Curious Questions

The original ULEZ-style enforcement? How the Victorians taxed all the coal coming in to London

Martin Fone takes a look at the history of London's coalgates, and finds that the idea of taxing things as they enter the City of London is centuries old.

Curious Questions: What's in a (scientific) name? From Parastratiosphecomyia stratiosphecomyioides to Myxococcus llanfair­pwll­gwyn­gyll­go­gery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch­ensis, and everything in between

Scientific names are baffling to the layman, but carry all sorts of meanings to those who coin each new term. Martin Fone explains.

You've got peemail: Why dogs sniff each other's urine

Ever wondered why your dog is so fond of sniffing another’s pee? 'The urine is the carrier service, the equivalent of Outlook or Gmail,' explains Laura Parker.

Curious Questions: How did a scrotum joke confuse paleontologists for generations?

One of the earliest depictions of a fossil prompted a joke — or perhaps a misunderstanding — which coloured the view of dinosaur fossils for years. Martin Fone tells the tale of 'scrotum humanum'.

Curious Questions: Why do we carve pumpkins at Halloween?

The devilishly smiling image of Jack O'Lantern is inseparable from Halloween, but what's the story behind it? Martin Fone explains — and discovers that the festival many complain about as an American import has been this side of the Atlantic for centuries.

The strange tale of why margarine used to be pink

Margarine has been a staple of our breakfast tables for over a century, but it hasn't always had a smooth ride — particularly from the dairy industry, who managed to impose a most bizarre sanction on their easily-spreadable, industrially mass-produced rival. Martin Fone explains.

Who was the real St Crispin, and what did he have to do with the Battle of Agincourt?

You have questions about Shakespeare's most famous speech. We have answers.

How the original Euston Station destroyed in one of the greatest acts of cultural vandalism Britain has ever seen

One of the great masterpieces of 19th century, the original Euston Station, was built in the years after Queen Victoria came to the throne. Less than 125 years later it was razed to the ground; Martin Fone takes a look at the reasons why.

We used to fly cars across the English Channel in 20 minutes — why did we stop?

It seems hard to believe, but taking your car across the English Channel to France by air actually pre-dates the cross-channel car ferry. So how did it fall out of use almost 50 years ago? Martin Fone investigates.

Wine has been made in Britain for over 1,000 years — so why have we only just turned it into an industry?

With the UK wine industry booming, Martin Fone takes a look at its history.

Curious Questions: Who invented the rear-view mirror?

Although obvious now, the rearview mirror wasn't really invented until the 1920s. Even then, it was mostly used for driving fast and avoiding the police.

Curious Questions: Which person has spent the most time on TV?

Is it Elvis? Is it Queen Elizabeth II? Is it Gary Lineker? No, it's an eight-year-old girl called Carole and a terrifying clown. Here is the history of the BBC's Test Card F.

Curious Questions: What are the finest last words ever uttered?

Final words can be poignant, tragic, ironic, loving and, sometimes, hilarious. Annunciata Elwes examines this most bizarre form of public speaking.

Curious Question: Did the limerick originate in Limerick?

Before workers wasted time scrolling Twitter or Instagram, they wasted their time writing limericks.

The ship that was in two different centuries, two different years, two different months, two different days and two different seasons, all at the same time

On December 31, 1899, the SS Warrimoo may have travelled through time — but did it really happen?

You rang, your majesty? What it was like to be a servant in the Royal Household

Tending the royal bottom might be considered one of the worst jobs in history, but a life in elite domestic service offered many opportunities for self-advancement, finds Susan Jenkins.

Curious Questions: Why do so many animals have bright white bottoms?

Why do so many animals have such obviously flashy appendages, asks Laura Parker, as she examines scuts, rumps and rears.

Curious Questions: Why do we still love pirate stories, 300 years on from Blackbeard?

Tales of swashbuckling pirates have entertained audiences for years, inspired by real-life British men and women, says Jack Watkins.

The 1930s eco-warrior who inspired David Attenborough and The Queen, only to be unmasked as a hoaxer and 'pretendian' — but his message still rings true

Martin Fone tells the astonishing story of Grey Owl, who became a household name in the 1930s with his pioneering calls to action to save the environment — using a false identity to do so.

What the Monopoly board would look like at 2024 property prices

In the 88 years since the first British edition of Monopoly, a lot has changed. But how much should the various properties be worth today? And where should they be on the board?