# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=57 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 58 --- ## [Do light waves exhibit interference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-light-waves-exhibit-interference/1013656)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-light-waves-exhibit-interference/1013656 "2025-02-01T00:45:35Z")
You throw a rock into a lake, and it causes ripples. Throw another one into the ripples and that creates ripples, that change as they hit each other. Sound blocking headphones create sound waves that cancel out the sou… --- ## [Aircraft and Radar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aircraft-and-radar/1013663)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aircraft-and-radar/1013663 "2025-01-31T21:41:57Z")
In view of the recent tragedy at Reagan National, I’d like to understand with factual responses: a) Do commercial aircraft use their radar all the time, or only certain times? And, I believe I once heard it is not used … --- ## [Ultimate fate of Elon's Tesla Roadster](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-fate-of-elons-tesla-roadster/808501)
**Author:** [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-fate-of-elons-tesla-roadster/808501 "2025-01-31T18:45:16Z")
Something that I though of in all the discussions about the recent SpaceX launch. There have a been a few questions about the long term fate of the Roadster. Elon muttered about millions - perhaps billions of years. Ho… --- ## [Med Q: Does your body have a clean-up scavenger process to get rid of unwanted items?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/med-q-does-your-body-have-a-clean-up-scavenger-process-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-items/1012824)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/med-q-does-your-body-have-a-clean-up-scavenger-process-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-items/1012824 "2025-01-31T17:24:28Z")
When I was five or so, I was eating a BLT and one of my brothers made me laugh. I managed to sort of inhale my mouthful of bread/lettuce/tomato/bacon and went into a coughing spasm that went on for what seemed forever. … --- ## [Ban TikTok? How would it be done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-tiktok-how-would-it-be-done/1000802)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-tiktok-how-would-it-be-done/1000802 "2025-01-31T04:46:22Z")
I don’t mean to debate the wisdom of the US government banning TikTok or any other app. Nor am I debating the constitutionality of doing so. All I am wondering is, how would it be done? Would my phone provider or manu… --- ## [Who was ctips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-ctips/1013641)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-ctips/1013641 "2025-01-31T02:18:31Z")
When I was first learning programming, I happened on the following website (as seen via the Wayback Machine): https://web.archive.org/web/20230318084320/http://users.bestweb.net/~ctips/ The site seems to have still bee… --- ## [Trying to identify a type of hinge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-a-type-of-hinge/1013603)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-a-type-of-hinge/1013603 "2025-01-30T19:06:21Z")
The best way I can describe is top and bottom are identical but one slightly smaller as it fits inside the other. It would be like two pieces of channel where the flanges were cut to a peek like a tent, say 2" There is… --- ## [How do all-capitalized (not ALL CAPS) posts happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-all-capitalized-not-all-caps-posts-happen/1002921)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-all-capitalized-not-all-caps-posts-happen/1002921 "2025-01-30T15:57:16Z")
I sometimes see comments on various places where every word in the post is capitalized. I don’t mean ALL CAPS, I Mean Posts Written Like This, Long Strings Of Capitalized Words. I can understand all-caps posts made with … --- ## [Can you pass out from a single drink?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pass-out-from-a-single-drink/1013560)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2025, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pass-out-from-a-single-drink/1013560 "2025-01-30T07:32:33Z")
There’s a memorable scene in Back to the Future: Part III where a sober Emmett “Doc” Brown downs a single shot of whiskey and promptly falls unconscious. The bartender, having seen this happen once before, observes that… --- ## [Gurgling from furnace condensate drain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurgling-from-furnace-condensate-drain/1012671)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gurgling-from-furnace-condensate-drain/1012671 "2025-01-30T00:38:05Z")
The condensate pipe from my home’s gas furnace leads to a floor drain right next the furnace. This morning something’s making gurgling noises down there, and I’m pretty sure either it’s the floor drain or the condensate… --- ## [What is a Gleason Cow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-gleason-cow/1013541)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-gleason-cow/1013541 "2025-01-29T19:06:11Z")
