Dave is a freelance journalist who has contributed hundreds of articles to HowStuffWorks since 2007 reporting on every topic under the sun: history, culture, politics, economics, technology, religion and more. He’s also a regular contributor to History.com and a writer/researcher for Stuff You Should Know.
Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dave attended Duke University where he earned a B.A. in comparative religious studies and more importantly met his amazing wife Mandy. They have three kids and live in Boise, Idaho.
Recent Contributions
Whether from a clerical error or an improperly offered bonus, sometimes you end up with a fatter paycheck than you're supposed to get.
By Dave Roos
Nutty Putty Cave, near Salt Lake City, Utah, was discovered in 1960 and sealed up forever in 2009. But why?
This fall festival is about food, faith, lights and gifts. But please don't call it an Indian Hanukkah.
By Dave Roos
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What if there are colors within the visible spectrum that our brains can't perceive? In fact, there are. They're called impossible colors. But some researchers think they've discovered a way to see the impossible.
By Dave Roos
From astronauts to doctors to an archaeologist, we present eight scientists whose contributions to science, engineering and math were inseparable from their identities as Indigenous Americans.
By Dave Roos
Let's take a look at some of the strongest metals on Earth and their surprising uses.
By Dave Roos & Sascha Bos
This is one 'supermaterial' that might actually live up to its hype. So what is graphene really, and why is it so versatile?
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Whether the circle is as big as planet Mars or as small as a tennis ball, the ratio of its circumference divided by its diameter will always equal pi (3.14). But why?
The United States Secret Service provides 24/7 protection for the wives and kids of the U.S. president and vice president, including their adult children. But why do a president's children get protection?
By Dave Roos
The numbers 666 are a favorite of horror movies dealing with the occult. But where did they come from, and what or whom do they really refer to?
By Dave Roos
In 1977, SETI volunteer Jerry Ehman saw a transmission so exciting he circled it on paper and wrote the word "Wow!" It seemed to indicate a message from outer space. But what was it really?
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Is the U.S. a democracy or a republic? Or both? And what's the difference, anyway?
By Dave Roos
The books that make up the Bible were written over a span of 1,000 years. During that time, many other religious writings were also produced. So, who decided which would be part of the Bible and which would be left out?
By Dave Roos
How does a hurricane become a Category 5 and what's it like to live through it? Those who have say you don't want to know.
By Dave Roos
Do you hold your breath when you're driving through a tunnel? HowStuffWorks looks at a survey exploring driving superstitions.
By Dave Roos
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Economists have historically used GDP per capita to determine the richest country in the world, but that's misleading when you consider the tax havens effect.
By Dave Roos
The "Don't Tread on Me" flag, showing a rattlesnake on a yellow background, has its roots in America's Revolutionary War but has become a right-wing symbol in the 21st century. What does it really mean?
By Dave Roos
The cost of building a home can vary widely, depending on the size of your house, geographic location and interior finishes. However, we have a breakdown of average costs for you.
By Dave Roos
Now that former President Donald Trump has been indicted by the Justice Department, what happens to his Secret Service detail? Would he get protection if he goes to prison, too?
By Dave Roos
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Ever had a "woulda, shoulda, coulda" feeling about something? It's called regret. What really triggers this emotion — and can we trust it?
By Dave Roos
In the U.S., the bar for running for president is deliberately set low – only age and citizenship rules are written into the Constitution. Still, are there any laws that would bar a felon from running for the highest office in the land?
By Dave Roos
More than fodder for melt-in-your-hand YouTube videos, gallium is a key component in LED lights and the powerful microchips in your smartphone.
By Dave Roos
Technology has brought us an unprecedented ability to maximize crop yields, even in drier climates. But we can take too much from the land. What's the worst that could happen?
By Dave Roos
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Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory just made history with einsteinium. They held a sample of the short-lived element long enough to measure some of its chemical properties.
By Dave Roos
Galton was a pioneer in meteorology, psychology, statistics, biometrics, forensics and anthropology. But all of that is overshadowed by his promotion of and work on eugenics.
By Dave Roos