# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=545 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 546 --- ## [Best total-kill herbicide to clear off my back yard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-total-kill-herbicide-to-clear-off-my-back-yard/820382)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-total-kill-herbicide-to-clear-off-my-back-yard/820382 "2018-08-29T05:38:48Z")
Looking for an effective herbicide to clear off the ground at my house- around 2000 square feet. If possible, relatively dog-safe… if not, I’ll work around it. Looking for complete bare-ground, as backyard has become… --- ## [MATH HISTOTY: A very difficult question aboutthe history of mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-histoty-a-very-difficult-question-aboutthe-history-of-mathematics/819842)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-histoty-a-very-difficult-question-aboutthe-history-of-mathematics/819842 "2018-08-28T22:05:00Z")
I have asked this question of seven mathematicians. From six I have received the same “answer”: “There must be one, but offhand I can’t specify it”. The seventh said “maybe it’s never happened”. I know of a number of ma… --- ## [Questions about the speed of light](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-speed-of-light/820388)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-speed-of-light/820388 "2018-08-28T21:57:28Z")
I was wondering if the speed of light is an intrinsic part of the structure of the universe? Could the universe still exist as it is if the speed of light were a different value? Is the speed of light a measured value … --- ## [What form of cognitive bias is this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-form-of-cognitive-bias-is-this/820410)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-form-of-cognitive-bias-is-this/820410 "2018-08-28T21:12:08Z")
After I take my car in for maintenance, new tires, oil change, repair, etc. I will notice something different about how the car drives: brakes differently, steering is slightly off, etc. My first thought is that the mec… --- ## [How to preserve food for as long as possible (thought experiment)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-preserve-food-for-as-long-as-possible-thought-experiment/820322)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-preserve-food-for-as-long-as-possible-thought-experiment/820322 "2018-08-28T20:30:31Z")
So I’ve developed an awesome super power… I can choose a length of time, and then enter suspended animation for that long. So I can say “100 years”, and then presto, it’s 100 years later (from my perspective). So I have… --- ## [Is this number transcendental?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-number-transcendental/820356)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-number-transcendental/820356 "2018-08-28T19:52:49Z")
Last week I was thinking about numbers while stuck in traffic, and I thought of this number: x = sum 2^-p\_k over k = 1, 2, 3, … and where p\_k is the k-th prime number, which is approximately 0.0110101000101000101000100… --- ## [Are emails under copyright?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-emails-under-copyright/820380)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-emails-under-copyright/820380 "2018-08-28T19:44:26Z")
What happens to emails that you sent, if someone wants to publish them? Does it matter if you are identifying the writer of the email vs leaving them anonymous? Just realized I don’t know the answer to this for regular … --- ## [Did Stormy Daniels pay taxes on the $130,000 in hush money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-stormy-daniels-pay-taxes-on-the-130-000-in-hush-money/820229)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-stormy-daniels-pay-taxes-on-the-130-000-in-hush-money/820229 "2018-08-28T19:41:02Z")
I can’t seem to find the answer to this. I know that it is far above the gift tax exemption($15k), so she would have to either pay gift tax on $115,000 or income tax on $130,000. All I can find via google search is that … --- ## [Help Me Understand Recent Developments with President Trump.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-recent-developments-with-president-trump/820094)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-recent-developments-with-president-trump/820094 "2018-08-28T19:26:22Z")
I want to clearly understand where the crime is. It seems campaign finance rules are quite an obscure part of the law. Tell me where I am mistaken here. It is not illegal to pay off women to keep a secret. Not even if… --- ## [Does your spam email call you Bob, or that just me? (My name is not Bob)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-spam-email-call-you-bob-or-that-just-me-my-name-is-not-bob/820370)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-spam-email-call-you-bob-or-that-just-me-my-name-is-not-bob/820370 "2018-08-28T18:36:39Z")
