Patty Rasmussen

Patty Rasmussen

Contributing Writer

Patty Rasmussen is a freelance writer based in the Atlanta area. She’s written about everything from Major League Baseball to economic development to the reason why calico cats are almost always female. Patty enjoys writing for HowStuffWorks because it means she’s usually picked first for trivia teams.

Recent Contributions

Most people throughout the world are right-handed. So can they teach themselves to use their left hands, too and become ambidextrous?

By Patty Rasmussen

Distilleries call this evaporative substance "angel's share" and promise that it's not dangerous, but nearby residents find it coating everything around them and aren't so sure.

By Patty Rasmussen

You probably use the words mold and mildew interchangeably. But these two types of fungi aren't quite the same. Is one worse?

By Patty Rasmussen

Advertisement

Stop bagging those leaves and putting them curbside to be hauled off to the landfill. There's a better way — for your lawn and the environment.

By Patty Rasmussen

The Hoover Dam holds back 10 trillion gallons of water. That's enough to cover the entire state of Connecticut. How much damage would be done if the dam broke?

By Patty Rasmussen

The history of roller skating is a winding road that started with John Joseph Merlin in the 18th century and evolved into multiple sports we still play today.

By Patty Rasmussen

First of all, who is Stanley? Also, why is this trophy so dang big?

By Patty Rasmussen

Advertisement

On Johns Island, South Carolina, stands an oak tree so big and beautiful that people come just to stand under its branches and feel the magic.

By Patty Rasmussen

It's a big old world and the number of countries it contains changes all the time. So, do you know how many there are? It's not an easy question.

By Patty Rasmussen

Harry Belafonte died today at age 96. A shining star in his own right, Belafonte was a key supporter of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement and other humanitarian missions.

By Patty Rasmussen

We often use the terms heart attack and cardiac arrest interchangeably. But these are two different conditions. How can you tell one from the other?

By Patty Rasmussen

Advertisement

Don't know how to eat dragon fruit? This stunner of a fruit is as simple to slice as it is pretty to look at. So give it a try. You won't regret it.

By Patty Rasmussen

The hosel is a little piece of metal that plays a big part in both golf club construction and in the club's performance.

By Patty Rasmussen

The baguette is the most popular kind of bread eaten in France. So it only makes sense UNESCO would protect it as an iconic part of its cultural heritage.

By Patty Rasmussen

As much as we love to spoil our furry little friends with treats from the table, dogs are not human and there are much better food options for them.

By Patty Rasmussen

Advertisement

Feeling down and need someone to pick you up? Give the kids of Peptoc a call and we guarantee a smile!

By Patty Rasmussen

In a game against the Texas Rangers Oct. 4, Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run in the 2022 MLB season, setting a new American League home run record.

By Patty Rasmussen

The solar system's largest planet will pass closest to Earth at the same time it's at opposition. That means it will be the biggest and brightest it's been in the sky in decades.

By Patty Rasmussen

Paprika comes from the dried Capsicum annuum variety of red peppers, and can range in flavor from sweet to very hot.

By Patty Rasmussen

Advertisement

This Georgia baseball team has become a viral phenomenon. How? By changing the rules and making the game fast, fun and wildly entertaining.

By Patty Rasmussen

They look like giant marshmallows and are disliked by many NFL players, but may be just what the doctor ordered to protect them against concussions and other head injuries.

By Patty Rasmussen

Graham crackers were invented by Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham as part of a radical 19th century diet. His goal? To curb joy and sexual desires.

By Patty Rasmussen

Sorry to disappoint, but they won't be C-3PO's in dark slacks and chest protectors behind home plate. But 'robots' could be the future of calling balls and strikes.

By Patty Rasmussen

Advertisement

Ugliness, like beauty, may be in the eye of the beholder. A 17-year-old dog with tumors and a sweet disposition won the annual contest.

By Patty Rasmussen

In some U.S. states, half of the stores are out of baby formula. How do parents feed babies if they can't get formula? We have some tips.

By Patty Rasmussen