Alia is an Atlanta-based freelance writer who has contributed content to HowStuffWorks for going on a decade now, with a specialty in health writing. She’s also been published by TLC, Animal Planet, and a number of corporate clients. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!), and might someday get around to setting up a professional website. Until then, check her out on LinkedIn.
She and her husband are proud parents to three handsome, too-smart-for-their-own-good boys. Alia is a passably not terrible tennis player, lover of all things dance and music, brownie-obsessed, avid reader and off-key car singer. Her two favorite types of people are those who have a healthy sense of humor and those who actually read articles in their entirety before posting comments.
Recent Contributions
At 8 feet 11 inches, Robert Wadlow remains the tallest man in recorded history. His remarkable height shaped a short but unforgettable life.
By Alia Hoyt
Borax, a popular addition to laundry detergents and slime recipes, is a natural ingredient that has been getting flack for possibly being harmful to children. But is this true?
By Alia Hoyt
All that listening to podcasts and music can get your AirPods dirty! Here's an easy way to clean them.
By Alia Hoyt & Zach Taras
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Yes, you do have to clean the machine that cleans your clothes! Fortunately, it's easy to do.
By Alia Hoyt & Zach Taras
It's not uncommon for your bathroom to occasionally have bad odors. But when you smell sewage, that's usually not a good sign.
By Alia Hoyt & Beth Brindle
You may have spotted these insects in your home. But are they bad to have around? And how do you get rid of them?
By Alia Hoyt
Nothing is better than a pair of sharp white shoes. But it's hard to keep them looking that way. Or is it?
By Alia Hoyt
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More and more couples seem to be opting to sleep in separate beds or even separate bedrooms. But is this necessarily a bad thing, or could it be saving countless relationships?
By Alia Hoyt & Yara Simón
Is that Henry VIII on the king of spades? If not, then who is it?
By Alia Hoyt & Zach Taras
Some months are bursting with popular birthdates and others are stone cold out of the picture. Which are the most and least popular birthdays and why?
By Alia Hoyt
What in the world did Grandma mean when she used words like "tarnation"?
By Alia Hoyt
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It seems like every town has that one restaurant whose eggplant parmesan can kick-start contractions. But is a labor-inducing recipe an old wives' tale?
By Alia Hoyt
It's hard to say what is the most dangerous animal in the world; you're not comparing apples to apples. But when it comes dangerous, these four top the list.
By Alia Hoyt
Spontaneous sex reversal in chickens is pretty rare, but it does happen. Find out how Miss Lucille became Mr. Lucille.
By Alia Hoyt & Talon Homer
In the last few decades, there's been a sort of arms race to build ever-taller skyscrapers. Which seven currently rank as the world's tallest buildings?
By Alia Hoyt
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British slang is known to contain some of the most colorful colloquialisms in the world, so queue up as we bandy about a few cheeky ones.
By Alia Hoyt
Many struggle over what to say when someone dies. Comforting a loved one during a difficult time can be hard, especially if you can't express your condolences in person. Here are our suggestions.
By Alia Hoyt
Maybe you've heard about drinking the Kool-Aid or listening to The Family Jams - but what do you really know about some of the world's most infamous cults?
By Alia Hoyt & Jane McGrath
During the fall months, you may see unfamiliar birds in your area as those from the north begin to fly south. But how do they know when it's time to migrate and where to go?
By Alia Hoyt
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Before collecting that conch shell, learn how over-harvesting for meat and souvenirs has endangered conch populations and what you can do to help their survival.
By Alia Hoyt
It's easy to get rid of scuff marks from leather shoes, sneakers, Crocs and other types of footwear. We'll show you how.
By Alia Hoyt
Farmhouse style is an eclectic mix of traditional charm and quirky character that lends a cozy, warm feel to any space where comfort is key.
By Alia Hoyt
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Laundry stripping is a hack that's been trending on TikTok. It's supposed to remove built-up gunk from your "clean" clothes. But does it work?
By Alia Hoyt
In addition to its role in cooking, coconut oil has a ton of uses in health and beauty. We highlight 10 of them.
By Alia Hoyt