- 7 hours ago
Unlock the full potential of your living space with these 10 brilliant home hacks! Many settle for standard layouts and setups, but with a little creativity, you can enhance functionality and maximize hidden storage. Join us as we explore innovative solutions that will revolutionize your home environment and make daily living smoother and more efficient.
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00:00Go check your box of aluminum foil. Does it have push-in tabs on the sides?
00:04They're there to keep the roll in place as you pull some foil out.
00:08Now flip the stapler upside down. See the metal plate on the bottom?
00:12You can turn it to get temporary staples, ones whose pins are bent outward and are easier to take out.
00:18Speaking of flipping stuff, do it with a salt jar.
00:22Nah, you should have closed the lid first. Now you've got salt all over the place.
00:26Okay, now you've done it. Look at the bottom of the jar. See the ribs on it?
00:30If you take another jar, say with pepper in it, and rub the bottoms of the two jars against each
00:36other,
00:37the salt will pour out evenly without you having to shake it vigorously.
00:40Same works with pepper, too.
00:42It wasn't their original purpose, but you can use soda can tabs to hang hangers on other hangers.
00:49By the way, the hole in the tab is there to put straws through and keep them in place.
00:54Post-it notes are supposed to be peeled off from the side like you're turning the page in a book.
00:59Most of us tear them from the bottom, and that just creates a crease and makes the whole note less
01:04sticky.
01:05The hole in your spaghetti spoon helps you measure the perfect portion.
01:10It's just enough for one person. Multiply that by however many people you're serving.
01:15Or maybe you just like to pig out on pasta. Hey, I'm not judgmental.
01:19Does the audio jack in your headphones have one, two, or three stripes?
01:25One band means your headphones just play sound.
01:28Two means stereo sound.
01:30And three mean the headphones also have a microphone.
01:34To prevent water from boiling over, just lay a wooden spoon across the rim of the pot.
01:39It only works for a little while, though.
01:41If the spoon's surface gets heated up to boiling point, the bubbles will just foam up and around it.
01:46That's why metal spoons won't do. They heat up too quickly.
01:51Silica gel packets can absorb up to 50% of the humidity in a confined space, so use them around
01:57the house.
01:58Take one to the lid of a container of dry goods, be it dog treats, breadcrumbs, cookies, you name it.
02:04Throw one in each of your dresser drawers. Just make sure they don't get accidentally eaten.
02:09Most people use bobby pins upside down.
02:12The zigzag part goes closer to your scalp.
02:15The texture keeps the hair and pin in place much better.
02:19Bubble wrap was originally created as wallpaper that would be easy to clean.
02:23But the decor idea didn't take off, so they found a new use for it.
02:28Now they help cushion items during shipping.
02:30And they pop so nicely, of course.
02:32Hey, just ask my dog.
02:34All crackers and some cookies have holes to make sure the final product has the right texture.
02:40These teeny tiny holes allow steam to escape, so your crackers and cookies wouldn't snap.
02:46If it weren't for these holes, also known as dockers, steam would build up inside the tree.
02:51And the final result might have been scrumptious, but it would have been rather oddly shaped.
02:56The scalloped edges on Ritz crackers are there so you can roll the cracker over your cheese
03:02so that you get the perfect-sized piece to sit on top.
03:05It works for soft-dish cheese only.
03:08Don't try to cut some Parmesan like this.
03:11Cheesily speaking, you probably grate your cheese with a cutting board or a plate underneath the box grater.
03:17Try a more convenient method.
03:19Flip the box grater and lie it on the side.
03:22This way, you get the finest shreds of cheese, and it's mess-free.
03:27PVA glue doesn't stick inside the bottle because it contains long molecules, such as polymers and water.
03:34Once you squeeze the glue out, the water trapped inside evaporates, leaving only sticky polymers.
03:41Super glue doesn't stick inside the bottle because of a special chemical that hardens when it hits water vapor.
03:46So, the glue doesn't stick because the container keeps water out.
03:51The bread goes stale just because it loses moisture.
03:54When you add water to the flour, it changes texture, and the starch molecules get pretty disorganized.
04:00Hey, I can relate.
04:01That's why bread is soft and fluffy when it's freshly made.
04:05But the more it cools down, the more water it loses.
04:08Starch molecules get their original crystallized state back.
04:12Also, recrystallization happens way faster in the fridge.
04:15The sole of your sneakers, and even the tires of your car, are just one huge molecule.
04:22It's because when rubber is vulcanized, all the molecules become connected through the sulfur.
04:27So, they turn into one, but a really large molecule.
04:31Your jeans are blue on the outside and white on the inside because of a smart way to weave the
04:37fabric.
04:37The warp thread is dyed, while the weft thread has no color, it's just white.
04:42This way, manufacturers reduce the amount of dye needed for each piece of clothing.
04:47By the way, most jeans are blue because they were originally dyed with indigo dye with a rich blue tint.
04:54This dye was picked for the way it interacted with cotton.
04:57When the cotton is heated, most dyes just penetrate it.
05:01But indigo dye stays attached to the surface.
05:03As a result, each time people wash their jeans, the dye molecules escape the fabric,
05:09leaving a unique pattern on each garment.
05:12Today, manufacturers use synthetic indigo dye.
05:16Bananas have thick skin to keep insects away.
05:19However, it gets thinner as the fruit ripens.
05:22Once the banana is ripe, it starts getting water from its skin.
05:26Birds and animals can also tear the thin skin easily.
05:29Hey, smart move, Mother Nature!
05:31The public toilets tend to be U-shaped for hygienic reasons.
05:35This way, anyone who wants to use it is less likely to get in contact with ceramic,
05:41normally swarming with germs.
05:43The bottled water has an expiration date.
05:46However, the water itself doesn't go bad.
05:49The problem is about the bottle.
05:51The plastic starts releasing chemicals over time, so the water gets contaminated.
05:56You can't drink it anymore.
05:58Glass-bottled water has an almost indefinite shelf life.