Whilst re-reading Kipling’s Puck Of Pook’s Hill the Girl is using a slingshot, and hits someone in a bush. She says she thought it was a “Gleason Cow”? Google has failed me. What is a Gleason Cow? --- ## [Would going through a car wash without a car be fatal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-going-through-a-car-wash-without-a-car-be-fatal/1013493)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-going-through-a-car-wash-without-a-car-be-fatal/1013493 "2025-01-29T18:11:40Z")
If a person went through a car wash on foot at the speed of the usual conveyor belt, getting hit with all the hot water, wax, brushes, and treatment, would it be fatal to them? --- ## [I like bread butts and I cannot lie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-bread-butts-and-i-cannot-lie/1013406)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-bread-butts-and-i-cannot-lie/1013406 "2025-01-29T03:56:01Z")
Is there a bakery somewhere that makes a loaf of only bread butt-ends? The thick part that many people despise or discard, but I happen to love? It’s my favorite part of a loaf and I always wish there were more than two … --- ## [Trump and Retribution - Legal Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-retribution-legal-question/1013410)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2025, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-retribution-legal-question/1013410 "2025-01-29T02:49:05Z")
Obviously Canadian and American laws differ, Presidents and other leaders have enormous amounts of power, and politicians have the right and obligation to make decisions for the public good. However, in Canada, my under… --- ## [Who Writes Executive Orders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-writes-executive-orders/1013212)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-writes-executive-orders/1013212 "2025-01-29T02:41:36Z")
So Trump signed like 50 executive orders on his first day as President. But who actually writes the text of these things and who decides what the content should be? Are there committees to plan them? Does anyone other th… --- ## [Potholes and salt: freeze-thaw cycle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potholes-and-salt-freeze-thaw-cycle/1013409)
**Author:** [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potholes-and-salt-freeze-thaw-cycle/1013409 "2025-01-28T21:38:29Z")
I have no problem understanding how the freeze-thaw cycle causes potholes, nor is it a mystery how salt reduces the freeze point of ice on roads resulting in safer travel. What is a mystery to me is how the addition of … --- ## [Do commercial LLMs own the data you input?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-commercial-llms-own-the-data-you-input/1013385)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-commercial-llms-own-the-data-you-input/1013385 "2025-01-28T18:01:49Z")
A strangely hard thing to google / chatGPT-verb, because so many people want to know about whether the output of LLMs is copyrightable. That’s a good question, but right now I’m concerned with the input, and just what h… --- ## [United Health & Pharmacy Benefits Manager scandal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-health-pharmacy-benefits-manager-scandal/1013064)
**Author:** [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-health-pharmacy-benefits-manager-scandal/1013064 "2025-01-28T16:31:24Z")
I saw a post about a new United Health scandal and didn’t understand it so I found a few articles about it and I’m still confused. The title of one was “UnitedHealth, employer of slain exec Brian Thompson, found to have… --- ## [Christianity and homosexuality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christianity-and-homosexuality/1013458)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christianity-and-homosexuality/1013458 "2025-01-27T22:57:13Z")
Answering a question in this thread in P&E= bishop-vs-trump Where would that be? Chapter, verse? (LGBT is condemned ) See Romans 1:26–27. or 1 Corinthians 6:9–10- which can be translated as Don’t you realize that thos… --- ## [FedEx out-state license plates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fedex-out-state-license-plates/1013364)
**Author:** [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fedex-out-state-license-plates/1013364 "2025-01-27T19:01:05Z")
I live in California. Today (Jan. 24, 2025) a FedEx truck arrived at my apt. complex to make a delivery. I noticed that the truck had a Montana license plate. Why would this be so? I doubt that FedEx shipped a product fr… --- ## [Help with this math problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-this-math-problem/1013209)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-this-math-problem/1013209 "2025-01-27T03:44:28Z")