When I go to my Gmail spam folder I see lot of it calling me “Bob” for some reason. “Is this your money Bob?” “Hot Asians want to meet you Bob!” “Are you a guy with no arms and legs in the ocean, Bob?” Does anybody e… --- ## [How soon can AZ hold a special election for the US Senate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-can-az-hold-a-special-election-for-the-us-senate/820285)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-can-az-hold-a-special-election-for-the-us-senate/820285 "2018-08-28T18:05:50Z")
So now that John McCain is dead how soon can Arizona hold a special election to fill out the remainder of his term? Is it too late to hold one at the name time as the general election in November? At the other extreme… --- ## [800 Phone Number Scam--who is paying?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/800-phone-number-scam-who-is-paying/820355)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/800-phone-number-scam-who-is-paying/820355 "2018-08-28T17:39:08Z")
A recent Reply All podcast delved into an obscure scam. In short, someone is making hundreds of thousands of calls to 800 numbers. The calls are just recordings of random sound effects that sounds like a butt-dial, and … --- ## [Can you help me ID this arthropod?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-this-arthropod/820411)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-id-this-arthropod/820411 "2018-08-28T17:31:19Z")
My assistant - who’s beginning to read here - has this issue with a millipede or whatever in his yard. We don’t know what it The offending arthropod They’ve gone from one to 50 or more over the last weekend. Can you … --- ## [Incentives for military personnel to perform well in military exercises](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incentives-for-military-personnel-to-perform-well-in-military-exercises/820362)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incentives-for-military-personnel-to-perform-well-in-military-exercises/820362 "2018-08-28T16:47:02Z")
Other than avoiding rust and honing one’s fighting skills, what particular incentives are there for military personnel who participate in military exercises like RIMPAC, REFORGER, etc.? Do they get paid combat-bonus pay… --- ## [Is there a genetic reason humans have such strong enjoyment of stories?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-genetic-reason-humans-have-such-strong-enjoyment-of-stories/820115)
**Author:** [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-genetic-reason-humans-have-such-strong-enjoyment-of-stories/820115 "2018-08-28T15:12:30Z")
Humans are extremely interested in listening and watching stories, almost to the point of obsession. Most adults spend hours a day watching TV, reading books, going to movies, etc. And it starts very early in our lives… --- ## [How hot does an NTC in a power supply get?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hot-does-an-ntc-in-a-power-supply-get/820365)
**Author:** [@Frankenstein\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenstein_Monster)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hot-does-an-ntc-in-a-power-supply-get/820365 "2018-08-28T08:26:59Z")
I have a switch mode power supply, outputting 48V 20A that has a pair of NTCs (inrush limiters, I suppose) that get quite hot. I know they’re supposed to get hot, that’s how they work. But how hot is normal? At 25% out… --- ## [How to figure force of water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-figure-force-of-water/820191)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-figure-force-of-water/820191 "2018-08-28T02:02:29Z")
lets supposes it didn’t know or have access to the formulas used for moving water. What confuses me is how do you determine the weight of rushing water. If I knew the speed and I measured the force on 1 square inch I cou… --- ## [Ending the space shuttle program](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ending-the-space-shuttle-program/820124)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ending-the-space-shuttle-program/820124 "2018-08-28T01:26:20Z")
Was any thought given to placing the shuttle on top of boosters so that the tiles would not be subjected to falling debris, or of creating a shroud for the tile? --- ## [Replacing part of an AC adapter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-part-of-an-ac-adapter/820298)
**Author:** [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-part-of-an-ac-adapter/820298 "2018-08-27T23:57:08Z")
I have a small Ott light with a damaged AC adapter. Specifically, the part that plugs into the light base completely separated from the wire. A replacement adapter is not available from the manufacturer. I’ve thought ab… --- ## [Has anyone ever been allergic to water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-allergic-to-water/365587)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-allergic-to-water/365587 "2018-08-27T23:25:01Z")
Has there ever been any documented cases? --- ## [Tools for making the transition to a new (Android) phone easier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-for-making-the-transition-to-a-new-android-phone-easier/820077)
