But recently, we’ve come across a viral TikTok that has shown us something we’ve never noticed before. Most major pickle-packing companies don’t seem to have the word “pickle” anywhere on their beloved jars. What’s up with that?

Why don’t jars say “pickles” on the label?

TikTok user @jessebanwell came across this interesting tidbit while talking to his son. Banwell says his son “couldn’t find the word [pickle] on the jar anywhere.” He did some digging and found that neither his Claussen nor Mt. Olive pickle jars featured the word anywhere. He even googled a photo of Vlasic pickles to check out their label game, and sure enough, no “pickle” in sight.

@jessebanwell #pickle #pickles #notapickle#CapCut original sound – createsure

Banwell took to the internet to seek out information, but he couldn’t seem to find an answer. We didn’t want to leave the poor man hanging, so we did some research of our own. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t all that intriguing.

According to most major companies like Vlasic, Claussen and Mt. Olive, it comes down to effective usage of space on the label. Carolyn Goldberger, the brand manager from Vlasic, says, “We use the limited label space to clearly communicate the form and flavor inside each jar. That way consumers can easily find their favorite Vlasic. But no matter the style, it’s definitely a pickle!”

Are you a true pickle lover? See how Vlasic, Claussen and Mt. Olive rank in our pickle taste test.

How many kinds of pickles are there?

There are upward of a dozen different types of pickles for you to try and enjoy. Dill chips, bread and butter chips and kosher spears are just a handful. Not all pickles are the same, and each person has their own preference. My favorite pickle has got to be a large jar of kosher spears. Lucky for me, my dad made sure to have one in the house at all times.

And while cucumbers are the go-to for the pickle chips and spears we know and love, that’s not the only vegetable you can pickle. You can pickle avocados, radishes and even fruit. There’s no stopping the pickling trainit’s a vintage cooking skill that will never go out of style!

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The post This Is Why Pickle Jars Don’t Include the Word “Pickle” on the Label appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Chinese immigrants first brought the wheat noodle recipe to Japan, according to historian and ramen expert George Solt. In his book, The Untold History of Ramen, he tells of a scholar from China during the 17th century who instructed the Japanese feudal lord he worked for to add pork and vegetables to his noodle soup.

By 1910, the first ramen restaurant in Japan, Rai Rai Ken, was serving the dish to Tokyo diners. It was called shina soba in Japanese (shina is an archaic Japanese word for China, while soba are thin buckwheat noodles). But the Japanese pronunciation of lamian, the Chinese word for the soft wheat noodles, evolved into todays ramen.

World War II interrupted the dishs popularity, as food shortages led the Japanese government to ban luxury foods, including ramen. In 1945, as the seven-year Allied occupation of Japan began, the worst rice harvest in decades caused widespread hunger. Fearing that food shortages might alienate the population and lead them to gravitate toward communism, the U.S. occupiers began to import American wheat into Japan. The renewed availability of wheat noodles refueled the demand for ramen, which became a street food as stalls popped up to sell the tasty and affordable dish to the hungry population.

In 1958, a Taiwanese businessman named Momofuku Ando created a dehydrated version of ramen that only required the addition of boiling water. In the 1970s, it came to the U.S. in Styrofoam cups under the name Cup ONoodles. (In 1993, the company dropped the O, so now the official name is Cup Noodles.) The Americanized version had shorter noodles that could be eaten more easily with a spoon, as opposed to the traditional chopsticks.

Today there are two museums in Japan dedicated to Andos creation, and his name inspired Korean American celebrity chef David Changs Momofuku Noodle Bar in Manhattan. Changs restaurant, an early seller of gourmet ramen, helped change the perception of the dish from a cheap, prepackaged pantry staple to a complex and indulgent treat.

Hungry visitors to ramen shops can typically choose from four broths: shoyu (which is soy sauce based), miso (made with fermented soybean paste), shio (or salt, often with a chicken or fish base) or tonkotsu (rich and fatty, made from pork). The salty broth is what gives ramen its mouthwatering umami, a pleasant savory taste.

Tokyo remains the ramen capital of the world, with well over 10,000 ramen shops. Among them: Ichiran, with locations not only in Japan but also in Hong Kong, Taiwan and New York City.

Whether you choose shio or shoyu, instant or gourmet, itadakimasubon appetit!

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The post The Interesting—and Delicious—History of Ramen appeared first on Reader's Digest.

What does it mean when there are coins on a gravestone?

When you see coins on a gravestone, this signifies that the person buried there was a member of the military. Similar to gold stars on license plates, these coins are a meaningful way for people to convey their pride in a loved one who is no longer with them. People who visit the deceased service member can leave a coin on the headstone so when loved ones come to the cemetery, they’re aware that others have been to pay their respects, too. This moving sentiment can make a tremendous impact on the family of deceased military folks, which is why it’s a special tradition.

It’s also important to take note of the type of coin on the stone. For instance, different coins hold different meanings.

What do individual coins on a gravestone mean?

As you may have guessed, the different coins have different associations. If you notice a quarter on a headstone, for instance, the past visitor is trying to convey something different than if they’d left a penny. Let’s walk through what the individual coin types mean.

If you notice a penny on a gravestone, this signifies that a person has visited the headstone. It’s an act of gratitude for the person’s service. Anyone can leave a penny, whether they are a family member, friend or fellow service person.

If there is a nickel on the gravestone, this means that the visitor who left it went to boot camp with the person buried.

Next, if you see a dime on their gravestone, that signifies that the visitor served with the deceased military member.

Seeing a quarter has a particularly heavy association. If you notice a quarter, this signifies that a previous visitor was present when the soldier passed away.

Now that you understand what each coin means when you see it, you’ll have a better idea of what it means when you see this emotional item left behind at a gravestone. And more importantly, you’ll know the proper way to leave a coin.

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The post If You See a Coin on a Gravestone, This Is What It Means appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Did that pique your interest and make you wonder if you should rummage through the attic to find your Barbie castoffs? And what would even qualify as a much-desired, super-expensive Barbie? We have the answers, as well as how much a single Barbie has ever sold for. Yes, the chances of having one of the most collectible Barbies in your possession is a long shot, but a girl can dreamand hey, you never know!

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The most expensive Barbie ever sold: Stefano Canturi Barbie

The most expensive Barbie won’t just make your jaw drop because of her looks and her pricebut also because of the sparkling diamond necklace around her neck. And yes, those are real diamonds around her shiny plastic neck, and we’ll get to those specifics in a minute. Created by Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi, this one-of-a-kind Barbie sold at auction house Christie’s in 2010 for $302,500, and the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, making this a surprisingly feel-good story.

Now, let’s talk about those diamonds. The center stone is a stunning square-cut, 1-carat rare pink diamond that was found in Australia’s Argyle mine, and it’s set in a choker comprised of white diamonds. Plusbecause when you’re all in, you’re all inthis Barbie is also sporting a diamond ring.

Aside from her jewels, this fancy Barbie is wearing the perfect little black dress and peep-toe heels. Naturally.

The second-most expensive Barbie: De Beers Barbie

Here’s an interesting fact: The Stefano Canturi Barbie isn’t the only doll decked out with diamonds. To celebrate Barbie’s 40th anniversary in 1999, De Beers diamond jewelers also made a single special-edition Barbie in an evening gown with a bikini top and sheer skirt, adorned with 160 small diamonds and white-gold accessories.

The De Beers Barbie sold for $85,000 that same year, so the price could be significantly more today if it’s still in mint condition. (Which we would really hope it is! Sorry, kidsthis one is off-limits to little hands!)

The third-most expensive Barbie: Original Barbie

Back in 1959, when Barbie appeared on the scene, she sold for just $3. Today, the Original Barbiewho dons a black-and-white strapless one-piece bathing suit, gold hoops and black peephole heels and holds sunglasses in her handis one of the most iconic Barbies of all time. Although many special-anniversary editions of the Original Barbie exist (including the 35th and 50th anniversary versions, which sell for anywhere between $100 to $1,500 on sites like Etsy and eBay), a real Original Barbie is much harder to come by especially one in mint condition.

This rare Barbie doll can cost upward of $27,000. And now, thanks to the popularity of the Barbie movie (and Margot Robbie rocking that black-and-white suit to bring back all those nostalgic Barbie feels), it will likely go for even more. So maybe check your grandmother’s attic next time you’re over for Sunday dinner and see what rare valuables you can find!

Other expensive Barbies

While it sure would be nice to find an Original Barbie, you might have better luck with the other sought-after Barbies below. Here’s what they sold for and when.

• Gala Abend Barbie (1965): Sold for $9,148 at Christie’s in 2006.
• Lorraine Schwartz Barbie (2010): Sold for $7,500 at an auction for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. Just 12 of these Barbies were made.
• Brunette Ponytail Barbie (1959): Sold for $6,710 on eBay in 2014.
• Karl Lagerfeld Barbie (2014): Sold for $5,275 on eBay in May 2023. They were originally sold on Net-a-Porter for $200 each, and 900 were produced.
• Marie Antoinette Barbie (2003): Sold for $1,250 on eBay in 2016, though prices range from $1,500 to $3,500 today. Fittingly, this Barbie also boasts a diamond necklace.

For another interesting number, find out how much Barbie’s DreamHouse would cost in real life.

Sources:

• Investopedia: “Earnings Beat of the Week: Mattel Reports Surprise Profit Amid Barbie Box Office Hit”
• Artnet News: “Here Are the Worlds Most Expensive Barbie Dolls, from Diamond-Encrusted Models to the Holy Grail of Toys”
• Money Inc.: “The Five Most Expensive Barbie Dolls in History”

The Biggest Barbie Doll Controversies

Rare Collectibles at the Barbie Museum

Rare Books Worth a Fortune

The post If You Have One of These Rare Barbies, It Could Be Worth More Than $27,000 appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Why do we cry on airplanes?

In her video, Brown explains one popular theory as to why we cry on airplanes. She claims that our “eyes are trying to create moisture” to combat the dry atmosphere of the plane. She continues, “The only way your eyes know how to create moisture is to cry. And so it becomes this physical response that the brain sends to release the tear ducts.”

Why do we get emotional on airplanes?

There is, however, an interesting caveat to this theory. Brown explains, “You have to be emotional to cry [so] your body acclimates to the dryness and creates the tears, but has to create the emotion first to create the tears.” In other words, your brain may create an unusually heightened emotional response to something that otherwise may not have moved you. Feel free to break out this piece of airplane trivia on your next trip!

For Brown, this was humorously a flashback scene from a German shepherd in the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua. While a movie can help your brain get into the crying mood, some passengers also experience this crying while reading, writing, reflecting or simply staring out the window. (This writer once cried at a particularly awe-inspiring cloud!)

How to avoid crying on an airplane

There is no reason to be embarrassed about crying on airplanes; it is, after all, a natural human response. But if you are searching for solutions, Brown jokes, “I would recommend [watching] all the Takenmovies with Liam Neeson.” She says she chooses to steer clear of especially emotional movies, citingTerms of Endearment, and instead opts for “a rom-com starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore (not as a chihuahua).” “But I’ll probably still cry,” she adds.

In addition to selecting appropriate in-flight entertainment, keep emotions at bay by minimizing the stress of your trip. If you’re an anxious flyer, read up on these facts to calm your nervesand try to sit in the safest airplane seat to further ease your mind. Finally, no matter how experienced a flyer you are, be sure to know your passenger rights, as well as proper airplane etiquette. This knowledge will prepare you for pleasant interactions with other passengers and flight attendants. Bon voyage!

Source:

• CNN: One weird thing that might happen to you on a plane

Why Is "Airplane" Also Spelled Aeroplane"?

This Is Why Airplane Windows Are Round

The Truth About Recirculated Air on Airplanes

The post The Real Reason We Cry on Airplanes appeared first on Reader's Digest.

From different colors of the rainbow to even the use of pink and white, each color communicates the location of important utilities underground. So what exactly does it mean when you see the color red?

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What does red paint on the road mean?

According to the APWA, if you see red paint on the road, that signifies a spot where electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables could be located.

This would mean that if any work is going to be done within that area, a specialist may need to be called. Those power and cable lines may be important for the electricity throughout your neighborhood and should be approached with caution.

Red paint may not be the only way to signify an electrical power line, cables and more. Some areas may be marked with other signs like small red flags. These temporary red flags may be useful if an area is experiencing any kind of construction or engineering project.

