DESIGN

The Mesh Grating on Your Microwave Is Actually an Important Safety Feature

To block microwave radiation, all you need is a simple screen.

The Iconic Concorde Airplane Is Getting the LEGO Treatment

LEGO’s Concorde plane is as sleek as its real-life counterpart.

These are boring compared to some others in the database.

This Searchable Database Shows All 8291 License Plate Designs in the U.S.

America has no shortage of cool license plate designs—and plenty of weird ones, too.

When 'Woody Wagons' Ruled the Road

Cars with wood paneling used to be all the rage. And yes, it made perfect sense at the time.

4 of the Best Ergonomic Office Chairs, According to Experts

The best ergonomic office chairs on Amazon and other sites can be pricey, but experts say these picks are well worth the investment.

7 Facts About Polka Dots

The pattern is named after the European dance craze, but what exactly the dots have to do with polka is a bit of a mystery.

It's a wheel. Also a tire. With a rim. And a hubcap.

Hubcaps vs. Rims: What’s the Difference?

Get up to speed on your car lingo.

The Reason Your Converse Sneakers Have Extra Holes on the Side

You may have never noticed the extra holes on the sides of your Chuck Taylor All-Stars, but they serve a clever purpose.

The Riveting Reason Blue Jeans Have Those Little Metal Studs Over the Pockets

If you’re wearing jeans, you’ll probably spot some tiny metal rivets surrounding the front pockets. Like a lot of details in life, we’ve become accustomed to seeing them. So why are they there?

The location of a car's gas tank can be a guessing game.

Why Aren't Car Gas Tanks Always on the Same Side?

To annoy you? Possibly. For other good reasons, like keeping you alive? Also yes.

Did Alan Turing Inspire the Apple Logo?

Apple's iconic logo is rumored to have been inspired by Eve's bite into the apple of knowledge, Newton's discovery of gravity, and Alan Turing's untimely end. Are any of these stories true?

That Extra Loop of Fabric on Your Seatbelt Is Actually an Important Safety Feature

Though hopefully you’ll never need it, the loop on your seatbelt is there to prevent injury or even death in a crash.

Do DIY Air Purifiers Really Work to Combat Wildfire Smoke, COVID, and Other Pollutants?

Can your MacGyver air scrubber do the work of a purifier costing hundreds of dollars? Science says yes.

What Does the Juneteenth Flag Symbolize?

On June 19, 2023, the United States will celebrate Juneteenth and the anniversary of Black emancipation. Here’s the meaning behind the holiday’s official flag.

Mushroom Coffins Are the Latest Green Burial Trend

Loop Biotech's eco-friendly mushroom coffins are designed to decompose.

Why Are Hyperlinks Blue?

Unpacking the reason hyperlinks are blue requires dipping into early internet history.

Big Poo-Tential: Researchers in Japan Built a House Using Old Diapers

Civil engineer Siswanti Zuraida built a concrete structure using diapers that would otherwise sit in a landfill for decades, making for a literal brick sh-t house.

'Budgie Smugglers': A Scandalous History of Speedos

Speedos, the famously ultra-tight swimming attire, showed so much leg on the conservative beaches of Australia that men were arrested.

Isamu Noguchi at the Noguchi Garden Museum in New York City.

8 Facts about Isamu Noguchi

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was one of the most influential designers and sculptors of the 20th century.

Retro furniture from IKEA's Nytillverkad line.

IKEA Is Reviving Designs From Its Past in Celebration of Its 80th Anniversary

IKEA’s Nytillverkad line is inspired by vintage looks that should be familiar to long-time shoppers.

There have been major advancements in Oreo science.

Plot Twist: Science Has Figured Out If You Can Split an Oreo Cookie Perfectly

Researchers at MIT looked at "postmortem crème distribution" to see if two Oreo wafers can have an equal amount of filling after being twisted.

Finnish Company Debuts 'World's First' Flushable Wooden Toilet

Made from 80 percent wood chips, the composite toilet from Woodio is waterproof and splinter-free.

Ai Weiwei Recreated Monet's 'Water Lilies' Using 650,000 LEGO Bricks

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei used LEGO bricks to build a 50-foot long tribute to Monet.

There’s an Optical Illusion Hidden in the MLB Logo

The silhouetted player in the MLB logo is ambiguous in more ways than one.