06:01Still, some criteria, as changes in room temperature, may lead to a slow increase of bacteria in water.
06:07So it might go bad, too.
06:09If all else fails, try drinking it from the faucet.
06:13Who would have thought?
06:14Fresh water.
06:15In-flight food is way saltier and spicier than back on land.
06:20Airlines have to give an extra kick to all the dishes due to in-cabin conditions.
06:25The combination of dry air and changed pressure changes how we perceive taste.
06:31Also, the taste isn't only about taste buds.
06:33It's about 80% smell.
06:35But as odor receptors don't work the way they should because of dry cabin air,
06:40Well, without some extra seasoning, the food would have been almost completely tasteless.
06:45And yes, I've been known to be completely tasteless myself.
06:49Veins appear blue because they're under our skin, and skin scatters more blue light than red.
06:55Also, the skin around the veins looks even redder than the veins, enhancing the contrast,
07:00and the veins appear even bluer.
07:02However, it's just an illusion.
07:05Our blood is always red.
07:07Trust me.
07:08Supermarket tomatoes look tremendous but taste bland because, for the past 70 years,
07:14farmers have opted for fruits that ripen more evenly and look better and more pleasing to customers.
07:20Wild tomatoes are dark green and don't ripen evenly.
07:24Still, the tomatoes the farmers grow have a teeny-tiny mutation in one gene.
07:29That's why they're evenly colored but can't produce chloroplast properly.
07:33It changes the whole photosynthesis process, leaving the evenly colored tomatoes with less sugar in their tissues.
07:41As a result, these tomatoes tend to taste like cardboard.
07:44The moral to the story appears to be, go get some ugly tomatoes.
07:49Or tomatoes.
07:50The space below, a cup of noodles, is there to protect the noodles during transport.
07:56This technique is called a middle suspension.
07:59This way, they're protected better in their styrofoam cup, and it also helps those noodles soften more evenly and quickly.
08:06Now, chewing gum wasn't invented for keeping your breath fresh.
08:09It was supposed to be a replacement for rubber.
08:11But the rubber experiment failed, giving opportunity to a modern version of chewing gum.
08:18Sandwiches have all their filling in between two slices of bread to keep the hands clean.
08:23Well, at least it was so when the first sandwich was invented.
08:26Some centuries ago, I wasn't around then, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montague,
08:32asked his chef to cook him something yummy he could eat without interrupting his long binge.
08:37The chef, I think he was named pastrami or something,
08:41wrapped meat and all the other ingredients in the bread to make the dish greaseproof.
08:46And finally, all the ingredients in margarita pizza stand for one of the colors in the Italian flag.
08:52Basil represents the green stripe, mozzarella represents the white one,
08:57and tomatoes, or tomatoes, represent the red stripe.
09:00And if you want it tastier, use ugly tomatoes.
09:05Fitness trackers and fancy smartwatches are fine for monitoring your heart rate
09:09and even the miles you cover on a run.
09:11They're not so good at measuring the number of calories you burn, though.
09:15A 2017 study from the Stanford University School of Medicine
09:19showed that fitness trackers and smartwatches have error margins of less than 5%
09:23when it comes to measuring heart rates.
09:25That's pretty good, so you can be confident in whatever reading you're getting.
09:29The problem is with the devices measuring energy expenditure accurately or calendars burn.
09:34Even the best was off by an average of 27%.
09:38The worst was off by a crazy 93%.
09:41That means they're very unreliable and shouldn't be trusted.
09:45Fitness trackers don't work well for measuring calories
09:47because we all have different heights, weights, diets, and many other things.
09:51That means we all burn calories at completely different rates.
09:55The trackers are often programmed with a preset average height and weight.
09:59So, if you're going to use one, take it with a grain of salt.
10:02Unless you're trying to reduce your sodium intake.
10:05Sunscreens have only one job to do, and that's protecting us from the harmful ultraviolet rays.
10:10In 2017, though, a study found that many popular brands failed to protect at all,
10:16with only one in four working.
10:18Most sunscreens didn't protect users from ultraviolet A and B rays at all.
10:22Some manufacturers also claimed that these products had an SPF of over 50,
10:27which sounds very high quality.
10:29But the actual SPF was much lower than that.
10:32The misleading labeling means we aren't as protected as we think when we're at the beach.
10:37So, when you're out shopping for sunscreen,
10:39make sure you look at the ingredients and apply more than you think you should.
10:42Ooh, sports drinks.
10:44An essential item for anyone working out.
10:47These bright colored drinks are filled with electrolytes that will increase your performance
10:51and rehydrate you fast.
10:53The problem is, we're not all athletes.
10:55So, most people would be better if they just drink water instead.
10:59Sports drinks are made up of water with some minerals and lots of sugar, coloring, and flavor.
11:05Those minerals are electrolytes, which can help our bodies go longer.
11:08Your exercise habits, the duration, and the intensity of your training
11:12all come into whether you really need that extra boost.
11:15While sports drinks can benefit athletes engaged in long or intense training,
11:19they're not really necessary for most gym goers.
11:22Sports drinks are probably pointless if you're only doing light to moderate exercise,
11:26like walking or jogging, over a short period of time.
11:30After using a toaster for most of your life,
11:32most people still haven't figured out how to get a perfect heat setting.
11:36It turns out that burnt toast is probably just down to a simple misconception.
11:41Those numbers on your toaster aren't heat levels at all.
11:43They're actually minutes.
11:45The dial is basically just a timer.
11:47That means all you need to do is look up how long it takes to toast certain things,
11:52and you'll never ruin your breakfast again.
11:54Hey, I like burnt toast.
11:56I'm used to it.
11:57Most of us rely on wireless technology to carry out normal, everyday tasks.
12:02It can be very frustrating when technology stops working and interrupts your day.
12:06In fact, the only thing more frustrating might be not knowing why it isn't working.
12:11The worst culprit here is your cell phone.
12:13It'll often show really great reception, but somehow can't make a phone call.
12:18The bars on a cell phone actually don't mean anything.