Either way, if an area is marked with red, that means the utility nearby is likely connected to the electrical power in some sense and should be treated carefully. This type of marking is typically facilitated by a contract laborer or a facility owner, so before starting any type of project, be sure these areas are properly marked around your home so you don’t dig and damage an important facility that will cost you a lot in repairs.

What are other paint colors for marking utilities?

While red is an important color to look out for when it comes to any kind of construction or engineering project, the other colors in the APWA system should also be considered, so you are aware of the different utilities underground.

The APWA color system is as follows:

• Red: electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables
• Orange: telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit
• Yellow: natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum or other flammable materials
• Green: sewers and drain lines
• Blue: potable water
• Purple: reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines
• Pink: temporary survey markings, unknown/unidentified facilities
• White: proposed excavation limits or routes

Again, these colors may be painted to warn of particular important utility areas, or small flags may be perched to signify the facilities below.

However, markers on trees are a bit different. Trees marked with paint actually signify property lines or even alert others of environmental concerns.

Now that you know about these color codes, keep an eye out for colors and symbols on different work sites, farms or homes. Boots on a fence, on the other hand, can symbolize multiple things, like honoring a rancher or horse that recently passed, while a green porch light shows appreciation and support for U.S. veterans.

Sources:

• American Public Works Association: “Uniform Color Code”

Why Traffic Lights Are Specific Colors

What a Red Porch Light Means

Why Are Shoes on Power Lines?

The post If You See Red Paint on the Ground, This Is What It Means appeared first on Reader's Digest.

How rare is heterochromia, and does it reveal anything about the health of your eyes or your body? We have the answers, along with other interesting factsabout this striking condition.And if you have blue eyes, don’t fretyou’re still special and unique. Brown eyes? Van Morrison wrote a song about you, and hey, maybe you have one of the rarest birthdays too!

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What is heterochromia, exactly?

“Heterochromia is when a person’s irises are different colors,” explains Sidney Gicheru, MD, the medical director of LaserCare Eye Center in Dallas and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In case you need an anatomy refresh, the iris is the technical term for the circle on the front of the eye that contains the colored part and the pupil in the middle.

There are three types of heterochromia.

• Complete heterochromia: The most obvious form of heterochromia, it describes irises that are completely different in color. Translation: When you see someone with complete heterochromia, you’ll notice that they have two different-colored eyes.
• Central heterochromia: “With central heterochromia, there is an inner ring that is a different color than the outer area of the iris,” Dr. Gicheru says. There are two different ways this can present. In the first, most of the iris around the pupil is one color, but then it is essentially outlined with another color. In the second, there is a thin ring of one color around the pupil, then the rest of the iris is a different color.
• Partial heterochromia: In this type of heterochromia, only part of one iris is a different color than the rest of it. From far away, a person with this form of heterochromia may not appear to have different-colored eyes. But a closer look will reveal that one of their eyes is two different colors, while the other is just one.

In a nutshell: The vast majority of people have just one color in their eyes (not counting the black of their pupils). People with heterochromia have two.

How rare is heterochromia?

Heterochromia is extremely rare, affecting less than 1% of the world’s population, or fewer than 78 million people worldwide. If that sounds like a lot, consider that between 70% and 80% of people, or about 6.4 billion people, have brown eyesby far the most common eye color on the planet.

Rounding things out are blue eyes, the second-most-common eye color, at 8% to 10% (or roughly 800 million people); hazel eyes and amber eyes at 5% (or 400 million people) each; gray eyes at 3% (or 240 million people); and green eyes at just 2% (or 160 million people). So the answer to the question “How rare is heterochromia?” is: very. That said, it’s not as rare as the rarest blood type, which is found in fewer than 50 people worldwide!

While super uncommon in humans, heterochromia is actually fairly common in dogs. (That’s a fun science fact for you!) Breeds that are most likely to have two different-colored eyes include Australian cattle dogs, Australian shepherds, Great Danes and Siberian huskies.

What causes people to have different-colored eyes?

The most common cause of heterochromia (and the cause behind everybody’s eye color) is genetics. Your genes determine how much melanin, a brown pigment, is present in each eye. More melanin means darker eyes, while less melanin means lighter ones.

Sometimes people are just born with it, according to Dr. Gicheru, the same way that some people are born with blonde hair and some are born with red. In this case, it is called congenital heterochromia. “It is usually harmless, but it can sometimes be a symptom of disease,” Dr. Gicheru notes.

When an infant is born with different-colored eyes or develops heterochromia shortly after birth, it can be a symptom of another eye condition, such as Horner’s syndrome or Sturge-Weber syndrome. “Horner’s syndrome results from a lesion to the nerve pathway that supplies the head and neck region. It can lead to heterochromia because the development of the pigmentation of the iris is controlled by these nerves,” explains optometrist Kerry Gelb. “Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare neurological disorder present at birth and characterized by a wine-stain birthmark on the forehead and upper eyelid on one side of the face.”

A check from an ophthalmologist can determine if one of these, or another eye condition, is the cause, or if the heterochromia is benign (which it usually is).

Can you develop heterochromia as an adult?

Yes. Heterochromia can appear later in life. Known as acquired heterochromia, this is often nothing to worry about, though as with any medical condition, sometimes it’s a sign of a problem. “There are several potential causes a doctor will check for,” explains Dr. Gicheru, “such as iritis or uveitis (swelling of the eye), bleeding in the eye, glaucoma and/or some of the medications used to treat it, diabetes mellitus, ocular melanosis and central retinal vein occlusion, among other eye diseases.” If an ophthalmologist determines that one of these is behind the change in eye color, they will recommend treatment for that specific issue.

When should you see a doctor for heterochromia?

“It is always a good idea to see an ophthalmologist when you notice any change to your eyes’ appearance,” says Dr. Gicheru. This applies regardless of when the heterochromia develops. “An ophthalmologist is trained to spot and treat eye disease,” he adds. “If they conclude that there is no other health issue with the eye after an exam, heterochromia is nothing to worry about. If heterochromia is caused by another underlying condition, an ophthalmologist can recommend the right treatment.”

Who are some famous people with heterochromia?

There are quite a few of them, given how rare heterochromia is. Perhaps it’s because different-colored eyes are so striking, which helps the person sporting them stand out from the packsomething that’s especially helpful in a field as competitive as acting. Some famous folks with heterochromia include:

• Elizabeth Berkley, actress
• Kate Bosworth, actress
• Henry Cavill, actor
• Jennifer Connelly, actress
• Alyson Hannigan, actress
• Josh Henderson, actor
• Mila Kunis, actress
• Jane Seymour, actress
• Max Scherzer, professional baseball player
• Christopher Walken, actor
• Olivia Wilde, actress

Now that you’re well versed on this rare eye-color condition, discover the rarest zodiac sign and the rarest animals on earth.

Sources:

• Sidney Gicheru, MD, medical director of LaserCare Eye Center in Dallas and spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology
• World Atlas: “The World’s Population by Eye Color”
• Kerry Gelb, optometrist
• American Academy of Ophthalmology: “Heterochromia”

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The post This Is One of the Rarest Facial Features in the World appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Some of the most influential and best movies ever made are within the horror genre, and believe it or not, scary movies have made our blood pump and adrenaline rush since the late 19th century. The horror genre has expanded immensely since, spawning eerie thriller flicks, heart-pounding slasher films, mesmerizing vampire movies, spooky Halloween movies and much, much more. There are plenty of scares to go aroundand tons of movie trivia to learn! Test your existing knowledge (and learn something new along the way) with these horror movie trivia questionswith the lights on, of course.

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Horror movie trivia questions

1. Question:What is widely considered to be the first horror movie made?

Answer:The House of the Devil, made in 1898

2. Question:What is the name of Neve Campbell’s character in Scream?

Answer: Sidney Prescott

3. Question:In Jeepers Creepers, the Creeper rises every how many years to feed?

Answer:23 years

4. Question: What is the name of the summer camp where Friday the 13th takes place?

Answer: Camp Crystal Lake

5. Question:What kind of allergy does Charlie have in Hereditary?

Answer:A nut allergy

6. Question:What is the name of the possessed young girl in The Exorcist?

Answer:Regan

7. Question:In which state does The Blair Witch Project take place?

Answer:Maryland

8. Question:Who plays Pennywise in 2017’s It?

Answer: Bill Skarsgrd

9. Question: In The Ring, how long do people have to live after watching the video tape?

Answer:7 days

10. Question:Who plays Chucky’s love interest, Tiffany, in Bride of Chucky?

Answer: Jennifer Tilly

11. Question: Who directed acclaimed horror movies Get Out and Us?

Answer:Jordan Peele

12. Question:What year was the first Saw movie released?

Answer: 2004

13. Question:What is the name of the man Dr. Caligari controls in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari?

Answer:Cesare

14. Question:Which horror movie stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe?

Answer:I Know What You Did Last Summer

15. Question:In which city does Rosemary’s Baby take place?

Answer:New York City

16. Question: There are two serial killers at the center of Silence of the Lambs. What are their names?

Answer:Buffalo Bill and Hannibal Lecter

17. Question:In Halloween, Michael Myers, as a child, kills his teenage sister. What was her name?

Answer:Judith

18. Question:Which author of scary books holds the record for the most book-to-movie adaptations in the horror genre?

Answer:Stephen King

19. Question:What title is Dani crowned in Midsommar?

Answer:May Queen

20. Question: Passengers must survive what kind of outbreak in Train to Busan?

Answer:A zombie outbreak

21. Question:What is the name of the hotel Jack Torrance is hired to care for in The Shining?

Answer:The Overlook Hotel

22. Question:Who plays Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street?

Answer:Robert Englund

23. Question: What is the real name of “The Black Bride” in Insidious: Chapter 2?

Answer:Parker Crane

24. Question:What year was the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre released?

Answer:1974

25. Question:Who plays Norman Bates in 1960’s Psycho?

Answer:Anthony Perkins

Don’t forget to add these funny scary movies to your streaming list for healthy doses of goosebumps and chuckles.

26. Question:1922’s Nosferatu is an unofficial adaptation of which vampire book?

Answer:Dracula by Bram Stoker

27. Question: Which city were Alex and his classmates flying to when he had a disturbing premonition on the plane in Final Destination?

Answer:Paris

28. Question: Who directed 1963’s The Birds?

Answer:Alfred Hitchcock

29. Question:The Witch (one of the best witch movies to come out in recent years) takes place in what year?

Answer:1630

30. Question:What is the name of the killer in the Saw franchise?

Answer:Jigsaw

31. Question: Which horror movie isn’t based on a book: Frankenstein, Bird Box, Interview with the Vampire or A Quiet Place?

Answer: A Quiet Place

32. Question: What is the name of the spacecraft the crew is aboard in Alien?

Answer: The Nostromo

33. Question:In which city does 1992’s Candyman take place?

Answer:Chicago

34. Question:Which actor appears in all these horror movies: The Purge, Sinister and The Black Phone?

Answer:Ethan Hawke

35. Question: How many killers are there in The Strangers?

Answer:Three

36. Question:Who played Carrie in 1976’s Carrie?

Answer: Sissy Spacek

37. Question:Where does Noa meet Steve in Fresh?

Answer:The grocery store

38. Question:What is the name of the pop-up book Samuel asks Amelia to read to him in The Babadook?

Answer: Mister Babadook

39. Question:What year was Let the Right One In released?

Answer:2008

40. Question:Which actor and actress play Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring universe?

Answer:Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga

41. Question: The Losers Club reunites after how many years in It Chapter Two?

Answer:27 years

42. Question:What is used to suppress the evil leprechaun’s powers in Leprechaun?

Answer:A four-leaf clover

43. Question:Which two slashers faced off against one another in a movie released in 2003?

Answer: Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees

44. Question:In Insidious and Insidious: Chapter 2, it’s discovered that both Josh and his son, Dalton, have the ability to do what?

Answer:Astral project

45. Question:What is the name of the child at the center of The Omen?

Answer: Damien

46. Question:In M3GAN, what exactly is M3GAN?

Answer:An artificially intelligent doll

47. Question: Who directed the 2007 remake of Halloween?

Answer:Rob Zombie

48. Question: Which sci-fi horror movie stars Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix?

Answer: Signs

49. Question: In which state does 1968’s Night of the Living Dead take place?

Answer:Pennsylvania

50. Question:Who played Frankenstein’s monster in Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein?

Answer:Boris Karloff

Fun fact: Frankenstein wasn’t the only green character Boris Karloff played; he voiced the Grinch in the 1966 Christmas cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas and also narrated it.

