- 16 hours ago
Discover the unexpected capabilities of everyday objects! From the unique design of your pasta spoon to the clever functions of your dishwasher, these life hacks reveal a world of efficiency you never knew existed. We used advanced technology to uncover the secrets behind common household items, showing how your home is more innovative than you think. Explore these hacks that blend nature's mysteries with modern design, making your space smarter and more functional than ever. Get ready for a revelation!
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00:00Fitness trackers and fancy smartwatches are fine for monitoring your heart rate and even the miles you cover on a
00:06run.
00:06They're not so good at measuring the number of calories you've burned, though.
00:10A 2017 study from the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that fitness trackers and smartwatches have error margins of
00:17less than 5% when it comes to measuring heart rates.
00:20That's pretty good, so you can be confident in whatever reading you're getting.
00:24The problem is with the devices measuring energy expenditure accurately or calendars burn.
00:30Even the best was off by an average of 27%.
00:32The worst was off by a crazy 93%.
00:36That means they're very unreliable and shouldn't be trusted.
00:40Fitness trackers don't work well for measuring calories because we all have different heights, weights, diets, and many other things.
00:46That means we all burn calories at completely different rates.
00:50The trackers are often programmed with a preset average height and weight.
00:54So, if you're going to use one, take it with a grain of salt.
00:57Unless you're trying to reduce your sodium intake.
01:00Sunscreens have only one job to do, and that's protecting us from the harmful ultraviolet rays.
01:05In 2017, though, a study found that many popular brands failed to protect at all, with only one in four
01:12working.
01:12Most sunscreens didn't protect users from ultraviolet A and B rays at all.
01:17Some manufacturers also claimed that these products had an SPF of over 50, which sounds very high quality.
01:24But the actual SPF was much lower than that.
01:27The misleading labeling means we aren't as protected as we think when we're at the beach.
01:32So, when you're out shopping for sunscreen, make sure you look at the ingredients and apply more than you think
01:37you should.
01:37Ooh, sports drinks. An essential item for anyone working out.
01:42These bright-colored drinks are filled with electrolytes that will increase your performance and rehydrate you fast.
01:48The problem is, we're not all athletes.
01:50So, most people would be better if they just drink water instead.
01:54Sports drinks are made up of water with some minerals and lots of sugar, coloring, and flavor.
01:59Those minerals are electrolytes, which can help our bodies go longer.
02:03Your exercise habits, the duration, and the intensity of your training all come into whether you really need that extra
02:09boost.
02:10While sports drinks can benefit athletes engaged in long or intense training, they're not really necessary for most gym-goers.
02:17Sports drinks are probably pointless if you're only doing light-to-moderate exercise, like walking or jogging, over a short
02:23period of time.
02:25After using a toaster for most of your life, most people still haven't figured out how to get a perfect
02:30heat setting.
02:31It turns out that burnt toast is probably just down to a simple misconception.
02:35Those numbers on your toaster aren't heat levels at all.
02:38They're actually minutes.
02:40The dial is basically just a timer.
02:42That means all you need to do is look up how long it takes to toast certain things, and you'll
02:47never ruin your breakfast again.
02:49Hey, I like burnt toast.
02:51I'm used to it.
02:52Most of us rely on wireless technology to carry out normal, everyday tasks.
02:57It can be very frustrating when technology stops working and interrupts your day.
03:01In fact, the only thing more frustrating might be not knowing why it isn't working.
03:06The worst culprit here is your cell phone.
03:08It'll often show really great reception, but somehow can't make a phone call.
03:12The bars on a cell phone actually don't mean anything.
03:16The way they receive the signal differs a lot between different makes and models of phone.
03:21There's even a big difference between what the bars mean, from one phone to another.
03:25Meanwhile, watching a progress bar showing the percentage of time left to complete a download on our phones or PC
03:32can be tedious.
03:34Sometimes they just seem to be stuck doing nothing.
03:36Bad news.
03:37They don't really work.
03:39At least not in the way we think.
03:40The system updates the progress bar when certain milestones are reached.
03:44A progress bar at 50% doesn't mean half the file has been downloaded.
03:49Almost all the files could have been downloaded.
03:51The point of them is to give you something visual to look at.
03:55Progress bars aren't accurate because downloads and transfers have too many variables beyond the system's control.
04:02Internet speeds and network availability are the coordinators of how quickly a download will complete,
04:07while your computer's hard drive determines how fast things process and information gets put in the right files.
04:14It's probably best to make a coffee or set things up to download while you're in bed,
04:19instead of constantly checking up on an incorrect progress bar.
04:23Elsewhere, stopping at a crosswalk and pressing the button hoping the walk signal will come up might just be a
04:29waste of your time.
04:30It turns out that all that button pushing could be for nothing.
04:33Some crosswalk buttons need to be pressed, but others don't do anything at all.
04:38The crossing symbol will just light up whenever it wants to.
04:41Some crosswalks even switch between needing and not needing a button press, depending on the time of day.
04:47That said, it can be difficult for all of us pedestrians to determine whether a crosswalk button works or not.
04:54When in doubt, just push the button anyway.
04:57You don't want to stand around waiting for no reason.
04:59With more people going into the water and sharks, well, living in the water,
05:04the fear of bumping into a not-so-friendly shark is ever-increasing.
05:08This shared water space has pushed many companies to try to create shark repellents.
05:13This sounds like a good idea that should help keep both people and sharks more safe.
05:18Companies have tried everything – sprays, wetsuits, magnets, wax, and even electronic devices – to repel the scary fish.
05:26The bad news is, none of these products are confirmed to actually work.
05:30One, in particular, makes the sound of an orca.
05:33Sharks aren't too fond of being in the same area as them, but does pretending you're an orca stop a
05:39shark from biting you?
05:40If you feel safer using them, then go right ahead.
05:43But if you're looking for a shark deterrent that's 100% effective, it's just not available.
05:49Psst, here's what actually works.
05:51Stay out of the water!
05:53Rushing into an elevator and repeatedly pushing the closed-door button in the U.S.