12:21The way they receive the signal differs a lot between different makes and models of phone.
12:25There's even a big difference between what the bars mean, from one phone to another.
12:31Meanwhile, watching a progress bar showing the percentage of time left to complete a download on our phones or PC
12:37can be tedious.
12:39Sometimes they just seem to be stuck doing nothing.
12:41Bad news!
12:42They don't really work.
12:44At least not in the way we think.
12:45The system updates the progress bar when certain milestones are reached.
12:49A progress bar at 50% doesn't mean half the file has been downloaded.
12:54Almost all the files could have been downloaded.
12:56The point of them is to give you something visual to look at.
13:00Progress bars aren't accurate because downloads and transfers have too many variables beyond the system's control.
13:06Internet speeds and network availability are the coordinators of how quickly a download will complete,
13:13while your computer's hard drive determines how fast things process and information gets put in the right files.
13:19It's probably best to make a coffee or set things up to download while you're in bed,
13:24instead of constantly checking up on an incorrect progress bar.
13:28Elsewhere, stopping at a crosswalk and pressing the button hoping the walk signal will come up might just be a
13:34waste of your time.
13:35It turns out that all that button pushing could be for nothing.
13:39Some crosswalk buttons need to be pressed, but others don't do anything at all.
13:43The crossing symbol will just light up whenever it wants to.
13:46Some crosswalks even switch between needing and not needing a button press, depending on the time of day.
13:52That said, it can be difficult for all of us pedestrians to determine whether a crosswalk button works or not.
13:59When in doubt, just push the button anyway.
14:02You don't want to stand around waiting for no reason.
14:04With more people going into the water and sharks, well, living in the water,
14:09the fear of bumping into a not-so-friendly shark is ever-increasing.
14:13This shared water space has pushed many companies to try to create shark repellents.
14:18This sounds like a good idea that should help keep both people and sharks more safe.
14:23Companies have tried everything – sprays, wetsuits, magnets, wax, and even electronic devices – to repel the scary fish.
14:31The bad news is, none of these products are confirmed to actually work.
14:35One, in particular, makes the sound of an orca.
14:38Sharks aren't too fond of being in the same area as them, but does pretending you're an orca stop a
14:44shark from biting you?
14:45If you feel safer using them, then go right ahead.
14:48But if you're looking for a shark deterrent that's 100% effective, it's just not available.
14:54Psst, here's what actually works.
14:56Stay out of the water!
14:58Rushing into an elevator and repeatedly pushing the closed-door button in the U.S.
15:02is basically a huge waste of time, unless you've got the special trick.
15:07In 1990, the U.S. passed a Disabilities Act for elevators, which meant that elevators had to ensure that someone
15:14with a disability had time to get inside one.
15:17If you're on crutches, use a cane, or travel in a wheelchair, you don't have to worry about someone accidentally
15:23closing the elevator doors before you've had a chance to pass through them.
15:27There's one important loophole to this.
15:29If you're an emergency or maintenance worker, you'll have access to keys and codes that make that button operational.
15:35This is just another example of a placebo button you're invited to push, just to make you feel like you've
15:41done something.
15:42That impatient finger-poking isn't doing anything.
15:45Getting a bit warm or cold in the office?
15:48Better adjust that thermostat.
15:50Unfortunately, in the vast majority of office buildings, the system controls are kept inside air ducts, not on the wall.
15:57Technicians install dummy thermostats to give workers the illusion that they're dramatically changing the air conditioning or heat.
16:03Some are set to change one or two degrees, but they're often not connected to anything at all.
16:09Dummy thermostats came about around the 1960s.
16:12As heating prices rose, building leases often required employers to stay within specific temperatures.
16:18Faced with this problem, fake thermostats became the new rage for businesses.
16:22They offer people some feeling of control while keeping their temperature in the right range.
16:27Now, ever come across some premium PC cleaning software that promises to clean your PC and make it go as
16:34fast as when you purchased it?
16:35Yeah!
16:36These third-party PC cleaners are often made to seem like they really work, but they usually don't do much
16:42of anything at all.
16:44They'll detect non-problems and list them as problems.
16:47The worst example of this is when they list browser cookies and temporary files as having an effect on the
16:52computer's speed when they don't.
16:54It's better to stick to the operating system's built-in cleaner.
16:57It'll work fine if you ever need to clean your computer and save you having to splash out on one
17:02that does pretty much the same thing.
17:04Well, that's all I got.
17:06Time to burn some toast.
17:09If you've ever gotten bored while waiting in a car like I have, you might have played around with a
17:13headrest.
17:14Yep, you can pull them off and they'll come right off relatively easily.
17:18It seems useless at first, but that's something you'll want to do if you're ever trapped in a car and
17:24need to break a window to get out like I do.
17:27Even a box of aluminum foil has its secret.
17:30On the side of the box, you can see a small tab you can push in.
17:35So simple, but that's what actually holds the roll of foil in place.
17:39This tab makes it way easier to unroll a sheet and tear it off without any frustration.
17:46Ever wondered why gripping a certain tool, handle, or even a pen kind of feels more secure when it's coated
17:52with a rubbery material?
17:53The keratin of the outer layer of the human skin is rough and stiff at a small scale.
17:59So, let's say you have a polished metal or glass which is stiff but also a smooth and impenetrable surface.
18:06When you encounter that, the actual contact area is small, as is the friction at the beginning.
18:12Your sweat pores secrete moisture, which is why the keratin gets hydrated and becomes softer.
18:17Because of that, it requires many seconds for the contact area to increase to the same value it reaches almost
18:24right away with some soft materials like rubber.
18:27This mechanism might be used by our tactile senses when we want to identify materials.
18:34Now, the pom-poms on beanies and other hats have their purpose.
18:38And it's not just to look cute and fluffy.
18:40Well, at least they did have a purpose.
18:43One of the theories says French sailors used to wear hats with pom-poms so they wouldn't hurt their heads
18:49on the ship when the weather got rough.
18:50Yep, the ceilings of the ship were really low.
