# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=69 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 70 --- ## [Why are hospital gowns mostly blue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hospital-gowns-mostly-blue/1008959)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hospital-gowns-mostly-blue/1008959 "2024-10-21T02:03:35Z")
Most hospital gowns seem to be blue with light or dark spots, or occasionally off-white with blue spots. Is there a specific reason for the widespread use of blue? I’ve tried researching this on the Internet and found va… --- ## [When we needed to dial only seven digits within the same area code, was four digit dialing typically possible if the prefix was the same?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-we-needed-to-dial-only-seven-digits-within-the-same-area-code-was-four-digit-dialing-typically-possible-if-the-prefix-was-the-same/1008593)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-we-needed-to-dial-only-seven-digits-within-the-same-area-code-was-four-digit-dialing-typically-possible-if-the-prefix-was-the-same/1008593 "2024-10-20T23:23:34Z")
I was at UCSD in the late 1970s, and lived in the dorms for most of that period. Every phone number on campus had the prefix 452-, whether it was in a professor’s or adviser’s office, or the bookstore, or your friend’s s… --- ## [Is what Kaspersky AV did legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-what-kaspersky-av-did-legal/1008995)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-what-kaspersky-av-did-legal/1008995 "2024-10-20T17:58:03Z")
Not in IMHO since it’s not going to court and the situation is resolved. I get a charge on my card and CapOne (awesome btw) declined it as fraudulent. Investigating, here’s what happened. Kaspersky, due to its ties wi… --- ## [Is g-factor affected by the Flynn effect](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-g-factor-affected-by-the-flynn-effect/1008999)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-g-factor-affected-by-the-flynn-effect/1008999 "2024-10-20T16:46:07Z")
The Flynn effect is the substantial and long-sustained increase in both fluid and crystallized intelligence test scores that were measured in many parts of the world over the 20th century, named after researcher James… --- ## [What exempted Bob Dylan from military service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exempted-bob-dylan-from-military-service/406631)
**Author:** [@tchiphead2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tchiphead2)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2024, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exempted-bob-dylan-from-military-service/406631 "2024-10-20T05:34:14Z")
That’s my question. It seems that Dylan was the right age for the draft and I wondered how he got out of serving in the military? Thank for you finding out. Thom --- ## [Air vs. water temperature, and how it feels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-vs-water-temperature-and-how-it-feels/1008922)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-vs-water-temperature-and-how-it-feels/1008922 "2024-10-20T01:15:19Z")
Riddle me this. The air temperature is 75 degrees, I get into the pool and feel chilly. After 5 minutes or so I feel comfortable in the water but those first 5 minutes are pretty bracing. The water temperature is 85 d… --- ## [Logitech M705 Mouse Mode Shift Button](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logitech-m705-mouse-mode-shift-button/1008673)
**Author:** [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logitech-m705-mouse-mode-shift-button/1008673 "2024-10-20T00:22:23Z")
I have a Logitech M705 wireless mouse. There’s a button below the scroll wheel that allows you to switch between smooth scrolling and line-by-line scrolling. A week or so ago, the switch button stopped working. The mouse… --- ## [What is the key-like object my wife just found? Picture inside](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-key-like-object-my-wife-just-found-picture-inside/1008892)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-key-like-object-my-wife-just-found-picture-inside/1008892 "2024-10-19T13:28:43Z")
This. About the same length as a house key, possibly a bit longer. --- ## [How can brainwashing be explained?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-brainwashing-be-explained/176740)
**Author:** [@Kriss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kriss)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-brainwashing-be-explained/176740 "2024-10-19T12:37:45Z")
What is the psychology behind it? Dont we all have freedom of will to choose? How can we be brainwashed into something if we dont believe it? Can someone explain brainwashing to me? Isnt it similar to the withcraft trial… --- ## [How is space expanding? Which of these two analogies is more correct?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-space-expanding-which-of-these-two-analogies-is-more-correct/1008848)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2024, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-space-expanding-which-of-these-two-analogies-is-more-correct/1008848 "2024-10-19T12:20:55Z")
