-is-this-for-real/415706)
**Author:** [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrogging-is-this-for-real/415706 "2020-04-17T13:27:35Z")
Surpised that this hasn’t been asked here yet, but I searched and got no results. The new ABC show iCaught is apparently going to do a piece next week on phrogging. Supposedly, this is a somewhat new activity where a pe… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=370) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=372)