# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=527 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 528 --- ## [Did crosswinds interfere with knot (speed) calculations before the chronometer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-crosswinds-interfere-with-knot-speed-calculations-before-the-chronometer/823480)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-crosswinds-interfere-with-knot-speed-calculations-before-the-chronometer/823480 "2018-10-25T14:27:07Z")
Hi, I remember reading that crosswinds interfered with knot (speed) calculations before the chronometer in 18th century sailing. I’m not sure if I remember correctly. Can anyone confirm if this was the case and how the… --- ## [CO2 sensors in animals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co2-sensors-in-animals/823472)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2018, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co2-sensors-in-animals/823472 "2018-10-25T12:20:47Z")
I’m curious if animals besides humans detect carbon dioxide buildup in the bloodstream, the way humans do. (As I understand, we don’t sense the absence of oxygen … just a buildup of CO 2.) Is this trait common to all pri… --- ## [Need help with Firefox Update 63 (sidebar spacing)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-firefox-update-63-sidebar-spacing/823397)
**Author:** [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2018, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-firefox-update-63-sidebar-spacing/823397 "2018-10-25T08:27:19Z")
Update 63 just installed, and it has broken a key customization I’d like to get back. I tried going to the mozilla forums but I either couldn’t find them or couldn’t make heads or tails out of them. Sidebar vertical spa… --- ## [China's Artificial Moon Satellites](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-artificial-moon-satellites/823253)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2018, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-artificial-moon-satellites/823253 "2018-10-25T07:02:50Z")
According to many news sources, China is planning to launch ‘artificial moon’ satellites in the next couple of years, which they claim will light up major cities and eliminate the need for street lights, saving them hun… --- ## [Flight jacket ID](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-jacket-id/823466)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-jacket-id/823466 "2018-10-25T00:14:11Z")
Robert Taylor is wearing this flight jacket in Flight Command (1940). I’m not familiar with pre-war jackets. It kind of looks like a USAAF A-2, but the pockets are different and it has lapels. It’s obviously not a Nav… --- ## [Virginia boys \[Special Operations military unit\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-boys-special-operations-military-unit/822964)
**Author:** [@Dalvion104a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dalvion104a)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-boys-special-operations-military-unit/822964 "2018-10-24T18:05:47Z")
Is it true that the virginia boys origination can be traced back to the implication of the wright brothers airplane for military use? Is it true that they break your leg while torturing you and you must complete the fin… --- ## [Car starter motor caught fire - how best to determine the root cause?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-starter-motor-caught-fire-how-best-to-determine-the-root-cause/823384)
**Author:** [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-starter-motor-caught-fire-how-best-to-determine-the-root-cause/823384 "2018-10-24T17:43:44Z")
This past Sunday, something new happened to me me after almost 30 years of driving several different cars, all of them aged to 10+ years old and well into the “needing stuff fixed/replaced” part of their lives: my car ca… --- ## [What is “the powerball” in the powerball lottery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-powerball-in-the-powerball-lottery/823279)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-powerball-in-the-powerball-lottery/823279 "2018-10-24T13:02:07Z")
What is “the powerball” in the powerball lottery? I have asked this question oi nine or ten lottery players and invariably received an answer like, “that’s the name of the lottery”. Clearly, this is an insufficient ans… --- ## [Improve my water pressure (please)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improve-my-water-pressure-please/823251)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improve-my-water-pressure-please/823251 "2018-10-24T12:50:05Z")
My home (built in 1949) has lousy water pressure. Not at every faucet. The one in the bathtub releases a torrent. The sink in the same bathroom is good cold water-wise but lousy when it comes to the hot water. In the ki… --- ## [Am I paranoid? Re: laptop camera](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-paranoid-re-laptop-camera/823352)
