Toothpicks are among the cheapest everyday objects today — but did you know they were once symbols of wealth and luxury?
Discover the surprising history of toothpicks, strange facts about this tiny everyday tool, forgotten uses, clever designs, and the fascinating story of how toothpicks became a household essential.
From ancient tooth-cleaning tools and expensive gold toothpicks to modern wooden designs, this ordinary object has a history most people have never heard.
Why did wealthy people carry decorative toothpicks? How did mass production make them affordable? And what surprising details are still hiding in this simple invention?
You'll never look at an ordinary toothpick the same way again!
#Toothpick #HiddenHistory #EverydayObjects #ForgottenInventions #HiddenSecrets
Discover the surprising history of toothpicks, strange facts about this tiny everyday tool, forgotten uses, clever designs, and the fascinating story of how toothpicks became a household essential.
From ancient tooth-cleaning tools and expensive gold toothpicks to modern wooden designs, this ordinary object has a history most people have never heard.
Why did wealthy people carry decorative toothpicks? How did mass production make them affordable? And what surprising details are still hiding in this simple invention?
You'll never look at an ordinary toothpick the same way again!
#Toothpick #HiddenHistory #EverydayObjects #ForgottenInventions #HiddenSecrets
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FunTranscript
00:00An easy way to check if your bed linen has dried completely
00:03is to put a small mirror in between the layers for about 5 minutes.
00:07If the mirror has steamed up when you pick it up,
00:10it means the sheets are still a bit damp.
00:12Let them dry until the mirror stops getting cloudy.
00:15A damp bed is a lovely breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.
00:20Okay, I'm in.
00:21If you have a not-very-healthy habit of eating in front of your computer,
00:26you'll be surprised at how much crumbs and grime there is inside your keyboard.
00:31Now, you can just turn it over and shake it vigorously, of course.
00:35But that's not very good for any piece of tech, you know.
00:38So instead, take a post-it note and run its sticky part over the keyboard.
00:43It will collect the little pieces of trash like magic.
00:47Even a better way to do it, though, is to take a slime and stick it to the keyboard.
00:51Then take it away, squeeze it, and stick again in another part.
00:55The slime will fill the entire space between the keys,
00:58and its sticky properties will let it gather every little bit of garbage.
01:03Separating egg yolks from whites is easier using a plastic bottle.
01:07Break the necessary number of eggs into a bowl,
01:10and then take an empty plastic bottle and squeeze it.
01:13Hold the bottle over the yolk and release.
01:16It'll pull in air and the yolk together, leaving the white in the bowl.
01:20Repeat with the rest of the yolks and you're done!
01:22And that's no yolk!
01:25If you're tired of spitting out the stones when eating cherries
01:28or want to make a cherry pie, push the stones out with a straw.
01:33Also, many garlic presses have a special tool on their handle
01:36that can be used exactly for that.
01:39Cleaning a blender can be a nuisance if you do it manually.
01:42Instead, fill it with hot water and add some liquid soap or detergent,
01:46then run it for about 10 seconds.
01:48Rinse it afterwards, and it's clean.
01:50Plaster walls can crumble, flake, and spread dust all over the floor
01:55when you hammer nails into it.
01:57Cut a strip of masking tape and stick it to the place you want to hammer a nail in.
02:02The tape won't let the plaster crack and crumble,
02:04leaving the hole neat and clean.
02:07Small scratches and dents on wooden furniture can be removed with some toothpaste or a walnut.
02:13For toothpaste, rub a pea-sized amount of it into the scratch until it's gone,
02:18then wipe the leftovers with a damp cloth.
02:20For a walnut, take a half of that brain-shaped nut and rub it into the dent.
02:26Then rub the area with your fingers and buff it with a soft cloth.
02:29This'll help the wood absorb the oil from the nut, making the scratch sealed and gone.
02:34The sticky residue on jars left after you remove the stickers won't be easily removed by water and detergent.
02:42So, take some vegetable oil instead.
02:44Soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the sticky surface.
02:48Let it sit for a while and then wash the oil away together with the residue.
