# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=807 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 808 --- ## [Is a black hole really a hole?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-black-hole-really-a-hole/119665)
**Author:** [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-black-hole-really-a-hole/119665 "2016-12-08T00:29:50Z")
I’ve been arguing with a friend about this for a few days now. Her original argument was that a black hole was just an imploded star with such high density that light could not escape (ie. a neutron star), which I dispr… --- ## [Refrigerator Problem - Loses Cool GE TFX24S](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-problem-loses-cool-ge-tfx24s/772950)
**Author:** [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerator-problem-loses-cool-ge-tfx24s/772950 "2016-12-08T00:15:45Z")
I am guessing this thing is past its 'Best By" date, but… This thing is developing an annoying habit of simply ceasing to run. The lights come on in both sides, but the ice cube tray (a test dummy) is completely thawed,… --- ## [Any way to find out if an animal rescue group is legit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-if-an-animal-rescue-group-is-legit/774138)
**Author:** [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-if-an-animal-rescue-group-is-legit/774138 "2016-12-07T23:24:23Z")
I have been looking around lately for rescue dogs and have put in a couple inquiries, filled out some adoption forms, but haven’t heard back much (yet). However, this morning I found two puppy sisters at the shelterpetp… --- ## [Does the media directly earn money from higher TV ratings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-media-directly-earn-money-from-higher-tv-ratings/773757)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-media-directly-earn-money-from-higher-tv-ratings/773757 "2016-12-07T23:04:53Z")
I understand that there are many reasons for the media networks to want high ratings and lots of TVs tuning in, but is there a direct relationship whereby a 38% increase in ratings will lead to 38% more revenue on a sort… --- ## [Cars that cannot be aligned?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-that-cannot-be-aligned/773827)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-that-cannot-be-aligned/773827 "2016-12-07T21:51:02Z")
A Toyota dealer told me that many of their cars are built so that there is no need for a wheel alignment and they don’t have parts that can be adjusted. Is that correct? Is this true of other makes too? --- ## [Can a county (within a state) pass laws to regulate campaign financing in its local elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-county-within-a-state-pass-laws-to-regulate-campaign-financing-in-its-local-elections/773803)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-county-within-a-state-pass-laws-to-regulate-campaign-financing-in-its-local-elections/773803 "2016-12-07T21:24:58Z")
Or if not a law, can a county ballot initiative (referendum) be used to regulate campaign financing within that county… or is this a statewide thing? --- ## [Which animal has the best these three senses: Sight, Hearing and Smell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-the-best-these-three-senses-sight-hearing-and-smell/284210)
**Author:** [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-the-best-these-three-senses-sight-hearing-and-smell/284210 "2016-12-07T20:24:52Z")
Pretty simple. I was thinking dog, but I don’t know about the sight thing. Hawk, but I’m not sure about their hearing. Etc. Anyone have any insight to this? --- ## [Gizmo that remotely turns on house lights.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gizmo-that-remotely-turns-on-house-lights/769211)
**Author:** [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gizmo-that-remotely-turns-on-house-lights/769211 "2016-12-07T19:57:09Z")
I don’t understand this doohickey. It turns on the lights via voice command or upon receipt of a signal through the Internet. That much is abundantly clear. But what is turning the bulb itself on? Is the receiver located… --- ## [Strange erratic behavior of laptop touchpad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-erratic-behavior-of-laptop-touchpad/773954)
**Author:** [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-erratic-behavior-of-laptop-touchpad/773954 "2016-12-07T17:16:15Z")
Laptop: Toshiba Satellite C50/D-B-10x OS: Windows 10 I got this laptop from a dear friend a few days ago. It was used, but only for about 3 years and is in top condition. I wiped the hard drive and did a clean install … --- ## [Why is our new dishwasher leaving detritus all over the glassware?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-our-new-dishwasher-leaving-detritus-all-over-the-glassware/773104)
