# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=732 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 733 --- ## [The practicalities of mining asteroids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practicalities-of-mining-asteroids/786397)
**Author:** [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practicalities-of-mining-asteroids/786397 "2017-05-15T16:46:41Z")
Lately I’ve seen news headlines about mining asteroids. Today there were 3. I always think the same thought. Mining is a heavy industry and I’ve been around in some. Large equipment is required, millions of tons of ore … --- ## [sorta-Russian Roulette question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorta-russian-roulette-question/786625)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorta-russian-roulette-question/786625 "2017-05-15T16:35:00Z")
This will probably be obvious in hindsight once someone gives me the answer, but I’m having trouble coming up with it on my own. The scenario is this: I have a six-shot revolver. Five chambers are loaded with regular bul… --- ## [Retrofitting a mobile home?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrofitting-a-mobile-home/786652)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrofitting-a-mobile-home/786652 "2017-05-15T16:29:33Z")
A few weeks ago my Mom got her annual home owner’s insurance premium bill; in the same mail was a missive from the insurance company about earthquake insurance. It seems that, at least in California, companies giving in… --- ## [Do dogs gain a more vibrant gut ecosystem from eating poop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-gain-a-more-vibrant-gut-ecosystem-from-eating-poop/786315)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-gain-a-more-vibrant-gut-ecosystem-from-eating-poop/786315 "2017-05-15T15:46:19Z")
From this article, a guy did a DIY gut flora transplant: https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/4/11581994/fmt-fecal-matter-transplant-josiah-zayner-microbiome-ibs-c-diff With dogs routinely doing this, do they gain a more res… --- ## [Any medical science updates on why pro bodybuilders die like flies at relatively young ages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-medical-science-updates-on-why-pro-bodybuilders-die-like-flies-at-relatively-young-ages/786627)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-medical-science-updates-on-why-pro-bodybuilders-die-like-flies-at-relatively-young-ages/786627 "2017-05-15T15:44:14Z")
In 2009 I made this post Any credence to this theory re why pro bodybuilders often die younger than expected? In the intervening 8 years or so if anything he pace of premature pro bodybuilder deaths has picked up the … --- ## [WTF do I call this part so I can buy it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-i-call-this-part-so-i-can-buy-it/786444)
**Author:** [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-i-call-this-part-so-i-can-buy-it/786444 "2017-05-15T15:07:33Z")
I have a stand-up shower in my bathroom. It is a neo-angle, with glass walls surrounded by aluminum frame. You can see something similar to mine in this picture: http://www.homedepot.com/p/STERLING-Deluxe-24-3-8-in-x-… --- ## [Getting a blood pressure reading on a little kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-blood-pressure-reading-on-a-little-kid/786629)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-blood-pressure-reading-on-a-little-kid/786629 "2017-05-15T14:44:31Z")
I regret to say I don’t remember doctors or nurses doing this on me when I was a kid…still, I’d like to know how they go about this. Obviously psychology is involved. What do you tell a kid so as not to scare him about p… --- ## [Trend on Facebook: Still photos being shared as video](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trend-on-facebook-still-photos-being-shared-as-video/786416)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trend-on-facebook-still-photos-being-shared-as-video/786416 "2017-05-15T13:44:25Z")
If you spend any time on Facebook maybe you’ve seen this. I’ve seen a few videos lately that are just 30 seconds of a still photo. I can’t figure out why they do this–except that it is trivial to copy a photo, but Faceb… --- ## [Why is my dog peeing in the second floor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-peeing-in-the-second-floor/786553)
**Author:** [@Mr.Baggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Baggins)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-peeing-in-the-second-floor/786553 "2017-05-15T05:42:35Z")
So, we moved into an apartment in the first floor many years ago. About eight years ago we got a small dog (some kind of poodle-schnauzer-mutt hybrid). We taught him to pee in the yard, and never inside. Life was good. A… --- ## [Colloquial Japanese question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloquial-japanese-question/786610)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloquial-japanese-question/786610 "2017-05-15T05:41:19Z")
