DESIGN

The Meditative Art of Hikaru Dorodango: How Japanese Schoolchildren Turn Mud Into Shiny Spheres

These decorative mud balls can end up so shiny and colorful you’d assume they’re some sort of jewel. But you can actually make them at home.

Double doors don’t always mean a house is a duplex.

The Fascinating Reasons Why Some Old Houses Have Two Front Doors

You aren’t seeing double—some houses were intentionally built with this architectural quirk. We explain why.

A fallout shelter sign left over from the Cold War still visible in Brooklyn, New York.

Why Do We Still See Fallout Shelter Signs?

Tens of thousands of fallout shelter signs, with three yellow triangles in a black circle, are visible on building façades today. They serve as grim reminders of the hottest flashes of the Cold War. So why are they still around?

Why Did Baby Viewing Windows Disappear From Hospitals?

Baby viewing windows were once a staple of hospital maternity wards across the country, but now they feel like a relic from a bygone era. Read on to learn about their history—and the real reasons why they vanished.

Hang on to your hats (and your handles).

The Real Reason Cars Have Those Grab Handles Above the Doors

This particular car safety feature isn’t so your passengers can wordlessly convey that they think you’re a reckless driver. Those grab handles actually serve an important purpose.

Which tattoos do you think are most popular?

Map: The Most-Searched Tattoo Designs By State

Wondering what tattoo to get next? Check out which designs are most searched in each state, according to Google data.

Why Are the Metal Bars on Some Windows Curved?

Some old-fashioned window guards look like they have a potbelly. Discover the real reason why, as well as the history surrounding these unique grills.

It's more than just a decorative choice.

Why Do So Many Porches in the South Have Blue Ceilings?

It’s not a coincidence that so many porch ceilings are often painted blue in the South, and the history of why is even more fascinating.

Ketchup and eggs put a smile on some people‘s faces.

Heinz Is Officially Team Breakfast Ketchup, With a New Bottle to Prove It

Ketchup on eggs? Heinz takes a controversial stance with its first major label change in 150 years.

The first soccer balls weren't even made out of rubber.

Why Are Soccer Balls Made of Hexagons?

Dive into the history of soccer balls, including how they evolved from their earliest form, when they were made out of pig bladders, into the hexagon design we see today.

12 Facts About Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

Its cantilevered tiers hang over a 30-foot waterfall—Frank Lloyd Wright’s ingenious way of melding the human-made structure with its natural surroundings. Here are 12 facts about its history and legacy.

Everything You Need to Know About Labubu

Labubu dolls are more than fashion charms—they‘re rare art collectibles with a cult following.

What Do All the Colors in the Pride Flag Stand For?

The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.

7 Vintage Le Creuset Cookware Pieces That Could Be Worth a Lot of Money

Le Creuset cookware can last for generations if you take care of it properly. But some of the most valuable pieces could actually be worth a lot of money if you sell them.

One LEGO builder is pushing the limits of the medium.

This Working LEGO Xylophone Sounds Better Than You’d Expect

Andrew Huang’s fully functional xylophone made entirely from LEGO is music to our ears.

The history surrounding this issue is long and complicated.

Men’s Pockets Really Are Deeper Than Women’s—And Here’s Why

You aren’t just imagining things—the pockets on men's clothing really are deeper than in women’s clothing. Discover the reasoning behind this odd (but deliberate) design choice here.

A Shattered Flower Pot With a Secret Nets $60,000 at Auction

The ceramic pot was left in a garden for years. It was a genuine work of art hiding in plain sight.

Every State‘s Favorite Color, Mapped

Ever wonder which color your state likes most? New research from the house painting company BLUE Painting shows the answer.

5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Maya Lin, Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Sculptor and architect Maya Lin is best known for her design of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C., but modern viewers may not know about her rise to prominence and the subsequent controversy.