Inspired by the thread about the speed of light. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I’ve come up with my own analogy as an alternative to the classic “stretched out rubber sheet”. The classic… --- ## [How much light do my herbs need indoors in the winter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-light-do-my-herbs-need-indoors-in-the-winter/1008875)
**Author:** [@LivingGhost371](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingGhost371)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-light-do-my-herbs-need-indoors-in-the-winter/1008875 "2024-10-18T22:45:24Z")
Using “herbs” in the normal sense of the work- hot peppers, mint, lavender, etc. The past couple of years I’ve used a 150 watt 5000K induction lamp with disappointing results. Everything but the peppers died out and the … --- ## [How Many Zeros in a Row are Possible in Pi?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-zeros-in-a-row-are-possible-in-pi/1007562)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 246\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-zeros-in-a-row-are-possible-in-pi/1007562 "2024-10-18T19:49:03Z")
A random thought just passed through my brain. This happens a lot. In a base 10 representation of pi, is there a limit on how many zeros might appear in a row? If there is a limit, what is it? How would this be deter… --- ## [What happens to security workers with dementia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-security-workers-with-dementia/1008833)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2024, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-security-workers-with-dementia/1008833 "2024-10-18T09:56:59Z")
We’ve been watching the brilliant British series Slow Horses, and in the fourth series one of the characters, a retired top-level MI-5 officer, develops dementia. That got me to wondering what happens IRL with people wh… --- ## [Christopher Columbus was jewish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christopher-columbus-was-jewish/251281)
**Author:** [@LuckySevens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckySevens)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2024, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christopher-columbus-was-jewish/251281 "2024-10-18T09:32:00Z")
I just heard this, apparantly the guy who told me reckons theres some merit to it, he himself even claimed to be a Jew in private to a few people and in a few writings… Whats the straight dope? --- ## [A basic particle physics question \[Higgs Boson\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-basic-particle-physics-question-higgs-boson/579746)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-basic-particle-physics-question-higgs-boson/579746 "2024-10-17T23:09:21Z")
Hello, I’m hoping one of our resident physicists will be good enough to explain to me in faitly simple terms why exactly it is believed that the Higgs Boson confers mass on the other particles. Have the other particles … --- ## [John Wayne Gacy, Dean Corll, John Norman, and the vast pedophile ring coverup of the '70s - what's the Straight Dope?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-wayne-gacy-dean-corll-john-norman-and-the-vast-pedophile-ring-coverup-of-the-70s-whats-the-straight-dope/1000536)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-wayne-gacy-dean-corll-john-norman-and-the-vast-pedophile-ring-coverup-of-the-70s-whats-the-straight-dope/1000536 "2024-10-17T01:24:20Z")
I’ve been trying to fill in some gaps in my knowledge of modern American history lately. I found myself reading about John Wayne Gacy, who, as I was born in 1982, I only heard a little about in the news when he was being… --- ## [How to measure the temperature of liquid in a can/bottle (beer, soda, etc.) without opening it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-measure-the-temperature-of-liquid-in-a-can-bottle-beer-soda-etc-without-opening-it/1008872)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-measure-the-temperature-of-liquid-in-a-can-bottle-beer-soda-etc-without-opening-it/1008872 "2024-10-17T01:50:05Z")
Is there a less-crude way of measuring the temperature of my beer besides putting a thermometer against the outside of the can? That seems inaccurate since only a portion of the sensor is actually touching something cold… --- ## [Do I have a freezer problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-a-freezer-problem/1008676)
**Author:** [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-a-freezer-problem/1008676 "2024-10-16T23:01:26Z")
Last week the freezer was very low. It’s now extremely well stocked, and I’ve made sure to leave room for the vents and the fan. I keep it at about mid temperature always. The food is fine, it’s not making loud noises, … --- ## [Sports and birth date](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-and-birth-date/1008859)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-and-birth-date/1008859 "2024-10-16T22:10:14Z")
I have read articles about how being born early in the year is an advantage when it comes to sport. The theory is that you gain an early advantage that compounds as you get older. But then I read another article about… --- ## [Can dental records identify a corpse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-dental-records-identify-a-corpse/1008767)