I haven’t spoken Japanese since I was a small child (except for a college class, and that was eons ago). Can a Japanese-speaker refresh my memory? Ogenki desu ka? Okagesama de, genki desu. How are you? I’m fine, tha… --- ## [Marriage recognized abroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marriage-recognized-abroad/786403)
**Author:** [@Warm\_blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Warm_blood)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marriage-recognized-abroad/786403 "2017-05-15T02:51:48Z")
Say you and your spouse are traveling to a country where cohabitation by unmarried couples is illegal (like the UAE for example). Presumably you would have your hotel room booked in advance. When you arrive there and you… --- ## [Laptop keeps freezing -- help!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-keeps-freezing-help/784328)
**Author:** [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-keeps-freezing-help/784328 "2017-05-14T23:49:36Z")
Last night my laptop kept freezing up – several times. I tried control-alt-delete, didn’t work. I eventually had to go with the start button, it would come on…and the cycle would start all over again. At first, I thou… --- ## [Fiber Optic question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiber-optic-question/786393)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiber-optic-question/786393 "2017-05-14T21:06:03Z")
Silly really, but if you where to cut an active FiOS cable, would you see light coming out of it? Would you have to stare directly into it? Would it glow? Don’t think transmission would immediately end. --- ## [How websites display in Facebook links](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-websites-display-in-facebook-links/784928)
**Author:** [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-websites-display-in-facebook-links/784928 "2017-04-21T19:02:01Z")
Some links to websites will come up with a picture preview of the site and some won’t. This is presumably at the website end of things… anyone know how this works? I suspect my Wordpress theme is preventing Facebook fr… --- ## [How can I find out what countries have stopped being socialist/communist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-out-what-countries-have-stopped-being-socialist-communist/786586)
**Author:** [@Mr.Baggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Baggins)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-out-what-countries-have-stopped-being-socialist-communist/786586 "2017-05-14T18:57:29Z")
I know it sounds deceptively simple, but it really isn’t. After 1989, what countries have stopped being socialist/communist? --- ## [Why are extremely obese people prone to lymphedema](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-extremely-obese-people-prone-to-lymphedema/786493)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-extremely-obese-people-prone-to-lymphedema/786493 "2017-05-14T17:29:34Z")
I watch the show my 600 pound life, it is not uncommon for one of the patients to have lymphedema in their lower legs. Why does extreme Obesity cause this? Googling, the only thing I could find is that extreme obesity … --- ## [What kind of machine/engine part is this? (In the 1988 Chrysler Turboencabulator gag video)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-machine-engine-part-is-this-in-the-1988-chrysler-turboencabulator-gag-video/786582)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-machine-engine-part-is-this-in-the-1988-chrysler-turboencabulator-gag-video/786582 "2017-05-14T14:56:09Z")
The video being here—for those not in the know, the “Turboencabulator” is a hoax/running gag dating back to the 1940s, featuring a breathtakingly detailed description of a mechanical marvel of completely indecipherable p… --- ## [Kirlian Photography.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kirlian-photography/786240)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kirlian-photography/786240 "2017-05-14T13:12:29Z")
\[Dear Cecil:\] I was just wondering, what is the straight dope on Kirlian photography? A while back, it was all the rage, especially in paranormal circles. I recall, people claimed it showed people’s auras, supposedly a… --- ## [Need books on Iron Age Britain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-books-on-iron-age-britain/786512)
**Author:** [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-books-on-iron-age-britain/786512 "2017-05-14T05:01:16Z")
Hey all– I’m looking for books about daily life in Iron Age Britain. Can be specific to any of the countries/islands. I have Quennell’s Everyday Life in Prehistoric Times. I also have Tacitus’ Germani and P.V. Glob’s Th… --- ## [Possessive form of Jones.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possessive-form-of-jones/786233)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possessive-form-of-jones/786233 "2017-05-14T04:49:44Z")