18:53When the waves were too big, bang, you could easily hit your head on the ceiling.
18:57Anyway, so the pom-poms came in handy.
18:59Now, they're just a cute addition to our winter cats.
19:03That mysterious drawer under the oven, the one where you keep all your kitchen gear you just don't know where
19:09else to put?
19:10Well, you used it well in that case, but the drawer was originally designed for keeping your meals warm, at
19:16least until you're ready to serve them.
19:19And that space under your lower cabinets that protrudes slightly and can't be lifted?
19:24This area is also called a toe kick.
19:27It's the reason why you can stand closer to the counter while cooking.
19:31Also, the doors of the cabinets are off the ground, so they'll swing over your toes.
19:36The cabinet under the sink isn't for storage either.
19:39Maybe that's where you keep your cleaning products, but its real purpose is to give you access if your sinks
19:46leak and you need to do some plumbing work.
19:49That weird little hole at the top of a lollipop stick you can see after finishing a candy is not
19:55a whistle.
19:55It has something to do with the manufacturing process.
19:59When pouring hot molten caramel into a mold, some of it will seep into this mysterious hole and harden.
20:06This way, the candy will stay on the stick and won't fall off.
20:11Keyboard letters aren't just randomly arranged the way they are.
20:14The first keyboard ever made belonged to the typewriter.
20:18Typists eventually got so good at their job, they started typing too quickly.
20:22So the key arms would get cross-wired at some point and stuck.
20:26That's why manufacturers had to make the order of keys more random to intentionally slow down typists so they could
20:33keep the machine running.
20:35Do you like to let those brushes on the side of the escalators and malls polish your shoes?
20:40Believe it or not, that's not their main gig.
20:43The bristles are there for safety.
20:46People used to get their bags and clothes stuck in those escalators when they would stand too close to the
20:50sides.
20:51These nylon bristles kind of play with people's minds, and they keep their feet away from the escalator's skirt panels
20:57and avoid accidents.
21:00Most people assume bobby pins have curves for fashion, which is why they mostly place it in their hair with
21:06the wavy side up.
21:07But those little waves are actually there to catch the underlying bulk of hair and grip the pin into place.
21:14So the wavy side should go down.
21:18You've probably noticed measuring tapes mostly come with a metal stub that ends with a small slot.
21:23If your hands are full of stuff, simply hang the slot on a nail for measurement.
21:28If you take a closer look, you'll see the stub is a little bit serrated on one side.
21:33This means you can use it to mark the points so you don't even need a pencil.
21:38If you spend a lot of time in planes, you've probably noticed that little hole located at the bottom of
21:44the window.
21:45Nothing to be nervous about.
21:46It's what keeps us safe while flying high.
21:49It's something called a bleed hole.
21:51You can see right there in the middle of the pane of the three window panes that actually protect passengers
21:57from the outside pressure.
21:58This hole may be tiny, but it takes all that pressure off the outer one.
22:02The hole also gradually exposes it to cabin pressure, which helps with fixing pressure imbalances on the windows, if there
22:10are any.
22:11There's a number 57 staring at you from the middle of the Heinz ketchup bottle forever.
22:17According to the company, only 11% of people are aware the number really has nothing to do with the
22:23product label.
22:24It's actually a sweet spot where you can tap to get the sauce onto the plate.
22:28So, next time you want some ketchup, there's no need to bang the bottom off.
22:33Just hit this spot.
22:35Grooves on the bottom of cups are there to make cleaning them in the dishwasher more convenient.
22:41When you place your cups upside down, these grooves will allow the water to flow rather than stagnate.
22:47This way, the water won't spill onto your feet when you take the cups out.
22:51The grooves are there to allow cool air to flow beneath the cup, too.
22:55They also keep cups from cracking when they heat up after you pour hot beverages in.
23:01You probably noticed that little dot next to the camera on an iPhone and probably thought it was a flash.
23:08Nope, not a flash, but a microphone in charge of catching sounds when you're using the back camera.
23:14Next time you're looking for a quick bite and decide for fries at McDonald's, check that bendable flap near the
23:21top of the box.
23:22Some like to bend it towards the fries.
23:24That way, you can cover your fries up and keep them warm.
23:27But if you're not that patient, you can flip the flap backward and basically turn it into a makeshift plate
23:34for your fries.
23:35Just bend it down firmly enough.
23:36You don't want it to spring back up and spread the sauce all over you.
23:40Take it from me, it's messy.
23:43In the 1970s, people didn't want toothpaste just to keep their mouths healthy, but also to freshen their breath.
23:50Aquafresh decided to answer that call, so they added a blue stripe to their product.
23:55Since consumers started paying more attention to their teeth and gums, the company added a third red stripe to their
24:01paste.
24:01The paste now has three functions – freshening, cleaning, and plaque control.
24:06And yes, solid white toothpaste can offer the same benefits, but brands continue to add stripes to their paste anyway.
24:14Speaking of toothpaste, do you know those colors on the bottom of tubes?
24:19The colors don't mean anything in particular.
24:21They're there to help in the manufacturing by telling light sensors where the end of the tube is.
24:27Thanks to it, the machine can cut and seal the tube properly.
24:30Hand sanitizers are commonplace nowadays, and you can apply them in many other ways besides just cleaning your hands.
24:38It also works great when you want to remove stains from your clothes.
24:42Sanitizer breaks up oily, greasy spillages and does a great job as a degreaser.
24:47You can even use it as a deodorant if you get caught out on a hot day.
24:51Over 40 billion Oreos are made every single year.
24:55It's the world's most popular manufactured cookie.
24:58The geometric design stamped into these cookies has the Nabisco logo, the symbol of European quality, surrounding the word Oreo.
25:06William Tournier created the chocolate cookie design we see today back in 1952.
25:13Headphone jacks might become a thing of the past because of wireless technology.
25:17But if you've seen one, you might have noticed the rings at the base of the plug.
25:22One ring means single sound playback.