05:57is basically a huge waste of time, unless you've got the special trick.
06:02In 1990, the U.S. passed a Disabilities Act for elevators, which meant that elevators had to ensure that someone
06:09with a disability had time to get inside one.
06:12If you're on crutches, use a cane, or travel in a wheelchair, you don't have to worry about someone accidentally
06:18closing the elevator doors before you've had a chance to pass through them.
06:22There's one important loophole to this.
06:24If you're an emergency or maintenance worker, you'll have access to keys and codes that make that button operational.
06:30This is just another example of a placebo button you're invited to push, just to make you feel like you've
06:36done something.
06:37That impatient finger-poking isn't doing anything.
06:40Getting a bit warm or cold in the office?
06:43Better adjust that thermostat.
06:45Unfortunately, in the vast majority of office buildings, the system controls are kept inside air ducts, not on the wall.
06:52Technicians install dummy thermostats to give workers the illusion that they're dramatically changing the air conditioning or heat.
06:58Some are set to change one or two degrees, but they're often not connected to anything at all.
07:04Dummy thermostats came about around the 1960s.
07:07As heating prices rose, building leases often required employers to stay within specific temperatures.
07:13Faced with this problem, fake thermostats became the new rage for businesses.
07:17They offer people some feeling of control while keeping the temperature in the right range.
07:22Now, ever come across some premium PC cleaning software that promises to clean your PC and make it go as
07:29fast as when you purchased it?
07:30Yeah!
07:31These third-party PC cleaners are often made to seem like they really work, but they usually don't do much
07:37of anything at all.
07:39They'll detect non-problems and list them as problems.
07:41The worst example of this is when they list browser cookies and temporary files as having an effect on the
07:47computer's speed when they don't.
07:49It's better to stick to the operating system's built-in cleaner.
07:52It'll work fine if you ever need to clean your computer and save you having to splash out on one
07:57that does pretty much the same thing.
07:59Well, that's all I got.
08:01Time to burn some toast.
08:03So you can wash your hands as much as you want, but you're never going to get that garlic or
08:08onion smell off your hands.
08:10The smell of certain foods sticks to you because they release acidic molecules when you break them open.
08:16Watching your hands will help clean the food off you, but it doesn't do anything to remove the odor itself.
08:21Water on its own can actually make the issue even worse because it reacts with the molecules to make the
08:27smell stronger.
08:28It turns out that the best way to get rid of these smells is to rub your hands against your
08:33pots and pans, cutlery, and baking trays.
08:36As long as they're made of stainless steel, that is.
08:39This is so good at removing smells that someone even invented stainless steel soap.
08:45Trying to squeeze all of the juice out of a lemon without a strainer can be messy work.
08:49Instead of using your hands, try using some tongs.
08:53Place a lemon between the tongs and squeeze it.
08:56You'll definitely get a lot more juice with much less effort.
09:00Lint rollers were originally designed to remove tiny fibers from things like upholstery and clothing.
09:06But you can also use them to keep your silverware shiny and clean.
09:10The dishwasher might thoroughly rinse and clean your utensils, but that doesn't help much if the place you store them
09:16is dirty.
09:17If you want to remove the dirt from the utensil tray, you don't have to take the whole thing out
09:21of the drawer.
09:22Simply take your sticky lint roller and put it into each compartment, and ta-da!
09:28The crumbs and dirt are all gone.
09:31Lost your earring back?
09:32Take a small piece of pencil eraser and stick your earring in it.
09:36That'll keep it in place.
09:38Soda cans come with that little tab you use to open your drink.
09:42You know that hole in the top of the tab?
09:44It doesn't just make opening the can easier.
09:46It's also designed to hold your straw.
09:49It has more uses, too.
09:51If you want to hang a picture up on a wall, but it doesn't have a wire or hanger, you
09:55can use a soda can tab for that, too.
09:58You're having a coffee to go.
10:00It usually comes with that lid so you can close your drink, but you can also use it as a
10:05coaster.
10:06Take it off, turn it upside down, place it under your cup, and you'll never leave a mark on a
10:11table again.
10:13If you don't know how much spaghetti to have for dinner, there's an easy way to measure out a portion
10:18with a spaghetti spoon.
10:19The base of the spoon has a hole so you can drain water out, but it can also be used
10:24to measure how much pasta you should cook.
10:27Whatever fits in the spoon's hole is one serving of pasta.
10:31You opened applesauce and don't have a spoon with you.
10:34No need to buy one.
10:36Just take the lid, twist the end to make a handle, and use the other end as a scoop.
10:40Your little spoon is ready.
10:43Once your tissue box is empty, you don't have to throw it away.
10:46It's a great shape to store things in.
10:49Maybe you can never seem to remember where you keep your plastic bags.
10:52If you put them in an empty tissue box, you'll always know where they are.
10:57Binder clips are great little things to carry around with you when you want to leave the house carrying as
11:03few things as possible.
11:04Link one together with your keys, and you can just clip bills to it.
11:08With one of these, you'll never need to carry a wallet or purse around with you again.
11:13If you don't have a computer duster or something specifically designed to clean your keyboard, just use a cotton swab.
11:20Lightly moisten it with disinfectant and wipe between the keys once or twice a week.
11:25You may notice lots of boots have those loops sticking out on the back.
11:29Their main purpose is to help you pull your shoes on easier.
11:33Just pull it up as you push your heel into the boot.
11:35It has another handy use, too.
11:38You can use it to hang your boots on a hook when they're dirty or when you want to dry
11:42them after washing.
11:43You can also run your laces through the loop if you're tying them around your ankles.
11:48It can be irritating when you buy shoes you like and then realize they're really slippery.
11:54No worries, just take a bit of sandpaper and rub it on the soles for better traction.
11:59Now they're more grippy.
12:01You can even wear them out in the rain.
12:03Okay, I admit it, I used to believe that the rougher end of the two-tone eraser was there to
12:09erase ink.
12:10The truth is that the darker side, which is usually blue or gray, can erase pencil from more delicate paper.