**Author:** [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-dental-records-identify-a-corpse/1008767 "2024-10-16T17:17:17Z")
In books and movies, we see a damaged body that can only be identified–or not–by a dental record. Does this happen in real life? I mean, is there some massive dental record data base that police/FBI can access? Even if t… --- ## [Air Force experiments on temperature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-experiments-on-temperature/1008852)
**Author:** [@CanTak3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanTak3)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-experiments-on-temperature/1008852 "2024-10-16T14:51:52Z")
I remember reading about this in the 1980s. I’m finding very little info on it though. Is it real? Who did it? How did they raise the temperature to this value? Or did the person just get in like a very hot sauna? I imag… --- ## [How did Facebook do this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-facebook-do-this/1008865)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-facebook-do-this/1008865 "2024-10-16T14:12:35Z")
Here’s the situation. A youth sends an email to the Gmail account of a local youth group, asking for information. An adult leader from the group responds to the email, using the group’s Gmail account and provides informa… --- ## [Do I need a 110V to 100V converter to charge in Japan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-110v-to-100v-converter-to-charge-in-japan/1007233)
**Author:** [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-110v-to-100v-converter-to-charge-in-japan/1007233 "2024-10-16T04:42:05Z")
In a Japanese hotel, using the correct plug converter (to unpolarized prongs, if necessary), do I also need a step-down voltage converter for these items? Samsung Galaxy S20 pnone Apple iPhone 13 Pro Perhaps an iPad Pe… --- ## [Cost of death penalty vs life imprisonment in different countries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-death-penalty-vs-life-imprisonment-in-different-countries/1008571)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-death-penalty-vs-life-imprisonment-in-different-countries/1008571 "2024-10-15T22:19:16Z")
I was talking to someone on Reddit about the death penalty, and they kept bringing up that it costs more than just imprisoning someone for life. As far as I know that’s true - in the US. But also AFAIK that’s mostly beca… --- ## [Apollo 13 transcript typos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-13-transcript-typos/1008715)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2024, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-13-transcript-typos/1008715 "2024-10-15T10:51:46Z")
If you click on Apollo 13 Transcripts, there is an Apollo 13 Technical Air-to-Ground Transcript, which is “the raw transcript provided by NASA to the press during the mission.” I have noticed some obvious errors, e.g., … --- ## [A lightly ridiculous, but serious math question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lightly-ridiculous-but-serious-math-question/1008720)
**Author:** [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lightly-ridiculous-but-serious-math-question/1008720 "2024-10-15T06:17:55Z")
Halloween is here! And I want to build a pumpkin from 2cm foam and t-shirt material glued on to it. The maths is in the diameter and circumferance. I can calculate both. I cannot work out how to calculate the total area… --- ## [Math: If infinity doesn't exist and we adopt finitism or ultra-finitism, the limit arguments still hold, right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-if-infinity-doesnt-exist-and-we-adopt-finitism-or-ultra-finitism-the-limit-arguments-still-hold-right/1008455)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2024, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-if-infinity-doesnt-exist-and-we-adopt-finitism-or-ultra-finitism-the-limit-arguments-still-hold-right/1008455 "2024-10-15T04:16:50Z")
Apparently, most mathematicians believe in the existence of infinity. But there are a few practitioners of finitism and ultrafinitism. What are the consequences of these different approaches and do they affect calculus … --- ## [Question about sperm cells](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-sperm-cells/1008788)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-sperm-cells/1008788 "2024-10-15T01:23:27Z")
I know that a sperm is a single cell but how does that cell come into existence, is there a process where another cell changes into a sperm cell? Having just one cell makes it hard to comprehend. --- ## [How fast does one's foot move while walking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-ones-foot-move-while-walking/1008692)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-ones-foot-move-while-walking/1008692 "2024-10-14T23:14:51Z")
I stubbed my toe the other day, which made me wonder how fast my foot was moving when it hit the chair leg. Say I was walking 3 MPH. If each foot is stationary 1/2 of the time, does that mean the moving foot is swingin… --- ## [Animal adjectives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-adjectives/1008633)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-adjectives/1008633 "2024-10-14T19:55:09Z")
Following on a thread I started last year to list names of visual patterns: What are all the animal-specific adjectives? Here are the ones I know: Bear: ursine Pig: porcine Horse: equine Cow: bovine Fish: piscin… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=68) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=70)