# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=622 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 623 --- ## [What is the effect of the solar wind on planetary orbits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-effect-of-the-solar-wind-on-planetary-orbits/808358)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-effect-of-the-solar-wind-on-planetary-orbits/808358 "2018-02-07T17:40:42Z")
Particularly the Earth’s. The Sun is emitting the solar wind. This must be pressing against planets and creating a drag effect as the planets push through it. The pressures are minuscule, but over the eons, have they ad… --- ## [What is this mystery cross?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-mystery-cross/808331)
**Author:** [@Sandwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwood)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-mystery-cross/808331 "2018-02-07T17:07:57Z")
The cross looks like a variation of the two-barred patriarchal cross, but with the upper bar being shorter and slanted. I hope the picture link works: http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Sandwood/media/Web/orthodox\_cross\_1.… --- ## [Wiring a Box Fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wiring-a-box-fan/808344)
**Author:** [@Ones\_zeros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ones_zeros)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wiring-a-box-fan/808344 "2018-02-07T15:41:07Z")
I know this is a weird request. I have a 3-speed box fan (low, med, high) & I want to Wire it to we’re the fan will run on Low speed no matter if I have the Switch selected on low, med, or high. I want to use the fa… --- ## [How do I find out if a painting I have is worth anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-out-if-a-painting-i-have-is-worth-anything/808271)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-out-if-a-painting-i-have-is-worth-anything/808271 "2018-02-07T14:30:56Z")
hello Everyone, I was gifted a painting from a friend who was moving. He said to sell it, it’s probably worth $500 to a $1000. I know absolutely nothing about art work. I still don’t understand why painters don’t pai… --- ## [Other ways to make electricity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-ways-to-make-electricity/808304)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-ways-to-make-electricity/808304 "2018-02-07T14:19:44Z")
The only way I’m aware of to make electricity on a commercial scale is to spin a copper coil inside a magnetic field. How you get that sucker spinning can involve any number of things–falling water, steam, bobbing a flo… --- ## ['XXX days since last serious crash' road sign: does this really prevent accidents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxx-days-since-last-serious-crash-road-sign-does-this-really-prevent-accidents/808092)
**Author:** [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xxx-days-since-last-serious-crash-road-sign-does-this-really-prevent-accidents/808092 "2018-02-07T12:38:29Z")
Highway 2 in Washington State (The Highway of Death) has a sign informing motorists about the interval since the last serious crash. Any evidence this improves driving behavior? What about the, “XXX days since last acci… --- ## [A question about the age of the Universe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-age-of-the-universe/807783)
**Author:** [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-age-of-the-universe/807783 "2018-02-07T09:16:52Z")
Relativity says that time dilation occurs as velocity approaches c. The faster a particle moves, the slower Time flows for it. In the extreme case of photons, time does not flow at all, and photons “experience” no Time a… --- ## [Wife having trouble logging into Yahoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-having-trouble-logging-into-yahoo/808282)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-having-trouble-logging-into-yahoo/808282 "2018-02-07T04:40:52Z")
Mrs. L.A. forgot her Yahoo password. I don’t know what’s wrong with her laptop, only ‘I can’t do anything on it.’ She has tried to recover her Yahoo password. She gets a verification code on her phone and can get logg… --- ## [A question about the "hottest flame" compound](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-hottest-flame-compound/808343)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-hottest-flame-compound/808343 "2018-02-07T02:17:52Z")
Dicyanoacetylene aka carbon subnitride. Wikipedia lists it as the hottest burning known compound, but also says: My question is, if it’s that unstable how can you burn it? Wouldn’t any ignition source trigger runaway d… --- ## [Two Food Chemistry Questions - Edible Foam And Ammonium Chloride](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-food-chemistry-questions-edible-foam-and-ammonium-chloride/808161)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-food-chemistry-questions-edible-foam-and-ammonium-chloride/808161 "2018-02-07T01:30:28Z")
