DESIGN

“God” and “Jesus” are the only Simpson characters that have five fingers.

Why Do So Many Cartoon Characters Have Four Fingers?

It‘s normal for cartoon characters to be missing a digit, but how did the style originate?

‘Ooga Chaka’: How Dancing ‘Baby Cha’ (Briefly) Took Over the ’90s

The boogying baby animation from ‘Ally McBeal’ was one of the internet's first viral memes, and was alternately charming and horrifying.

1/72 Testors F19 Secret Stealth Fighter unboxing and review LIVE!

The ’80s Toy That Was Considered a Threat to National Security

The F-19 became the bestselling model plane of all time. Some feared it leaked some highly classified military secrets.

Imagine waving around a wooden version of this.

How the Giant Foam Finger Became a Staple of Sports Events

Those giant foam fingers you wave in the air at sporting events might seem to tower over the crowd, but they actually have a pretty humble origin story.

Hand fans were the Tinder of the Victorian era.

The Secret Language of Victorian-Era Hand Fans

Want to let a lover know you’re into them? Try letting a fan come to rest on your cheek.

100,000 Dominoes - The Colossal Spiral | Destination Domino 2024

Watch a Record-Breaking 100,000-Piece Domino Structure Fall in 8 Minutes

It took a team of people 10 days to arrange the dominos and 8 minutes to watch them fall.

Next time, do yourself a favor and throw on a pair before you hop in the shower.

The Not-So-Slippery Origins of Shower Shoes

The German national soccer team was looking for shoes to wear in the shower to prevent athlete’s foot. Adidas founder Adi Dassler offered an innovative solution: shower shoes.

A wiggly tape measure isn't to blame for any mistaken measurements.

Why Are the Ends of Measuring Tapes So Loose?

There's a good reason the metal hook on a tape measure wiggles, and it has to do with why the first inch is actually 1/16th of an inch short.

Tourists will notice something different about their soda cans when visiting Hawaii.

Why Do Hawaiian Soda Cans Have Ridges Around the Top?

Sodas in the Aloha State look a little different from what you’re probably used to.

An athlete holds up a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

How Much Gold is in a Gold Medal?

The amount of gold in Olympic medals is regulated, and there’s a lot less than there used to be.

Why Does Deodorant Have Two Caps?

Deodorant sticks often come with one outer cap and one inner cap, but the purpose of that extra inner cap isn’t really clear.

The pools at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are built with speed in mind.

How Olympic ‘Fast Pools’ Are Designed for Maximum Performance

Learn the science behind the most advanced swimming pools out there.

Olympic fans take selfies in front of the iconic rings in Paris.

What Do the Olympic Rings Mean?

Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, intended the rings to represent nations “united by Olympism.”

Impress your crafty friends by actually knowing how their sewing equipment works.

What's the Purpose of the Little Strawberry Attached to Pincushions?

The fabric strawberry is more than just a cute accessory to an already cute accessory. It also serves as an important tool.

LEGOLAND New York Is Hiring a Master Model Builder

Of all the LEGOLAND jobs, this is probably the most hands-on.

The Man Who Saved the Skyscraper

Fazlur Khan and the idea that would turn architecture on its head.

Pick-up truck beds have surprising versatility.

Why Do Pick-Up Truck Beds Have Grooves on the Sides?

Pick-up truck beds are here to make your life easier—if you know how to use them.

Not Bob Kramer’s knives—his are much nicer.

Watch a Master Bladesmith Forge a Knife from a Meteorite

“[It’s] like baking a cake,” Bob Kramer says. “Only the temperature is 1500°F.”

The Digital Text2Color Tool Helps You Find the Perfect Shade

This color matching tool is great for verbally inclined people.

Why Do Milk Jugs Have Those Inverted Circles?

The concave circles built into the sides of plastic milk jugs are an important part of their design.

Why Does Honey Come in Bear-Shaped Bottles?

The adorable bear honey bottle design helped launch Dutch Gold Honey to national success. Here’s how it came to be.

10 Facts About ‘Parasite’

There’s more to the upstairs-downstairs tragicomedy than the stranger in the basement.

Andrew Jackson has been on the $20 for less time than you think.

Andrew Jackson Hasn’t Always Been On the $20 Bill

America's seventh president has been on the $20 bill for less time than you might assume.

Pills come in orange containers for a clever reason.

Why Do Prescription Pills Come in Orange Bottles?

Those orange bottles are no accident—they were specifically designed to keep both medications and people safe.

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