More horror movie trivia games

Two things horror movie enthusiasts need: strong stomachs and impressive stashes of horror movie trivia games. Game night’s about to get scary good.

51. Question:In The Purge, how long does the annual Purge last?

Answer:12 hours

52. Question:What is the name of the killer in the Scream franchise?

Answer:Ghostface

53. Question:When was the first Paranormal Activity movie released?

Answer: 2007

54. Question:How did Dr. Gnessier’s daughter, Christiane, become disfigured in Eyes Without a Face?

Answer:She was involved in a car accident.

55. Question:What brand of doll is Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise?

Answer:A Good Guy doll

56. Question:What is the highest-grossing horror movie of all time?

Answer:It

57. Question:1985’s The Fly (a remake of the original) won an Oscar for what?

Answer:Best Makeup

58. Question:What 2016 movie centers on an entity that can only be seen when the lights are off?

Answer:Lights Out

59. Question: What town does Jaws take place in?

Answer: Amity Island

60. Question:In Halloween, Michael Myers’s mask is actually a mask of which actor?

Answer:William Shatner

61. Question: In Host, a group of friends accidentally summon a supernatural force by doing what over Zoom?

Answer:Holding a sance

62. Question: Who directed the original version of The Hills Have Eyes?

Answer: Wes Craven

63. Question:What is the name of Jodie Foster’s character in The Silence of the Lambs?

Answer:Clarice Starling

64. Question:Which two horror movie franchises were first video game series?

Answer:Silent Hill and Resident Evil

65. Question:Carol Anne interacts with spirits through which household electronic in Poltergeist?

Answer:A television

66. Question:Which actress stars in 2020’s The Invisible Man?

Answer:Elisabeth Moss

67. Question:What was the first horror movie to win the Best Picture Oscar?

Answer:The Silence of the Lambs

68. Question: Which horror movie isn’t based on a Stephen King book: Misery, 1922, Gerald’s Game or Creep?

Answer: Creep

69. Question: Which horror movie has the most sequels?

Answer: Friday the 13th

70. Question: Which Marvel universe actor starred in 2011’s The Cabin in the Woods?

Answer:Chris Hemsworth

71. Question:How many people were Ghostface in the first Scream movie?

Answer:Two

72. Question:What year was The Blob released?

Answer: 1958

73. Question:In which country does The Nun take place?

Answer:Romania

74. Question:Which actor made his film debut in A Nightmare on Elm Street?

Answer:Johnny Depp

75. Question:What is the name of the virus that infects humanity in 28 Days Later?

Answer:Rage

Want to test your holiday knowledge after completing this horror movie trivia quiz? See how many Halloween trivia questions you can answer correctly.

76. Question: Who played Count Dracula in 1931’s Dracula?

Answer: Bela Lugosi

77. Question:In Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, audiences finally got an explanation as to why Michael Myers couldn’t be killed. What was it?

Answer:He was made immortal by a Druid curse.

78. Question:What is the name of the town in Nebraska where Children of the Corn takes place?

Answer: Gatlin

79. Question: Which movie wasn’t directed by James Wan: Saw, The Conjuring, Dead Silence or M3GAN?

Answer: M3GAN

80. Question: What year was It Follows released?

Answer:2014

81. Question:What kind of mask does Jason Voorhees wear?

Answer:A hockey mask

82. Question:What is the name of the killer who possesses the doll that becomes Chucky in Child’s Play?

Answer: Charles Lee Ray

83. Question:How does the Abbott family communicate with one another in A Quiet Place?

Answer:They use American Sign Language

84. Question: What line is written over and over in Jack’s manuscript in The Shining?

Answer:“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

85. Question:Who played George Lutz in the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror?

Answer:Ryan Reynolds

86. Question:Which actor wasn’t in Interview with the Vampire: Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Kiefer Sutherland or Tom Cruise?

Answer: Kiefer Sutherland

87. Question:What is the name of the boy Becky and Cal try to help in In the Tall Grass?

Answer:Tobin

88. Question:What color clothes do the doppelgngers in Us wear?

Answer:Red

89. Question:Which 2021 horror movie is a sequel to the 1992 movie of the same name?

Answer: Candyman

90. Question:What is the name of the demon who possesses Regan in The Exorcist?

Answer: Pazuzu

91. Question:What was Halloween originally going to be called?

Answer:The Babysitter Murders

92. Question: What do Carrie’s classmates dump on her at prom in Carrie?

Answer: Pig’s blood

93. Question:The rental house Tess books in Barbarian is in which Detroit neighborhood?

Answer: Brightmoor

94. Question:1981’s Evil Dead tells the story of a group of college friends who must survive against supernatural forces while in a remote cabin. Which college do they attend?

Answer:Michigan State University

95. Question: Which two colors make up Freddy Krueger’s striped sweater?

Answer:Red and green

96. Question:How many Hellraiser movies are in the franchise?

Answer: 11

97. Question:In 1942’s Cat People, Irena is concerned she’ll turn into what if she becomes physical with her husband?

Answer:A panther

98. Question:Who directed Poltergeist?

Answer:Tobe Hooper

99. Question:Where does The Thing take place?

Answer:Antarctica

100. Question: What mother-daughter pair separately starred in these two horror movies: Psycho and Halloween: H20?

Answer: Janet Leigh and Jamie Lee Curtis

So, how did you do with the horror movie trivia? Would Michael Myers be impressed by your knowledge? Yeah, we wouldn’t want to know either. Keep the trivia train going by answering these general (but tricky) trivia questionsgood luck!

Star Wars Trivia Questions

Tricky Pop Culture Trivia Questions

Epic Marvel Trivia Questions

The post 100 Horror Movie Trivia Questions to Test Your Scary Flick IQ appeared first on Reader's Digest.

An interesting fact: About 90% of U.S. family-owned farms are small operations, so you’ll likely see some time-honored traditions on many small-town ranches. But if you’re unfamiliar with ranch culture, you may encounter some practices that are new to you, like seeing a boot on a fence.

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Why do ranchers put a boot on a fence?

According to Texas-based radio station 100.9 The Eagle, Missouri is one such state that observes the tradition of putting a boot on a fence post. But what’s the meaning behind this custom? Educational resource website The Classroom gives some common reasons a farmer, or a rancher, would put a boot on a fence post. A couple of these reasons are somber, but whatever the case, it’s important not to disturb a boot when you see it on a farm fence post.

• A rancher is honoring their deceased horse. When a cowboy has a strong bond with his horse, it may become his daily workhorse. Per The Classroom, when a special horse like this is sold or dies, a cowboy will hang a pair of his boots on the fence to symbolize respect for the animal.
• Another rancher has passed away. When a comrade passes away, a cowboy may hang a boot on a fence post as a memorial.
• The boots have worn out and represent hard work. Because a rancher grows attached to his boots and wears them daily, it’s a tradition to hang them on a fence whenever they have worn out. This represents the hard work the boots made possible.
• The rancher is home. This older tradition was to hang boots up to let others know the rancher was home, before telephones and electricity made it easier to contact them.

Here’s what other unusual home traditions mean

Little-known traditions exist in other homes across America too, whether on a ranch or off. Here are what some unusual home-related customs mean:

• When someone paints a porch ceiling blue, it may be a southern tradition. Often referred to as “haint blue,” this superstitious tradition is meant to keep away evil spirits. It’s also thought to scare off mosquitos, according to The Porch.
• If you see a painted purple fence, it means you’re about to trespass. The purple paint serves as a “No Trespassing” sign with staying power. Because signs often get lost, damaged or stolen, purple paint is a more permanent warning to people about not entering private property.
• An iron horseshoe above a door is meant to bring luck. The lucky-horseshoe bit stems back to Irish folklore, according to Wide Open Country, but has since become synonymous with western cowboy culture. Yet again, its backstory involves warding off evil and, perhaps, the devil himself.

Other hidden meanings you may encounter? For starters, there’s meaning behind painted trees in the city or the forest, green porch lights and dryer sheets in mailboxes. For now, remember not to disturb boots hanging from fence posts if you’re ever near a ranch.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: “America’s Diverse Family Farms: 2020 Edition”
• 100.9 The Eagle: “If You See a Boot on a Missouri Fence, Please Do Not Touch It”
• The Classroom: “Why Do Some Ranchers Put Old Boots on Fence Posts?”
• The Porch: “Superstitions, Rituals & New Home Traditions”
• Wide Open Country: “The Legend Behind Hanging Lucky Horseshoes”

What Do Shoes on Power Lines Mean?

Why Colored Balls Sit on Power Lines

What Metal on a Tree Means

The post If You See a Boot on a Fence, This Is What It Means appeared first on Reader's Digest.

So which months have the most birthdaysand better yet, which have the fewest? We’ve got you covered. We have the data on which dates are the most common to celebrate and which are the rarest birthdays, and unlike presents, we’re not afraid to share them. While you may not have the rarest eye color or rarest personality type, having a rare birthday is worth bragging about. So whether you’re a September baby (September babies are more successful, by the way), born during March Madness or anywhere in between, read on to find out where your birthday ranksand what happy birthday messages you can share about it.

What’s the rarest month to be born in?

According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), the rarest month to be born in is February, making Aquarius the rarest zodiac sign. This makes logical sense, since February is the shortest month of the year, even with a leap year. Another factor that makes February a rare birth month: Conception would have happened in May, and when the weather is warmer and days are longer, fewer babies tend to be conceived.

What are the rarest birthdays?

February babies are special, but which dates are actually the rarest birthdays? Surprisingly enough, none of the rarest birthdays fall in February. Instead, many of them coincide with major holidays, such as Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Christmas Evehow’s that for a birthday meme? This is most likely due to the fact that there are fewer inductions and cesarean sections scheduled during the holidays. These are the rarest birthdays in the U.S. and the average number of births on that day each year.

• December 25 (6,574 average yearly births)
• January 1 (7,792 average yearly births)
• December 24 (8,069 average daily births)
• July 4 (8,796 average yearly births)
• January 2 (9,307 average yearly births)
• December 26 (9,543 average yearly births)
• November 27 (9,718 average yearly births)
• November 23 (9,883 average yearly births)
• November 25 (9,954 average yearly births)
• October 31 (9,978 average yearly births)

What’s the most common birth month?

August is not only the month of long sunny days and back-to-school bonanzas, it’s also the most common birth month. The CDC data shows that July, August, September and October tend to be the most popular birth months in the U.S., making the colder, cozier winter months the most popular time to conceive.

What are the most common birthdays?

While having one of the rarest birthdays can be pretty cool, having one of the most common birthdays is also a winjust think of all the people across the country celebrating alongside you. And while August may be the most common birth month (and October babies tend to live longest), almost all the most common birthdays happen to be in September. Virgos, get the birthday quotes ready, this one is for you.

• September 9 (12,301 average yearly births)
• September 19 (12,229 average yearly births)
• September 12 (12,224 average yearly births)
• September 17 (12,148 average yearly births)
• September 10 (12,144 average yearly births)
• July 7 (12,108 average yearly births)
• September 20 (12,107 average yearly births)
• September 15 (12,087 average yearly births)
• September 16 (12,072 average yearly births)
• September 18 (12,055 average yearly births)

Sources:

• FiveThirtyEight Data: “U.S. births”
• Scientific American: “Probability and the Birthday Paradox”
• Centers for Disease Control: “Birth Data”

Birthday Puns for the Ages

Rarest Hair and Eye Color Combos

Why Do We Eat Birthday Cake?

The post These Are the Rarest Birthdays in the United States appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Be warned: Some of our Marvel trivia questions might stump even the most devoted fans of these superhero movies, even those who are masters of movie trivia.And were just getting started: Once youve mastered the MCU (or need to rewatch a few flicks, as the case may be), test your knowledge of other favorite franchises with our Harry Potter,Star Warsand horror movie trivia. Good luck!