12:17This type of paper is usually only used by artists, so most people don't know about it.
12:22That's not all erasers can do, though.
12:24They can polish your jewelry, clean electronics, and even remove that annoying residue from stickers.
12:31It can also clean scuffed-up suede and dirt you might have on your walls.
12:35Uh-oh, your zipper got stuck again, and you're late.
12:39Who has time to deal with that now?
12:41Well, wax paper does.
12:44Try rubbing it on the stuck zipper, and it should loosen.
12:48Can openers can do so much more than the name suggests.
12:52For instance, they can help out with those frustrating hard plastic packages.
12:57Arr!
12:58You don't have to wrestle with scissors anymore.
13:00Just take a regular can opener, run it along the edge of some packaging, and enjoy never struggling to open
13:06anything again.
13:08Now, here's a top secret.
13:10Shh!
13:10WD-40 can completely remove gum from the soles of your shoes.
13:14It removes stickers, labels, and even crayon marks from walls.
13:18You could also use it to untangle your necklaces and loosen a ring, if it gets stuck on your finger.
13:24Surprise!
13:25Now your earphones have a new holder.
13:28Neatly rolling them up in a Kinder Egg is a cool way to stop them from getting tangled.
13:33Heh, hopefully.
13:35Doorknobs are mostly made of brass, and that's not a coincidence.
13:38Sure, it has a nice golden shine to a room, but it actually has a practical reason, too.
13:45Brass is generally durable and, most importantly, resistant to all the moisture and oils on human hands.
13:51It's also antibacterial, so brass doorknobs actually help to keep your house more hygienic.
13:58Wooden hangers look fancier and more elegant than those plastic ones, but that's not the only reason they're more expensive.
14:05They're actually made of cedar, which is a special type of wood that repels bugs.
14:10Speaking of the wardrobe, putting a soap bar inside will leave a refreshing scent on your clothes.
14:17Nail polish is not only for beauty treatments.
14:20Thanks to its adhesive and waterproofing abilities, it's great if you need to make a protective seal or stick some
14:26things together.
14:27No more licking envelopes, the nail polish is here.
14:30It can also keep your glasses frames tighter.
14:33Fix a run in your stockings, guys, or take care of the fraying ends of the shoelaces.
14:38You get a small silica gel packet every time you buy a new pair of shoes.
14:43You should keep them, because silica gel is excellent at absorbing moisture out of the environment.
14:49It can be used for much more than just shoes, though.
14:51You know how everyone says if your phone is wet, you need to put it in a jar with some
14:56rice?
14:56The rice is supposed to draw the water out, but silica is even better when it comes to absorbing moisture.
15:03You can also put silica packets in your gym bag to stop any bad smells from building up.
15:08Make sure to always be careful with silica gel, though.
15:11The warning label clearly says you shouldn't eat it, because it contains toxic additives.
15:16If you're writing an essay on your computer, almost done, oh no, the internet's gone!
15:22No problem, there's an easy way to use up some time.
15:26If you use Google Chrome, you'll see a little T-Rex show up in your browser, right next to no
15:32internet.
15:32When this fellow appears, just press the up key on the keyboard, and you'll start a platformer minigame.
15:39You need to help the T-Rex run around without hitting any cactuses on its way.
15:43Okay, connection, no need for you to come back. I've got some records to break.
15:49We all know what a thermos is for, but it wasn't actually invented to keep your coffee warm.
15:54It was made by a Scottish scientist who just wanted a safe place to keep his chemicals at a stable
16:00temperature.
16:00So, he took two bottles, put the smaller one inside the bigger bottle, and vacuumed out the air between them.
16:07Ah, thank you for helping me keep my coffee warm.
16:13So, grab your phone. Good, now turn it around.
16:17You see that little dot between the camera and the flash?
16:20That's a tiny microphone. Bet that's something you didn't know.
16:24What's it doing there?
16:25Well, when you're on a phone call, this little guy is busy at work, reducing the amount of background noise
16:31other people hear when you talk.
16:33That's right, if it wasn't for this, calls wouldn't be as nearly as crisp as they are now.
16:40You're lost in the woods, and you're rushing to get back to camp.
16:44You suddenly remember you've got something that can help.
16:47You grab one of your chest straps from your backpack and whistle on it.
16:52Yup, that's right.
16:54A lot of bags have this feature in them, especially the ones made for the outdoors.
16:58It isn't long before you hear the call of one of your friends, and you follow them back to the
17:03warm campfire, saved by this cool bit of design.
17:08If you're a curious person, you might have wondered what that little pocket in your jeans is doing there.
17:14You know, the one that's inside the bigger pocket.
17:16People often use it to store coins and bills, but it's not meant for that.
17:22It's actually designed to store your pocket watch safely.
17:25Huh?
17:26Maybe that's where the name pocket watch comes from.
17:31You finally arrive home after a long day's work.
17:34You understandably don't feel like cooking, so you sit on the couch and watch a bit of TV and order
17:40some takeout.
17:41How about Chinese?
17:42Ah, perfect.
17:44There's the doorbell.
17:45Well, that has to be your food.
17:47It smells delicious.
17:49Wait.
17:50Before you grab the plates, do this instead.
17:52Open your Chinese food container on the table.
17:55It becomes the perfect plate.
17:57And it's cardboard.
17:59Which means no cleaning either.
18:02That can of soda you got with your food has a cool feature too.
18:06Look at the tiny metal tab there, the one you use to open the can.
18:10Guess what?
18:11You can fit your straw in there.
18:13In fact, that's exactly what they're made for.
18:16Go ahead, try it for yourself.
18:19If you're not at your computer, take a look at your keyboard right now.
18:23If you're not, that's okay.
18:25Here's one on the screen.
18:26The keycaps are arranged in what's called the QWERTY layout, named after the first six keycaps below the numbers.
18:33As it turns out, it wasn't always this way.
18:36They used to be laid out alphabetically, which would make more sense when you think about it.
18:41The alphabetical layout fell out of use because long ago, there were things called typewriters.
