Polka dots are a fashion staple, and have been for a while. But why do we call them “polka dots”?

Polka dots originated around the same time as polka music & dancing. The term “polka” comes from the Czech word for “half” (as in, the half steps you would do to perform the dance), which swept across Europe & the US in the mid-1800s.

So, what do dots have to do with dancing? Well…it’s not really all that clear. The connection’s murky, at best, but it most likely was related to all the products that were being marketed as polka-related at the pinnacle of polka’s popularity. Prior to that, wearing polka dots in Europe was actually a bit taboo; because the hand-sewing prevalent at the time was inexact, most folks found it impossible to sew perfectly round circles that were evenly spaced.

But then, along came sewing machines & the circle pattern became possible for everyone. And, once that happened, manufacturers put dots on everything, from drapes to dresses and beyond…pretty much anything that they figured might be more likely to sell if it were somehow connected to the polka craze. As it turned out, the dot pattern stuck & grew in popularity over the years, even after polka’s popularity had waned.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

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Our bodies are scientific marvels…that also produce tons of gross stuff through the process of just being alive. Think: belly button lint…boogers…and earwax, that weird material that can sometimes reduce your hearing & make you dig into your ear canal to get it out. So, what is this earwax stuff, really?

Medically, it’s known as cerumen. It originates in the glands inside your ear canal, and, for the most part, it’s genuinely good for you. It’s a protective surface liner, catches germs & dirt, keeps water away from your ear drum, and stops irritants from getting into your ear canal.

Most earwax tends to disperse over time, either getting washed away or falling out. Problems can arise, however, when your ear makes too much of the wax or it builds up over time, because wax can ultimately block your ear canal & muffle sounds. Most people suspect an earwax buildup problem whenever they experience hearing loss or their ear feels “full”.

(And FYI: the color of your earwax, which can range from yellow to light brown, actually has nothing to do with anything. It won’t tell you if you have problems developing.)

So, what can you do? When earwax is noticeable, try to soften it with mineral oil, over-the-counter earwax softeners, or irrigation, during which you would tilt your head & rinse out your ear with body temperature water (not cool water, that’ll make you dizzy.) If at-home treatments don’t work, get your doctor or nurse practitioner to take care of it for you.

And, just to confirm what we’ve all heard, sticking a Q-Tip down into your ear can do the opposite of what you want it to do; not only will it push the earwax in deeper, it could also injure your eardrum.

Earwax can be problematic, but it’s meant to be there & protects your body. Not so sure about the belly button lint, though…the jury’s still out on that stuff.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

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Ever notice how coffee seems to make some people sleepy? Why is that? I mean, with all the caffeine that’s in coffee, providing coffee with its reputation as a way to jolt yourself into staying awake, feeling sleepy after a cup of coffee doesn’t really make sense. But plenty of people swear their afternoon espresso shot does the opposite of what it’s supposed to do. And, if you happen to be one of those people, just know this: you’re not crazy.

A neurochemical called adenosine is the reason we get tired throughout the day. Adenosine builds up & passes through receptors, making your nerve cells become less active & the blood vessels in your brain to dilate. Basically, what your body hears at that point is, “Hey, it’s time to rest”. But, since caffeine resembles adenosine, after you drink coffee the caffeine binds to those receptors instead, blocking the real adenosine from passing through, thus preventing your body from slowing down.

Caffeine can keep you awake like that for a little while, but it doesn’t get rid of all your adenosine forever. So, when your caffeine kick inevitably wears off, you end up with an adenosine buildup that makes you feel even more tired. It’s a lot like when you get a burst of energy after eating something sugary, only to crash not long after. And, speaking of sugar, if your coffee mix involves lots of it, that could add to your post-coffee fatigue, as well. There’s also the possibility that caffeine’s diuretic quality causes dehydration, which can make you feel tired.

One other reason you might feel tired after coffee: you may have built up a high tolerance for caffeine, so much so that a cup of coffee doesn’t perk you up like it once did. Sadly, the best way to fix that is to cut back your daily coffee intake.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

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