Rules & Standards

The precise regulations and standards that quietly govern everyday life — traffic signals, labeling, expiry dates

Rules & StandardsJuly 21, 2026

Converting Old Money to Today: Why There's No Single Answer

If a painting sold for 400 francs in 1890, how much is that in today's money? It seems like there should be a single number—but economic historians use at least four different measures: real price (CPI), labor value (wages), income value (GDP per capita), and economic share (share of GDP). Pick a different measure, and the answer shifts by 54-fold or more—162-fold for a national-scale deal like the Alaska Purchase.

#inflation#currency value#CPI#purchasing power parity#economic history#Van Gogh

Rules & StandardsJuly 2, 2026

What Legally Makes a Beer "Draft"? Not What You Think

Does "draft" mean the yeast is still alive? We check what the word legally means across the US, UK, Japan, and Korea — and find four different standards, none of which is about living yeast.

#draft beer#unpasteurized beer#lager#ale#beer classification#microfiltration

Rules & StandardsJune 27, 2026

When Do Your Brake Lights Actually Turn On? The Deceleration Threshold Behind ACC and Regen

When ACC or regenerative braking slows your car without your foot on the pedal, do your brake lights come on? It turns out the trigger isn't the pedal at all — it's a precise deceleration threshold written into the regulations.

#brake lights#regenerative braking#ACC#adaptive cruise control#UN R13-H#FMVSS 108