18:47Remember those?
18:49You pressed down a key, and a typebar would fly out, hitting an inked ribbon and stamping a letter on
18:55the piece of paper.
18:57Eventually, typists got good at this and typed faster.
19:00Too fast.
19:01The typebars would eventually get caught in a log jam with each other, ruining the flow.
19:06To fix this problem, they made keyboards with randomized keycaps.
19:11The new layout actually worked better because it made typing harder, helping to slow typists down and prevent the typebars
19:18from getting stuck.
19:19Much better!
19:20Today, no typebars.
19:22No typewriters, mostly.
19:24People are still fast nowadays, but you just can't help but wonder who was faster, though.
19:29Us or them?
19:31Keyboards have another hidden feature, too.
19:33Have you ever noticed that the F keycap and the J keycap have little bumps on the bottom of them?
19:39As it turns out, they're there to help people figure out where they are on the keyboard without having to
19:44take their eyes off the screen.
19:47Grabbing a takeaway cup of coffee at your favorite cafe might be just what you need to fully wake up
19:53in the mornings.
19:54When you get back home or to work, though, you might be afraid to stain your desk when you put
19:59the steaming hot coffee down.
20:01Worry not, your plastic lid isn't only good for keeping your coffee hot.
20:06It also doubles as a coaster.
20:08In fact, they're the perfect size to hold a cup.
20:11Try it for yourself.
20:14This one's going to come in handy if you're a home cook.
20:17If you're like me, you might have a bit of trouble deciding how much pasta you need for just one
20:22serving.
20:22Well, if you've got a pasta scoop, grab that.
20:26Most people don't know what the little hole in the middle is for and assume it's supposed to help with
20:31water drainage or something.
20:33It turns out that it helps you measure out a perfect serving.
20:37Just see how much dry spaghetti you can fit in the hole and use that as one portion.
20:44Out of the store buying coat hangers, you might notice that the plastic ones feel cheaper than the wooden ones.
20:50There's a good reason for this.
20:52Wooden hangers are made out of cedar wood.
20:54The big difference between the two is that the wooden ones repel bugs and moths.
21:01They're stronger and last longer, too.
21:03Perfect for things that might stay in your closet for a long time.
21:08When you brush your teeth, you might have noticed that your toothbrush has blue bristles.
21:13They're not just there for show.
21:14In fact, they're there to tell you when it might be time to switch toothbrushes.
21:19These bristles lose their strength and color when the brush has been worn down,
21:24letting you know that it's time to get rid of it.
21:28Microwaves often look a bit like mini TVs,
21:31especially ones where you can clearly see the black film around them.
21:35This is actually a really important feature that's used to keep the radiation from slipping away.
21:40They're called Faraday cages, if you want to get technical.
21:44This is why you can stand next to a microwave without melting into a puddle.
21:49That's not to say you should stand in front of the microwave and watch your food heat up,
21:54but at least you know you won't grow an extra ear or something.
21:58Okay, not really.
22:00Some ovens have a drawer under them.
22:02It's tempting to use this to store random junk you don't use often, but there's a better use for it.
22:08Instead, this should be used to help keep the food that's waiting to be served hot.
22:12You can take it out of the oven and store it right in this drawer,
22:16keeping your oven free for you to carry on cooking.
22:20Now, you're on a plane looking around trying to pass the time before takeoff.
22:24When you examine the window, you notice this has a little, very tiny hole on its bottom.
22:30Don't worry, it's not broken.
22:32It's there to relieve the pressure that builds up over time as the plane goes up and down.
22:38It also lets the air flow through it.
22:40Now, raise your hand if you've ever ridden on an escalator and scrubbed your shoes on its bristles.
22:46Hey, I'm guilty of doing that.
22:47Maybe more than I should.
22:49It's not there to clean your shoes, though.
22:51It's an important safety measure.
22:53It stops your shoelaces, clothing, and other stuff from getting stuck in there,
22:57avoiding a nasty scene when you go to get off.
23:02Sometimes a piece of fabric comes with your new clothing.
23:05It usually comes along with the extra buttons in a little plastic bag.
23:09You might think it's just a piece of fabric to use for future patching, in case you rip it.
23:14But that isn't its purpose at all.
23:16Well, it's actually supposed to be put in the washing machine to test how it reacts to various washings.
23:22Now, you don't have to worry about shrinking your new, expensive coat
23:26because you know how it'll react to the wash.
23:30Bubbles!
23:30Who doesn't love bubbles?
23:31Most people have fond memories with bubble blowers as a kid.
23:35But as adults, the closest thing we can get to recapturing that feeling is with bubble baths.
23:41After a hard day at work, there's nothing better than dipping into a nice, warm bubble bath.
23:46Right, guys?
23:47And the bubbles do more than just clean you.
23:50If they're high-quality bubbles, they'll serve as a heat insulator.
23:54So they make sure that your bath stays warm for longer.
23:59Boxes of chocolate sometimes have these mysterious holes in them.
24:02When I'm eating a box, or two, I usually ignore them and take out the chocolate by pressing the bottom
24:09of the plastic.
24:09But it turns out that I've been doing it wrong the whole time.
24:14If you press one of the holes, the chocolate comes right out.
24:18I'm certainly going to start doing this from now on.
24:21Mm-hmm.
24:22Here's another one from the kitchen.
24:24The handle on a pot will often have a hole in it.
24:28Most people use this to hang them on a nail on the wall as an easy storage method.
24:32The hole has another use, too.
24:35When you're cooking, you can use this handle to hold your wooden spoon or whatever else you might be cooking
24:41with.
24:41This makes sure you don't make a mess when you put it down.
24:46Glass bottles usually come with a cap in them.
24:49Well, duh!
24:50Otherwise, the liquid would just spill.
24:52In this cap, there's a plastic liner that seemingly has no purpose, right?
24:57Wrong.
24:57It's a seal.
25:01No, not a seal.
25:02A seal.
25:03It's the kind that helps keep your drink fizzy.
