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
Most people know the correct lyrics to "Happy Birthday," and that's about it. Can you finish these song lyrics correctly? Don't disappoint your favorite recording artists!
By Alia Hoyt
Zoysia is that lovely springy carpet-like grass you often see on golf courses and lawns in warm climates. But is it easy to grow? And how do you care for it?
By Alia Hoyt
You may know that baking soda can be used to clean stuff and to make toothpaste, but we've rounded up 15 creatives uses for the product, many of which might be new to you.
By Alia Hoyt
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Sure, you might know which candy bar you're supposed to break a piece off of, but there are a lot of other jingles out there. See how many of these you recognize!
By Alia Hoyt
A beloved ingredient in British children's literature, treacle has a long, sweet history. Let's dip in.
By Alia Hoyt
These pioneering women bring new meaning to the phrase, "girl power!" Test your IQ of some of the baddest women in history with our quiz.
By Alia Hoyt
Nitrates are found not only in processed meats, but also naturally occur in green vegetables as well. So, are they dangerous?
By Alia Hoyt
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Potting soil looks an awful lot like dirt, except there's likely no earth in the mix. So, what is it really made of? And is it better for potted plants than the stuff from the ground?
By Alia Hoyt
A cinch to plant and tend, forsythia is beloved for its vivid yellow blooms. They also mark the beginning. Here's how to grow and care for these beauties.
By Alia Hoyt
The mega-hit Netflix show 'Bridgerton' has struck a chord with viewers who love the costumes and the sexy storylines, as well as the diverse casting choices for dukes and duchesses. But is the series just fantasy?
By Alia Hoyt
The money tree has long been a symbol of good fortune in Asia. But how did the plant get its name?
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There was a lot of beautiful stuff going on in the '80s. Then, there were the Garbage Pail Kids. Take a walk down memory lane with this icky quiz.
By Alia Hoyt
Some clinical trials subject volunteers to fake surgeries to determine whether a surgical procedure has any real value. But does the long-term benefit to society outweigh the risks to patients?
By Alia Hoyt
It's the organ commonly found in animals where multiple body systems come together into one opening for both defecation and reproduction. But in humans, having a cloaca causes huge problems.
By Alia Hoyt
During the winter, many Americans love a nice hot bowl of oatmeal. But people around the world eat porridge at different times of the day and in different ways. Here's how to make a perfect pot of porridge.
By Alia Hoyt
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She's dominated pop culture for decades, but how much do you really know about the cutest anime character around? Take our purrfect quiz to find out!
By Alia Hoyt
This new form of sound therapy takes advantage of the fact that a different frequency in each ear yields a third frequency that can allegedly calm you down or improve your focus. Does it really work? Our writer tried it out.
By Alia Hoyt
Fitted sheets often look a mess when folded if you do it the wrong way. We've got step by step instructions to ensure that they come out looking neat.
By Alia Hoyt
It's a common routine: Wake up, take a shower, put on some deodorant or antiperspirant and get dressed. But your antiperspirant can work better if you skip it in the morning.
By Alia Hoyt
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The national dish of Scotland (popular at New Year's Eve and Burns Night) is banned in America because it contains a certain outlawed ingredient. But whose idea was it to stuff a sheep's stomach bag and boil it? And what does it taste like?
By Alia Hoyt