25:25Two rings represent stereo sound in the left and right ear, while three rings means you've got stereo and a
25:31microphone built in.
25:33Now, the iconic orange, red, purple, yellow, and lime green rings of Froot Loops hide a deep secret within.
25:40They don't represent different fruit flavors.
25:43All those rings are the same fruit flavors blended together.
25:46The colors are just for show.
25:50The E in Dell's logo is at an angle because the founder, Michael Dell, wanted his technology to turn the
25:57world on its ear.
25:59A compass uses magnets to point to the magnetic north pole, but it's not really north at all.
26:05The north pole of a compass magnet points toward the north because the north and south attract.
26:11Earth's south magnetic pole is near the geographic north, while the north pole is near Earth's geographic south.
26:18Confusing, isn't it?
26:20Those little red spots you sometimes see after you crack an egg are nothing to be worried about.
26:26Tiny blood spots can be caused by a small rupture in the blood vessel of the hen as it was
26:31laying the egg.
26:33Eggs with these blood spots are safe to eat, but that spot can be removed if you want.
26:37It won't affect the taste of the egg.
26:40That's comforting.
26:42Ketchup is a word taken from many cultures, like Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian.
26:48It originally meant a pickled fish sauce.
26:51Ketchup is also an acceptable spelling use.
26:54However, ketchup is the most popular way it's spelled these days.
26:59Airbnb's logo isn't a bent paperclip, as it may seem to be.
27:03Bellop, as it's called for belonging, means more than that.
27:07There's a person's head, the location symbol, and a heart for love.
27:12All joined together, they make Airbnb's iconic A and symbol of togetherness.
27:18E120 or Natural Red 4 food coloring, aka carmine, is made from tiny beetles.
27:25It's been used to color anything from cakes to candy to even drinks.
27:30That shine on candy also comes from bugs.
27:33This time, it's the Indian female lack bug.
27:36The beetle leaves behind a substance that is scraped from the trees to be formed into dry shellac that gives
27:43that glossy look.
27:45The Mozilla Firefox logo isn't a fox at all surrounding the planet.
27:50It's a red panda instead.
27:52The name Firefox is the English translation of its Chinese name.
27:56Those maintenance covers in the street are round for safety reasons.
28:00In past civilizations, like ancient Rome, manholes, that's what they were called back then, were square-shaped slabs of stone.
28:09Unfortunately, these were prone to accidents.
28:12If they weren't placed properly, a square cover could slip through the square hole diagonally.
28:17Ow!
28:17Placing a round cover eliminated this problem.
28:21A circle cover won't slip inside because there are no angles.
28:24A tomato isn't technically a vegetable, but a fruit.
28:29Banana trees aren't related to palm trees or trees at all.
28:33They're herbs.
28:34Banana is considered an herb because it never builds a woody trunk the way a tree does.
28:39Instead, it forms a succulent stalk, like lemongrass or its cousin, ginger.
28:45You can call them berries as well.
28:47The Golden Gate Bridge color wasn't meant to be the orangey-red that it is today.
28:52The bridge's original color was suggested to be many other colors, such as black with yellow stripes or even candy
29:00cane to make it visible for passing ships and aircraft, especially in the frequent San Francisco fog.
29:07But when the steel arrived, covered in an orange primer to protect it from rust, the architect preferred the international
29:15orange color, and it stuck.
29:18Those legs on the back of keyboards aren't an ergonomic design to help your wrist sit better.
29:24Using the legs out for too long can tire and hurt your wrists, plus slowing your typing down.
29:29The hinged legs are just there to help you see the letters and numbers better if you don't know how
29:35to touch type.
29:36The color of a chili pepper reveals nothing about its taste or heat.
29:42The smaller a chili is, the hotter it'll usually be.
29:45The heat doesn't come from the seeds, as believed, but the white membranes that hold them.
29:51Hidden within the Toblerone logo of the mountain is the image of a bear standing on its hind legs,
29:57about to eat that yodeler over there.
30:00No, not really.
30:01This is because bears are a big part of Bern, one of the biggest cities in Switzerland,
30:06where the founder created the triangle chocolate tree.
30:09Toblerone is also a play on the founder's family name, Tobler, and the Italian word,
30:14toron, for honey and almond nougat.
30:17The space below a cup of noodles is there to protect the noodles during transport.
30:22This technique is called a middle suspension.
30:25Not only are they protected better in their styrofoam cup,
30:29but it also helps those noodles soften more evenly and quickly.
30:33Now, even though you might have thought that the hole in the barrel of a ballpoint pen had no purpose,
30:39it does.
30:40It's called a venting system, which helps the ink flow more smoothly.
30:45This way, an even amount of air pressure is created inside and outside the pen,
30:50allowing the ink to flow into the point easily.
30:53One of the most recognized logos in the cycling world has a hidden item in its famous logo.
30:59Inside the Tour de France name, a cyclist hides in the O, U, and R.
31:06Those metal brackets on the top of the nozzles in gas stations have a unique design put into place in
31:12case of accidents.
31:13If a dodo accidentally forgets the nozzle is still inside the gas tank and starts driving away,
31:20the magnetic brackets separate without damaging any part of the gas pump.
31:26Wendy's logo is designed off of the daughter of creator Dave Thomas.
31:30It's also named after her nickname, but there is more to the logo than that.
31:35Wendy's collar spells out the word mom.
31:38While unintentional, it became something to mean a homey feel more than any other restaurant out there.
31:45Finding the right lane to be in while driving for your exit can sometimes be confusing,
31:50especially in a foreign country.
31:53Pay attention to the side of the road that exit signs are located.
31:57It'll be the lane you need to be in.
32:00Some toothpaste has a little seal on them that needs to be removed before you can use them.
32:05Instead of peeling back the foil layer, the toothpaste lid has a little spike on the top just for this
32:11reason.
32:13Tostitos have a secret symbol hidden right in the middle of their name.
32:17The two T's in the middle of the logo resemble two people enjoying Tostitos over a bowl of salsa.
32:24The salsa bowl is in red and forms the dot in the eye.
