# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=541 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 542 --- ## [That "Tidal Lock" Theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-tidal-lock-theory/818497)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-tidal-lock-theory/818497 "2018-09-09T00:39:10Z")
Why haven’t any of the planets fallen into tidal-lock with the sun? Shouldn’t Mercury have tidal-locked by now? How do scientists explain away without contradicting themselves? --- ## [Questions regarding the Heimlich maneuver](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-regarding-the-heimlich-maneuver/820989)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-regarding-the-heimlich-maneuver/820989 "2018-09-08T23:21:25Z")
Hi I recently swallowed some gristle which thankfully didn’t get stuck in my esophagus. I caught it just as it entered the pharynx and pulled it out. Retching didn’t dislodge it. I had to pull it out. it was quite slipp… --- ## [Fact check - number of ants related](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-number-of-ants-related/821008)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-check-number-of-ants-related/821008 "2018-09-08T21:59:04Z")
I was reading Quora and an answer to one question states that if all the ants on earth were laid end to end they could circle “about five times the diameter of the entire solar system!” That’s seems implausible. What sa… --- ## ["All babies with Downs Syndrome in England are aborted." Seriously](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-babies-with-downs-syndrome-in-england-are-aborted-seriously/821007)
**Author:** [@Shut\_Up\_Lutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shut_Up_Lutz)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-babies-with-downs-syndrome-in-england-are-aborted-seriously/821007 "2018-09-08T21:48:20Z")
So because I’m spectacular I was donating\* plasma yesterday and I overhead one of the phlebotomists talking with another donor and they (the phlebomost) was saying that there aren’t any infants in Great Britain with Down… --- ## [Android typing issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-typing-issue/821018)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-typing-issue/821018 "2018-09-08T19:54:32Z")
Hello Everyone, For some reason whenever I type anything (email, text, this post) with my Samsung Note 5 the first sentence starts off with a space, meaning the first word is not capitalized. It’s almost like it is… --- ## [Why are baby animals cute?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-baby-animals-cute/820958)
**Author:** [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-baby-animals-cute/820958 "2018-09-08T19:09:35Z")
Simple question: Why do baby animals appear cute to humans? It’s obvious why we prefer human babies, but why animal babies? Even babies that are extremely different than we are like reptiles or birds and even some insect… --- ## [What is the truth behind this meme? \[Our Navy Seals begged for help and Obama went to bed\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-truth-behind-this-meme-our-navy-seals-begged-for-help-and-obama-went-to-bed/820670 "2018-09-08T19:05:42Z")
Our Navy Seals begged for help and Obama went to bed! This was shared by my favourite uncle. What are the facts behind the claim? --- ## [About Protection Rackets (US Mafia Specifically)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-protection-rackets-us-mafia-specifically/820980)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-protection-rackets-us-mafia-specifically/820980 "2018-09-08T17:01:16Z")
Let’s say that Big Tony stops by my store offering me “protection” in exchange for money. Obviously what he’s “protecting” me from is his own men. But if I were under Big Tony’s “protection” and I were legitimately harm… --- ## [When did delivered newspapers start to be bagged in plastic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-delivered-newspapers-start-to-be-bagged-in-plastic/820922)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-delivered-newspapers-start-to-be-bagged-in-plastic/820922 "2018-09-08T16:51:17Z")
I once filled in for a friend who was on vacation in the late 1980s, and delivered newspapers on his route (by bicycle, of course) for a week. At that time, we stuffed the newspapers in plastic bags at home so that, when… --- ## [Fat percentage of "whole" milk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-percentage-of-whole-milk/820809)
**Author:** [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-percentage-of-whole-milk/820809 "2018-09-08T15:36:54Z")
Back when I first started noticing these things, in junior high school (1977-80) I think, I recall learning that “whole” cow milk contained 3.8% milkfat. I just noticed recently that the whole milk at my local grocery … --- ## [Are there sources of light other than the one emitted by electrons?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-sources-of-light-other-than-the-one-emitted-by-electrons/820570)