Here is a clip of a YouTuber making a Japanese candy treat that results in an edible foam. Note that there’s no commercial equipment or molecular gastronomy going on here; this is a product intended for children, and the… --- ## [What is this (Brazilian?) musical instrument? (It's just a stick)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-brazilian-musical-instrument-its-just-a-stick/808188)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-brazilian-musical-instrument-its-just-a-stick/808188 "2018-02-07T01:25:54Z")
To make things brief: There’s a new Mickey Mouse cartoon out, with Mickey in Rio for the Carnaval. At one point, to aid in a Samba, Goofy starts playing an odd instrument. Which appears, with the relative lack of detail… --- ## [Childlessness in History](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childlessness-in-history/808221)
**Author:** [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childlessness-in-history/808221 "2018-02-07T00:51:27Z")
I’m a married woman who does not have children, and I am interested in the statistics of married couples who remained childless throughout history, but I’m not sure: (a) if there are any, or (b) where to find them. I … --- ## [What's the difference between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-hodgkins-and-non-hodgkins-lymphoma/808277)
**Author:** [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-hodgkins-and-non-hodgkins-lymphoma/808277 "2018-02-07T00:09:52Z")
Something I’ve always wondered is why there’s two different types of lymphoma, one apparently discovered by a guy named Hodgkin’s. You never hear anyone talk about Steve’s prostate cancer and non-Steve’s prostate cancer… --- ## [Botanical energy economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botanical-energy-economy/808281)
**Author:** [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botanical-energy-economy/808281 "2018-02-06T23:49:41Z")
Say we start with an apple seed. It contains a germ and an energy source. The stored energy must be of sufficient quantity to enable the germ to differentiate into roots, stem, and leaves. At some point, presumably early… --- ## [Presidential Portraits; aka "Is Nixon's in the White House?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-portraits-aka-is-nixons-in-the-white-house/808278)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-portraits-aka-is-nixons-in-the-white-house/808278 "2018-02-06T21:40:04Z")
I’m watching Antiques Roadshows and reading the news at the same time. Something reminded me that every President typically gets an oil poitrait done of them just at the conclusion of their term(s). Did Nixon get one, … --- ## [Google Analytics/GTM problem with outbound event not firing in outbound iframe affiliate link](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-analytics-gtm-problem-with-outbound-event-not-firing-in-outbound-iframe-affiliate-link/808154)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-analytics-gtm-problem-with-outbound-event-not-firing-in-outbound-iframe-affiliate-link/808154 "2018-02-06T03:00:43Z")
If you are an expert with Google Analytics/Google Tag Manager and know about Amazon affiliate product links, this question is for you. One of the Amazon Product Links uses iframe, and it doesn’t fire an event. In the GT… --- ## [legality of federal agencies/departments continuing to function during shutdown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-federal-agencies-departments-continuing-to-function-during-shutdown/808223)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-federal-agencies-departments-continuing-to-function-during-shutdown/808223 "2018-02-06T02:38:28Z")
During the most recent shutdown of the US federal government, some agencies/departments continued to operate at full capacity, basically claiming they had found enough loose change between the couch cushions to keep thin… --- ## [Maximum Target Heart Rate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-target-heart-rate/808195)
**Author:** [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-target-heart-rate/808195 "2018-02-06T00:53:37Z")
As I’m trying to keep New Years resolutions going, I was just looking up some info on target heart rates for excersize. I found lots of sites where they show the formula to determine target rate: “maximum heart rate/mi… --- ## [Voynich Manuscript](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voynich-manuscript/753076)
**Author:** [@daggaes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daggaes)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voynich-manuscript/753076 "2018-02-06T00:18:44Z")
Some time ago, while article-and-search hopping, I came across the Voynich Manuscript. It seems no one is quite sure whether it is an elaborate hoax, a complex code, or one of the best ‘just for sh\*ts and giggles’ pieces… --- ## [Why does Piper Cat trill and chirp instead of purring and meowing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-piper-cat-trill-and-chirp-instead-of-purring-and-meowing/808146)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-piper-cat-trill-and-chirp-instead-of-purring-and-meowing/808146 "2018-02-05T23:10:03Z")
