# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=411 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 412 --- ## [How many Galaxies blocked by my fingernail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-galaxies-blocked-by-my-fingernail/843297)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-galaxies-blocked-by-my-fingernail/843297 "2019-11-15T20:25:23Z")
If i held up my hand to the sky how many galaxies are blocked by one fingernail. Is the number of galaxies blocked just on one plane or are there galaxies blocked behind other blocked galaxies in the plane that is right… --- ## [Deleting Google Chrome bookmarks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-google-chrome-bookmarks/843471)
**Author:** [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-google-chrome-bookmarks/843471 "2019-11-15T19:59:36Z")
I, using my usual fantastic organizational skills, have ended up with hundreds of bookmarks in my Chrome browser. I would like to delete most of these and sort of start over, but so far can delete only one at a time, a… --- ## [Dell Optiplex 390 SFF: Keyboard disappears during setup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-optiplex-390-sff-keyboard-disappears-during-setup/843454)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dell-optiplex-390-sff-keyboard-disappears-during-setup/843454 "2019-11-15T19:57:45Z")
So I have two identical Dell Optliplex 390 small form factor computers I’m attempting to set up Windows 10 on. Both have the same issues- the keyboard works fine through the first part of the setup. Then Windows refuses … --- ## [Why were the tides in Venice the highest in 50 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-tides-in-venice-the-highest-in-50-years/843440)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-tides-in-venice-the-highest-in-50-years/843440 "2019-11-15T19:31:35Z")
Yesterday (Nov, 13) was of course full moon, but there are 12 or 13 of them every year. It was nowhere near perigee (Nov. 23), in fact a bit closer to apogee (Nov. 7). So why were the tides so high in Venice? And why … --- ## [Biggest deficits overcome (in Western elections - polling and recounts)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-deficits-overcome-in-western-elections-polling-and-recounts/843258)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-deficits-overcome-in-western-elections-polling-and-recounts/843258 "2019-11-15T18:49:49Z")
Non-political questions: What is the biggest deficit that any candidate has ever overcome in the polls, on the eve of the election, to win? (assuming a direct election, not some parliamentary system.) Has any candidate… --- ## [To what extent do ATCs and airline pilots use their local language instead of English?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-do-atcs-and-airline-pilots-use-their-local-language-instead-of-english/843434)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-do-atcs-and-airline-pilots-use-their-local-language-instead-of-english/843434 "2019-11-15T17:07:06Z")
English is the international language of aviation, but to what extent is it actually used? At an airport like Moscow, do the ATCs and local Russian pilots (not foreign airlines, but Russian airlines) often just slip int… --- ## [A spherical Universe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-spherical-universe/843050)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-spherical-universe/843050 "2019-11-15T12:48:36Z")
Science magazines have been publishing articles in the past 2 days after a paper in Nature Astronomy suggesting the Universe is not flat but spherical. What current laws of physics point to this and if true which establ… --- ## [Start my car without a key](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-my-car-without-a-key/843455)
**Author:** [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-my-car-without-a-key/843455 "2019-11-15T08:25:57Z")
I am sick and tired of my car’s ignition problems. Would there be an easy way to make my car such that it would start without a key? My car is old and I am not worried about theft. I just want it to start whenever I t… --- ## [So the Big Bang didn't start it all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-big-bang-didnt-start-it-all/843441)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2019, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-big-bang-didnt-start-it-all/843441 "2019-11-15T07:34:27Z")
For years and years I’ve believed that in the standard model the Big Bang was the beginning of our universe and that before it was no space, no time, nothing. I guess I should have kept up with the cosmologists because n… --- ## [If I had only a ZIP+4 Code Could I Look Up An Address?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-only-a-zip-4-code-could-i-look-up-an-address/629604)
