Are gasoline-powered lawn mowers really that bad? I keep reading that cutting my grass with one is comparable to burning a tire in the backyard or driving an SUV for […]

I work as a consultant and am required to travel by air several times per week. I recently began encountering the new screening devices at all airports. My question is, […]

We’re bombarded with fundraisers and retail products sporting pink ribbons to raise money to “fight breast cancer.” Do pink ribbon campaigns do any good, or are they mainly a way […]

What’s the deal with a storm glass? Hammacher Schlemmer sells one and says, “Although how it functions remains a mystery, the ability of the stormglass to predict atmospheric change is […]

I recently bought my first new car in nearly 11 years. I had always bought non-air conditioned cars in the past because I was told AC reduces power and mileage. […]

Is grass-fed beef healthier for us than grain-fed beef? I’ve seen these claims: it’s lower in fat and calories, has more omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins, and is a good […]

People diagnosed as clinically obese are sometimes said to have a hormonal condition that makes them unable to lose weight even if they cut calorie intake to a minimum. Surely […]

Do you think creating a humanlike robot is possible? If so, how many years might it take? -Debbie, Jakarta, Indonesia Anything is possible, Debbie. The question is whether it’s likely. […]

Recently an outbuilding at a nuclear power plant received a glancing blow from a tornado. Fortunately no real harm was done, but it started me wondering: are nuclear power plants […]

I read a letter to Dear Abby from someone who had served cupcakes made with Kahlua liqueur. Abby said enough alcohol remained to affect someone with alcohol sensitivity. In my […]

In the Donald E. Westlake novel Drowned Hopes, character Tom Jimson says Oklahoma remained dry following the repeal of Prohibition and was so feisty about it that officials arrested a […]

Recently my roommate told me about the 1932 “emu war” in Australia. He said 1932 was a dry year that made 20,000 emus restless, causing them to invade a residential […]