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Marvel trivia questions

1. Question: What was the first Marvel movie ever made?

Answer: Iron Man

2. Question: How many years was Steve Rogers trapped under the ice?

Answer: 66 years

3. Question:Which MCU regular was not in Captain America: Civil War?

Answer: Nick Fury

4. Question: What video game does Thor get addicted to in Avengers: Endgame?

Answer: Fortnite

5. Question: What is the name of the call sign Carol Danvers and Maria use in Captain Marvel?

Answer: Photon

6. Question: Peter Quill’s ship is named after which popular ’80s actress?

Answer: Alyssa Milano

7. Question: Which billionaire makes a cameo in Iron Man 2?

Answer: Elon Musk

8. Question: What does Thaddeus Ross say to Tony after he says, “We are putting a team together,” in The Incredible Hulk?

Answer: “Who’s we?”

Pick from these trivia team names to make trivia nights more fun!

9. Question: What is the name of the protocol that Tony Star enacts in Iron Man 3?

Answer: The Clean Slate Protocol

10. Question: Who is Black Panther’s little sister?

Answer: Shuri

11. Question: What is the name of Thor’s hammer? (Bonus points for spelling it correctly!)

Answer: Mjlnir

12. Question: What is Black Panther’s suit made of?

Answer: Vibranium

13. Question: What do Sif and Volstagg do with the infinity stone at the end of Thor: Dark World?

Answer: Give it to the Collector

14. Question: What is Loki’s real race?

Answer: Frost Giant

15. Question: Which infinity stone do the Guardians have to save in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1?

Answer: The power stone

16. Question: What is Thanos’s home planet?

Answer: Titan

17. Question: What is the name of the character Hawkeye becomes after Avengers: Infinity War?

Answer: Ronin

18. Question: What object does Goose swallow in Captain Marvel?

Answer: The tesseract

19. Question: What three items does Rocket say he needs in order to escape prison in Guardians of the Galaxy?

Answer: A security band, a battery and a prosthetic leg

20.Question: What does the acronym J.A.R.V.I.S. stand for?

Answer: Just A Really Very Intelligent System

21. Question: After Tony says the S-word in Avengers: Age of Ultron, who scolds him for bad language?

Answer: Steve

22. Question: In Spider-Man: Homecoming, what is Stan Lee’s cameo role?

Answer: He plays a neighbor disturbed by a car alarm.

23.Question:What were the last words said by Thanos in Avengers: Endgame?

Answer:“I am inevitable.”

24. Question: Who says, “The hardest choices require the strongest wills” in Avengers: Infinity War?

Answer: Thanos

25. Question: What is the name of Star Lord’s mother?

Answer: Meredith Quill

How are you doing so far on this Marvel trivia quiz? Beyond the MCU, here’s more pop-culture trivia to test your knowledge.

26. Question: Which actor voices the character of Groot?

Answer: Vin Diesel

27. Question: What does Justin Hammer, former CEO of Hammer Industries, do in Iron Man 2?

Answer: He’s a military contractor.

28. Question: What are the names of Wanda’s kids?

Answer: Billy and Tommy

29. Question: What singer does Dr. Strange compare Wong to when he says he just goes by Wong?

Answer: Adele (also Drake, Bono and Eminem!)

30. Question: Which three Avengers were introduced in Captain America: Civil War?

Answer: Black Panther, Spider-Man and Ant-Man

31. Question: What is the name of the dwarf who made Thanos’s gauntlet?

Answer: Eitri

32. Question:What does Morgan Stark tell Happy Hogan she wants, after father’s funeral?

Answer:Cheeseburgers

33. Question:What does Tony tell Loki after Loki brags he has an army and the tesseract in Avengers?

Answer:“We have a Hulk.”

34. Question: What type of doctor is Dr. Strange?

Answer: A neurosurgeon

35.Question:What is Korg made of?

Answer:Rocks

36. Question: What is the suit of armor Iron Man uses to defeat Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron?

Answer: Hulk Buster

37. Question: Which Avenger does Loki enslave in The Avengers?

Answer: Hawkeye

38. Question: What is the name of the man who traps Thor in Thor: Ragnarok?

Answer: The Grand Master

39. Question: What does Dr. Strange say to the Ancient One in Dr. Strange?

Answer: “Teach me.”

40. Question: What is the name of the villain in Ant-Man?

Answer: Yellowjacket

41. Question: Where is Captain America originally from?

Answer: Brooklyn

42. Question:What is the name of the drone piloted by Sam Wilson in Captain America: Civil War?

Answer:Redwing

43. Question:What shape is the herb that gives Black Panther his powers?

Answer:Heart-shaped

44. Question: In Iron Man 2, what does Tony tell Nick Fury he doesn’t want to join?

Answer: His super-secret boy band

45. Question: In Avengers, Age of Ultron, what does Steve Rogers say you should do if you get killed?

Answer:“Walk it off.”

46. Question: Besides Thor, who can lift Thor’s hammer?

Answer: Captain America and Vision

47. Question: What is Tony Stark’s father’s name?

Answer: Howard

48. Question: Where was Red Skull banished to after he held the tesseract?

Answer: Vormir

49. Question:What is Killmonger’sWakanda name?

Answer:N’Jadaka

50. Question: Which eye does Nick Fury wear a patch over?

Answer: His left eye

If you love the adrenaline rush you get from watching these films, check out our list of the best action movies of all time.

Marvel gifts for every fan

51. Question: What was the name of Iron Man’s first suit?

Answer: Mark 1

52. Question: How are T’Challa and Killmonger related?

Answer: They’re cousins.

53. Question: What is Valkyrie’s scrapper number in Thor: Ragnarok?

Answer: 142

54. Question: Scott hides an Ant-Man suit under a trophy in Ant-Man and the Wasp. What was written on the trophy?

Answer: World’s Best Grandma

55. Question: What university’s name is on the sweatshirt worn by Dr. Strange when Peter visits him at his Sanctum Santorum in Spider-Man: No Way Home?

Answer: Columbia

56. Question: What kind of scientist is Dr. Jane Foster?

Answer: An astrophysicist

57. Question: What is the name of the song Peter Quill dances to in the beginning of Guardians of the Galaxy?

Answer: “Come and Get Your Love”

58. Question:What is Happy Hogan’sphone password in Spider-Man: Far from Home?

Answer: “Password”

59. Question: Who did Captain America give his shield to in Avengers: Endgame?

Answer: Falcon

60. Question: Drax thinks he killed the beast at the start of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but who actually did it?

Answer: Gamora

61. Question: What song does Baby Groot dance to at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 1?

Answer: “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5

62. Question: What is Carol’s nickname for Monica in Captain Marvel?

Answer: Lieutenant Trouble

63. Question: In Avengers: Infinity War, what is Drax eating when he’s watching Peter and Gamora kiss?

Answer: Zarg nuts

64. Question: What is the name of the agency led by Red Skull?

Answer: Hydra

65. Question: What was the first name of Dr. Erskine, the man who turned Steve Rogers into Captain America?

Answer: Abraham

66. Question: What does Dr. Strange come to do with Dormammu?

Answer: He comes to bargain.

67. Question: What is the name of the alien race who invaded New York in The Avengers?

Answer: The Chitauri

68. Question: Does Groot ever say anything other than “I am Groot?”

Answer: No

69. Question: Who does not like being called “young lady” in Captain Marvel?

Answer: Maria Rambeau

70. Question: What part of Iron Man’s suit keeps him alive?

Answer: The arc reactor

71. Question: What’s the name of the mix-tape Peter Quill’s mother left him as a memento?

Answer: Awesome Mix Vol. 1

72. Question: In a post-credits scene, what do the Avengers eat after the Battle of New York in The Avengers?

Answer: Shawarma

73. Question: What animal does Darren Cross unsuccessfully use as test subjects in Ant-Man?

Answer: Lambs

74. Question: Which European city does Black Widow say the Battle of New York reminds her of in The Avengers?

Answer: Budapest

75. Question: What’s the name of the little boy who helps Tony Stark repair his suit in Iron Man 3?

Answer: Harley

Tony Stark has some epic one-liners in the MCU franchise. See if any of them made our list of the funniest movie quotes.

76. Question: What kind of animal does Thor say he needs after walking into a pet store in Thor?

Answer: A horse

77. Question: Spider-Man and Mysterio battle on which bridge in the finale of Spider-Man: Far from Home?

Answer: Tower Bridge

78. Question: Where does Hank Pym keep an army tank in Ant-Man?

Answer: His keychain

79. Question: How did Captain Marvel get her powers?

Answer: From the light-speed engine

80. Question: What name does Natasha use when she first meets Tony Stark in Iron Man 2?

Answer: Natalie Rushman

81. Question: What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for?

Answer: Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division

82. Question: Who is the first person to turn to dust in Avengers: Infinity War?

Answer: Bucky

83. Question: In Thor, what drink does Thor discover he loves?

Answer:Coffee

84. Question: What is Agent Coulson’s first name?

Answer: Phil

85. Question: What is the name of Odin’s trusted Asgardian horse in Thor?

Answer: Sleipnir

86. Question: What is Wakanda’s war cry?

Answer: Yibambe

87. Question: According to Korg, Thor goes from “dad bod” to what in Thor: Love and Thunder?

Answer: “From dad bod to God bod”

88. Question: What is the name of the artificial intelligence in Spider-Man’s suit?

Answer: Karen

89. Question: Which elective class does Thor say he took on Asgard?

Answer: How to Speak Groot

90. Question: In Captain America: Civil War, where in Africa does Captain America fight Crossbones?

Answer: Nigeria

91. Question: What does Peter Quinn call Rocket after Rocket gets angry for being called a raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy?

Answer: Trash panda

92. Question: What is the name of Dr. Strange’s amulet?

Answer: The Eye of Agamotto

93. Question:In Black Panther, where does Kalue put the vibranium axe for safe keeping?

Answer:A paper bag

94. Question: How many legs does Odin’s horse have?

Answer: Eight

95. Question: Who is Loki’s real father?

Answer: Laufey

96. Question: What kind of scientist is Bruce Banner?

Answer: A physicist

97. Question: Who are Tony Stark’s four AI assistants?

Answer: Karen, E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S. and F.R.I.D.A.Y.

98. Question: Which Spongebob character does Tony call Ebony Maw in Avengers: Infinity War?

Answer: Squidward

99. Question: Who was the main foe in Thor: Dark World?

Answer: Malekith

100. Question: Who cries, “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all!” in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2?

Answer: Yondu

Next, check out our favorite Stan Lee quotes. After all, he’s the guy responsible for all our favorite Marvel trivia and so much more!

The Best Classic Family Movies

The Most Iconic Star Wars Quotes

The Scariest Movies of All Time

The post 100 Marvel Trivia Questions That Even Super Fans May Not Know appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Admittedly, we still have to look up exactly what all those dashboard lights mean when one of them comes on. But we’re all somewhat familiar with the different traffic light colors, hazard lights, red brake lights and white headlights (including those annoying LED ones), right?

Even if you think you know all the interesting facts about your automobile, there are always more mysteries to unravel. For example, in certain circumstances, you might see green lights on cars and wonder what they mean. Could they be for special vehicles, and should you slow down to let them pass? To help with your on-road dilemmas, we’ve investigated the issue of green lights on cars and unearthed the answer. Set your mind at ease so you can cruise control safely home.

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What do green lights mean on a car?

The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transport, the fire service (often volunteer firefighters or first responders) and command post vehicles all use green lighting. That’s why you’re most likely to see green lights on a car patrolling a government facility or in a town with volunteer firefighting services.

But while red-and-blue lights indicate police no matter where in America you live, the use of green lights on cars differs by state. In some states, green lightsparticularly those that are flashingindicate an emergency vehicle. See one on the road? Follow these driving tips: Pull over to let the vehicle pass, or slow down, move over and pass it.

Depending on where you’re driving, green lights on cars could indicate:

• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Transport (such as road maintenance vehicles in Michigan)
• Volunteer firefighters or EMTs (in Canada, Indiana and Washington)
• Emergency crowd control, the only time you could see green lights on a police car (in Montana)

Can you put green lights on your car?

The laws about who can put green lights on a vehicle vary from state to state, but in many states, adding green lights to your car isn’t just bad driving etiquetteit’s illegal. In most cases, the law exists to prevent other drivers from confusing your car for an emergency vehicle. There is also a chance that green lights on cars could be mistaken for traffic lights.

