John Perritano is an award-winning journalist and author, and regular contributor to HowStuffWorks. He likes writing about science, history, sports and anything else that helps pay the mortgage. You might have noticed that he often mentions his favorite family members — his dogs — in his articles. John holds a master’s degree in U.S. History from Western Connecticut State University, and has worked for many publishers including Time-Life, National Geographic, Scholastic and others. He lives in Southbury, Connecticut, on “Big Dog Farm.” It’s a real place. Honest. It even has a sign.
Recent Contributions
Pressure washing can be so satisfying on some primal level, but the right equipment makes all the difference. And remember, safety first.
Square waves also called Cross-sea waves may looks super cool. But you never want to get caught up in the grid-patterned waves they generate.
It's hard to look up in the sky on a clear day and not see a "cloud" trailing from an airplane. They're called contrails, though some refer to them as "chemtrails" and have odd explanations for their existence.
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Decades before you ever heard of the Higgs, this multinational particle physics lab was smashing its way to answers about how the universe worked. Pop inside CERN just as half of the world's particle physicists do every year.
Meteorologists have hurricane prediction down to a science, so preparedness should be the same thing too. Find out how to be ready if the big one's coming.
The categories of hurricanes are defined by wind speed and wind-caused building damage. The scale was created to communicate needs for post-storm resources.
You probably have a bottle of the stuff at your house. Have you ever seen it come in any color bottle besides brown?
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Most experts agree that the all-volunteer military is what makes the U.S. armed forces the best in the world. Would that change if the draft was reinstated?
In fall 2011, 240 passengers climbed aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to get up close and personal with the long-awaited, much-discussed aircraft. In 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded U.S.-registered Dreamliners. What happened?
There's no denying reality TV's prominence in culture. But is it influencing Americans in a positive or negative way?
How could we run out of trademarked words? It sounds impossible, but it's growing more and more likely.
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Bloodhounds, with their floppy skin and gangly ears, are the quintessential tracking dogs, and there's good reason.
Before you rev up your mower for the latest cut of the season, learn (or relearn) what not to do to your lawn. You can thank us later.
By Alia Hoyt & John Perritano
Most jellyfish are more bothersome than threatening, but the box jellyfish is so poisonous you might not make it out of the water alive.
Mega Millions and the Powerball lotteries have collectively hit over $1 billion. But if you happen to win one (or both) how much will Uncle Sam want?
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Slipping your dog a little human food once in a while is fine, but be aware that some human foods are toxic to Fido.
Biofuels -- or fuels made from plants like wheat, corn, soybean and sugarcane -- burn clean, release fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases, and are sustainable. Could these "energy crops" really be the end to our addiction to fossil fuels like oil?
If you're moving from one city to another, pack some extra tissues because it's true: Seasonal allergies can flare up when you relocate and are exposed to new allergens.
Some of the arguably greatest movie scenes of all time were filmed using Steadicams. These ingenious camera stabilizer systems allow filmmakers to produce moving, hand-held shots with no shakes at all. Can amateurs also take advantage of these super smooth stabilizers?
By Tom Harris & John Perritano
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With the recent NFL draft, players are now negotiating contracts. Learn how the NFL's salary cap works, and how teams work under the salary cap with trades, signing bonuses, and other financial maneuvering.
Blue light glasses are super popular these days. But do they work the way marketers promise?
Keep meaning to create a home inventory for insurance? Don't wait until it's too late.
You probably never think about flood insurance until you need it -- and then it's too late. But what's so different about this type of homeowners insurance and how can you be sure you're covered, just in case?
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Paying for homeowners insurance may seem like money down the drain -- until you actually need it. We'll tell you 10 reasons why you do.
More than 17 million Americans live in manufactured homes. What do they know that the rest of us don't? Read on to find out the 10 advantages of a manufactured home.