**Author:** [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-paranoid-re-laptop-camera/823352 "2018-10-24T09:14:38Z")
Okay, guys, this was strange. Last night I had an itchy, itchy eye. I sat in front of my laptop, rubbing it and weeping. This morning I went into some of the usual sites and got drop-down ads for…eye drops. Now it is n… --- ## [How did people care for ear piercings before modern antiseptics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-people-care-for-ear-piercings-before-modern-antiseptics/823334)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-people-care-for-ear-piercings-before-modern-antiseptics/823334 "2018-10-24T07:49:01Z")
So people have been wearing earrings since time immemorial. But it’s only been fairly recently that sterilized piercing studs or needles and modern antiseptics have been developed. A while back my niece stayed over when … --- ## [When did Christopher Columbus realize he was in a New World rather than the Far East?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-christopher-columbus-realize-he-was-in-a-new-world-rather-than-the-far-east/798408)
**Author:** [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-christopher-columbus-realize-he-was-in-a-new-world-rather-than-the-far-east/798408 "2017-10-11T12:55:21Z")
From what I remember of the story, Christopher Columbus intended to find a sailing route to the Far East, the Indies, and initially thought he HAD sailed all the way across the world – hence why Native Americans got to b… --- ## [How do lions, wolves and chimps differ in their pack hunting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-lions-wolves-and-chimps-differ-in-their-pack-hunting/822187)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-lions-wolves-and-chimps-differ-in-their-pack-hunting/822187 "2018-10-24T04:03:11Z")
Are there differences in the ways pack hunters like lions, wolves and chimps hunt? How about prehistoric or today’s hunter-gatherer humans? What are the fundamental similarities? What, if any, are the similarities bet… --- ## [Could Harry and Meghan's daughter become Duchess of Sussex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-harry-and-meghans-daughter-become-duchess-of-sussex/814472)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-harry-and-meghans-daughter-become-duchess-of-sussex/814472 "2018-10-24T02:27:23Z")
When the Queen made Prince Harry a peer this morning did she limit succession to heirs male of his body as is usual for vast majority of British peerages or did she allow for female succession in light of the recent chan… --- ## [How much sodium do I get from my instant noodles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sodium-do-i-get-from-my-instant-noodles/823349)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sodium-do-i-get-from-my-instant-noodles/823349 "2018-10-24T01:27:31Z")
Instant noodles are famous for having lots of sodium. I am looking at a Maruchan styrofoam bowl of them right now. It says it is one serving and contains 1280 mg of sodium. Ok, that is a lot. However, for most foods yo… --- ## [Oldest Wooden Structure.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-wooden-structure/823323)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-wooden-structure/823323 "2018-10-24T01:24:58Z")
As far as building materials go, wood is supposedly pretty strong. Even car bridges can be made out of them. I can’t provide a cite. I’ve heard it in numerous places. So what is the oldest wooden structure that is still… --- ## [Monster chickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monster-chickens/823282)
**Author:** [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monster-chickens/823282 "2018-10-24T00:39:44Z")
Over the recent few years, I’ve noticed the size of chicken purchased in grocery stores (US) has increased tremendously. One bird is enough to feed an army. Breasts, thighs, and legs are (I feel) grotesquely large; neari… --- ## [Most recent new coal-fired power plant in the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recent-new-coal-fired-power-plant-in-the-us/823372)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recent-new-coal-fired-power-plant-in-the-us/823372 "2018-10-23T22:42:54Z")
Coal-fired power plants are shutting down left and right throughout the US. That’s despite the current Administration’s attempt to reverse this trend. Solar, wind, and natural gas are much cheaper so that attempt is figh… --- ## [Why do flags tatter along the stripes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-flags-tatter-along-the-stripes/819007)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-flags-tatter-along-the-stripes/819007 "2018-10-23T22:26:40Z")
We’ve all (at least, all of us who are Americans) seen American flags that are a little too long in the tooth, and are getting tattered at the ends. And invariably, when this happens, the tears are always right along th… --- ## [Messenger question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-question/823246)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-question/823246 "2018-10-23T21:04:48Z")
Message I sent was not read – can I be sure it was delivered? When I look at my messenger log it lacks the miniature picture of the recipient at the bottom of the message which normally would indicate it was read. Instea… --- ## [Faulty start capacitor on single phase motor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faulty-start-capacitor-on-single-phase-motor/823374)