In some states (such as North Dakota), you can add green lights to your car as long as they are not flashing lights and are not visible from the front of your car. As always, when modifying your car in any way, it’s best to look up your state’s laws. Otherwise, the next lights you see might be red and blue!

What other emergency lights might you see on cars?

Just like those colored circles on food packages, emergency vehicle lights make good use of the color spectrum. And that helps civilian drivers stay alert to possible emergencies. In addition to green lights on cars, you’re likely to come across the colors below.

Red lights

In almost every situation, forward-facing red lights indicate an emergency vehicle: police, fire or emergency medical services such as ambulances. Red usually means stopthink of stop signs and, of course, tail lights. But when the front lights are red, it’s not a sign you need to press the brakes but a cue for you to pay attention and potentially take action.

In some states, red lights can also indicate a city, county or state police car. Some states use a solid red light and a flashing blue one (California) or vice versa (Nevada) to delineate between police and fire vehicles, while other states add a white light for firefighters (Nebraska) or police (New York and North Dakota). You may also see red lights on funeral hearses in Iowa, tow trucks in Texas and Michigan, and on the front and back of school buses everywhere to remind you to watch for children.

It can be confusing, but the reason for the mix of lights is to be more inclusive. People with color blindness are often able to see either red or blue, so including both on emergency vehicles makes it more likely that everyone will be able to see an emergency vehicle and react appropriately.

Blue lights

Some countries have blue traffic lights, but in the United States, blue is the color most commonly associated with law enforcement, and we’re not just talking about their uniforms. That extends to vehicles as well.

Blue on a patrol car almost always indicates police, even if there are also white or red lights. There are a few states in which law enforcement vehicles use blue lights only (such as Arkansas), but blue often appears alongside other colors.

White lights

Headlights are the most common white lights you’ll see on the road, but you might also catch them flashing on the roof or as part of a light bar on a vehicle. In those cases, the white lights provide contrast with other colored lights. See, while red lights are the most commonly used emergency light color, they can sometimes get lost in a sea of red tail lights, especially in traffic. Using white lights next to red make it easier for drivers to pick out an emergency vehicle. If only it was as easy to pick out a red light camera!

You might see flashing white lights on school buses, postal delivery trucks and other government vehicles, as well as on vehicles that service trains and railroads (such as fueling trucks).

Amber lights

Like the yellow of a traffic light, amber (a warm, orange-tinged yellow) means “slow down” or “prepare to stop” when you see it as a light on a vehicle. Amber is considered a warning light, so you’re not required by law to yield or stop for a vehicle with amber lights on it. (Speaking of those yellow slow-down indicators, here’s a fun fact: Not so long ago, you might have seen yellow stop signs too!)

Because amber lights often appear on slow-moving vehicles, like wide-load tractor-trailers, garbage trucks, snow plows and postal vehicles, it’s politeand definitely saferto slow down and give the vehicle room when you can.

Purple lights

And you thought green lights on cars were unusual! Just like purple-painted fences, purple lights are pretty uncommon. But if you see them on a car, know that they have a somber meaning. A vehicle with purple lights is usually part of a funeral procession, such as a hearse. They can also indicate a coroner or medical examiner’s vehicle.

Now that you know what green lights on cars meanand every other color toofind out what’s going on with those colored squares on toothpaste.

Sources:

• Brooking Technologies: “Can Civilians Use Emergency and Warning Lights in Private Vehicles?”
• Department of Justice: “Law Enforcement Vehicle Lighting and Reflectivity Studies”
• Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association: “Green Light Law”
• LED Equipped: “Psychology Behind Red and Blue Police Lights”
• Michigan County Roads: “Green lights on road maintenance vehicles”
• Motor Biscuit: “Here’s the Color of Police and Fire Truck Lights in Every State”
• Oznium LED Lighting: “What are the US lighting laws?”
• Star Lighting Products: “Emergency Vehicle Lights and Colors”
• Washington State Legislature: “Green light on firefighters’ private cars”

What Are Orange Tags on Cars

Confusing Driving Rules, Explained

Rude Driving Habits to Stop ASAP

The post Here’s What It Means If You See Green Lights on a Car appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Maybe you’re a Starbucks regular who isn’t going to win any coffee trivia. Or maybe you already know everything about pour overs and French pressesnot to mention the best gifts for coffee lovers and coffee subscription boxes. Regardless of your level of coffee knowledge, you’ve probably wandered down a grocery store coffee aisle at least once, if only for that delicious coffee bean aroma.

If you’ve ever wondered “Why do coffee bags have holes in them?” while perusing the many different types of coffee you can buy, read on. We have the food facts behind this interesting bit of coffee science.

What are those holes in coffee bags?

When shopping for coffee beans, you might have noticed that some bags have a tiny slit or hole, built into a plastic valve. What are the holes doing there? Wouldn’t they make your coffee stale? Just the opposite! The holes in coffee bags actually act as a freshness device, to keep your beans in the best possible shape before you brew your morning cup of joe.

Why do coffee bags have holes?

No, the holes aren’t for smelling the coffee before buyingalthough that’s a bonus! The answer to “Why do coffee bags have holes?” is that the slits are part of a one-way valve that can release carbon dioxide, but not let in oxygen. Monica Russel, founder and CEO of Acquired Coffee, explains that after roasting, coffee beans slowly release CO2 for several days. This process is known as de-gassing, and it continues even after the beans have been packaged.

“If these gases were not able to escape, they would build up within the bag, causing the coffee beans to become stale and lose their flavor over time,” Russel says.

A buildup of carbon dioxide in a bag with no release valve poses another risk: explosion! If the coffee bag filled with too much gas, the bag would pop open, ruining the coffeeand making a mess. The valves are specially constructed so they allow carbon dioxide to leak out, but don’t allow oxygen or moisture, notorious coffee flavor killers, into the bag.

While exposure to oxygen or a carbon dioxide buildup doesn’t affect things like how much caffeine is in coffee, it does have serious flavor impact. Nobody wants stale beans, especially if you like drinking coffee black, and that’s the most important reason coffee bags have holes.

Should all coffee bags have a valve?

Not necessarily, because not all coffee bags come with or need valves; it depends on the roasting and packaging methods used. “Some specialty coffee roasters choose to forgo the use of valves, as they prefer to have their beans de-gas naturally before packaging, which can lead to a more nuanced and complex flavor profile,” Russel explains. Because de-gassing is why coffee bags have holes, in these cases, with no CO2 being released after packaging, a valve isn’t necessary.

However, for most mass-produced coffee, using a hole or valve is the industry standard. You won’t just find them in coffee bags, eitherthe same kind of valves are used for dried fruits, roasted nuts and tea to avoid bloated food packaging that causes the food to go stale, Russel says. (Speaking of, do you know what thosecolored circles on food packages mean?)

How do you open a coffee bag with a valve?

The valve shouldn’t affect the way you open the coffee bag. Just open as usual, by either tearing the top open or cutting it with scissors. After you open the coffee, be sure to store it somewhere airtight to preserve the flavor and freshness! Many coffee bags come with a resealable ziplock top for this purpose, or with a reusable tape strip to seal the bag. Happy brewing!

Sources:

• Monica Russel, founder and CEO of Acquired Coffee
• Drive Research: “2022 Coffee Statistics: Consumption, Purchases, and Preferences”

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The post Here’s What That Hole in Your Coffee Bag Is For appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Not much, except their names, though those names do depend on where a storm originates. A “hurricane” occurs over the North Atlantic or over the central or eastern North Pacific oceansin places like Florida, the Caribbean, Texas and Hawaii. Forming over the western North Pacific, in East Asian countries like Japan and Korea? That’s a “typhoon.” Both hurricanes and typhoons are tropical cyclonesand “cyclone” is what they’re called when they occur in other places, such as over the Indian Ocean.

What is a tropical cyclone?

A cyclone starts out over tropical or semitropical waters as what NOAA calls a “rotating” and “organized” series of clouds and thunderstorms. (In the Northern hemisphere they all spin counterclockwise.) When it first gets going, it’s called a “tropical depression.” As it picks up speed, it gets upgraded to a “tropical storm”it needs to have winds of at least 39 miles per hour to earn this designation. And when sustained winds of 74 miles per hour are reached, the storm has intensified, or “matured,” to the point where we now refer to it as a hurricane, a typhoon or an intensified tropical cyclone.

What’s the difference between a hurricane and typhoon?

Hurricane vs. typhoon, how do they compare? Besides occurring in different parts of the worldhurricanes happen in the North Atlantic or over the central/eastern North Pacific while typhoons occur over the western North Pacific and East Asiathey also vary in intensity. How that intensity is factored depends on who’s doing the factoring. In the United States, we rate hurricanes on a scale of 1 to 5, using the Saffir-Simpson Scale that’s based on maximum wind speed: Category 1 has winds between 74 and 95 miles an hour; Category 2, between 96 and 110 mph; Category 3, between 111 and 129 mph; Category 4, between 130 and 156 mph; and Category 5, 157 mph ad above. However, the World Meteorological Organization gives strong typhoons, very strong typhoons, and violent typhoons a Class 5 designation, with wind speeds ranging from 74 miles an hour to 119-plus miles an hour.

What’s the difference between a cyclone and a hurricane?

Like hurricanes and typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes are not exactly the same. Hurricanes are designated as such “when they develop over the North Atlantic, central North Pacific and eastern North Pacific” according to National Geographic. Meanwhile, when rotating storms form “over the South Pacific and Indian Ocean” they are called cyclones. The storms also differ in the times of the year they peak. Hurricane season is in full swing from mid-August to late October while cyclone season can peak any time “around May and November.” However, in terms of impact, the two are extremely similar and tend to wreak havoc no matter the location.

Why the different names?

Cyclone is generic, and the word meteorologists use to speak generally of these storms. The Online Etymology Dictionary dates its origins to 1848 when it was presumably used first to describe an intense storm that happened over India in 1789; it comes, loosely, from the Greek word kyklon, “moving in a circle, whirling around.” The word hurricane’s origins in the Americas date to the arrival of the Spanish here in the 15th and 16th centuries; the Spanish word for hurricane is huracn. According to Gawker, “‘Typhoon’ entered the English language when explorers interacted with residents of southwest and southern Asia [and] comes from tufan, which means ‘big cyclonic storm’ in Arabic, Persian, and Hindi.”

No matter what you call these intense storms, they bring strong winds, lots of rain and flooding. And no matter where in the world you are, if you live in a region that experiences cyclones (or hurricanes or typhoons), the largest and most intense of those storms are becoming more and more likely due to climate change, a recent study found. Typhoon vs. hurricane vs. cyclone, no matter what we call them or where we experience them, we’re in for a wild future.

Sources:

• National Geographic: “Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Typhoons Explained”
• NOAA: “What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?”
• TheVane: “A Typhoon and a Hurricane Are the Same, So Why Do We Call Them Different Names?”
• PNAS: “Global increase in major tropical cyclone exceedance probability over the past four decades”

How Hurricanes Get Their Names

Times Crazy Weather Changed the Course of History

Why You Should Put a Quarter in a Cup of Frozen Water Before a Major Storm

The post What’s the Difference Between a Cyclone, Hurricane and Typhoon? appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Can you ace this state capitals quiz?

Who doesn’t love brain games that also boost your geography knowledge? If you’ve aced every geography quiz you’ve ever taken, it’s time to test your luck (and smarts) with this state capitals quiz. There are 20 questions in totaland we’ll be totally impressed if you answer them all correctly. Best of luck! And don’t forget to guess the U.S. states with no outline and read up on the meaning behind all the state flags.

The post State Capitals Quiz: How Many Questions Can You Get Right? appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Similar to determining the rarest personality type or rarest hair and eye combination, eye color is complicated. While genetics play a role in all of the above, one gene in particular has a large hand in determining eye color. And here’s an interesting fact: When it comes to the rarest eye color in the world (spoiler, it’s not blue eyes), only about 2% of the population have itthe same percentage of redheads worldwide.

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What is the rarest eye color?

Green is the rarest eye color in the world, with only 2% of the world’s population (and fewer than one out of ten Americans) sporting green peepers, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

What is the most common eye color?

When it comes to the most common eye color around the world, brown eyes take the cake. The AAO reports that as many as 79% of people worldwide have some variation of brown eyes, and in the U.S., nearly half (45%) of the population has brown eyes. In fact, it’s an inherited trait that dates back to our early ancestorsabout 10,000 years ago, every human on earth had brown eyes, says the AAO.