25:06Ah, just the refreshment I needed.
25:09A lot of doorknobs are made out of brass, and it's not by chance.
25:13They're made out of this specific material because it's bacteria's worst enemy.
25:18That's right, it destroys them.
25:20Perfect for those who want to keep a clean house and avoid germs.
25:24Hey, you want to fish?
25:28After a bad day at work, you decide to hide yourself from the rest of the world.
25:33You turn off your phone and your laptop and lock yourself inside the bathroom.
25:37You jump out of your meditation when you hear a beeping sound.
25:41It's your toothbrush saying,
25:42Data transfer completed!
25:44Your robot vacuum knocks at the door.
25:47Looks like it must be after you.
25:49Robot vacuums make a map of your home to get around and plan cleaning better.
25:53They can share this map with other gadgets via Wi-Fi and store them in the cloud.
25:58When advertisers get access to those maps, they can get an idea of your home size,
26:03your income level, and lifestyle to send the right ads your way.
26:08Vacuums don't have microphones, but their navigation systems can be repurposed to listen to your conversations.
26:14They map the room with a laser beam directed at objects.
26:18Sound waves affect that light.
26:20If you collect that data, you can convert it back into sound waves and identify what someone said.
26:27Headphones and microphones are based on the same idea.
26:31Headphones turn electrical signals into sound,
26:33and microphones turn sound into electrical signals.
26:36If you plug your headphones into the microphone jack, they'll work as a microphone.
26:42Bad guys learn to do it remotely without your consent.
26:45There's malware that retask your computer output channel into input channel.
26:50It can record sounds from across the room even when the headphones are in their jack
26:54and the microphone is turned off and disconnected from the computer.
26:58Then it compresses the audio and sends it over the internet.
27:01There are computer mice that look like regular ones, but have microphones and a built-in SIM card in them.
27:08The mics are so powerful, they can even record whisper and broadcast that audio in real time.
27:13To activate it, you have to call the SIM card number, and it goes on silently.
27:18To deactivate it, you can send an SMS to the same number.
27:22Some employers confirmed eavesdropping on their staff using that technology.
27:27A smart toothbrush remembers every move you made with it and shares it with you when you're done brushing.
27:34It also connects to your iPhone or Android using an app and sends data on your brushing habits to your
27:41dentist.
27:41They can watch over your brushing process and give you tips on how to take better care of your teeth.
27:47Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other smart wearables monitor your health
27:51and can determine if you're walking, running, or driving with their built-in sensors.
27:55If third parties get control over that data, they can also monitor your hand movements
28:00as you unlock your phone, enter your PIN code at the ATM, or your password at the computer.
28:06The gadgets are smart enough to accurately guess all that secret data most of the time.
28:11They can also find out the email address you use when you register with the app to identify who you
28:17are.
28:19Pacemakers and other health devices send patient data over the internet.
28:23In theory, criminals could obtain it during transfer and change it to look like the patient needs hospital treatment.
28:30That would make them leave their home and bad guys could take advantage of the situation.
28:36Smart toys that have cameras and microphones in them can record videos and sounds and send them to the toy
28:41maker.
28:42To keep prices on smart toys lower, they don't add expensive security mechanisms to protect that data.
28:48If cybercriminals get a hold of it, they can steal pictures, videos, or audio, and even identify GPS coordinates of
28:56the house.
28:57LED lights equipped with sensors and connected to video cameras can watch over and listen to conversations over a large
29:04distance.
29:05This technology was used at one large airport for security and comfort reasons.
29:11Cybercriminals went further and learned to use ordinary light bulbs for eavesdropping on conversations.
29:17To do it, they need a clean line of sight between a powerful telescope and the bulb of the right
29:22thickness.
29:23It won't work if you have drapes on your window.
29:26When you're talking or listening to music, there are changes in air pressure on the surface of the bulb and
29:32it's shaking a bit.
29:33A special converter can turn data on the sounds from electrical to digital.
29:38Internet-connected thermostats can be operated remotely, and that made them desirable for cybercriminals.
29:45They once got access to millions of debit and credit cards data through a large retailer's heating and cooling system.
29:51Other bad guys found a way to remotely lock smart thermostats' controls and demanded ransom to unlock them.
29:58Smart fridges can tell you when it's time to buy milk as they track your food preferences and have great
30:04connectivity.
30:05Smart dishwashers, coffee machines, washers and dryers are also collecting and transmitting your data, even at moments you don't think
30:13they're doing it.
30:14Criminals can make use of that data to find out a lot about your schedule and guess when you aren't
30:20at home.
30:21Your voice assistant makes your life easier, but it must listen to you 24-7 to make that possible.
30:27They never record anything you say before you activate them with your voice.
30:32Everything that follows is stored in the cloud and can be of use for different companies.
30:37They can learn what music you like to listen to, what news stories interest you the most, and where you
30:42make your reservations.
30:44Some companies hire human reviewers to listen to commands to see if voice recognition works well and improve its accuracy.
30:51Xbox admitted they also hired people to listen to users' audio to improve voice command features.
30:57The problem is that it made some recordings by mistake and strangers were listening to personal chats.
31:04Home security cameras can take videos, pictures, and audio recording and upload them to the cloud without you even knowing.
31:12Manufacturers say it's done to improve object recognition.
31:15You can get access to that camera footage remotely using an app.
31:19There are programs that can guess a CCTV password and forward the video stream to a third-party computer.
31:26They can also get control over the camera and disable any signs of monitoring, like red light, so it seems
31:33inactive.
31:35Almost every car has an event data recorder that tracks information on its location, average speed, road condition, and even
31:43your preferred route.
31:44Your computer on wheels constantly streams that data to its manufacturer.
31:49They use it to try to prevent accidents and make other improvements.
31:52It's not clear who owns all that car-related information, so in theory, it could end up at a third
31:59party.
32:00Smart TVs run an operating system just like computers and also have a file system, cameras for video face recognition,
32:07and a microphone.
32:08They are always connected to the Internet, and if cybercriminals get access to a TV, that can change certain settings
32:16and record audio, even when the TV is off.