**Author:** [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-our-new-dishwasher-leaving-detritus-all-over-the-glassware/773104 "2016-12-07T14:49:48Z")
We rent. A couple of months ago, our landlords installed a new dishwasher (GE model) because our older one started leaking heavily. That’s a big minus in a dishwasher. The new dishwasher … is not as good as the old one … --- ## [Is Danish really that close to English?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-danish-really-that-close-to-english/773132)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-danish-really-that-close-to-english/773132 "2016-12-07T10:59:40Z")
On s14e02 of QI Sandi Toksvig spouted a sentence in Danish. Aside from a few vowels it sounded just like English gibberish. The stresses, pace, intonation (pitch) all sounded ‘normal’ to my english-attuned ear. Are the t… --- ## [How do antibodies work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-antibodies-work/773945)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-antibodies-work/773945 "2016-12-07T04:04:13Z")
OK, so we all know the basic story of the immune system: A virus or other pathogen enters the body, the immune system develops an antibody to it and mass-produces it, the antibody neutralizes the invaders, and the immun… --- ## [Titanic: Why wasn't the watertight bulkheads extended to the top](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/titanic-why-wasnt-the-watertight-bulkheads-extended-to-the-top/619533)
**Author:** [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/titanic-why-wasnt-the-watertight-bulkheads-extended-to-the-top/619533 "2016-12-07T03:06:34Z")
According to Wikipedia: As an amateur, I can’t help asking the question: Why on earth were the walls in between the compartments not extended to the roof? Even though they couldn’t have foreseen the particular damage T… --- ## [car crash in no-fault state: do rates go up for not-at-faul driver?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-crash-in-no-fault-state-do-rates-go-up-for-not-at-faul-driver/773957)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-crash-in-no-fault-state-do-rates-go-up-for-not-at-faul-driver/773957 "2016-12-07T00:19:43Z")
Michigan (where I live) is a no-fault auto insurance state. I’ve been told that I’m in a car crash, my premiums will increase even if I am \*\*not \*\*at fault. Is this true? --- ## [What did people think seasonal pollen allergies were caused by before science explained it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-people-think-seasonal-pollen-allergies-were-caused-by-before-science-explained-it/773988)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-people-think-seasonal-pollen-allergies-were-caused-by-before-science-explained-it/773988 "2016-12-06T22:02:36Z")
Just curious. Re the allergy wiki What did people think season allergies were caused by before that explanation? Did they specifically connect pollen to the problem or not? --- ## [No metal in MRI--why are headphones OK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-metal-in-mri-why-are-headphones-ok/774018)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-metal-in-mri-why-are-headphones-ok/774018 "2016-12-06T21:26:11Z")
I had an MRI earlier this year and was cautioned about having any metal on me, and they wanted a full inventory of any medical metal I might have in my body (none). But then they put a pair of headphones on me so I can … --- ## [What about gravity being residuals from the strong force inside atoms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-gravity-being-residuals-from-the-strong-force-inside-atoms/773994)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-gravity-being-residuals-from-the-strong-force-inside-atoms/773994 "2016-12-06T19:58:48Z")
I think about physics a lot. Awhile back, I was talking to one of my friends who is also so inclined. We are both kind of unsatisfied with the idea that gravity is mediated by particles; at one point I said, well, maybe … --- ## [Question about Safari display on iPhone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-safari-display-on-iphone/774052)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-safari-display-on-iphone/774052 "2016-12-06T19:45:32Z")
When you’ve got more than one page open on Safari, how do you make them display stacked on each other? They do that when I’m holding the iPhone with with the long sides on the vertical, but if I rotate it so the short s… --- ## [Facebook searches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-searches/773931)
**Author:** [@Toastmaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toastmaker)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-searches/773931 "2016-12-06T18:49:37Z")
Is it in any way possible to view who has scrutinized your page or searched out your FB page. . ? --- ## [Why is Trickle Charge recommended over Fast Charging a car battery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trickle-charge-recommended-over-fast-charging-a-car-battery/773937)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trickle-charge-recommended-over-fast-charging-a-car-battery/773937 "2016-12-06T17:52:27Z")