32:27One of the most recognizable figures in the world, the Statue of Liberty, for 16 years,
32:34functioned as a fully operational lighthouse.
32:37However, the light was barely visible, even from Manhattan.
32:41In 1901, it was eventually decommissioned as a lighthouse.
32:45Tourists could even visit the torch for a stunning view of the city.
32:49But an accident damaged the Statue of Liberty's torch in 1916,
32:53and it's been closed to the public ever since.
32:56The Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law tag on mattresses isn't put there for the consumer
33:03or void your warranty either if you do remove them.
33:06In the 1900s, manufacturers used to create the filling with basically anything.
33:12Animal hair, old hospital beds, or clothing.
33:15It didn't matter at the time.
33:17Strict laws created the tags to stop recycled materials from being used and sold as new.
33:23Good thing!
33:25Toyota's symbol is more than just some random rings combined.
33:28The three overlapping ovals symbolize the merge of the hearts of consumers and Toyota together.
33:34A California sushi roll is made of seaweed, rice, cucumber, avocado, and crab meat.
33:42But it's not crab meat at all.
33:44Surimi is an imitation crab meat.
33:47It's made of white fish blended with sugar instead of crustaceans.
33:51The fish mixture is then heated and pressed into shape.
33:54The logo for Beats is just a lowercase b inside of a red circle.
34:00The circle represents a human head, with the b being the headphones in their shape.
34:06All those little black dots around the edges of car windows are called frits.
34:10A frit is a painted black enamel that's put into windshields during manufacturing.
34:15They block ultraviolet rays and help distribute temperatures between the metal and glass.
34:21There are 24 symbols hidden inside the Unilever logo.
34:25Let's count, shall we?
34:27The sun, dove, plant, spark, chili pepper, spoon, bowl, flower, ice cream, hand, hair, lips, swirl, fish, clothes, bee,
34:40particles, packaging, transformation, waves, DNA, palm trees, heart, and virtuous cycle, whatever that is.
34:50These represent everything that the company believes in and produces.
34:54DNA?
34:55Bobby pins are designed so that the zigzag part goes onto your scalp, not the flat part.
35:01It gives a greater grip on the hair and skin, making the pin stay in longer.
35:06The story that the pins were named after those fashionable London constables, called bobbies, is not true.
35:13I made it up.
35:15You've probably noticed that train and bus seats are covered in fabrics with weird patterns.
35:21Have any idea why?
35:23Well, they use these patterns to cover any germs and stains on the seats.
35:27The brighter the color and the more patterned it is,
35:30the harder it will be for passengers to notice any stains and get grossed out.
35:34Also, the patterns are usually so ugly that no one even wants to look at them for long enough to
35:40spot any stains.
35:42So, yeah, the pattern is there to make you look away, and if you look, to make it less noticeable.
35:48No bus will ever have plain white seats, that's a guarantee.
35:53Just a few more bus-related questions to answer.
35:56Like, why don't buses have seatbelts?
35:58Buses are overall way safer than cars, because they were designed this way.
36:04The idea behind this is called compartmentalization, meaning that the seats have high backs that absorb energy.
36:11The seats are also placed close to one another, so there's less space to move in case of an impact.
36:17Also, on a bus, the passengers sit pretty high off the ground,
36:21and in case of a collision, the force is absorbed by the bus's deck, and not by the people inside.
36:28On top of that, a bus is way heavier than most other vehicles,
36:32and even if there is a collision, it distributes the force way differently than a regular car.
36:37Due to its weight, a lot of force is absorbed, and bus passengers don't experience much crush force,
36:43so small and light buses that can't distribute the force as well actually do require seatbelts.
36:49And we have to remember that buses drive slowly, which minimizes the risk of an accident overall.
36:55We all know that school buses are yellow, but why?
36:59It's for visibility reasons.
37:01Yellow is one of the most easily recognized colors,
37:04and for a human eye, yellow is even more visible than, say, red.
37:09So, school buses are yellow to make them more distinctive.
37:13Also, yellow is visible in the dark, in fog, and on a rainy day.
37:17Actually, the color of the bus isn't really a true yellow.
37:22It also has a hint of orange.
37:24This shade even has an official name, National School Bus Glossy Yellow.
37:29By the way, taxi cabs are yellow for the same reason, to be more visible in any weather conditions.
37:35Also, buses have huge steering wheels, and I finally learned why.
37:40Buses are bigger than regular cars, and they're also way heavier.
37:44So, it's harder to turn a bus around, and way more strength is required to do so than when you
37:50drive a car.
37:51A bigger steering wheel that has a bigger radius allows the driver to turn the vehicle more easily,
37:56and it requires less force than if the wheel were smaller.
38:00Trucks have big steering wheels for the same reason.
38:02But have you seen those stuffed toys that some trucks have attached in front of them?
38:07Turns out, it's just a way for truck drivers to customize their vehicles.
38:11It's like a mascot that speaks about the truck or the driver.
38:14It's also a way to communicate to the world that the truck driver isn't all scary and tough,
38:20but a soft and harmless person that you shouldn't be afraid of.
38:24At least, that's how some truck drivers explain it.
38:26In Asia, there's also a belief that road accidents are caused by ghosts,
38:31and hanging toys are a way to distract the ghosts from causing harm to the truck.
38:36Ever been on a road trip?
38:38If you're not the driver, all you have to do is just sit in one place and do basically nothing
38:43for hours.
38:44Doesn't sound like a hard task, but some people find it terribly exhausting.
38:48And because of this, they resent road trips.
38:51Why do they get so tired?
38:53Well, sitting in a car isn't like sitting in a chair.
38:56The brain doesn't relax.
38:58Instead, it controls everything that's going on,
39:01accounting for movements and making sure that you maintain the right posture.
39:06Your brain is constantly working, exchanging bits of information with your muscles.
39:10So, your body is working.
39:12Some people get tired because of this.
39:14If you aren't doing much, it doesn't mean that your body isn't doing much.
