Everyday questions, clearly explained
Katlin Pacheco grew up on a farm in rural Missouri and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Missouri, with an emphasis in digital journalism and a minor in marketing. She is the author of the memoir Outside the County Line. Katlin married in 2023, is an Air Force spouse and loves to travel.
Every piece Katlin writes is fact-checked by the Smartly Explained Editors before it runs. See our editorial standards.
TSA does not require ID for kids under 18 on domestic flights, but airlines can ask for proof of age, especially for lap infants. What to bring for each age, airline differences, and PreCheck rules.
By Katlin Pacheco · October 18, 2026Most adults need about 5 to 6.5 hours to read a 300-page book, based on a 2019 meta-analysis of reading speed. Tables by page density and speed, plus how long it takes at 15, 30 or 60 minutes a day.
By Katlin Pacheco · October 18, 2026Candles tunnel when the first burn ends before the wax melts edge to edge, or when the wick is the wrong size. How long to burn by diameter, fixes for shallow and deep tunnels, and safety limits.
By Katlin Pacheco · October 18, 2026