**Author:** [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-had-only-a-zip-4-code-could-i-look-up-an-address/629604 "2019-11-14T23:11:23Z")
Subject says it all. --- ## [Pulsating Kitchen Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulsating-kitchen-faucet/843366)
**Author:** [@runninrep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runninrep)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulsating-kitchen-faucet/843366 "2019-11-14T22:53:39Z")
My kitchen faucet will pulsate about every 5-10 seconds when the water is running at full strength. I have an aerator on it. When I take off the aerator, it flows with no issue. I’ve cleaned out the aerator and it did… --- ## [Punta del Este: Point of It Is?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punta-del-este-point-of-it-is/843423)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punta-del-este-point-of-it-is/843423 "2019-11-14T21:36:40Z")
How did resort destination Punta del Este, Reno of the Southern Hemisphere, get its name? What does the name mean in Spanish? I know, I know, never translate a proper name, proper names are inscrutable blobs to the Prop… --- ## [The Post-Antibiotic Age?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-post-antibiotic-age/674499)
**Author:** [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-post-antibiotic-age/674499 "2019-11-14T17:55:15Z")
The other day I was reading an article about super-immune bacterial infections and how more often people are showing up at hospitals with infections that won’t respond to any antibiotic, not even the super-potent stuff l… --- ## [Are there other "Rosetta Stones"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-other-rosetta-stones/842262)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-other-rosetta-stones/842262 "2019-11-14T16:08:57Z")
Why haven’t we found other “Rosetta Stones”? Or have we? It’s my understanding that the actual text on the Rosetta Stone is fairly mundane administrative government business; this being the case, shouldn’t these sorts o… --- ## [Can my iPad be save?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-ipad-be-save/843346)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-ipad-be-save/843346 "2019-11-14T09:57:01Z")
It’s 5-6 years old and it’s speed has deteriorated. Very slow. Can it be revitalized or is it time to trash it? --- ## [taxes when you buy a prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-when-you-buy-a-prize/843089)
**Author:** [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-when-you-buy-a-prize/843089 "2019-11-14T06:40:42Z")
It is well known that if you win a prize you need to pay taxes for it. What if the prize awarder instead says “I will give you a great deal: you can buy the prize for one penny”. Would you still need to pay taxes on the … --- ## [What made engines stall in the 1930s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-made-engines-stall-in-the-1930s/843354)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-made-engines-stall-in-the-1930s/843354 "2019-11-14T04:08:41Z")
I found a series of ads for Diamond NevrNox Ethyl brand gas from 1932 that talked about the “tragic moment” when your engine was “gas-locked” or “frozen” or “choked up” or “stalled” or “dead” leaving you stranded miles f… --- ## [MS Office 2003 MAPI32.DLL error message](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-office-2003-mapi32-dll-error-message/843216)
**Author:** [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-office-2003-mapi32-dll-error-message/843216 "2019-11-14T00:48:45Z")
I just installed MS Office 2003 Student and Teacher Edition on a Win 7 Professional PC that already had MS Office 2007 Enterprise Version installed. Each application from Office 2003 seems to be working just fine now ex… --- ## [What is "D-MA" (as in "Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA)")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-d-ma-as-in-elizabeth-warren-s-d-ma/843363)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-d-ma-as-in-elizabeth-warren-s-d-ma/843363 "2019-11-13T23:01:53Z")
Source: Who is Bill Gates Supporting for President: Trump or Warren? What does “D-MA” mean in the quote above? :slight\_smile: --- ## [iPhone: I’ve synced my Google contacts. Can I add new contacts to the Google account?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-i-ve-synced-my-google-contacts-can-i-add-new-contacts-to-the-google-account/843352)
**Author:** [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-i-ve-synced-my-google-contacts-can-i-add-new-contacts-to-the-google-account/843352 "2019-11-13T19:10:28Z")
Hi all, I’ve just got a shiny new iPhone 11. I’m very happy with it so far. It’s replacing an Android handset. All my contacts are in Google, and I’d like to continue using Google Contacts as the single “source of trut… --- ## [Limited-life credit card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limited-life-credit-card/843319)