Not all browns are created equal though. “Eye color is unique to everyone, and no one brown eye looks like another,” says Purnima Patel, MD, an AAO clinical spokesperson and founder of Ophthalmology and Retina Associates of Georgia.

How common are other eye colors?

Blue eyes are the next most popular eye color, but they are a more recent evolutionary occurrence, says Dr. Patel. About 27% of Americans have blue eyes, the AAO reports, which is likely due to immigration from Germany, Scandinavia, England, Ireland and Eastern Europe. And here’s the thing: Everyone with blue eyes actually shares one common ancestor. The first-ever pair of baby blues was a genetic fluke that was passed onand on and on.

The second-rarest eye color is hazel, a mixture of brown and green with golden flecks. About 18% of Americans have hazel eyes, compared with about 5% of the world’s population. And while violet eyes are a rarity, they’re really just a blue hue, with light bouncing off the surroundings and turning the eyes violet.

What determines eye color?

In short, eye color is determined by melanin, which produces hair, eye and skin pigmentation.

The colored part of your eye, known as the iris, is comprised of two layers: the epithelium in the back, and the stroma in the front. The thin epithelium contains blackish-brown pigments, while the stroma has varying amounts of a pigment called melanin. Eye color is directly related to the amount of melanin found in the stroma. “People with brown eyes have lots of melanin in the iris, while people with blue eyes have much less,” says Yuna Rapoport, MD, a New York City-based ophthalmologist.

Your iris surrounds your pupil and helps control how much light enters your eye. Light bounces off this melanin in different ways and creates the illusion of various hues, Dr. Patel says. Due to variations in melanin, eye color runs the gamut from very light blue to very dark brown. Green irises (the rarest eye color) have less melanin than brown eyes but more than blue eyes, for instance. “Brown is on one end, blue on the other, and hazel and green are in between,” Dr. Patel says. This also means that brown is dominant and blue is the least dominant, also known as recessive.

Melanin also plays a vital function: protecting your eyes. “Melanin prevents the sun’s damaging rays from getting into our eyes and causing cataracts,” Dr. Patel says. “The more melanin you have in your eyes, the lower your risk is.” This means folks with brown eyes may be less likely to develop cataracts or sun-related damage to their eyes than their blue-eyed counterparts.

Do genetics affect eye color?

Eye color is quite complex and not as simple as two blue-eyed parents having a blue-eyed child, says Rick Sturm, an associate professor and research fellow at the University of Queensland Frazer Institute in Brisbane, Australia. Sturm’s career is focused on unpacking the genetics of human pigmentation, including eye color.

“Multiple genes contribute to eye color, but the main player is OCA2,” he says. In fact, 75% of the genetic contribution to eye color comes from this gene, which provides instructions for making the P protein found in cells that produce the pigment melanin (melanocytes).

Two genes, OCA2 and HERC2, work together to determine melanin content and, thus, eye color. “The OCA2 gene sits next to HERC2, and HERC2 has elements that control the regulation of the OCA2 gene,” says Sturm.

Several common variations in the OCA2 gene reduce the amount of P protein, which is why there is a continuum of eye colors from deep brown to grayish blue.

Do other factors determine eye color?

Yes. Besides genes, the thickness of your iris affects your eye color. “If it is thinner and you don’t have much melanin, your eyes can look gray,” says Sturm.

Geography matters too, he explains. In Brisbane, Australia, for instance, the breakdown of eye color is 25% brown, 25% green-hazel and 50% blue. But that differs around the world. “Brown eye color is predominant in African and Asian populations, and blue eyes are usually predominant in Europe. But the distribution of brown eyes is higher in southern Europe, and blue eyes are more common in northern Europe.”

Sun exposure may also play a role. Sturm has seen freckling in the eyes “that we know is associated with sun exposure.” But the rarest eye color he’s seen to date is actually polka dots or brown flecks in adolescents. He’s seen it twice, and researchers still don’t know why or how this anomaly occurs, but he doesn’t think it’s due to sun exposure at such a young age.

Can a person have two different colored eyes?

Yes, a genetic mutation that affects the development of melanin in the irises (called heterochromia) can cause different colored eyes. In fact, some actors, including Kate Bosworth and Jane Seymour, are known for having the condition. Additionally, if you sustain damage to the nerves of an eye, you can lose eye color, says Sturm. Plus, glaucoma and certain glaucoma medications have been known to change the color of your eyes.

Can you change your eye color?

There are some contact lenses and procedures that help change the color of your eyes temporarily or permanently, but beware of the consequences, says Rapoport. “The contact lenses are OK, but the material is not the same as what is used for prescription vision correction,” she says. “Using different colored contacts can increase the chances of developing corneal inflammation, ulcers and permanent scarring.”

Placing an implant in front of your iris to change its color is also an option, but this is risky and unproven. “It can cause inflammation, permanent damage or vision loss,” says Dr. Rapoport. Plus, it’s not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Laser corneal tattooing is another way to change your eye color. “This is like a permanent contact that changes the color of your cornea. Another laser procedure involves removing the dark brown pigment to reveal the eyes’ underlying color, whether amber, hazel, gray, green or blue. The bottom line? There is no proven and safe way of changing your eye color just yet, says Dr. Rapoport. Find out why you have a red spot on your eye sometimes.

Sources:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology: “Your Blue Eyes Aren’t Really Blue”
• World Atlas: “The World’s Population by Eye Color”
• Purnima Patel, MD, AAO clinical spokesperson and founder of Ophthalmology and Retina Associates of Georgia
• Yuna Rapoport, MD, MPH, founderof Manhattan Eye
• Rick Sturm, associate professor, University of Queensland Frazer Institute, Brisbane, Australia

Eye Color and Attraction: Related?

Dog Breeds You Didn't Know About

The Rarest Zodiac Sign in the World

The post This Is the Rarest Eye Color in the World appeared first on Reader's Digest.

You might drive past the same electrical lines daily without knowing the purpose of those colorful spheres. Are they bizarre pieces of public artwork or a scale model of the solar system? Perhaps they’re there to weigh down the power lines, which might otherwise blow in the wind?

We learned more about these colorful markers and why they’re strung on power lines across the country. And it turns out, there’s a pretty simple explanation.

What are the balls on power lines?

Known as marker balls, these brightly colored visibility balls indicate where power lines are so that low-flying aircraft can avoid them. Also called aerial marker balls or visibility markers, they serve a very important purpose, which is why you tend to see them on cables that cross major highways or run through deep gorges or valleys. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that the balls on power lines should appear on wires that cross canyons, lakes and rivers, as well as those that surround airports. How’s that for airplane trivia?

But why are they different colors? The most common colors are aviation orange, white and yellow, because the FAA found they have the best visibility. However, the colors are selected to be as conspicuous as possible against the background landscape, which means you might see other colors, depending on where you live. So the next time your passenger asks, “Hey, what are the balls on power lines for?” you can answer that they’re saving lives.

What are the balls on power lines made of?

For maximum durability and to reduce color fade, the balls on power lines are made of plastic. Plastic is also a good electrical insulator, meaning itconducts neither heat nor electricity.

And while the balls may look small hanging all the way up there, you might be surprised by their size. Much like a traffic light, these colorful markers are unexpectedly largebetween 20 and 36 inches (that’s about the circumference of a basketball). But you wouldn’t bounce anything this heavy. These marker balls weigh between 11 and 17 pounds each!

How long have those colorful balls been hung on power lines?

For nearly 50 years, people have been wondering, What are the balls on power lines? In the early 1970s, Winthrop Rockefeller, the late former governor of Arkansas, was on an airplane with the head of the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, Edward Holland. As the plane was landing, Rockefeller noticed electrical wires close to the aircraft. He immediately ordered Holland to develop a way to make electrical wires more visible to pilots.

Holland enlisted an engineer named Jack Rutledge to create brightly colored balls that could be placed on electrical and telephone lines without slipping in the wind. By the 1980s, Rutledge’s company had become one of the world’s leading suppliers of visibility markers. The invention has saved countless human lives in the decades since, but that’s not all: Canadian geese have also benefited. Before the markers were used, geese would often hit power lines as they tried to land in bad weather, so conservationists and government agencies began marking the lines to help their feathered friends land safely.

If you’ve previously been baffled about the purpose of the colorful balls on power lines, you now have your answer. Looking for more weird facts? Check out the explanation behind those strange purple-painted fences.

Sources:

• BBC Science Focus: “What are the coloured balls that are attached to power lines for?”
• Federal Aviation Administration: “Obstruction Marking and Lighting”
• Airport Windsock Corporation: “20” Airport Power Line Markers”
• United Press International Archives: “Marker balls for overhead lines”

What Does a Red Dog Collar Mean?

What to Do When the Power Goes Out

Random Facts You Need to Know

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Netflix’s new interactive game, Triviaverse, is a chance to put all the information rattling around in your brain to the test, and the game quizzes players on everything from music and movie trivia facts to sports to actual subjects you spent years learning in school.

What is Triviaverse?

An ad-supported Netflix tier isn’t the only new addition to the platform this month. Triviaverse, which launched on November 8, is the newest interactive game available on Netflix.

The game features both a single-player option and two-player gaming so you can compete against someone else. If you choose the single-player version, the game is broken up into three-minute-long rounds of questions that increase in difficulty, and the more you play, the more the game will challenge you to beat your previous score.

If you play against another person, the rounds are still a minute long, but each player alternates playing a round, and the person who answers the most questions correctly at the end of their two rounds is deemed the winner.

There are no “episodes” to speak ofTriviaverse is strictly a game and not a show. It’s the latest title in Netflix’s library of interactive content which includes other trivia shows like Trivia Quest, as well as a Headspace meditation program. (Even some of the best shows on Netflix are getting into the interactive sphere; the sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror created a choose-your-own-adventure-style episode called “Bandersnatch” that allowed viewers to decide how the story ended.)

How to play Triviaverse

When you first open Triviaverse in the Netflix app, you’re greeted by a floating pair of eyes. “I rule the Triviaverse. Think you can beat me?” it asks. Other than some background music, there’s no narration or any other speaking within the game, everything appears in written text on the screen.

From there, questions that cover a vast array of topics roll out. While I played, I answered questions about everything from Gothic architecture to nuclear fission, as well as some that I’d qualify as “100% useless information,” such as a question about whether Pulp Fiction has a longer running time than Reservoir Dogs. (It does. Apologies to Quentin Tarantino, the one person for whom that might not be useless information.)

The questions are generally multiple choice or true or false, and all of the answers appear beneath the question on a four-way directional control button.

To choose your response, you click on it with a mouse or controller or tap the answer directly on a touchscreen device. The more trivia questions you answer correctly, the more points you’ll score.

The game doesn’t allow you to give yourself a name, players are all simply “Player 1” or “Player 2” but the more you play, the more points you’re encouraged to accrue.

And then when the time runs out, that’s it! Game over! Of course, you always have the option to play again.

Our Verdict

Triviaverse is the digital version of keeping a few Trivial Pursuit cards in your pocket. The questions span so many different categories (and there’s no option to skip or pass on them) that even the most self-assured trivia nerd will hit upon a personal blind spot and get one wrong here and there. In this instance, I might be referring to myself. They don’t teach you that Uruguay was the first country to win the FIFA World Cup in school!

The game is great for a quick hit of fun or if you just want to take a break from whatever you’re doing to focus on something else. Unlike other digital trivia games like Trivia Crack or You Don’t Know Jack, which offer more choices within the game and the option to play with even more people, Triviaverse is much more pared downso pared down that there’s really nothing to it other than questions and answers.

For some people who are just playing to test their knowledge, it’s great for its seemingly endless supply of random information. For those who want to increase the stakes, be a part of a team, or save all of their progress, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Trivia Questions for Kids

History Trivia Questions

"Did You Know" Facts

Source:

• Healthline: “Its Not Trivial Knowing Obscure Facts Is Good for Our Mental Health”

The post We Tried Netflix’s New Trivia Game “Triviaverse” and It’s Perfect for a Quick Hit of Fun appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Much like jam vs. jelly, sorbet vs. sherbet, gelato vs. ice creamor soup vs. stew, we’re getting to the bottom of the scallions vs. green onions debate. Here’s everything you need to know about what they are, when to use them and how they compare to similar vegetablesanswering questions like “Are chives green onions?” and more.

