ENGINEERING

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.

An overhead view of the Erie Canal in autumn.

14 Fascinating Facts About the Erie Canal

One of America’s great early engineering achievements, the Erie Canal turns 200 years old in 2025.

Behold! The World’s Largest Beaver Dam

It's twice the length of the Hoover Dam, but it was only discovered with the help of satellite imagery.

Why Do Cars Catch Fire?

A car accident in a movie usually ends in a huge fireball. But what really causes vehicle fires?

Many alligators were found in Alachua County‘s sewage system.

At Least One Florida Sewage System Is Swimming With Alligators, Study Shows

Alligators living in the sewers isn’t just an urban legend.

15 Impressive Facts About the Panama Canal

Often called one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Panama Canal splits the continents of North and South America and launched a new era in global commerce when it opened in 1914.

Why You Shouldn’t ‘Heat Up’ Your Car’s Engine in Cold Weather

Many drivers think that giving your engine time to reach its normal operating temperature is easier on your car than hitting the gas as soon as you turn the ignition on. Many drivers are wrong.

Green space Japan set to test world's first wooden satellite | REUTERS

The First Wooden Satellite Is Headed To the International Space Station

A type of wood commonly used to make Samurai sword sheaths may be the future of space exploration.

The College Majors Graduates Regret the Most (and Least)

The humanities aren't in first place.

Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum in space.

Roborock Sends the First Robot Vacuum to Space

Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum became the first robot vacuum to go to space as part of the company’s “Cleaning Beyond Limits” campaign.

Presented by Roborock

Stainless steel is rust-resistant, but not quite rust-proof.

What Stops Stainless Steel From Rusting?

Stainless steel has a secret ingredient that makes it highly resistant to rust.

Why Do Some Road Signs Have Holes in Them?

Yes, they‘re often bullet holes. No, that‘s not the only explanation.

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.

15 Monumental Facts About the Eiffel Tower

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower—which was built as an entrance arch for the World's Fair—opened to the public.

The Man Who Saved the Skyscraper

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

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, at sunset, c26th century BC.

Egypt’s Giza Pyramids Might Have Been Built Next To A Now-Vanished River

A recent study claims that the pyramids of Giza were constructed alongside an almost 40-mile long artery of the Nile river that no longer exists today.

Angkor Wat reflected in one of its waterways.

10 Facts about Angkor Wat, the World’s Largest Religious Temple

Angkor Wat is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Here is what we know of its story, from its countless carvings to feats of engineering.

An illustration of Samuel Morse and company sending the first telegraph message from 'The Story of the Nineteenth Century of the Christian Era,' 1900.

‘What Hath God Wrought’: The Biblical Phrase That Made Scientific History

The origins of ‘what hath God wrought’ go much farther back than the first telegraph message.

The Laroche family shortly before departing on the 'Titanic.'

The Long-Lost Story of Joseph Laroche, the Only Black Man on the ‘Titanic’

There are few tales of the ‘Titanic’ left unexplored. Joseph Laroche’s story is one of them.

A section of Hadrian’s Wall showing the remains of a Roman fort.

10 Facts About Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman Empire’s Northern Frontier

Uncover the story of Hadrian’s Wall and take a fascinating dive into life at the Roman Empire’s northern frontier.

Vienna’s Wienflussportal, showing the spot where the Vienna River emerges from its underground course.

10 Rivers Buried Under Cities

Discover the hidden rivers buried beneath cities around the world. From Moscow to Tokyo, explore the history and modern efforts to reopen these forgotten waterways.

A lithograph of the 1889 Johnstown Flood made in the 1890s shows the debris caused by the flood in flames.

10 Things You Need to Know About the Johnstown Flood

The Great Flood of 1889 killed more than 2000 people, swept away 1600 homes, and caused $17 million in damage. And it wasn’t the last time Johnstown would flood.

14 Fascinating Facts About the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Here's everything you need to know about Italy's most beloved architectural accident.

Brian Mueller (super soaker), New Africa (light bulb and seat belt), Feng Yu (duct ape), los_jan (toilet), non123 (Walkman), 3DMI (Hubble), Areeya_Ann (birth control pills) // Shutterstock; Julia Lemba (backgrounds) // iStock via Getty Images Plus

The Stories Behind 20 Inventions That Changed the World

From blood banks and barcodes to the Super Soaker and the pizza box, here are the fascinating stories behind inventions that changed the world.