32:19They could also watch you through the camera and use the smart gadget to move to other devices on the
32:24same network, like your laptop.
32:28Well, I'm totally creeped out, so what can we do about it?
32:31You can disable automatic content recognition to stop your TV from giving you viewing recommendations and limit voice activation function
32:39for a safer experience.
32:41You'll find that option in general or advanced settings under Viewing Information or Viewing Data.
32:47You can also disconnect it from the cloud altogether.
32:51Always change default passwords and usernames on new devices to secure your network.
32:57Make up a new password for every gadget every now and then.
33:00You can also split your modem and use one Wi-Fi signal for laptops, iPads, and the like, and the
33:07other for security cameras.
33:09Don't forget to turn off the Wi-Fi router when you leave the house to minimize the risk of a
33:14digital intrusion.
33:15Whenever possible, enable two-step authentication that demands physical access to the device to log in.
33:23Always install software updates as soon as the gadget manufacturer offers you to do it.
33:28Updates have patches for detected vulnerability issues.
33:32Cover your laptop camera with a dark-colored tape when you aren't using it.
33:37Delete your conversations with the voice assistant.
33:39You can do it at the manufacturer's website or app.
33:43Another option is to activate the Delete by Voice function in Settings.
33:47Then, you'll be able to tell the assistant to delete what you just said or your last conversations.
33:53You can also mute the device when you aren't using it and choose not to send data to manufacturer to
33:59help them improve services.
34:00If you have a thermostat that connects to your voice assistant, tap the microphone icon on its screen and set
34:07voice control to off.
34:09You won't be able to activate it remotely and it won't be able to listen to wake words and send
34:14your audio anywhere.
34:16Okay, have a nice day.
34:18Okay, I know it's kind of cold to the touch, especially on a freezing winter's day.
34:23But did you know that brass doorknobs actually serve a purpose apart from looking classy and shiny?
34:27Since it's a copper alloy, brass has antimicrobial properties.
34:31That means it can help get rid of harmful germs and bacteria, sometimes in up to two hours.
34:37In high-traffic areas, that's all the more useful.
34:40But since brass is much costlier than other metals like nickel and steel, you barely see these types of doorknobs
34:46anymore nowadays.
34:48Speaking of lovely multi-purpose items, most screwdrivers have a tiny little secret of their own.
34:53They can sometimes be slid through a wrench so that they can be used to create more torque when twisting.
34:58Not to mention the uses when it comes to bolts in hard-to-reach places.
35:03There's a reason why buttons on women's shirts are for the left-handed, and it has nothing to do with
35:08fashion.
35:09This practice dates back to the times when chambermaids were helping ladies dress themselves,
35:14and it was easier for them to perform their job with this orientation.
35:18Having the buttons placed as such indicated a sign of wealth,
35:22so it's easy to imagine why the practice carried on, even though most people dress themselves nowadays.
35:28Next time you receive a package in your mail, take a look at your box cutter.
35:33If it features some diagonal lines on the blade, you're in for a little design perk.
35:37Turns out that these are blades that snap off.
35:41Continuously cutting cardboard can dull the sharp edge of the blade.
35:44To help prevent the need to buy a brand new box cutter,
35:47the top segment along the next line can be broken off to reach a new sharp edge.
35:51To do this, check out the small hole at the base of the tool, sometimes called the blade snapper.
35:57The people that first came up with this brilliant invention were engineers,
36:01inspired by the way chocolate bars are segmented.
36:04Hold on a minute, don't throw away the cardboard package just yet.
36:08Most likely, you'll have some silica gel packets somewhere at the bottom of the box.
36:12Since this gel is basically a drawing tool, it gathers up the moisture out of its environment,
36:17so you can store these packets for further occasions.
36:20Whether you'll need to dry out your phone or some other electrical object,
36:23you can place them in a container next to the silica gel to reduce the damage.
36:28You don't have to be a mechanic to know when a standard car tire needs replacing,
36:32since they come equipped with a neat indicator.
36:35Take a closer look, and you'll see that treads within the tire are a bunch of rubber notches.
36:40When the treads are evened out with the perpendicular bars,
36:44it's a sign you need to book an appointment with your local car service.
36:48Since most likely, the tires have lost most of their traction and may not be safe for driving any longer.
36:54The upper corners of a car windshield feature textured black dots melted into the glass edges.
37:00This neat add-on isn't there for design purposes.
37:02It's called frit glazing, which means that a special type of ceramic paint
37:08is added to the window for protecting its sealant from UV rays.
37:12It also conceals and creates a coarser surface for the adhesive used to set the window in place.
37:19Whenever you're up for a drive, check out if there's a small tab under your car's rearview mirror.
37:25Bet you didn't know it's there to help switch the mirror from daytime to nighttime views.
37:31It uses a prismatic glass technology to blur the reflection
37:35and reduce the glare of headlights behind you in traffic.
37:39People came up with these manually tilted mirrors in the 1930s,
37:42but they became standard somewhere in the 1970s.
37:46While you're in the car, check out the headrests,
37:49as you most likely don't know that they carry a little disguised purpose.
37:53Of course, they're adjustable to accommodate passengers of any height
37:56so that they get the proper support for their heads and necks.
37:59The hidden feature is that they are detachable and come with two very solid metal bars.
38:05Should you ever find yourself stuck in a car and need to make a fast getaway?
38:10These bars come in handy to crack out the car windows.
38:13So you're out for a drive and you're suddenly out of gas.
38:17What I'm about to describe sounds more like a meme than an actual situation bound to happen.
38:21But what if you're in such a hurry that you accidentally drive off with the gas nozzle still in the
38:27tank?
38:28Well, the nozzles have been designed to prevent any hazards from happening, rest assured.
38:33They feature a breakaway device that will allow the hose to separate when taken out with enough force.
38:39Initially designed in the early 20th century to be worn exclusively by basketball players,
38:45sneakers soon became one of those fashion fundamentals, similar to jeans and leather jackets.