**Author:** [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-for-making-the-transition-to-a-new-android-phone-easier/820077 "2018-08-27T21:45:47Z")
This weekend (I hope), Verizon is shipping me a new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (the latest and greatest from Samsung). It is replacing my Samsung Note 4, which is about 3-4 years old and is currently on life support (the nex… --- ## [Ad Blocker Turned Off- How?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-blocker-turned-off-how/820251)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-blocker-turned-off-how/820251 "2018-08-27T20:20:47Z")
I had pop ups suddenly appearing and noticed the Ad Blocker icon was gone. I went into settings and reloaded it but how did it get turned off on the first place? I know I didn’t do it. --- ## [I need trigonometric functions that are defined on a higher norm circle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-trigonometric-functions-that-are-defined-on-a-higher-norm-circle/820342)
**Author:** [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-trigonometric-functions-that-are-defined-on-a-higher-norm-circle/820342 "2018-08-27T18:39:20Z")
Trigonometric functions are defined with reference to the unit circle. The unit circle is defined to be the set of all points that are a euclidean distance of 1 from the origin. Another word for Euclidean distance is 2… --- ## [Do Heads of State go through security prior to summit meetings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-heads-of-state-go-through-security-prior-to-summit-meetings/820059)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-heads-of-state-go-through-security-prior-to-summit-meetings/820059 "2018-08-27T17:28:25Z")
As stated in the title…POTUS meets Putin, Kim Jong-un or whoever. Do both sides go through metal detectors? Could one or both be packing heat? As a bonus, what happens if they throw down…say Kim throws a punch at Trum… --- ## [The Food At Buckingham Palace, And Why Did Edward VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-food-at-buckingham-palace-and-why-did-edward-vii/820279)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-food-at-buckingham-palace-and-why-did-edward-vii/820279 "2018-08-27T16:46:39Z")
I’ve watched through Season 2, Episode I of The Crown. Twice the food at Buckingham Palace has been described unfavorably, once by Margaret who told a crowd it was “ordinary,” and once by Edward VII, who in a flashback s… --- ## [Is there a specific term in animal psychology for the event of protective instructs kicking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340 "2018-08-27T16:27:16Z")
Hi Is there a specific term in animal psychology for the event of protective instructs kicking in when bears feel that their cubs are threatened? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Validity of polygraphs for fidelity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/validity-of-polygraphs-for-fidelity/820246)
**Author:** [@BoyerH38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoyerH38)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/validity-of-polygraphs-for-fidelity/820246 "2018-08-27T15:18:45Z")
I took two polygraph for fidelity and failed. I have never cheated but I got a result for “significant response” using what’s call utah method. Are such tests good for testing such emotional situations as fidelity? How c… --- ## [If The Cops Destroy My Crop While Investigating A Crime (Don't Need Answer Fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-cops-destroy-my-crop-while-investigating-a-crime-dont-need-answer-fast/820212)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-cops-destroy-my-crop-while-investigating-a-crime-dont-need-answer-fast/820212 "2018-08-27T12:34:09Z")
Let’s say the body of a murder victim was found in my cornfield. Between investigators moving to and fro w/r/t the crime scene, the search for a murder weapon, and whatever else, X percent of my crop is destroyed. Assum… --- ## [AWS: Understanding vCPU to compare processor speed of AWS EC2 instances](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aws-understanding-vcpu-to-compare-processor-speed-of-aws-ec2-instances/820207)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aws-understanding-vcpu-to-compare-processor-speed-of-aws-ec2-instances/820207 "2018-08-26T23:08:57Z")
If I understand how AWS is doing this, a vCPU is a virtual processor. So a 2 vCPU is the same as a 2 core CPU? So a 128 vCPU would be the equivalent of a 128 core CPU? Does this also mean that a vCPU 128 instance is 64 … --- ## [Google Chrome: Stop Autoplay of Video](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-stop-autoplay-of-video/820314)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-stop-autoplay-of-video/820314 "2018-08-26T22:17:16Z")
From what I am reading, the new version of Chrome will not allow users to block autoplay of videos. For example, when I go to Fox News or CNN, I just want to read the articles. I do not want to watch a video unless I c… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=544) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=546)