Scallions vs. green onions

Scallions and green onions are usually the same plant, which means that, yes, they are frequently (but not always!) the same thing. They are part of the genus Allium, which is the group of vegetables and herbs that have a bulb that grows underground and includes garlic, shallots and onions (all of which we separate from the stem before eating).

Whether they are labeled as scallions or green onions is generally up to the farmer or producer who sends the foods to the grocery store; both are usually the plant allium fistulosum. This plant has long green stems that come together in a small, narrow white bulbwhich isn’t much of a bulb at all when compared with a larger onion, whose bulb grows large and round.

However, the situation gets a bit more complicated with spring onions, or allium cepa. Like green onions, spring onions are harvested young, and they are roughly the same size. The biggest difference is that while scallions have the straight-sided white section on the bottom, spring onions have a distinctly round bulb that looks just like a mini white onion.

But if you harvest spring onions early, before the bulb has grown, they are also considered green onions! So green onions can be allium fistulosum or allium cepa, but scallions are always allium fistulosum. In other words, all scallions are considered green onions, but allium cepa green onions aren’t considered scallions!

Another point of confusion: In the United States, green onions and spring onions refer to two different things. But in Canada and the United Kingdom, green onions and scallions are both called spring onions. And in Mexico, spring onions are called green onions. For our purposes here in the U.S., round bulb equals spring onion and straight bulb equals scallion or green onion.

Can I use green onions in place of scallions?

Yes! Unlike baking soda vs. baking powder, which each play a distinct role in recipes, or club soda vs. seltzer water, which are going to taste slightly different from each other, you never need to worry about substituting green onions vs. scallions incorrectly. Because they are usually the same plant, scallions and green onions have the same taste. Even when green onions are allium cepa, the taste is very similar to allium fistulosum, so you can always use scallions and green onions interchangeably.

Even though it is small and straight-sided, the white bottom of the scallion or green onion tastes similar to a white onion, which is why it is typically cooked. The green part, on the other hand, has a more mild oniony flavor and doesn’t have that distinctive bite of raw onion, which is why it’s often used as a garnish. Scallions and green onions are used in a variety of cuisines, but they appear often in Asian cooking (think scallion pancakes and scallion oil).

Regardless of whether they are labeled as scallions or green onions, they are sold in bunches in the produce section. When shopping, look for sturdy, bright green stalks that aren’t slimy or limp, with firm bulbs that don’t look yellow. As long as the allium fits this description, you can use it in any recipe that calls for scallions or green onions.

Are chives and green onions the same?

Despite also being a member of the allium family, chives are not the same as green onions and scallions. Chive refers to the allium schoenoprasum plant. The green chive stems do have a similar cylindrical appearance to those of green onions, but they are much, much smallerso small in fact, that fresh chives are typically found cut and boxed with the herbs in the produce section, while scallions and green onions are sold in bunches with the vegetables. Indeed, chives are typically cut from their bulbs before being packaged for sale, while green onions are sold with their bulbs intact.

Chives are more delicate and have a milder flavor than scallions, meaning they can wilt easily and will lose their flavor if added to a recipe too early and overcooked. For this reason, chives are typically used as a garnish, such as atop a sour-cream-dolloped baked potato or a plate of perfect scrambled eggs.

Are green onions and leeks the same?

Another member of the same family of plants is leeks, or allium ampeloprasum. While they actually look like giant scallions or green onions, with a narrow white bulb at the bottom and long green stems on top, leeks are also a different vegetable. While the green stems on green onions form small, skinny cylinders, a leek’s leaves are flat and layered on top of one another. They are also much tougher than the green part of a scallion or green onion, which is why the toughest, darkest green parts at the tops of the leaves usually aren’t eaten.

Instead, you’ll usually use the light green part and long, white bottom half in recipes, cooking them in a similar manner to regular onions. Leeks have an even milder flavor than scallions, which is why they are featured in recipes more often (think potato leek soup). Leeks are sold in bunches the same way green onions arejust make sure to give them a good wash before you use them, as dirt tends to get caught between the tightly layered leaves.

Now that you’ve mastered scallions vs. green onions, learn about the difference between oat milk vs. almond milk. Or try taking our food quiz to test your culinary smarts.

Sources:

• University of Minnesota Extension: “Growing scallions in home gardens“
• University of Minnesota Extension: “Growing chives in home gardens“
• University of Minnesota Extension: “Growing leeks in home gardens“

How Long Food Lasts in the Fridge

How to Store Produce: Tips

How to Reduce Food Waste

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Animal trivia questions

Animals are fascinating creatures, and questions about them are an excellent addition to any trivia night. Whether you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, want more science trivia andinteresting facts, or just want to test your friends’ and family’s smarts, animal facts are the basis for some interesting and tricky questions. You’ll be amazed at the things you had no clue aboutlike which animal can stand on its tail, and what color a polar bear really is! Read on for 100 animal trivia questions.

The post 100 Animal Trivia Questions That Will Test Your Smarts appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Can you pass this geography quiz?

Do you still remember the capital of Australia, or which U.S. state is the largest? See if you can ace this geography quizwithout looking at a map! No matter how you fare, you’ll pick up some nice geography trivia by the end of it. If you’re looking for more trivia questions, brush up on your knowledge of this random trivia, interesting facts, kids’ trivia, and hard trivia.

The post 51 Geography Quiz Questions People Always Get Wrong appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Who invented pizza? Is a hot dog a sandwich? Those are just a few facts to ponder. Eager for the answers? This food quiz has all of the information you’re searching forand more.

Pro tip: Don’t take this quiz on an empty stomach.

Is Cereal a Soup?

Sorbet vs. Sherbet: The Difference

What Is White Chocolate, Exactly?

The post Food Quiz: 25 Questions to Test Your Culinary Smarts appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Did you know these logos have hidden messages?

As consumers, we see company logos daily. If you stop at 7-Eleven, you see its logo as soon as you pull in. If you make a pit stop at Dunkin’ for coffee, you’ll carry its logo on your coffee cup. Logos are everywhere, but have you ever stopped and really looked at them? There’s more to them than meets the eye.

Turns out, many companies have hidden messages in their logos. Companies like Starbucks, Amazon, and even Goodwill strategically designed their logos to convey subtle messages about things like company values and products. Logos can also try to subconsciously influence buying behavior, which partially explains why so many logos are red. Read on to discover the hidden messages in logos you see all the time.

The post 36 Hidden Messages in Company Logos You See All the Time appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Brush up on these Earth Day facts for April 22

Earth is a planet with an abundance of natural beauty. The luscious green forests, the breathtaking waterfalls, the rugged-yet-serene mountainsthere’s so much to admire and explore on our planet. Luckily, we have a day where we not only admire this natural beauty, but spotlight ways to conserve it for future generations: Earth Day. And there are plenty of interesting Earth Day facts to learn! But, first, a little background.

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day falls on April 22 each year (it falls on a Saturday this year) and is a day to raise awareness about the environmental issues our planet faces. Some people attend environmental conservation and awareness events on Earth Day, while others organize cleanups, plant trees or lead recycling efforts. Even sharing Earth Day quotes on social media raises awareness for its mission. Want to learn more about Earth Day? Read up on these Earth Day facts, like who’s credited with starting it and how many countries observe it. Then, take thisEarth Day quiz to test how well you know our planet.

The post 14 Earth Day Facts You Should Know appeared first on Reader's Digest.

If you’re a fan of science trivia, you may already know the answers to some of these tricky scientific questions. There are so many amazing science facts that are weird, wacky, and true. Many interesting facts in all areas of the sciences like biology, astrology, and physics can be turned into fun trivia questions.

A lot of people get stumped by what can seemingly be a simple science questioneven when it comes to kids’ trivia. Some of the more difficult trivia questions below may surprise you. See how many you can answer correctly.

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Why is there a need for pi?

No matter what size circle you can imagine, its circumference divided by its diameter is always the same: 3.14 (followed by an infinite number of decimal expansion that, as of today, has been calculated to more than 100 trillion decimal places). That makes 3.14 not only an irrational number (because its decimal expansions are infinite) but also a “constant,” at least with regard to calculating the measurements of a circle. This constant was discovered in the third century B.C. by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes and is essential not only to high school geometry but also to engineering (which could explain why pi is the unofficial “patron” number of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). In 1706, it became known as the Greek letter or pi, which stood for the Greek word for “perimeter,” which is another word for “circumference.”

Fun fact: Although pi was identified by Archimedes, it had already been in use for thousands of years.

The obsession with “squaring the circle”

To a layman, pi as the constant that makes a circle have the qualities of a circle might seem like a near-perfect concept. To mathematicians that came after Archimedes, however, it was maddening. This was because with the irrational number, pi, as its constant, a circle could never be turned into a square, at least not without changing its area, losing or gaining unintended geometric “area” (i.e., the space occupied by a flat shape).

Interesting fact: In 1882, “squaring the circle” was declared “impossible.” That proved undaunting, however, to Dr. Goodwin, who believed it wasn’t “impossible” so much as “obstructed” by inherently incorrect, albeit long-accepted formula for calculating the area of a circle. Eventually, Goodwin realized that if you simply rounded 3.14 up to 3.2, you could actually square a circle.

The only problem: Goodwin was wrong with this math trick. Ask any sixth-grader, and they’ll tell you if you want to turn 3.14 into a two-digit number, it doesn’t round-up but rather becomes 3.1. Oops. Nevertheless, Goodwin managed to convince Indiana State Representative Taylor Record to introduce a bill in the state’s General Assembly of 1897 to make Goodwin’s method of squaring a circle a matter of state lawdespite that legislation is not and never has been the academically accepted way to establish the truth of a mathematic discovery.

Why the idea of changing pi gained steam

There’s a logical fallacy called the “appeal to ignorance” that has us assuming that what we don’t understand must be either (a) wrong or (b) over our heads. When Indiana state lawmakers found the resulting bill confusing, they went with (b) and proceeded to pass the bill through various committees on February 6, 1897.

Purdue University saves pi as we know it

Before the bill got to the state Senate, however, a Purdue University math professor, Clarence Waldo, just happened to be hanging around the capitol (he was seeking funding for the Indiana Academy of Sciences), where one of the legislators happened to show him the bill. He explained, “the Senate might as well try to legislate water to run uphill as to establish mathematical truth by law.”

An irrational ending for pi

Goodwin’s bill died, as did Goodwin’s re-examination of pi. Accordingly, pi as we know itthe infinite and irrational but utterly constant geometric essence of a circleremains as such. Now that you have math on the brain, try solving these tricky math riddles.

Sources:

• alum.mit.edu
• history.com
• indianapublicmedia.org
• mathisfun.com
• piday.org
• exploratorium.edu

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Reading the label

You can tell a lot from the design and color of food packaging. The color of a packet of M&Ms, for example, can tell you whether they’re peanut, regular, crispy, or caramel, while a yellow cap on a Coca-Cola bottle means something else entirely. And if you’ve ever glanced at the back of a food package, you know they’re chock full of information: the story of the brand, nutritional figures, ingredients both familiar and not, and something called a “serving size,” which I have personally never adhered to. But there’s something else printed on the back of most food packaging: several brightly-colored circles or squares that look like some sort of secret language. However, these shapes aren’t an indication of flavors, vitamins, or minerals. They’re really not there for us consumers at all, but rather, for the printing engineers.

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What do colored circles on food packages mean?

The colored circles on food packages can come in a variety of colors: pink, yellow, blue, black, orange, purple, or green, in varying shades of light and dark. Apparently, those colored shapes are called “printer’s color blocks” or “process control patches,” and they’re there to help the printing team who prints the food packaging. We consulted an expert printing engineer, Meg Schiraldi, to find out exactly what that means.

“When the packaging is printed, technicians use the colored circles to check that the printing ink is the correct [color] and quality. They compare the color to boxes printed around the world to ensure consistent brand colors,” Schiraldi explained. “Most printers only use four colors: cyan (blue-green), yellow, magenta, and black. But some printers have extra colors like orange, green, and violet. This helps them match challenging colors like Home Depot orange and FedEx purple. That’s why you may see more circles printed on some packagesthey need to check each color of ink!”

