DESIGN

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.

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.

Posters from a Jeff Tweedy concert (left) and Lotus concert (right).

Higher Ground—Burlington, Vermont’s Beloved Music Venue—Is Releasing a Book Full of Its Iconic Concert Posters

Burlington, Vermont’s Higher Ground has a long history of producing iconic concert posters in collaboration with local arts organizations.

Toblerone Must Remove the Matterhorn From Its Logo Due to 'Swissness' Law

Toblerone is no longer Swiss enough for the Swiss mountain peak in its logo.

Elizabeth Magie created 'The Landlord’s Game,' a precursor to 'Monopoly.'

20 Things You Might Not Know Were Invented by Women

Here are some of the best inventions by women throughout history, from the paper bag to windshield wipers, circular saws, and more.

All the Oscar-Winning Costume Designs From the Last 20 Years, Illustrated

The Academy Award for Best Costume Design doesn’t *always* go to a period drama.

Viva Magenta! Pantone’s Color of the Year ‘Promotes a Joyous and Optimistic Celebration’

‘Viva Magenta’ is ‘brave,’ ‘fearless,’ ‘audacious,’ and ‘full of wit.’ What does that look like? Magenta.

The Wreck of the ‘Äpplet’—Sister Ship of Sweden’s Infamous ‘Vasa’—Has Been Found After More Than Three Centuries

‘Äpplet’ had a more successful naval career than its short-lived sibling, the ‘Vasa.’ Studying its wreck could help explain why.

Giant Pumpkin Jack O Lantern carved with a Chainsaw

How Do You Carve a Giant Pumpkin? With a Chainsaw, Of Course

See what a chainsaw does to a pumpkin that's too big to fit on most people's porches.

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