What style guides prefer the use of Jones’s rather than Jones’? Which version is preferred by more publications than the other? --- ## [What has been the leading cause of death for humans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-humans/785820)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-humans/785820 "2017-05-14T02:59:11Z")
Anatomically modern humans, I should say, since we first appeared circa 200,000 years ago. Imagine a chart of all the causes of death from for every human who has died, from ski-jumping Niagara Falls to myocardial infar… --- ## [Is being a little cold unhealthy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-being-a-little-cold-unhealthy/786486)
**Author:** [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-being-a-little-cold-unhealthy/786486 "2017-05-14T02:21:31Z")
I didn’t bring my jacket yesterday when going to work. I had to walk about ten minutes to my work. It was around seven Celsius - 45 Fahrenheit. Is this unhealthy for me? At all or in the future? --- ## [Need help calculating heat loss](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-calculating-heat-loss/786524)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-calculating-heat-loss/786524 "2017-05-14T02:02:52Z")
I was thinking of buying a new dog house, there’s a great one on the internet, beautiful design, insulation, even windows, unfortunately it costs like hell and it’s 100 miles away, so I’d have to pay for transport as wel… --- ## [Working with ferric chloride hexahydrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-ferric-chloride-hexahydrate/786535)
**Author:** [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-ferric-chloride-hexahydrate/786535 "2017-05-14T01:42:10Z")
I asked somebody to pick up some ferric chloride solution, but what they brought me is FeCl\[sub\]3\[/sub\] + 6H\[sub\]2\[/sub\]O. I am not exactly sure what I can do with this, or if I can use it to etch a copper-clad circuit … --- ## [Light Rail Systems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-rail-systems/765279)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-rail-systems/765279 "2017-05-14T01:30:04Z")
Salt Lake City has a nice light rail system that runs along the normal roads. It seemed odd to me that the trains stopped for stop lights like the regular traffic. Is that standard? I thought in Seattle their system… --- ## [On images of atoms, what are we seeing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-images-of-atoms-what-are-we-seeing/786343)
**Author:** [@BombVoyage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BombVoyage)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-images-of-atoms-what-are-we-seeing/786343 "2017-05-13T23:51:09Z")
I watched a show recently which showed that we could actually see atoms and showed some images. It even showed a small movie where one atom was even moving and squeezing between 2 others. The atoms looked like little b… --- ## [Apple issues: iCloud account; Apple Account; Apple TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-issues-icloud-account-apple-account-apple-tv/786507)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-issues-icloud-account-apple-account-apple-tv/786507 "2017-05-13T23:09:54Z")
I’ve run into a few problems with my Mac and Apple ID. On my Mac, all of my pictures suddenly appeared on the desktop. I thought they should be in my iCloud account, but I don’t know how to move them there. I try to… --- ## [Can I bring chicken/turkey deli meat into Montana from Canada](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-bring-chicken-turkey-deli-meat-into-montana-from-canada/786510)
**Author:** [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-bring-chicken-turkey-deli-meat-into-montana-from-canada/786510 "2017-05-13T20:36:01Z")
The Victoria Day long weekend is coming up and to celebrate Mr. Wonderland, Kid Wonderland, Granny Wonderland and I are packing up our camper and heading to Montana near Essex (Glacier National Park). My google-fu is fa… --- ## [Why Don't Volts Kill You?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-volts-kill-you/786087)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-volts-kill-you/786087 "2017-05-13T19:10:47Z")
Question is pretty much exactly as the title reads. I have read that stun guns can pack a punch of over 1,000,000 volts of electricity. However they are not lethal (in 99% of cases) However, it takes very very few amps… --- ## [Dutch-Speaking Dopers: Two Quick Translations Please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-speaking-dopers-two-quick-translations-please/786460)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-speaking-dopers-two-quick-translations-please/786460 "2017-05-13T15:13:13Z")
Hello. If you speak Dutch (Nederlander), can you please help me with these two songs? This nursery rhyme. Google Translate is clunky and isn’t giving me much - something about a gnome and a mushroom. I’m not too conce… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=731) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=733)