39:19Train rides are way more tolerable.
39:21Because trains don't stop or change speeds as often as cars do.
39:24So, the body is more relaxed.
39:26And train trips are way more tolerable for people who aren't fans of road trips.
39:32Another mystery is why it's way harder to stand still in the same spot for 30 minutes,
39:37in comparison to, for example, walking for 30 minutes.
39:41Again, it sounds like you're not doing anything when you're standing.
39:44So, why is it so tiring?
39:46Well, standing is a pretty hard task for your body.
39:49When standing, the muscles in your legs work very hard to support the mass of your whole body.
39:55If you're standing, there are not many muscles working, and only a few of them have to do all the
40:00work.
40:00When walking, there are more muscles working at the same time, so it's easier.
40:05Also, when standing, both of your legs are working without stopping.
40:09But when walking, each of them gets a tiny break each time you step using the other leg.
40:15Why is it that the same book can have different covers?
40:18There are several reasons for this.
40:20First, the cover may vary because of the target audience.
40:23An addition of a book that is being marketed to older people is usually different from the addition aimed at
40:29younger people,
40:30with the one for younger people usually being brighter and cuter.
40:33The cover can also depend on the country the book is being sold in,
40:38trying to attract as many buyers as possible based on the tastes of the population.
40:43Next, books vary from edition to edition.
40:46At first, a book is printed in hardcover in small quantities to see how it'll do on the market.
40:51If the book is a relative success, there is another edition printed, often in trade paperback.
40:56The design of the cover is usually updated with every edition.
41:00Also, if a book has a movie based on it, there is usually another edition that follows.
41:05This edition will take advantage of the movie and use a movie scene as the cover,
41:10making it recognizable for people who saw and liked the movie,
41:14and encouraging them to buy a copy of the book.
41:17Most books are printed on yellowish paper, and few have plain white pages.
41:21But why is that?
41:23Unless it's a mass-market paperback edition, with paper that's the same quality as a newspaper,
41:28meaning bad.
41:29It's done with good quality paper.
41:31Don't let the yellow hue confuse you.
41:34It's usually called cream, and it's a preference for any book,
41:37because it's less tiring on the reader's eyes.
41:40The plain white paper is bleached, and it reflects a lot of light,
41:44so it can be exhausting to read for a long time.
41:47So, that yellowish paper is the best paper, and publishers regularly use it.
41:53Another thing about books is those blank pages they often have at the very end.
41:57Their number depends on the number of pages in the book.
42:00The thing is that books are printed in signature.
42:03A signature is a group of pages that printers fold together and cut to make a book.
42:08A signature can have a different number of book pages,
42:11with the minimum being four, and then with other numbers divisible by four.
42:15So, a book that is 300 pages long, in total, will fit in perfectly,
42:20and there will be no blank pages left.
42:23But, if a book needs 303 pages, it'll need an additional signature,
42:27and the extra pages will remain blank,
42:30often marked with the word, notes, or with the message,
42:33this page is intentionally left blank,
42:35to let the reader know that there's no important information missing.
42:39Ever wondered why most doctors have sloppy handwriting?
42:42No, there's no class in medical colleges on bad handwriting.
42:46The reason why it's so common is that doctors are always in a rush,
42:50and they write as fast as possible to keep their momentum,
42:53so there's no time to care about writing nicely.
42:55Also, keep in mind that you're not the only person who they write a prescription for over the course of
43:00a day.
43:01Doctors do a lot of paperwork, working for 10 hours straight,
43:04and they're just too tired most of the time to give you a properly written note.
43:08Have you noticed that most songs, in general, last somewhere between 3 and 4 minutes?
43:13Well, originally, songs were being played on a phonograph record player,
43:17from a vinyl record, which was spinning at 78 revolutions per minute.
43:22So, the size of the vinyl record basically determined the length of the song.
43:26There were two basic record sizes,
43:28a 10-inch one, which had room for about 3 minutes of playtime,
43:32and a 12-inch, which could fit a 4-minute song.
43:35So, at the beginning of the 20th century, if an artist wanted their song played,
43:40they couldn't make it longer than that, if they wanted to be able to sell a record.
43:44Times have changed, but still, most songs are about 3-4 minutes long.
43:49The initial reason for sticking to this pattern was also because of radio.
43:53If a song was too long, it would either get cut in half,
43:56or some parts would be left off, to make it fit into the 3-5-minute radio standard.
44:00If an artist wanted the song on the radio, and if they wanted to earn money from it,
44:04they'd do their best to make a song that fits the standard,
44:08so that the whole piece could be played without alterations.
44:11Today, even if there are longer songs,
44:13a 3-4-minute song is now a tradition that artists typically stick to.
44:19You see these blades?
44:21They have notched corners to make your cutting experience smoother.
44:25Ooh!
44:25The front edge notch helps with separating blades during manufacturing,
44:30while the trailing edge notch helps the blade glide easily.
44:33And a fun fact!
44:35That notch on the front also helps you spot unused sections of the blade,
44:40just a little visual indicator to make your life easier.
44:43When it comes to silver vs. black blades, they're both made from the same stuff.
44:48But black blades are sharper and are better suited for cutting through tough materials,
44:53while silver blades strike a balance between cutting power and durability.
44:57If you want that extra cutting oomph, go for black.
45:01Oh, almost forgot!
45:02The only thing those blades aren't meant to cut is food!
45:06It has a rust-proofing oil coating, which is not safe for humans.
45:11Check this one out!
45:13It's totally giving me childhood vibes!
45:15Now, I remember my grandma having tomato-shaped pin cushions just like this,
45:20and sometimes they would look more like a salad, with a little pepper thrown in there.
45:24Well, believe it or not, this salad actually has a purpose.
45:28The tomato keeps your pins in place, while the pepper keeps them sharp.
45:33Those peppers are filled with sand, which helps keep your pins nice and sharp.
45:38And it's not just sand.
45:40Crushed walnuts can also be used to keep your pins in tip-top shape.