**Author:** [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/limited-life-credit-card/843319 "2019-11-13T17:55:32Z")
Lately I’ve been contemplating paying for access to a special website. The site offers both subscriptions and one month-only access; I would want one-month access. Payment is through a service called Segpay, who appare… --- ## [MP3 playing at half speed. What would cause that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-playing-at-half-speed-what-would-cause-that/843364)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-playing-at-half-speed-what-would-cause-that/843364 "2019-11-13T16:13:41Z")
I have a thumb drive full of MP3s that I listen to in the car through the USB interface. Last night I had to run an errand on the way home from work. The song that was playing was about 2/3 over when I stopped the car. W… --- ## [Oberth Effect ever used](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oberth-effect-ever-used/843320)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oberth-effect-ever-used/843320 "2019-11-13T15:10:20Z")
The Oberth Effect is a powered gravity slingshot. That is, a spacecraft does a gravity slingshot and then fires its rocket at the closest point to the planet. This is supposed to give an even greater boost than a rocket … --- ## [How far away in the universe could we detect a similar civilization to ours?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-away-in-the-universe-could-we-detect-a-similar-civilization-to-ours/843203)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-away-in-the-universe-could-we-detect-a-similar-civilization-to-ours/843203 "2019-11-13T08:31:36Z")
If there was an earth-like populated by a species exactly as advanced as humans are today, how close would they have to be for us to detect them, and vice versa? --- ## [Blood sugar level blood test fasting vs non-fasting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-sugar-level-blood-test-fasting-vs-non-fasting/843197)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-sugar-level-blood-test-fasting-vs-non-fasting/843197 "2019-11-13T07:04:43Z")
A neighbor was telling me he had blood work done and he was told not to fast, the doctor didn’t need it for whatever he was interested in the test for. Anyway, his glucose was 102 and the normal range on the report he s… --- ## [How secure is the selection process for which judge hears a case?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-is-the-selection-process-for-which-judge-hears-a-case/843189)
**Author:** [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-is-the-selection-process-for-which-judge-hears-a-case/843189 "2019-11-13T00:37:20Z")
With all the important court cases surrounding the Trump administration, I’m curious as to how secure the federal judge selection process is. I’m guessing it’s done via computer rng but are there extraordinary steps tak… --- ## [Lots of animals sneeze. Do all mammals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lots-of-animals-sneeze-do-all-mammals/843337)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lots-of-animals-sneeze-do-all-mammals/843337 "2019-11-12T22:20:41Z")
Cats and dogs do. Even small mammals sneeze. Do only mammals sneeze? Do they all? Whales? --- ## [Random Shuffle - expected distributions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-shuffle-expected-distributions/843067)
**Author:** [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-shuffle-expected-distributions/843067 "2019-11-12T18:13:41Z")
If an ordered array is randomly shuffled, my possibly faulty understanding is that the elements should have roughly equal probabilities of ending up anywhere in the shuffled array. For simplicity, say I define the initia… --- ## [Mercury transit, binoculars and eclipse spectacles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercury-transit-binoculars-and-eclipse-spectacles/843107)
**Author:** [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercury-transit-binoculars-and-eclipse-spectacles/843107 "2019-11-12T18:13:19Z")
There will be a transit of Mercury Monday morning. I have some binoculars and a set of eclipse viewing specs. If I tape the eclipse filters over the binocular objective (big) lenses, will that be enough to safely view th… --- ## [Hair follicles and Sutures Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-follicles-and-sutures-question/843276)
**Author:** [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-follicles-and-sutures-question/843276 "2019-11-11T19:35:47Z")
Last week I managed to get a severe laceration above my eye and through my eyebrow. I went to the urgent care folks and they cleaned it up and put in eleven stitches, which were removed today. Here’s the question: Whe… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=410) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=412)