So there you have it! Colored circles on food packages help printers to color match when they’re printing food packaging and retain brand consistency all over the world. That means you can reach for a yellow packet of M&Ms in Shanghai, Sarajevo, or Sydney and know you’ll be getting peanuts. Peanut M&Ms, that is. Thanks, colored circles! Without you, not all food packages would come out the same, and it sure is nice to be able to rely on at least one thing in this world. Next, find out these ways you’re reading food labels wrong.

Sources:

• Meg Schiraldi, engineer and blogger at My Mom’s a Nerd

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Yet for such a well-loved meat product, it raises a lot of questions. Like, is a hot dog a sandwich? Why are there fewer hot dog buns in a pack than there are hot dogs in a package? And maybe most important of all: What are hot dogs made of? Read on to find out!

What is actually in a hot dog?

Every hot dog brand and recipe is unique, but according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, anything that markets itself as a hot dog or frankfurter must be a sausage that is cooked and/or smoked. The amount of fat and water, when combined, cannot make up more than 40 percent of a hot dog. Products are also allowed to contain up to 3.5 percent nonmeat binders, extenders, and fillers such as pulverized cereal grains and powdered milk products. This means that the main ingredient in hot dogs is real meat.

Aside from the meat, here are some other hot dog ingredients you may see:

• Spices for flavor, such as pepper, garlic, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, paprika, and allspice
• Meat stock to intensify meat flavors
• Yeast extract for savoriness
• Sodium nitrite to cure and preserve the meat
• Sugar or corn syrup to promote browning
• Cherry powder for color
• Modified food starch to thicken the filling
• Natural or artificial casing for shape

Are hot dogs made out of pork?

Yes, and that should come as no surprise. Americans love pork products. We pile our plates with bacon, snack on pork rinds, and grill up pork weiners every Fourth of July.

But though pork is one of the most popular meats used in hot dogs, it’s not the only option. You can also buy beef, chicken, or turkey hot dogsor products that combine pork and beef or meat and poultry.

What’s in a beef hot dog?

Along with pork, beef tops the list of the most popular hot dog fillings. While you can buy pork-and-beef blends, most hot dogs include only one filling. Because people who follow a kosher diet cannot eat pork, all kosher hot dogs are made from 100 percent beef.

What cuts of meat are used in hot dogs?

Though there are many funny jokes and not-so-funny rumors about what sort of meat goes into hot dogs, they’re not actually made from “everything but the oink.” And that “pink slime” you’ve heard about? It’s what the meat industry calls lean, finely textured beef. According to the American Meat Institute, high-tech food processing separates lean meat from the fat, and FDA-approved food-grade ammonium hydroxide is added to get rid of bacteria. The process is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The result is, admittedly, a little pink and a little gooey, but it’s safe for use as filler in hot dogs.

So if not pink slime, what are hot dogs made of? Real, boneless cuts of meat, just like anything you’d buy from the butcher. That, and casings that give the meat its characteristic shape.

There are four primary types of casings used in the hot dog and sausage industries: Natural casings are made from animal intestines; collagen casings are made from collagen rendered from beef bones; fibrous casings are made from colored filament paper; and cellulose casings are made from viscose, a material derived from the cellulose that comes from wood or cotton processing. Though hot dogs can be sold “skin-on,” the most popular hot dog varieties on the market are skinless and have their cases removed after cooking.

How are hot dogs made?

Fans of frankfurters aren’t just flummoxed about what hot dogs are made of. They’re also a bit confused by how they’re made.

Hot dog production goes a bit like this: Boneless cuts of meat, trimmings, and chunks of animal fat are placed into a meat grinder. Once ground, the mixture is moved to a mixer where it’s blended with salt, spices that give it a wonderfully umami flavor, curing agents like nitrites, binders, and other ingredients to make a smooth emulsion. The meat blend is placed in a stuffing machine, which pumps it into casings and twists the hot dogs into individual links.

Next, the long strands of linked hot dogs are cooked in an oven, a steamer, or a hot water bath. After cooking, some hot dogs are smoked to add additional flavor. The hot dogs are then placed in cold water to cool completely, and in the case of skinless hot dogs, separate the cellulose casing from the finished frankfurter. Once the casing is removed, the hot dogs are vacuum packed to retain freshness, then packaged, boxed, and shipped.

Are organic hot dogs healthier than regular ones?

Organic hot dogs aren’t healthier per se, but they do have some distinct advantages over the regular kind. The meat used in organic hot dogs is of higher quality, coming from animals that have been fed grains or grass that was certified organic and been raised without the use of hormones, pesticides, or antibiotics.

In the end, though, processed meatincluding hot dogs, sausages, spam, and deli meatisn’t very healthy. Your favorite frank is high in fat, loaded with sodium, and includes preservatives, none of which does your health any favors. In fact, when it comes to cookouts, a hamburger with a slice of American cheese may be a healthier option.

That said, while organic hot dogs might not necessarily be healthier for humans, they’re definitely healthier for the environment. And because of the high-quality meats used, they can taste better too.

And with that, you can finally answer the age-old question, “What are hot dogs made of?” Keep learning about the food you eat by finding out the secret ingredient that makes McDonald’s french fries so addictive.

Sources

• Food and Drug Administration: Hot Dogs & Food Safety
• National Hot Dog & Sausage Council
• American Meat Institute: “Questions and Answers About Lean Finely Textured Beef”
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Setting the Record Straight on Beef”
• Meat Safety: “Facts About Lean Finely Textured Beef”

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There’s a reason why ten hot dogs and eight buns in each package is the norm, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying.

How many hot dogs come in a pack?

If you’ve been grilling lately, you’ll know that hot dogs come ten to a packa nice, even number. Why ten? Because hot dogs are sold by the pound, and standard-sized hot dogs sold in stores weigh 1.6 ounces, so of course, ten is the perfect number for a package. This started in 1940 and remains so today. After you’ve grilled, it’s important to not let the sun heat up your dogs and bunsthis viral hack shows you how to keep summer food from overheating!

How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

When it comes to buns, it’s not weight that comes into play, but baking pans. According to the National Hot Dog Sausage Council (NHDSC), Sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns, most often come eight to the pack because the buns are baked in clusters of four in pans designed to hold eight rolls. Yep, there’s a council for hot dogs. So many things factor into play, even with drinks too! Learn why Mexican Coca-Cola tastes better than American Coca-Cola.

So why ten hot dogs and eight buns?

It’s always been that way. But it would make sense to match up the amounts of buns and hot dogs per package, wouldn’t it? Just seems like a food waste issueplus it’s beyond irritating every time you go to the grocery store to buy at least two packs of buns per pack of hot dogs to make sure no dog is left alone. Well, the “Condiment King,” Heinz, has decided to put its foot down on the age-old debate.

July is officially National Hot Dog Month. To celebrate, Heinz has begun a campaign called the Heinz Hot Dog Pact to finally make big hot dog companies and big bun companies agree on a single number of products per package: ten! This is most definitely a cause we can get behind.

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As niche coffee and tea drinks go mainstream, casual sippers are seeking answers to the big questions: What is cold brew coffee? What’s a macchiato? Whose utterly brilliant idea was it to combine spiced tea, milk, and sugar?

Where does chai tea come from?

The drink has a rich history and cultural significance in India, where chai literally means “tea” in Hindi-Urdu. Here’s a fun tidbit for you food facts trivia fans: When people say “chai tea,” they’re actually saying “tea tea.”While the people of India have a history of drinking tea, particularly as Ayurvedic medicine, the beverage didn’t always include spices, sweetener, and milk. It wasn’t until British colonizationand later, a 20th-century marketing push to get Indians to drink more teathat chai began to take the form we know and love today. (Perhaps this isn’t a shocker consideringBrits put milk in tea.) These days, your favorite spicy-sweet sip is the same beverage many people in India prepare, a concoction more accurately known as masala chai, or mixed spice tea. Blend it at home to create the perfect gift for tea lovers or a pick-me-up for mornings when you need some extra pep in your step.

What is chai tea made of?

Chai is a combination of spices, a strong black tea, milk, and sugar. As a huge subcontinent with many cultural differences between regions, India has many different ways to prepare chai.

For starters, the black tea can range from malty Assam, which is the most common, to a more floral Darjeeling. Regardless of type, loose leaves are preferable to bagged tea for a richness of flavor. The drink almost always includes milk with a higher fat content, such as the traditional buffalo milk or whole cow’s milk. If dairy’s not for you, try a creamy plant-based milk, like oat milk, which will also bring out the spices.

Speaking of spices: The blend typically includes cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black peppercorns but can also contain star anise and nutmeg. And while jaggery, or unrefined sugar, is used in many parts of India, plain white sugar, honey, or your favorite tea sweeteners also work to meld the flavors in an irresistible combination.

With all of these variations on a theme, you may still be asking, “What is chai tea?” But it’s precisely this diversity in ingredients that makes chai the sort of drink that keeps you coming back for more.

What’s the difference between chai tea and a chai tea latte?

If you see “chai tea” or “chai tea latte” on your local coffee shop menu and are confused about which one to order, you’re not alone. They sound similar, but there’s a distinct difference. Chai uses milk that’s simply heated, whereas chai lattes use milk that’s steamed and frothed.

Coffee shops often use the steam wand on an espresso machine to steam and froth the milk with hot water vapor, but you can achieve similar results at home, sans expensive kitchen appliances. Just use a milk frother, immersion blender, french press, or even a mason jar (and shake!) to get that frothy foam.

It’s an essential step of the process. Frothing the milk agitates the liquid, breaking down (denaturing) the proteins and forming air bubbles. This gives the drink a thicker texture and makes the milk milder and sweeter. And it gives you a chance to create beautiful latte art as you pour the foamy goodness into your chai.

What are the benefits of chai tea?

With roots in traditional holistic medicine, masala chai boasts a handful of health benefits related to its tea and spices, each carrying distinct benefits. Cardamom, for instance, has been linked to lower cholesterol and anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon, too, has been found to lower cholesterol and inflammation, and studies have associated it with lower blood glucose. Fresh ginger brings its own health properties; it’s loaded with vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, and it can aid in digestion and reduce nausea. The addition of black tea leaves provides powerful antioxidants and brings down the risk of cardiovascular disorders by lowering blood pressure.

Try to get these ingredients whole rather than pre-ground and powdered. Grinding chai spices yourself not only ensures the quality of the flavor but also ensures that the healthy oils are preserved and effective as you steep the tea.

Is chai healthier than coffee?

Chai may have healthful properties, but it’s not automatically better for you than a cup of joe. Two things matter a great deal when determining which beverage is tops for your health: the type of chai you’re drinking and the type of coffee you like to drink.

Many coffee shops use prepackaged chai mix rather than fresh spices, which may cut down on the spices’ health benefits. And then there’s the fact that chai is often made with high-fat milk and sugar.

Sure, if your usual coffee order is a white chocolate mocha, you can consider a chai tea latte an upgrade. It has 190 fewer calories, 13 fewer grams of fat, and 11 fewer grams of sugar. But it’s a whole lot less healthy than brewed coffee or even a latte. With 42 grams of sugar in one grande cupalmost 10 grams more than a caramel macchiatoStarbucks’ chai tea latte may be a nice once-in-a-while treat, but it shouldn’t be your go-to drink. And when you do indulge, try to err on the modest side when it comes to Starbucks cup sizes, and skip the pumps of syrup.

That said, black tea does contain less caffeine than coffee, and a homemade melange of spices has many health benefits. To make a healthier chai, skip the dairy and opt for plant-based milk instead. Then use sugar in moderation, or skip it altogether.

Of course, if you’re looking for the best of both worlds and still itching for your regular coffee fix, try a dirty chai, which is a chai tea with a shot of espresso. The delectable possibilities are truly endless with masala chai.

You’ve learned the answer to the question, “What is chai tea?” Next up: Find out what bubble tea is and whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables.

Sources:

• Seven Pots of Tea: An Ayurvedic Approach to Sips & Nosh by Nandita Godbole
• Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders: “The effect of cardamom supplementation on serum lipids, glycemic indices and blood pressure in overweight and obese pre-diabetic women: a randomized controlled trial”
• Nutrition Today: “Cardamom: Potential Health Benefits”
• Diabetes Care: “Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes”
• Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: “Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant”
• PLOS One: “The effect of black tea on blood pressure: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”
• International Journal of Health Sciences: “Molecular evidences of health benefits of drinking black tea”
• Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics: “Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing and antioxidant activities of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)”

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