Courtesy of @Approxinfinity

In markdown syntax the pound key (#) has a different purpose -- you can use the pound key before and after a section you want to make big and blue. One pound before and after is the biggest, and each additional pound before and after makes it progressively smaller. I believe five pounds before and after is back to normal size (but still blue). This is how bskeet makes the pretty headers when he posts the stories.

To make a word bold, place 2 asterisks (**) before and after the words.

To make italicised text, place 1 asterisk (*) before and after the text.

And to make one big, bold and italic.

Thank You!

And to make a star enclose an asterisks in parentheses. (*)