We’ve all heard the famous old wives' tale – but is there any truth to it, or is it merely a ploy to keep small fingers away from snapping beaks?…
Curious Questions
Curious Questions: Has the tea cosy gone forever?
Is it all over for the once ubiquitous tea cosy? Debora Robertson investigates.
Curious Questions: Why is New Year called ‘Hogmanay’ in Scotland?
For as long as anyone can remember, New Year – Hogmanay – has been a bigger deal to those living north of Anglo-Scottish border. Jason Goodwin explains why, and takes a look…
Curious Questions: Why do we say ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of ‘Happy Christmas’?
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we say 'Merry Christmas' when for every other occasion we use the word 'happy' instead'? Probably not, but now we've pointed it out…
Curious Questions: Is there any future for Encyclopedia Britannica?
Once the first set of books required in any home library, encyclopedias have long since been superseded by the internet. But rather extraordinarily there is still a market for them,…
Curious Questions: How did Abraham Lincoln come to be the only US president to hold a patent?
Statesman, lawyer, fearless leader – and part-time inventor. Martin Fone looks at one of Abraham Lincoln's lesser-known talents.
Curious Questions: Why can’t red and grey squirrels live together?
Championed by HRH The Prince of Wales himself, the red squirrel revival is gathering pace all over the UK. But why can they not live alongside their grey relatives? Kate…
Curious Questions: When did we start observing a silence in remembrance of the victims of war?
The tradition of holding a two-minute silence to remember those who gave their lives in war dates back to 1919, when a suggestion put to King George V sparked a…
Curious Questions: What are unicorn horns made of? And why are we so fascinated by these mythical beasts?
Whether it be in a coat of arms, in a piece of art or emblazoned on the backpack of a child, barely a day goes by when we don’t encounter…
Curious Questions: Why do leaves change colour in Autumn? And why do some go yellow while others are red, purple or brown?
Nature has few rites of passage more impressive than autumn colour. Chiefly a phenomenon of plants found in cool or temperate climes, the transition begins as daylight hours decrease and…
Curious Questions: Why is the Green Room called the Green Room?
Whether you're performing a play or about to go on television, the waiting room is called the Green Room – but why is that? Martin Fone, author of 'Fifty Curious Questions',…
Curious Questions: How did Notting Hill go from a rural hamlet to slum to London’s priciest suburb?
Notting Hill is full of house which, while very pleasant, boast astronomical price tags, even by London standards – you can pay well over £10 million even for a decent…
Curious Questions: How do you make perfect – absolutely perfect – scrambled eggs?
For such a simple dish, there's a dizzying lack of agreement about how to make scrambled eggs properly. But after an extensive test, the best way of making them has…
Curious Questions: How did Galileo take the credit for inventing the telescope despite being beaten to it by two Dutchmen and an Englisman?
Every schoolboy knows that Galileo Galilei invented the telescope. There's only one issue with that: he didn't. Yet what what he did do is arguably even more extraordinary.
Curious Questions: Which came first, the bee or the wasp? And why is the Queen Bee such a slapper?
The fascinating world of bees has long held broadcaster and journalist Bill Turnbull in thrall. He takes a look at three new books on this endlessly engrossing topic.
Curious Questions: How did shrews get such a bad name?
The shrew is a tiny and seemingly-inoffensive creature of the meadow. So how did it end up becoming a byword for an implacable, nagging woman? Ian Morton explains.
Curious Questions: What is the biggest potato ever grown?
As harvests come in across Britain, we always enjoy pictures of giant vegetables appearing at various shows. But the tale of the biggest of the lot is absolutely fascinating. Martin…
Curious Questions: How do the genuine experts go about tasting whisky?
Developing a true appreciation of whisky is both a serious art and a delightful science – but how do the experts go about it? We spoke to Charles MacLean, the world's…
Curious Questions: Does ‘Red Sky at Night’ actually work? And why?
It's the oldest weather forecasting adage of them all – and you'd be surprised at how accurate it is. Jay Griffiths explains all.
Curious Questions: Does throwing a snail stop it from returning to your garden?
The oldest gardeners' remedy for getting rid of snails is also the simplest: throw them as far away as you can. But is it just an old wives' tale? Martin…