I’m charging the dead battery on my old vehicle. Using the 2 Amp Trickle cycle. I’ve always been told that’s better for the battery than using the 15 Amp fast charge. I’m using Automatic. But have a option to use a m… --- ## [shutting off autoplay in videos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutting-off-autoplay-in-videos/774013)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutting-off-autoplay-in-videos/774013 "2016-12-06T17:30:04Z")
I had this figured out for a while, now this morning CNN links are automatically playing videos. …I don’t want them to. I’m on Chrome, I’ve got AdBlock Ive gone to settings–\> advanced settings –\>content settings –\> plu… --- ## [One victim, two simultaneous murders. How to prosecute?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-victim-two-simultaneous-murders-how-to-prosecute/773384)
**Author:** [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-victim-two-simultaneous-murders-how-to-prosecute/773384 "2016-12-06T17:20:25Z")
On a recent episode of Elementary (the modern Sherlock Holmes show) a person was murdered by two people. The victim was a BASE jumper, and his 'chute was altered so it wouldn’t work. But, he was also shot in his last, so… --- ## [Source for Socioeconomic Attainment Statistics by Sex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-socioeconomic-attainment-statistics-by-sex/773863)
**Author:** [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-socioeconomic-attainment-statistics-by-sex/773863 "2016-12-06T15:42:48Z")
This is inspired by any number of threads over the years on difficulties with dating. One recurring theme being that folks are prone to mistakes like: A) Looking at dating like ordering a car; they want a rigid set of … --- ## [Nikon D90 as WebCam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nikon-d90-as-webcam/521675)
**Author:** [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nikon-d90-as-webcam/521675 "2009-12-18T00:00:45Z")
My D90 has HD video capabilities. s there free software that can make so I can use it as a webcam on an HP netbook with an Atom processor running Windows 7? Is there software that can make the netbook show the show what… --- ## [What happened in Italy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-italy/773949)
**Author:** [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-italy/773949 "2016-12-06T05:40:41Z")
I know there was a referendum, and I know the PM resigned because of the results, but I can’t seem to find what the referendum was all about. Were things expected to go the way they did, or was it a bit of a shock? --- ## [How can this device get an EKG from just your fingertips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-this-device-get-an-ekg-from-just-your-fingertips/773902)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-this-device-get-an-ekg-from-just-your-fingertips/773902 "2016-12-06T04:46:42Z")
I am seeing a cardiologist to evaluate an occasional arrhythmia that (I think) I have. His nurse took an EKG in the office, but he said the only way to diagnose these things is to have a trace when it is actually happeni… --- ## [25th Amendment Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25th-amendment-question/773964)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25th-amendment-question/773964 "2016-12-06T03:39:32Z")
I watched the video above out of curiosity and a question has come into my head. Can’t a President upon writing to say he is reassuming the office of Presidency and is fully capable of doing so also say th… --- ## [Structural Integrity of Older Buildings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-integrity-of-older-buildings/773923)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-integrity-of-older-buildings/773923 "2016-12-06T02:31:56Z")
What I’m wondering about is who stays on top of older buildings and whether they might be at the point of collapse. I imagine that relevant important public structures have mandated inspections and this is probably not a… --- ## [Does anyone know how Indeed.com works?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-indeed-com-works/773736)
**Author:** [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-indeed-com-works/773736 "2016-12-05T23:41:32Z")
I would like to find a better job, better pay, better hours, better benefits… you get the idea. When I look on indeed.com, I find companies that are looking for people. But, when I investigate these positions, I get r… --- ## [A Question about Voters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-voters/773874)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-voters/773874 "2016-12-05T21:16:04Z")
Let me start off by stating that I am looking for a factual answer not debate or opinion, I firmly believe that there must be one, and that is why I put this in this forum instead of IMHO or Elections or where ever. I’v… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=806) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=808)