Instead of saying “no,” a Midwesterner might say this phrase that sounds agreeable but really means rejection.
yeah, no
This fizzy drink was originally marketed as a medicinal tonic before becoming a global sugar rush.
Coca-Cola
You open your laptop to study, then somehow end up deep in memes, sports highlights, and random videos. You’ve lost focus due to this.
procrastination
This TV series dives deep into chemistry and transformation as a high school teacher turns to making meth.
Breaking Bad
Song #1 (2000s)
Hips don't lie
If someone says “that’s different” about your cooking, they probably mean this.
they don’t like it
This widespread cleaning tool was originally invented to clean wallpaper, but kids quickly upgraded its purpose to something much more fun.
Play-Doh
This sleep stage is especially important for memory consolidation and learning.
REM sleep/cycle
Biology and genetics come alive in this film about a theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs.
Jurassic Park
Song #2 (2010s)
Sunflower
This regional goodbye involves standing by the door talking long after you’ve already said you were leaving.
Midwest goodbye
While experimenting with high-voltage equipment, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered this invisible form of radiation.
X-Ray
You say “I’ll just watch one episode,” and suddenly it’s sunrise and your exam is in 2 hours. You’ve fallen victim to this time-warping habit.
Binge-watching
This sci-fi film is a favorite in physics discussions for its portrayal of black holes and time dilation
Interstellar
Song #3 (1990s)
Thunderstruck
People who live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are often referred as...
Yoopers
This invention, created by a Swiss engineer after a hike, now resembles the tool every student wishes they had during finals: one device that does literally everything.
Swiss Army knife
Pulling an all-nighter often harms this cognitive function most, crucial for exams.
Memory
This medical drama is practically a case study factory for pre-med students.
Grey's Anatomy
Song #4 (2020s)
Any Song
This percentage of the world's fresh water is located in the Great Lakes (within 3% of the correct answer)
21%
This life-saving medicine was discovered through a moldy mistake after Alexander Fleming forgot to clean his lab, a strategy some students dangerously relate to.
Penicillin (Antibiotic)
You planned to study for 6 hours straight, but your brain checked out after 40 minutes. A structured method would’ve had you taking breaks every 25 minutes, known as this.
Pomodoro Technique
Your political science professor would find this TV show highly unrealistic, as a paragliding mishap drops a South Korean heiress in North Korea -- and into the life of an army officer, who decides he will help her hide and eventually fell in love.
Crash Landing On You
Song #5 (1980s)
(Bonus points for naming the artist)
Take on Me (A-ha)