38:50If you take a closer look at them, you'll see they have two extra holes on the side, similar to
38:55the shoelace holes.
38:56They're manufactured as such, not only to provide extra ventilation,
39:00but to allow people to get extra creative with their laces when wearing the shoes.
39:04Admit it, you've always thought that chopsticks are merged at the end for the sole purpose of keeping them together
39:10until you're ready to dig into your meal.
39:12That may or may not be the whole truth.
39:15Under a more detailed inspection, the wooden tools feature a square-shaped end.
39:20Chopsticks manufactured like this date back to an old Japanese traditional design,
39:24which can help with breaking the ends easily.
39:27The separated end can then be used as a resting block for the chopsticks
39:31to keep it more sanitized in hopes it can be used again,
39:34since they won't be touching the table or any other surface.
39:38Women's bikes have a special design, which, surprisingly, has a historical and fashionable purpose.
39:45The lower frame is for the most part meant to make up for the generally shorter height of ladies,
39:50compared to that of the average gentleman.
39:52While that is the case for handlebars and saddles,
39:55the overall frame is lower for an additional purpose.
39:58Way back when women wore long skirts and dresses all day,
40:02every day they needed to make sure their outfits wouldn't get caught in the frame.
40:06That's how we came up with a lower-framed bicycle,
40:09perfectly made for women and their needs at the time.
40:12The fact that toothpastes are multi-colored is not just a nice perk to make dental hygiene more fun.
40:19There's a secret meaning related to each of the colors, which dates back to the 1970s.
40:24In those days, people grew more and more interested in their oral health care,
40:29and as such, they were looking for products which could do more than merely clean their teeth.
40:34One company was the pioneer in that regard, adding mouthwash to its toothpaste, meaning the blue strip.
40:40They later added on the red strip, meant to feature ingredients which helped with gum care.
40:46Speaking of toothpaste, check the cap next time you open a new tube.
40:50You may be in for a little surprise.
40:52There's a pointed cone shape inside the cap,
40:55so you can puncture the seal of the toothpaste without cutting yourself or ruining your manicure.
41:00Not to mention, it's more hygienic since you won't be able to transfer germs
41:04or other bacteria into the product itself.
41:07On the subject of bathroom countertop items,
41:10toothbrushes come with a neat add-on hidden in the bristle patterns.
41:14Apart from making the toothbrush look cooler, they also do come with a practical purpose.
41:20Most toothbrushes come with a pattern of blue bristles intertwined with white ones.
41:24The blue dye is meant to fade out,
41:26signaling the time when you need to replace your toothbrush.
41:30Dentists say that toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months,
41:34but it does serve as a great reminder in case you forget.
41:37Still love playing with Lego?
41:39Don't judge.
41:40Hey, it's a great hobby for all ages.
41:42Notice there's a hole on top of the Lego heads?
41:45Behold, you're looking at a safety feature that the people at Lego
41:48designed to prevent choking hazards.
41:51The most dangerous issue should a person swallow any of these pieces
41:55is the blocking of the airways.
41:57Designing a hole inside the Lego head
42:00helps the air to flow freely through the piece
42:02until it can be removed safely.
42:05We're now used to all sorts of modern light bulbs,
42:08some tubular, some shaped like diamonds,
42:10and some even twisted all together.
42:13Historically, light bulbs were round
42:15and the initial shape served a purpose in itself.
42:18It was mainly connected to the fact that glass bulbs were hand-blown,
42:22which gave them the round shape to begin with.
42:24The hidden practical reason was that the light bulb filament
42:27needed to be at the same distance from every surface of the glass sphere.
42:31The easiest way to achieve this was to make the glass in the shape of a globe.
42:38If you ever find yourself stuck in the trunk of your car, stay calm.
42:42All cars are supposed to be equipped with an emergency latch
42:45to help open the trunk from the inside in the unlikely case it happens.
42:50These latches are so well thought out
42:52that they can be opened by people of all ages.
42:55More so, handles are designed to glow in the dark, too.
42:58You can even pull them with a mouth if there's not enough wiggle room to use your hands.
43:03Never mind how you ended up in the trunk in the first place.
43:06Moving on!
43:07If you're ever working with needle and thread,
43:10remember you don't need to stick the needle directly into the spool.
43:14You may end up losing the needle altogether.
43:16Not to mention you can easily hurt your fingers!
43:19A lot of modern sewing kits these days
43:21come with a designated place for safeguarding the needles.
43:25It's located at the bottom part of the thread spool.
43:27You'll just need to pull it out.
43:30It's even made to hold multiple sewing needles at a time.
43:34Disposable ballpoint pens come with a little secret of their own.
43:38Did you ever notice that in some of them,
43:40there's a small hole in the plastic part?
43:42It's actually a rudimentary ventilation system.
43:46It's supposed to let the ink easily make it to the tip of the pen.
43:50Okay, I know it's in the name,
43:52but you really don't need to shake the seasoning shaker to get any product out.
43:56Don't believe me?
43:57Hey, you're not the only one.
43:59Go grab your favorite seasoning bottle out of your pantry.
44:03If it has one of those removable plastic caps,
44:05it's perfect for the experiment.
44:08Instead of shaking the bottle,
44:10try holding it from the plastic cap while it's upside down.
44:13Now gently twist the bottle from side to side and,
44:17before you know it,
44:18you get some gorgeously flowing seasoning
44:20without having to wiggle the shaker
44:22and make a mess all over the stove.
44:25On the same note,
44:27most salt and pepper shakers should have ridges
44:29on the bottom of the glass portion.
44:31In case you get any seasoning stuck in there,
44:34place the bottom of the salt shaker
44:36against the bottom of the pepper shaker
44:38and wiggle it around,
44:39so the ridges click with each other.
44:41The seasoning should easily pour out now
44:44without you having to open the bottle.
44:46In colder weather,
44:47you often have so many clothing layers on you
44:50that you can hardly feel the purse
44:52or back straps on your shoulder anymore,
44:54not to mention how fast they can slide off.