**Author:** [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faulty-start-capacitor-on-single-phase-motor/823374 "2018-10-23T20:18:30Z")
Embarrassing question for me: Will a bad start cap on a cheap 1 phase motor (air mover on an AC unit) allow the motor to run long -term (one week) at less than rated RPM with no overload problems? --- ## [When did oral sex become a common part of sex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 176\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902 "2018-10-23T19:16:18Z")
Let me begin by acknowledging that my premise may be off, but it’s my understanding that: it is typical during modern heterosexual sex for oral sex to be used as a part of foreplay, and that fellatio/cunnilingus are oc… --- ## [Technical question about the Nazi nuclear program](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-question-about-the-nazi-nuclear-program/723684)
**Author:** [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-question-about-the-nazi-nuclear-program/723684 "2018-10-23T18:25:41Z")
Saw the second episode of the excellent miniseries “The Saboteurs” last night. If you haven’t been watching, I highly recommend you do! :cool: Can anybody explain this German design for a nuclear reactor to me? Are … --- ## [Is it possible for a skyscraper to be constructed such that it can survive it's floors burning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-skyscraper-to-be-constructed-such-that-it-can-survive-its-floors-burning/823291)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-for-a-skyscraper-to-be-constructed-such-that-it-can-survive-its-floors-burning/823291 "2018-10-23T17:28:28Z")
A certain major motion picture was recently released, staring one of Hollywood’s most moneymaking actors at the present. A central plot point was a kilometer+ high tower that has a raging inferno, starting at a floor ab… --- ## [Contact between Allied and Axis nationals in neutral countries during WWII.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contact-between-allied-and-axis-nationals-in-neutral-countries-during-wwii/822394)
**Author:** [@Sofrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofrito)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contact-between-allied-and-axis-nationals-in-neutral-countries-during-wwii/822394 "2018-10-23T15:19:12Z")
Inspired by a couple of WWII threads. What were the circumstances and conventions regarding contact between, say, an American citizen and a German in Switzerland during WWII? What about diplomats? I understand the fact… --- ## [The truth about carrots](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-carrots/823267)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-carrots/823267 "2018-10-23T14:09:25Z")
The latest meme (to me) making the rounds is that carrots used to be be white, purple or yellow. The Dutch made the orange in tribute to William of Orange. True? (And yes of course I might have been able to google this … --- ## [Do palm trees grow from seeds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-palm-trees-grow-from-seeds/823105)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-palm-trees-grow-from-seeds/823105 "2018-10-23T07:58:24Z")
We have five baby palm trees that just popped up in our side yard. We have no idea where they came from. There are lots of squirrels in the neighborhood, could they have buried palm seeds? Is that where palm trees com… --- ## [Android Application creation help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-application-creation-help/688828)
**Author:** [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-application-creation-help/688828 "2014-05-21T21:32:54Z")
I’ve gotten the crazy idea that I want to create apps for mobile devices. Do I know what apps in particular? Nope. Do I have any coding experience whatsoever? None. But I’m willing to learn. I’ve downloaded onto my Mac … --- ## [What is the least information permitting a computer to identify any piece of music](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-least-information-permitting-a-computer-to-identify-any-piece-of-music/823114)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-least-information-permitting-a-computer-to-identify-any-piece-of-music/823114 "2018-10-23T05:38:13Z")
What is the smallest amount of information that would permit a computer to identify any piece of music, popular or classical? Is rhythm alone sufficient? Would this factor include the ability to identify Indian and Chi… --- ## [Perl help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perl-help/823256)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perl-help/823256 "2018-10-22T22:31:30Z")
Yes, I know there are websites; but I’ll need feedback and I know there are a lot of experts here. I know how to write programs using Easytrieve. I want to learn Perl so that I can convert Easytrieve into something fre… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=526) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=528)