**Author:** [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-sources-of-light-other-than-the-one-emitted-by-electrons/820570 "2018-09-08T13:29:36Z")
Polarized light - is a reflection always polarized? Depending on your responses I may have more questions (I ponder wheter I have misunderstood something about the nature of light…). --- ## [What's the status of time travel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-status-of-time-travel/158746)
**Author:** [@tonbo0422](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonbo0422)\ **Replies:** 189\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-status-of-time-travel/158746 "2018-09-08T10:09:45Z")
I’m wondering if anyone is seriously investigating travelling in time these days. I’m also wondering how difficult this challenge is compared to, say, “transporting” someone a la Star Trek. Seems to me time travel would… --- ## [The Evolution of the Horseshoe Crab](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-the-horseshoe-crab/820921)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-evolution-of-the-horseshoe-crab/820921 "2018-09-08T09:01:48Z")
Apparently the horseshoe crab is about 450 million years old. So are we to understand that very long ago it evolved to be perfectly suited for its environment, and despite changes to the environment over that time no fur… --- ## [Why Are My Toilets Constantly Getting Clogged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-toilets-constantly-getting-clogged/529495)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-toilets-constantly-getting-clogged/529495 "2018-09-08T08:16:54Z")
This didn’t used to happen when we first built the house (about 10-15 years ago). But now it’s several times a week. My wife thinks the toilets are junk, but as above, it’s a more recent phenomenon. So I’m wondering if … --- ## [Why are my website links doing a disappearing act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-website-links-doing-a-disappearing-act/820915)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-website-links-doing-a-disappearing-act/820915 "2018-09-07T23:22:45Z")
Using Chrome on a PC with Google search engine. The links for the websites I use the most have always stayed where I put them unless I do a cleaning of cookies, etc. Then they come back as I visit my most-used sites. Tod… --- ## [Could this snake eat this kid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-snake-eat-this-kid/820577)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-snake-eat-this-kid/820577 "2018-09-07T22:43:56Z")
https://www.facebook.com/pawloverzclub/videos/527866984328848/ The snake’s head looks pretty small, but I realize they can open up pretty wide. --- ## [What Happens When You 'Delete' a Tweet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-delete-a-tweet/820930)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-delete-a-tweet/820930 "2018-09-07T21:53:46Z")
I just sent ABC news a tweet criticizing something they said. Then I realized I made a grammatical error. So I deleted it and tweeted it again. Now I am not entirely stupid when it comes to computers and modern techno… --- ## [The invention of snowmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-invention-of-snowmen/820830)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-invention-of-snowmen/820830 "2018-09-07T21:20:06Z")
So, what do we know about the inventions of snowmen? Have more than one known culture in climates involving snow independently developed a game/ritual/behavior of building “men” from snow? Any trace of records of snowman… --- ## [Math paradox: putting infinite number of balls in a box](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-paradox-putting-infinite-number-of-balls-in-a-box/820841)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-paradox-putting-infinite-number-of-balls-in-a-box/820841 "2018-09-07T19:57:19Z")
There’s a math paradox that goes like this: You have an infinite supply of balls, each labeled with a natural number (1,2,3,4, etc). At step 1, you put the 10 balls numbered 1 through 10 in a (very large) box and then … --- ## [Is Child Support Enforceable In Different Countries (Don't Need Answer Fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-child-support-enforceable-in-different-countries-dont-need-answer-fast/820955)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-child-support-enforceable-in-different-countries-dont-need-answer-fast/820955 "2018-09-07T18:07:47Z")
In a TV show I watch, a man living in England gets divorced from his wife (he was at fault, in case it matters). He then moves to Australia. Assuming the English judge mandated that the man pay child support, does his m… --- ## [Which Cereals / Grains Absorb the Most Water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-cereals-grains-absorb-the-most-water/820927)
