# Good sources for information on topics? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581 "2017-06-10T10:34:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/1 "2017-06-10T10:34:38Z")
So what are some very good sources for factual and informative information on certain subjects? I enjoy reading detailed accounts on subjects, both from a personalized view, and an “instruction manual” formal type. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/2 "2017-06-10T11:00:21Z")
1. Me 2. Books 3. Magazines Seriously, your inquiry is more than a little vague. They have things like libraries with vast information sources at your disposal. There are also countless Youtube videos for DIY projects. You can also ask just about anything on this board if you do it the right way. I know Google seems a little trendy but it can help with some things as well. What are you trying to figure out? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/3 "2017-06-10T11:23:46Z")
I think informative information is the best kind there is. None of that fake information for me, nosiree, Bob! #therealinfo ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/4 "2017-06-10T11:32:01Z")
[refdesk](http://refdesk.com/) may be all that you need. mmm ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/5 "2017-06-10T12:34:40Z")
The library. Ask for help at the front desk. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/6 "2017-06-10T13:10:55Z")
You could probably find an old set of dead tree encyclopedias cheap somewhere. Encyclopedia Britannica if you are lucky, but if not, at least those they used to sell one volume per month at grocery stores. ---
**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/7 "2017-06-10T13:45:16Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > 1. Me > 2. Books > 3. Magazines > > Seriously, your inquiry is more than a little vague. They have things like libraries with vast information sources at your disposal. There are also countless Youtube videos for DIY projects. You can also ask just about anything on this board if you do it the right way. I know Google seems a little trendy but it can help with some things as well. > > What are you trying to figure out? I mean, I am looking for a list of websites that offer factual and in-depth information on things like major controversial/disruptive events in the past, and current information of how certain things work, why they work, what they are used for, how they are used, and whatnot, but it should be properly detailed and not too much biased. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/8 "2017-06-10T15:19:49Z")
Start with Wikipedia. > **[Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia](https://www.wikipedia.org/)** > > Save your favorite articles to read offline, sync your reading lists across devices and customize your reading experience with the official Wikipedia app. > > This page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License > Terms of Use > Privacy Policy ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/9 "2017-06-10T15:31:53Z")
[Here](http://www.scienceofsand.info/) is a good site about sand. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/10 "2017-06-10T15:33:23Z")
> [@dude\_robert](#): > > I mean, I am looking for a list of websites that offer factual and in-depth information on things like major controversial/disruptive events in the past, and current information of how certain things work, why they work, what they are used for, how they are used, and whatnot, but it should be properly detailed and not too much biased. Very little of that has been written yet. Maybe you can start it or whatnot so on and so forth. Begin with aardvark and work your way from there. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/11 "2017-06-10T15:40:45Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Very little of that has been written yet. Maybe you can start it or whatnot so on and so forth. Begin with aardvark and work your way from there. Hold on there. **dude roberts** , are you red-headed? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/12 "2017-06-10T16:13:27Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Very little of that has been written yet. Maybe you can start it or whatnot so on and so forth. Begin with aardvark and work your way from there. Aardvarks are covered [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=793796&page=43), starting around post #2117. Includes informative information on the Laarge Daark Aardvark. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/13 "2017-06-10T16:29:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Hold on there. > **dude roberts** , are you red-headed? Iswydt. ---
**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/14 "2017-06-10T16:48:24Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Very little of that has been written yet. Maybe you can start it or whatnot so on and so forth. Begin with aardvark and work your way from there. Okay, I mean something like the [FAS](https://fas.org/) // [MAN](https://fas.org/man/). I heard that the FAS is reasonably good for information, but the MAN is discontinued. I have no idea about the accuracy of the information from the MAN but it is interesting to read. Is there any alternatives to FAS on similar or the same subjects? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/15 "2017-06-11T21:27:25Z")
When you find yourself getting interested in the tuna processing industry, there is a boatload of info [here](https://www.dol.gov/whd/as/sec3.htm). mmm ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/16 "2017-06-11T21:39:10Z")
Have you tried the internet? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/17 "2017-06-11T22:29:06Z")
My “go-to” is bathroom walls. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/18 "2017-06-12T10:43:29Z")
> [@dude\_robert](#): > > So what are some very good sources for factual and informative information on certain subjects? I enjoy reading detailed accounts on subjects, both from a personalized view, and an “instruction manual” formal type. Without wanting to be unkind, you do realise that we can only read the words you actually write on the page, not any unsaid narrative that’s happening inside your head, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-sources-for-information-on-topics/788581/19 "2017-06-12T11:53:28Z")
If you are in college, or are a member of a library that provides access to them, you should use research databases.