OK, every once in a while I go thru my old high school algebra and trig books to keep my mind exercised, but I’m not sure how this one is worked out: Determine values for a and b such that the equation ax + b = 0 has th… --- ## [How was the value of gold and silver determined back when it was used for currency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-the-value-of-gold-and-silver-determined-back-when-it-was-used-for-currency/1013157)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-the-value-of-gold-and-silver-determined-back-when-it-was-used-for-currency/1013157 "2025-01-26T21:30:03Z")
Back in the days before we had central banks that printed dollars / pounds / euros, etc., how was the value of currency established? Was it based solely on the weight of the metal, so that it didn’t matter whose picture… --- ## [Clipper question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clipper-question/1013438)
**Author:** [@mglambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mglambo)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clipper-question/1013438 "2025-01-26T19:08:48Z")
I just bought a BaByliss Silver FX Pro hair trimmer. I’ve never used a professional type of hair trimmer. Even after numerous Youtube videos i have no idea how to adjust the depth of the blade/cut. All the videos talk ab… --- ## [Is DHT the only androgen that causes male pattern baldness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dht-the-only-androgen-that-causes-male-pattern-baldness/1013316)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dht-the-only-androgen-that-causes-male-pattern-baldness/1013316 "2025-01-26T15:43:09Z")
My understanding is that the reason people develop male pattern baldness is that the androgen DHT attaches to androgen receptors in the scalp, which kills the hair follices. Generally the hair follices on the top of the… --- ## [What was I seeing in this mineral store?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-i-seeing-in-this-mineral-store/1013292)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-i-seeing-in-this-mineral-store/1013292 "2025-01-26T05:12:02Z")
Stores that sell minerals, crystals, semiprecious gems, fossils, colorful stones, and the like are interesting. I hadn’t been in one in years. But visiting one a few days ago yielded some mysteries. They had big quartz … --- ## [Spinning ice circle and minimal size for humans to be on it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spinning-ice-circle-and-minimal-size-for-humans-to-be-on-it/1013344)
**Author:** [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spinning-ice-circle-and-minimal-size-for-humans-to-be-on-it/1013344 "2025-01-25T21:08:44Z")
I and my kids have become interested in potentially making a spinning ice ring like has been going around the midwest the last two years. For example, Oldest spinning ring on YouTube The concept is fairly straightforwar… --- ## [Why \*did\* the hydrants in LA run dry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-hydrants-in-la-run-dry/1013309)
**Author:** [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-hydrants-in-la-run-dry/1013309 "2025-01-25T19:40:47Z")
I think we’ve all heard the news stories about fire hydrants in the LA running dry while fighting the wildfires there. Trump blamed it on Gov. Newsom refusing to send water from NorCal to the south, which I know has bee… --- ## [We've met our Medicare deductible for the year. How soon before we stop getting overcharged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-met-our-medicare-deductible-for-the-year-how-soon-before-we-stop-getting-overcharged/1013354)
**Author:** [@LucyInDisguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LucyInDisguise)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-met-our-medicare-deductible-for-the-year-how-soon-before-we-stop-getting-overcharged/1013354 "2025-01-25T17:31:55Z")
I think this should be pretty simple. We’ve been on Medicare for just over a year. We have an AARP medi-gap policy backed by UHC. We met this year’s out-of-pocket deductible before the tenth of this month, but providers … --- ## [Hot wax at car wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-wax-at-car-wash/1013260)
**Author:** [@stosh1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh1)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-wax-at-car-wash/1013260 "2025-01-24T18:56:50Z")
I get my car washed to get the road salt and other crap off of it and was wondering how good is the hot wax they advertise? --- ## [Gas line freeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-line-freeze/1013222)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-line-freeze/1013222 "2025-01-24T17:27:55Z")
44 years ago I got my driver’s license. Most of the time since has been spent living and driving in the state of Michigan. One piece of advice from my father that I remember to this day (but don’t really follow) is to no… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=56) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=58)