Why Do Dads Sneeze Like That?

There’s nothing more unnerving than seeing a man scrunch up his face, squeeze his eyes shut, and clamp his nose trying desperately to stifle a sneeze. That is, unless it’s the actual sneeze itself. Kids have described their dads’ sneezes using terms like “earthquake,” “booming,” and “blast-off!” The dreaded “dad sneeze” is a full-body event. Of course, those in the fall-out zone are left with ringing ears, confusion, and shock. So why do dads sneeze like that? Some say it’s one of life’s mysteries, like where do all the missing socks go? Others say it could be biological and evolutionary, probably to scare off unwanted beasts. That’s where the experts come in. “A sneeze is basically a protective reflect designed to clear irritants from the nose and upper airway,” explained allergist Dr. Zachary Rubin. These irritants stimulate sensory nerves in the nasal lining, which send a signal to the brain stem. That, Rubin says, sets off a rapid-fire sequence: “A deep breath, closure of the vocal cords, contraction of the chest and abdominal muscles, followed by a forceful release of air through the nose and mouth.” When it comes to noise, there’s no such thing as a standard-issue sneeze. Rubin says the decibel level can be influenced by lung volume, the strength of the respiratory muscles, the anatomy of the nose, mouth and throat and how much someone constricts or opens their airway during the sneeze. Men tend to have larger lungs and airways and can generate greater respiratory pressures, so it's conceivable that this could translate into a more forceful sneeze. However, says Rubin, there’s no compelling evidence showing that men are biologically programmed to sneeze dramatically louder than women. Men may also face a different social expectation when it comes to suppressing a sneeze. They don’t get judged for the volume — they get judged for looking like they’re managing it. Men are taught to hide visible effort, so a stifled sneeze from a grown man is interpreted as being fussy. There may be a little performance involved as well. Once someone has sneezed loudly for 40 years, there’s not much incentive to suddenly let out a dainty little “achoo.” The truly dad-specific phenomenon is the “AHHHHHH-CHOOOOOO!” That’s less biology and more decades of commitment to the bit.

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The Scariest Hotel Experience in the World

How do you normally arrive at your hotel — car, bus, train? At Skylodge Adventure Suites in Peru, you’ll have to climb to your hotel room, since it's hanging from the side of a mountain. Perched 1,000 feet in the Sacred Valley of Cusco, these suites dangle from the granite cliffside, and you need to be in fairly good shape to get there. That’s because it’s a vertical climb of 1,312 feet up the mountain using a metal rung climbing system. There are two guides, one leading from the top and another at the bottom. One of the most terrifying moments in the trek to the top is tight-roping between cliffs on a single cable. Those who have done it have the same advice: DON’T LOOK DOWN! Once you reach the top, you’ll enter your “suite" — a 24-foot long by 8½-foot wide aluminum and polycarbonate pod bolted directly to the rock face. It’s fully transparent, which means your floor, walls and ceiling all offer uninterrupted views of the valley below. Each pod sleeps four people. Solar-powered lighting ensures that you won’t be climbing down in the dark. There’s also a separate capsule for dining. Now for the fun part — the descent! Unlike the grueling climb up, the way down is much easier and way more exciting. You zip down via multiple zip lines, gliding over the valley and taking in the breathtaking views. All of this can be yours for a mere $442 per person, which includes private transportation to and from the hotel, guides, equipment, snacks, a gourmet dinner with a bottle of wine, and breakfast over the Sacred Valley. What more could you ask?

 

 

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The Alaska Bears Are Bulking Up Nicely

Just weeks away from Fat Bear Week 2026, the brown bears gorging on salmon at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska are already showing off that beautiful bulk. Bear 910 looks like she might be a major contender for this year’s competition. She was first spotted in 2019 at Katmai’s Brooks River. The bulky bear is about 10½ years-old and has large, blonde floppy ears, which can help viewers pick her out of the crowd on the live cam set up in the park when it comes time to vote. The National Park Service and Explore.org reported that over 1.5 million votes were cast throughout the 2025 tournament. Voting for Fat Bear Week 2026 runs September 22 through September 29.

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Why Tennis Balls Come in Sealed Cans But Footballs and Baseballs Don’t

The U.S. Open is underway in New York, and that means more tennis balls than you can shake a stick at. In case you didn't know, not all tennis balls come in cans. There are two types of tennis ball —pressureless and pressurized — and it’s the pressurized ones that come in cans. You might be thinking, "But wait, footballs, basketballs and volleyballs are pressurized and they don't come in cans." That's because other balls can be pumped up to the correct pressure with an air pump. Sealed cans allow manufacturers to control the pressure precisely inside the can, keeping tennis balls at their peak performance level for as long as possible. Pressurized tennis balls bounce because the air inside the ball is at a higher pressure than the outside atmosphere. As the ball hits your racket or the court, the pressurized air inside pushes against the rubber and helps it resist deformation and the ball bounces. Pressurized balls are sold in a pressured can to prevent the air from gradually leaking out through the porous rubber wall. They have a hollow rubber core that is not airtight, and once that rubber core is formed and covered with fuzz, that’s it — there’s no way to pump them up like you can a football or soccer ball. That distinctive whoosh when you open the can is the sound of the pressure being released from inside. Pressureless balls, however, are sold in a cardboard box. Since the air inside them is at regular atmospheric pressure, there’s no need to keep them in a pressurized can. So there you have it; now you know why tennis balls come in cans and footballs don't.

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