The why files

by David Tenenbaum

Science magazine meets The Onion, Mental Floss, and Mad magazine in this ingenious guide to the science behind the newsFor more than a decade , the intrepid folks at whyfiles.org?the #1 science destination on the web?have been exploring the science behind newsworthy events. Now condensed into a book written with the site?s characteristic wit, The Why Files features scores of articles organized into sections that mirror any city?s daily newspaper: World News, Metro, Business Life, Sports, Arts & Leisure, Travel, Style, Opinion Page, and more. Who knew that science can explain why extremists say ?God Told Us to Kill,? how poker can make you sick, why great racehorses have big butts, and if electrocution is the best way to zap a bug? For those who love accurate science served up with humor in a one-of-a-kind newscast, this decidedly non-geeky guide is a must.