Ask Rachel

Interesting fact: Humans share about 60% of our genes with bananas. Also, about 60% with fruit flies. Ergo, fruit flies are made of actual fruit.

Interesting fact: There are airtight (or spacetight) zippers that the astronauts use. I sure hope NASA pays more than $35 for flight suits. 

Interesting fact: Not only are AI illustrations a thing, but we now have AI “culinary research assistants,” which I trust less than a skinny chef.

Interesting fact: Stuffed toys for dogs can simulate either babies to be carried around or prey to be torn apart. I’m a little concerned those roles have so much overlap.

Interesting fact: Americans consume 5 million gallons of jellied cranberry sauce every holiday season, and 73% of them prefer it jellied in the shape of a can. Cran cran, in the shape of cans, cans!

Interesting fact: About 2,200 American local print newspapers folded from 2005-21. All the more impressive that we’re still standing. Let’s see how we’re still standing at closing time on Friday.

Interesting fact: I guess you should feed an aquarium of fish whatever they will eat in about 2-3 minutes. Then try not to get anxious about your own pace of eating.

Interesting fact: Just because the film’s director and composer say that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie doesn’t mean they’re right about it.

Interesting fact: This #OneChipChallenge tortilla chip monstrosity is made with Carolina Reaper and Scorpion peppers, both of which tally more than 2 million Scoville heat units. I wonder how many Scoville heat units I, personally, would tally.

Interesting fact: 7Up is so named for its seven ingredients, including lithium citrate, which was intended to offer a mood lift (but was later banned by the FDA). Also, 7Up was patented as a cure for hangovers. Sounds better than lavender oil.

Interesting fact: First result on Google indicates that coffee only helps hangovers by preventing you from having a caffeine headache on top of a hangover headache and a regret headache

Interesting fact: Aspen leaves are actually red, orange and yellow all year long. They just have so much chlorophyll that you can see only the green, until production fades in the autumn. Now you, too, can sound like a nerd on your fall foliage drive.

Interesting fact: Sprite has been reformulated in Europe to remove 30% of the sugar. If they had removed 42% of it, I’d be a devotee.

Interesting fact: In other countries, it’s common to pay a bathroom attendant the equivalent of anything from 10 cents to $2 to use the facilities. I’m thinking of opening my bathroom to the public.

Interesting fact: “To the nines” is a reference to the nine Muses, unless it’s a corruption of some Scottish phrase “to then eyne,” meaning “to the eyes.” Me, I like to dress to the fives. Occasionally the sevens.

Interesting fact: When the U.S. acquired the Mexican Cession in 1848, Durango was considered part of New Mexico. There but for la gracia de dios go we.

Interesting fact: The first Harley-Davidson is indeed more than 100 years old, rolling off the line in 1904, the same year the first biker shaved for the last time.

Interesting fact: Johnny Appleseed was actually a real estate speculator: planting trees to claim land, which he later sold to tech bros at a ridiculous profit.