**Author:** [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-cereals-grains-absorb-the-most-water/820927 "2018-09-07T18:00:29Z")
Quinoa doesn’t absorb much at all, which is why it doesn’t make a satisfying meal for the same amount of calories as the alternatives. Corn and buckwheat on the other hand puff up pretty well. I am talking about normal … --- ## [Deleting apps from an LG Tribute phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-apps-from-an-lg-tribute-phone/820896)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-apps-from-an-lg-tribute-phone/820896 "2018-09-07T17:32:41Z")
I have an LG Tribute phone, which was basically the only option when I signed up with Virgin. It has extremely limited space. I tried to install Uber on it, and it said I didn’t have enough space. I tried to install F… --- ## [Does the body react to blood donation like hemorrhage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-body-react-to-blood-donation-like-hemorrhage/820799)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-body-react-to-blood-donation-like-hemorrhage/820799 "2018-09-07T16:41:33Z")
When someone donates blood, they lose a considerable amount of blood but the body is pretty chill about it (well…YMMV.) What I’m wondering is why the body doesn’t go into panic/shock about the blood loss like as if you … --- ## [Life on a planet orbiting a Binary Star](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-on-a-planet-orbiting-a-binary-star/501322)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-on-a-planet-orbiting-a-binary-star/501322 "2018-09-07T14:19:56Z")
How would it be (presuming for instance it exists). I presume that while it would vary depending on local factors (size of the suns, distance, orbital times) it would be very different from what we know. Would night even… --- ## [What sort of tradesman do I need to install a staircase?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-tradesman-do-i-need-to-install-a-staircase/820625)
**Author:** [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-tradesman-do-i-need-to-install-a-staircase/820625 "2018-09-07T12:57:58Z")
Basically, I want to install a staircase to connect two separate dwelling units. I live in a three-story townhouse. The bottom floor is a separate apartment that I currently rent out. The top two floors are connected by… --- ## [Google Sheets, question about combining data across columns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-sheets-question-about-combining-data-across-columns/820808)
**Author:** [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-sheets-question-about-combining-data-across-columns/820808 "2018-09-07T07:10:50Z")
I have a Google spreadsheet set up for work with a long list of names, phone numbers, and other data, with each data item in its own column. When I received the original sheet, Last Name was in column B, first name was i… --- ## [math question (probability calculation)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-question-probability-calculation/820840)
**Author:** [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-question-probability-calculation/820840 "2018-09-07T04:27:47Z")
I know that, if X independent events each have a Y chance of happening, the chance of all of them happening is just Y to the power of X. So, the odds of flipping a coin 5 times and having them all come up heads is (0.5) … --- ## [Why must my electronic device accept any interference it receives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-my-electronic-device-accept-any-interference-it-receives/820854)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-my-electronic-device-accept-any-interference-it-receives/820854 "2018-09-07T04:16:26Z")
I recently purchased a new Bluetooth speaker and, as do many devices, it sports a quotation from Part 15 of FCC rules. It says that the device must not cause harmful interference. Fair enough. I shouldn’t be allowed t… --- ## [Why cannot we observe gravitational lensing in the local Universe...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cannot-we-observe-gravitational-lensing-in-the-local-universe/820918)
**Author:** [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cannot-we-observe-gravitational-lensing-in-the-local-universe/820918 "2018-09-07T00:48:27Z")
… of the kind we readily observe at cosmological scales, where big-ass galaxies create pronounced arcs and Einstein rings of far-in-the-background galaxies? I am sure Andromeda, with over a trillion stars, masks a fairis… --- ## [When They Draw Blood for Blood Tests, Why Do They Draw So Much Blood?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-draw-blood-for-blood-tests-why-do-they-draw-so-much-blood/820838)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-draw-blood-for-blood-tests-why-do-they-draw-so-much-blood/820838 "2018-09-06T23:34:25Z")
Considering how small blood cells are… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=540) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=542)