There are a lot of things that happen in the world that make you wonder “Why is it like that?” Kevin Begley is here to answer these questions and solve these Mundane Mysteries.
Tune in weekdays at 2:30pm to find out answers to questions you never knew you had.
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why is National Disc Jockey Day on January 20th?
It’s National Disc Jockey Day! But why? The reason it is celebrated on January 20th is because one of the original disc jockeys and radio legends Alan Freed died 57 years ago today. He helped popularize the term “rock and roll” back in the 1950s and is the reason you hear people like myself on…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Is popcorn really low-calorie?
Today is National Popcorn Day. You’ve probably heard before how it’s a low calorie “healthy snack”. This is mostly true if you eat it plain. Sure, popcorn is considered a low-calorie snack if it’s just a cup of plain, air-popped popcorn it only contains 31 calories. As a comparison a serving of potato chips is…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why does fake or cheap jewelry turn your skin green?
It’s happened to everyone, you get a gift that’s a ring or necklace only to find out it turned all your skin green. But what makes a cheap or fake piece do this anyway? This happened when the metals in the jewelry react with the acidity of your skin. Most of the time the culprit…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do banana flavored products never taste like real bananas?
Jellybeans, yogurt, candy, anything that is “banana flavored” for some reason doesn’t taste anything like real bananas. Why? The reason is kind of crazy actually. The artificial banana flavoring used in products is based on a type of banana that was wiped out by a plague in the 1950s. So it literally doesn’t exist anymore.…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: How long will a pencil last?
Pencils aren’t used as much these days but if you do use one it will last you a pretty long time. The average pencil holds enough graphite to draw a line about 35 miles long! That’s also enough to write roughly 45,000 words. Writer’s cramp anyone?! Photo credit: Getty Images… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Do flies have a purpose?
Everyone hates flies. They might be the most annoying bug on the planet. There’s even been a whole product line created (fly swatters) to get rid of them. But do they actually have a purpose?! The answer is yes. They do. A big one actually. Tiny flies pollinate cocoa trees. So without flies, there wouldn’t…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Who came up with the idea for bubble wrap anyway?
We use it all the time. To ship things, wrap valuables in, or just as a fun time waster popping those bubbles… bubble wrap! But who thought of it in the first place? Back in the 50s two engineers were trying to design textured wallpaper so they glued two shower curtains together trapping tiny bubbles…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do we use the term “bucks” for money?
You use the word almost every day… “can I borrow 5 bucks?” “That costs about 10 bucks” But where and why did we start using this term? The slang term for money “bucks” started being used back in the early 1700s. It refers to deer skins from male deer, or bucks as they are more…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can two snowflakes be exactly alike?
You’ve heard it for years… “no two snowflakes are exactly alike” but is that even true? It’s not actually. Back in 1988 a U.S. scientist in Boulder, CO named Nancy Knight found two identical snowflakes while she was studying snow crystals. The flakes were taken from a storm in Wisconsin and she made the discovery…… Continue Reading
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: When are you supposed to take down your Christmas Tree?
It’s January 6th and I feel like a lot of people still have their Christmas trees up. Which seems crazy to me, but apparently today actually is “National Take Down Your Christmas Tree Day” so I guess today’s the day. We took ours down the Sunday after New Years. Which seemed right. If you have…… Continue Reading