45:45Now, look at this multiple-pocket tool and this little hook on it.
45:49It's a bit of a mystery, but it's actually pretty handy.
45:52I counted at least four different applications.
45:55One, you can use it to carry all sorts of awkward stuff, like camping gear or heavy parcels.
46:01Two, need to twist some wire or play around with knots?
46:05The parcel hook has got you covered.
46:08Three, this hook can save the day with those stubborn zippers, like the ones on your luggage.
46:13Four, it's great for pretending to be a budget version of Captain Hook.
46:17If you know more applications, let me know in the comments.
46:22Apple users, with this feature, you'll never get laundry surprises again.
46:27Now, I bet you've had this situation at least once in your life.
46:31You wash your stuff, and when you take it out of the washing machine,
46:34the size seems to only fit your cat.
46:37Your iPhone camera can actually translate those funky laundry symbols for you.
46:42There are two requirements, though.
46:44You must have iOS 17, and your phone must be in English.
46:48Take a photo of the care label, go to the Photos app, and see the details of the image.
46:53Everything will be automatically decoded and explained to you.
46:58Many toasters come with nifty removable crumb trays at the bottom.
47:03It's super important to give these trays a good clean every now and then
47:07to keep your toaster running smoothly and avoid any potential fire hazards.
47:11Just pop them out, shake out the crumbs, and you're good to go.
47:15Where you shake them out is up to you.
47:17Those little compartments on your gas pump aren't just for show.
47:21They're actually there to hold your cap while you're filling up.
47:24This nifty feature keeps things tidy and prevents any spills or drips on the handle.
47:29So, say goodbye to messy refueling experiences and hello to a cleaner pump.
47:35Plus, it makes the whole process way more convenient and efficient.
47:40Now, I'll bet your oven gets so greasy and dirty sometimes that you can even hear it oink.
47:46Just kidding.
47:47I know you're a tidy person.
47:49Anyway, if you're looking for a way to bring your kitchen cleaning to a whole new level,
47:54here's a tip for you.
47:55Most oven doors have handy latches that let you pop the door off for easy cleaning,
48:01saving your pore back from the strain.
48:04When you're draining noodles or potatoes,
48:07there's no need to bother transferring everything to a colander in the sink.
48:11Just throw the colander right into the pot, hold it down, and pour the liquid out.
48:16It makes life so much easier,
48:18especially when you want to save that starchy water for recipes.
48:22It's a must for authentic pasta, by the way.
48:26So, let's say you've snagged this gem at a thrift store a while back for just under a dollar.
48:32It's seen better days, serving as an ashtray,
48:35but you decide it's time to give it a new lease on life.
48:39Here's the lowdown on how to make it shine again.
48:42Mix up a solution of boiling water, baking soda,
48:45and table salt in a bowl lined with aluminum foil.
48:48Let the piece soak for about 15 minutes, and repeat this process three times.
48:54In between soaks, gently scrub any rough spots with a microfiber cloth.
48:59After the final soak, dry the piece off and rub on some toothpaste, baking soda, and peroxide.
49:06Buff out any remaining tarnish with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
49:10Rinse it off, and now your piece is practically gleaming like a mirror.
49:17These aluminum foil boxes have nifty little tabs on the sides
49:20that make it super easy to grab a sheet without any hassle.
49:24It's like a fancy little bonus that makes the product a breeze
49:28and ensures you'll have a smooth sailing experience every time.
49:33Manual can openers often come with a handy built-in feature,
49:37also known as a bottle opener.
49:39It's like getting two tools in one.
49:41But did you know that this bottle opener actually has another useful function?
49:46It can help you loosen those stubborn, hard-to-open jars.
49:50Simply lift the lid slightly at a couple of points with the bottle opener,
49:54and then watch it as it effortlessly twists right off.
49:58Yeah!
50:00Okay, I just found that, apparently,
50:03you're supposed to save the first and last slices of a loaf of sliced bread for last.
50:08It's like a bread hack or something.
50:10Apparently, those end pieces help keep the rest of the bread fresher for longer,
50:14and you shouldn't eat them until you've devoured the rest of the loaf.
50:17So, next time you're making a sandwich,
50:20save those heel slices for the very end.
50:23Even bread-eating needs a good strategy.
50:26Now, look at those blue levers on the top rack of your dishwasher.
50:29I was curious about them, too.
50:31And it turns out they are actually water bottle sprayers.
50:35They help to ensure that your bottles get a thorough cleaning and rinse during the wash cycle.
50:41Many vegetable peelers have those little scoops on top for taking out the eyes from potatoes.
50:47And here's a cool tip.
50:49You can actually use vegetable peelers in both directions to peel faster.
50:53But most people just stick to one direction.
50:57When using yellow mustard, make sure to push the lid of the bottle all the way open until you hear
51:03a satisfying click.
51:04This way, the lid will stay securely in place and won't get in the way when you're dispensing the mustard
51:10onto your food.
51:11It's a simple step that can make your condiment experience hassle-free and enjoyable.
51:16So there!
51:19You know that little hole at the end of your pot or pan?
51:22Well, it's not just for show.
51:24You can actually use it as a handy holder for your forks and spoons.
51:28Next time you're cooking up a storm in the kitchen,
51:31just pop your utensils in that convenient little hole and keep them close at hand.
51:37Okay, just a heads-up to remember to switch the direction of your ceiling fan for the changing weather.
51:43And to give it a good clean, too.
51:45I've seen that a lot of folks found it helpful before to reverse the fan's direction by flipping a switch
51:51for different seasons.
51:52So this is just a friendly reminder to go ahead and do it again,
51:56pushing hot air down and pulling cold air up.
52:02When you're chowing down for some pizza, just tear off the top of the box and use it as a
52:07big old plate.
52:08You can even rip the box in half and fold it to save some leftovers for later.
52:13Well, that's it for today.
52:15What, you want to know more cool facts?
52:17Sure, but you'll have to subscribe and hit the bell to get more videos.
52:22I'm waiting.
52:23Go ahead.
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