Laurie L. Dove is an award-winning journalist who covers timely topics for HowStuffWorks. She is the author of six books and the former owner of a newspaper and magazine. When not reporting on the latest tech breakthrough, health advance or economic development, Dove is tracking down hidden history, science innovations and biologic discoveries. As the Honorable Laurie Dove, Mayor, she has brought multi-million-dollar improvements to the small Midwest town where she lives with her husband, five children and two Akitas.

Recent Contributions

The story of Newton discovering gravity by getting hit in the head with an apple is a classic. Is there any truth to it?

By Laurie L. Dove

There are plenty of examples of people being caught red-handed in real life. But what does it really mean?

By Laurie L. Dove

How exactly does an oyster create a pearl, and what is the difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl?

By Laurie L. Dove

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Whether you buy them at a garden retailer or find them at a thrift shop, old whiskey barrels are useful in so many ways.

By Laurie L. Dove

With their spiky skins, pineapples may be a bit intimidating from the outside, but they're easy to cut into rings or chunks with these easy-to-follow steps.

By Laurie L. Dove

Who's got the lowdown on whose birthday it is today? "Who's" and "whose" are always a challenge to get right, but we've got some pro tips.

By Laurie L. Dove

Knowing when to use a semicolon is a matter of remembering that a semicolon is a cross between a pause and a period.

By Laurie L. Dove

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These two words are often used interchangeably and incorrectly, so here's how to know when to use "affect" vs. "effect."

By Laurie L. Dove

You might have heard of George Washington Carver and Neil deGrasse Tyson. But what about Patricia Bath? Or Percy Julian? Meet 10 African American scientists who have made the world a better place for everyone.

By Laurie L. Dove

Ah, vanilla. You can almost smell it right now, can't you? From pure vanilla extract to essence and imitation, it comes in all forms. But where does vanilla flavoring come from?

By Laurie L. Dove

Both white vinegar and cleaning vinegar can be used to clean, but the two are definitely not interchangeable. So, what's the difference?

By Laurie L. Dove

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With so many people living in one state and working in another these days, taxes can be more complicated than ever before. Here are 11 tax tips to remember when filing.

By Dave Roos & Laurie L. Dove

Most of us use the CC function in our email accounts all the time, but do you know what CC actually means and how it works?

By Laurie L. Dove

Cleaning grout may not be your favorite pastime, but doing it right can make it a not-quite-so-unpleasant task. Here's how.

By Laurie L. Dove

Bridges connect people and places, with inspired engineering and views that can't be beat. Here are the 10 longest in the world.

By Laurie L. Dove

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Who doesn't love a dog you can carry in your pocket?

By Laurie L. Dove

Windows shattered, furniture broken and dozens of cadets including Jefferson Davis nog-wild on smuggled booze. A "party" in 1826 nearly altered the course of history.

By Laurie L. Dove

Even though we don't keep most of our resolutions, we still make them every year. Turns out, this practice has been going on for thousands of years. What compels us to do this?

By Laurie L. Dove

The decision made at the 27th General Conference on Weights and Measures will scrap leap seconds for good by 2035.

By Laurie L. Dove

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If money was no problem, how much would you spend on a car, painting or house? We've got the items with the biggest price tags here.

By Laurie L. Dove

Perhaps no country on Earth loves Christmas more than the Philippines. Residents there celebrate the holiday for four months solid. Here's why.

By Laurie L. Dove

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City may be an iconic symbol of the holidays, but how well do you know this tree-dition?

By Laurie L. Dove

Of the 8 billion people now inhabiting this planet, almost 60 percent live in urban environments in some pretty densely packed cities. Here are the top 10 megacities in the world.

By Laurie L. Dove

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You're not supposed to cry over spilled milk. But a broken mirror? That's another matter. Will breaking a mirror really heap misfortune upon your head?

By Laurie L. Dove

The table is cleared and everybody's full, so gather around because we've found the 10 best Thanksgiving movies to watch with friends and family this November.

By Laurie L. Dove & Suzie Dundas