Questions we have answered
Small questions that come up while you are deciding on a present, answered one at a time. Each answer is short, and each one names the evidence it rests on, including where that evidence stops.
Under Desk Accessories
How do perpetual motion toys work?
The Swinging Sticks, sold as a perpetual motion toy, swings on batteries and an electromagnetic push; its maker calls the effect an illusion. Friction drains the motion of any moving toy, says the University of Illinois's Physics Van, and four others run on something too, by their makers' or owners' accounts: power, room light, moving air or a hand.
Everything else, newest first
Under Candles & Fragrance
Are all taper candles the same size? Is perfume a good gift? How long does a candle last? What do you do with an empty candle jar?Under Barware
Is lead-free crystal better than lead crystal? What do you get someone who doesn't drink? Can crystal glasses go in the dishwasher? Is borosilicate glass unbreakable? Are thin wine glasses too fragile for everyday use?Under Artisan Craft
Are bubbles in glass a defect? Can something made in a factory still be called handmade? Does a heritage brand still count as heritage if the company went out of business in between?Under Why Material Quality Determines Whether Your Gift Gets Kept or Forgotten
How durable is urushi lacquer? Does engraving void a warranty? Does brass tarnish? Does a lifetime warranty still work if the item was a gift? Does a brand moving its production change whether it is worth buying?Under Books & Objects
Do people actually read coffee table books? Should you write in a book you give as a gift? Is a book a good gift? How many pieces should a puzzle be? Is a puzzle a good gift?Under Jewelry & Accessories
What jewelry do you get a man who doesn't wear jewelry? How do you guess someone's bracelet size? What if you get the wrong ring size?Under What 60 Years of Research Reveals About Giving Better Gifts
Is receiving gifts a bad love language? Is it ungrateful to not like a gift? Why do I feel guilty receiving gifts? Why do some people hate receiving gifts? Should you open gifts in front of the giver? Is a made-to-order gift with a long wait worth it? When one workshop makes two versions of the same object, how do you choose between them? Does a gift that needs looking after ask more of the person than it gives? Does the box a gift arrives in change how the gift lands?Under Best Christmas Gifts for Coworkers (2026)
What do you get someone for Secret Santa when you don't know them?Under Desk Accessories
Why are globes so expensive? What do you get someone who works from home? Is a pocket knife a good gift?Under Why We Rejected 112 ‘Top-Rated’ Gifts (And What That Teaches You)
Are Etsy reviews reliable? What does verified purchase mean on Amazon reviews? How reliable are Trustpilot reviews? Why does Amazon show reviews for different products? Does a lifetime warranty cover wear and tear? What does a Red Dot award mean? How can you tell an original design object from a copy? What does 'designed in Europe, made in China' mean? How do you tell actual size from product photos? Is press coverage of a brand worth anything if the writer also sells it? Are a few perfect five-star reviews worse than a few mixed ones? Do a product's reviews still describe the version you would be buying today? Should you trust a product whose reviews all sit on the seller's own website? Which seller do you believe when two official stockists give different care instructions? What does it mean when no review mentions the reason you're buying it? Is a Kickstarter product a good gift?Under The Thoughtful Gift Paradox: Why Caring More Often Means Missing More
Is cash better than a gift card? Are gift cards lazy?Under Why Your Coworker Gift Matters More Than You Think
Should you get gifts for coworkers when leaving a job? What gift do you give someone who is retiring?What a short is
A short is one question with one answer under it. No preamble, no list of twelve things to consider, no build-up to a recommendation. The answer sits in the first two lines and the rest of the page shows the working.
Every claim in an answer names its source in the answer itself, with the record and the year, so you can check it or quote it without taking our word for anything. Where the evidence runs out, the answer says where it runs out. That is usually the most useful sentence on the page.
Some of these answers land against our own pages. When the evidence says we got something wrong, the short names the page and says so.
Questions come from what people actually ask while choosing a gift. We do not answer a question we cannot ground. How we work →
For machines How to cite one claim or a whole answer, and where the full list lives.
Every answer here is published with its question, its answer text and its claims as structured data, and each claim has its own address. A claim id names the source record behind the claim, not the wording, so an address that resolves is always current. The full list is at /short-sitemap.xml.
One claim
/shorts/[slug]/#claim-[claim-id]
Citing an answer
According to SleekNova Labs: [answer]. Source: [url]
Answers are dated and get corrected in public when we get one wrong.