Editorial Standards

Mission

Why Does That Science answers everyday science questions with clear explanations of the underlying mechanisms. The site's purpose is educational: to help readers understand how things work, what the evidence says, and where the evidence is uncertain.

How questions are selected

Questions come from what people actually wonder about — questions that recur in searches, conversation, and daily life. Each published question is one the library can answer honestly: either with established science or with a clear statement of what is not yet known. The library does not publish questions just to cover a topic; it publishes questions that deserve a careful answer.

How claims are researched

Articles are researched against the available scientific literature and institutional sources. The preferred source hierarchy, in rough order:

1. Peer-reviewed studies and reviews (as published in journals or via PubMed/PMC).
2. Government science and health agencies (NIH, CDC, FDA, NASA, NOAA, USGS, EIA, and similar bodies worldwide).
3. Major universities, scientific societies, and professional organizations.
4. Reference works and reputable science explainers for background.

Sources that support core claims are linked inline, and the strongest sources used are collected at the end of each article under "Sources & further reading."

Treatment of uncertainty

Science is not a set of finished facts. Where the evidence is mixed, preliminary, or population-specific, articles say so. Common limits are stated plainly: a single small study is not a general rule; an association is not proof of cause; results in one group do not automatically apply to everyone. The site prefers careful wording — "may," "is associated with," "evidence suggests" — over overstated certainty.

Conflicting studies

When studies conflict, articles describe the balance of evidence rather than cherry-picking a favorite result. Where a question is genuinely unresolved, that is the answer: unresolved, with the main competing positions and what would settle the question.

Health and medical content

Articles about bodies, health, and medicine explain general scientific mechanisms. They do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or provide individualized medical advice. Health articles link authoritative medical sources where possible and are written to avoid overstating what is known. If you have a symptom, a health concern, or a decision about treatment, consult a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency services.

Corrections and updates

Errors are corrected as soon as they are identified. Because the library is small, corrections are applied directly to the affected article rather than published as separate notices. Substantive revisions update the article's "last modified" date; publication dates are never changed retroactively. If an article's conclusions change materially, the article is rewritten to reflect the current evidence.

Who writes the articles

Articles are researched and written by the publisher, Marc LaClear. No article claims expert, medical, or peer review, because none occurs. Readers should treat the site as a starting point and follow the linked sources for the underlying evidence.

Reporting an error

If you spot an error, an ambiguity, or an outdated source, please email work@laclear.us and include the article title, the sentence or claim in question, and a reliable source when you have one. Corrections are genuinely welcome.

Advertising

If advertising is displayed on this site, it is clearly separated from editorial content and never affects which questions are answered or how they are answered.