44:57Some jackets come with a built-in solution for that
45:00in the form of a small tab on the shoulder
45:03with either a hook or a button.
45:05It's meant to be opened and closed comfortably
45:07so you can keep your purse in place at any time.
45:12You're most likely using it
45:13merely to peel the skin of potatoes,
45:15carrots, or cucumbers.
45:17But you can use your vegetable peeler
45:19for chopping fine strips of onion as well.
45:22Just cut the onion into quarters vertically
45:24and then start slicing.
45:26This might also help out
45:28with those embarrassing onion tears.
45:31Most people miss this one,
45:33but should you ever have a closer look
45:35at your toothpaste tube,
45:36you will surely see some sort of coloring there,
45:39either a dot or a block.
45:41Colors can vary.
45:42They can be black, green, red, or even blue.
45:46These color spots are actually meant
45:48to help the assembly machines
45:49back at the toothpaste factory.
45:51They recognize when and where these machines
45:53need to cut the toothpaste tubes
45:55and proceed to fold them for packaging.
45:58For most types of footwear,
45:59if there's anything that seems a bit out of place,
46:02always know that it's there for a reason.
46:05Most manufacturers don't put extra items
46:07on shoes just for fun.
46:08It would definitely be a waste of time and resources.
46:12For footwear, like boots, for example,
46:15there's often a small loop
46:16at the top back of the shoe.
46:18It's there to help you
46:19when you need to put the shoe on
46:20since you can quickly pull on it.
46:22Plus, you can also hang the shoes somewhere,
46:25most likely to dry,
46:26since most boots are meant to be worn
46:28in the colder weather.
46:30Now, I've been guilty at least once
46:32of overdressing with a bunch of layers
46:34just so I won't need to jam everything
46:37in my check-in bag.
46:38But does it become a problem
46:40when you actually have to get seated?
46:42What do you do with your coat or your jacket?
46:44Well, have a closer look
46:46next time you board a plane
46:48on the seat in front of you.
46:49The hook that keeps the tray table upright
46:52can double as a jacket hook.
46:54As long as you don't need to have any meals
46:56while in the air,
46:57you're good to go.
46:59Now, most mascaras expire
47:01within 3 to 6 months, I'm told,
47:03depending on the manufacturer.
47:05But you can help speed up that process
47:07if you're not careful enough.
47:09Continuously pumping the mascara wand,
47:12trying to mix in the product,
47:13actually pushes more air into the tube.
47:16This can make it dry much faster,
47:18and you evidently won't get
47:19the desired results with it anymore.
47:22There's an easy way to check
47:23if your mascara is still good enough to use.
47:26If you don't hear a popping noise
47:28when you take the brush out,
47:29you may very well need to go
47:31get yourself a new mascara tube.
47:33Now, I know we're living in the era
47:36of Bluetooth-connected devices,
47:38but for better quality sound,
47:40they still recommend using headphones
47:42that connect via audio jacks.
47:45Remember seeing black ridges on those jacks?
47:47They aren't there just to make them fit
47:50when you plug them into your phone or laptop.
47:52Made out of a special insulating material,
47:55these bands are meant to guard the wires
47:57when sound is being transmitted.
47:59Based on the number of bands,
48:01you can figure out which end goes where.
48:03Some empty space under noodles in a cup
48:06doesn't mean the company producing them
48:08wants to cheat you out of a full portion.
48:10No, no.
48:11It's a manner of keeping the noodles intact
48:13during their transportation.
48:15It also helps with the circulation of hot water
48:18that is poured over the products
48:19before you can enjoy them.
48:21The V-shaped neckline was initially designed
48:24to serve a bunch of objectives.
48:26First, as a way of prolonging the life of the garment
48:29that would maintain its shape over the years.
48:31It's also there to fit your head through the shirt
48:34in case it needs some stretching.
48:36This way, it ensures a snugger grip around the neck.
48:39Lastly, it helps absorb sweat
48:41in case you're wearing the shirt while exercising.
48:44Now, it's not necessarily a custom anymore,
48:47but you may have stumbled upon a dinner jacket
48:50with an additional mysterious pocket on the right side.
48:53Turns out, this pocket was used by men
48:56to easily reach their train tickets
48:58since most of them had to travel to work every day.
49:01It helped them keep their jacket buttoned up
49:04but also benefited from the use of a pocket.
49:06Now, it's only added as a decoration
49:09and it doesn't serve an actual purpose anymore.
49:12Speaking of things we don't use these days,
49:15or at least for their initial purpose,
49:17did you know Play-Doh was originally a cleaning product?
49:20In the 1920s, the market was in need of a product
49:24that could help them wipe the wallpapered areas
49:26around coal-burning furnaces.
49:28The recipe for what we now know as Play-Doh
49:31was thus invented.
49:33It was manufactured in white only
49:35and was supposed to clean wallpaper
49:37by being rolled back and forth over the dirt.
49:40It was only later in the 1940s
49:42that new products for cleaning wallpaper were brought up
49:46and Play-Doh was redirected toward another area of the market.
49:50Now, while I enjoy a nice piece of toast for breakfast,
49:54isn't it pesky to have to clean out the toaster?
49:57Well, not anymore,
49:58since I recently found out that toasters
50:01have a slide or a panel at the bottom
50:03that helps get rid of all those annoying breadcrumbs easily.
50:10Now, there used to be a time
50:11when you could only have access to video games
50:14by inserting cartridges in your console of choice.
50:17These tiny objects gave many doctors a lot of headaches.
50:21People soon started popping up in hospitals
50:24after swallowing small game cartridges,
50:27especially the younger generation.
50:29Nintendo, the company that manufactures
50:31the majority of these devices,
50:33had to come up with a creative solution
50:35to prevent these accidents.
50:37So, these days,
50:38Nintendo Switch cartridges are purposely coated
50:41with specific chemicals
50:42that can leave a really bad bitter taste in the mouth.
50:46Not that I'd, you know,
50:47recommend you ever try and taste for yourself.
50:49Hmm.
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