Piper Cat II has never really mewed or purred. Instead she makes chirping and trilling noises when she’s content or being stroked. Why would that be? --- ## [Help me to understand this strange behavior when downgrading from Win 7 to XP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-to-understand-this-strange-behavior-when-downgrading-from-win-7-to-xp/808097)
**Author:** [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-to-understand-this-strange-behavior-when-downgrading-from-win-7-to-xp/808097 "2018-02-05T22:58:17Z")
I’m at a hospital at the moment and one of my treatments is ergotherapy. When one of the therapists heard that I’m an IT guy by trade, he asked me to help me with a software problem (Yeah, everywhere I go and tell that I… --- ## [What if the pharmacy gives you too many pills?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-pharmacy-gives-you-too-many-pills/227366)
**Author:** [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-pharmacy-gives-you-too-many-pills/227366 "2018-02-05T20:33:14Z")
The other day, a pharmacy accidentally gave my mom 10 more painkillers than the script called for. She calls the pharmacy and tells them and they want them back. Her transportation is limited and it would be a very big… --- ## [How do parking lot capacity signs work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-parking-lot-capacity-signs-work/808022)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-parking-lot-capacity-signs-work/808022 "2018-02-05T17:27:56Z")
Yesterday we went to a mall and used the parking deck. They had new LED signs, indicating how many spaces were available in the various parking structures. Then, when you drove into the deck, there were signs saying ho… --- ## [iPhone X & Bluetooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-x-bluetooth/808217)
**Author:** [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-x-bluetooth/808217 "2018-02-05T17:08:34Z")
I just purchased an iPhone X. I used to have a 6S. I’m just wondering if anyone else has had issues with syncing the X with their bluetooth devices. With my old 6S it was as easy as 1-2-3. I haven’t been able to sync… --- ## [Wi-fi direct/Miracast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-fi-direct-miracast/808099)
**Author:** [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-fi-direct-miracast/808099 "2018-02-05T16:19:14Z")
I usually have my home network via bluetooth tethering. It saves batteries and it is fast enough for my usual purpouses. So I have wifi OFF, but when I want to watch ie. andoid tablet on TV, my tablets know which of my T… --- ## [Can mice make you sick?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mice-make-you-sick/808109)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-mice-make-you-sick/808109 "2018-02-05T14:57:35Z")
I killed a mouse in the house the other day. There is at least one more scurrying around somewhere- I can hear it. Now I have discovered that he has been on my kitchen counters- he chewed a hole through a bag of chips, … --- ## [What were they doing to these railroad tracks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-they-doing-to-these-railroad-tracks/808077)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-they-doing-to-these-railroad-tracks/808077 "2018-02-05T13:49:52Z")
I was visiting my sister. There is a rail line that runs by her house. This is an active line which has daily trains running on it. But on this day, they were doing something to the tracks. There were several vehicles t… --- ## [Why are some drinks vacuum packed and some refrigerated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-drinks-vacuum-packed-and-some-refrigerated/808037)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-drinks-vacuum-packed-and-some-refrigerated/808037 "2018-02-05T01:49:40Z")
Apple juice and grapejuice are commonly sold at room temperature in vacuum sealed containers. Orange juice is commonly sold in the refrigerator section, as is milk. Is this due to a difference in the physical nature of … --- ## [Unscrewing tub drain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unscrewing-tub-drain/808171)
**Author:** [@steveisoverthere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steveisoverthere)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unscrewing-tub-drain/808171 "2018-02-04T21:02:32Z")
I’ve got a bathtub/shower drain that I want to unscrew but I just can’t figure out how. It’s the kind where you can pop it up and twist it one direction and it’ll stay up to drain while showering, or twist it back the ot… --- ## [EMP attack on the US...how bad could it be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emp-attack-on-the-us-how-bad-could-it-be/808066)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emp-attack-on-the-us-how-bad-could-it-be/808066 "2018-02-04T20:36:45Z")
I’m reading a series of books atm that have as the central plot point a sneak EMP attack on the US from North Korea. In the story, the EMP attack hits the US completely unobserved (:dubious:) and at an optimal distance … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=621) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=623)