02:53If you can't comfortably reach the wick of a candle with a lighter,
02:57hey, take a stick of spaghetti.
02:59Light up its end and you'll get a burning stick that's easy to use for hard-to-reach places.
03:04Now, next time your razor blade's getting dull,
03:07try rubbing it backwards on a pair of jeans for regular upkeep.
03:11Not while you're wearing them, of course.
03:13Make sure you keep the blades dry, too, or even kept in mineral oil.
03:17That'll stop them from rusting.
03:18Keep all those jelly, ketchup, peanut butter, and mayo fresher for longer in your fridge
03:24by turning the contents upside down.
03:27This creates a partial vacuum inside the container, helping prevent mold growth.
03:32Storing ice cream upside down will prevent freezer burn, too.
03:36To bring your permanent marker back to life,
03:39simply put a few drops of rubbing alcohol into the felt material inside and shake.
03:44Once the felt absorbs the rubbing alcohol for a couple of minutes,
03:47the marker will be almost as good as new.
03:51Now, don't keep throwing away lettuce that goes black too quickly.
03:55Covering it with a dry paper towel and then placing it in an airtight container
03:59will help it keep fresher for much longer.
04:01This goes for any leafy greens you've got leftovers of.
04:05That sharpish bit sticking out of the cap of your favorite cream is there for a reason.
04:11These tubes are usually sealed with foil,
04:13so unless you love breaking your nails trying to open them,
04:16just flip the cap over and push.
04:19Your bobby pins might not stay in place if the grooves aren't facing the right way.
04:24They should always be on the bottom, close to your head.
04:27Still coming loose?
04:28Well, put a squeeze of hairspray right onto the bobby pin before you put it in your hair.
04:33Now, your cotton rounds pack has those strings on it,
04:37so you can hang it on a handy hook in the bathroom.
04:39But there's no need to loosen and tighten it back up every time.
04:44Check out the bottom of the pack.
04:45It has a perforated line.
04:47Tear it open carefully, and you're good to go.
04:50Two zips too much?
04:52Maybe, but they come in handy as a clever anti-theft device.
04:56Just lock them together.
04:58Now, no one can open your backpack.
05:00Don't have a lock on you?
05:01You can also tie them together with some string,
05:04or even just a paper clip.
05:06Anything to slow those pickpockets down.
05:09That tiny little button on the back of a shirt collar is used to hold your tie in place.
05:14Hey, you don't want your tie trying to escape back there.
05:18Shoe manufacturers care about their customers,
05:20so most running shoes now have a special anti-blister system pre-installed.
05:26Sounds intense, but it's basically just that extra hole on top of your sneakers.
05:31Make a loop with the extra hole, inserting the lace backward.
05:34Cross your laces and put them through the loops.
05:36Now, pull the laces down to lock your foot in place.
05:40Now, run.
05:41Yeah, go ahead.
05:43Car headrests are all about comfort,
05:45and detachable headrests are all about safety.
05:48If you pull the headrest out, you'll see two sturdy metal bars.
05:52If you ever get locked or trapped in your car,
05:55you can use the bars to smash the window and get out.
05:59If you've got some pesky parsley stuck in your teeth, try this tip.
06:03It can be hard to get it out with loose floss.
06:06You need more tension, so just tie it in a knot.
06:10It's not an accident that soy sauce bottles have two spouts.
06:14The sauce is liquid, and it flows out of the bottle pretty easily once you turn it over.
06:18Most Asian food lovers have spilled it at least once in a lifetime.
06:22That's why nowadays, restaurants prefer serving soy sauce in special bottles that have two spouts.
06:28This design allows you to control when and how much sauce will come out.
06:32Just put your finger on one spout when you pour the sauce through another.
06:36If you press your finger tightly to the spout,
06:39the sauce will stop flowing, and if you remove your finger, it'll flow again.
06:44And don't forget to ask your server,
06:46Hey, wasabi!
06:49A hair straightener is an excellent tool,
06:51not only for treating your natural curls,
06:54but also for fixing crumpled money or documents.
06:56You can also use a regular iron for this purpose.
06:59Just make sure you don't turn on steaming mode.
07:02Otherwise, there's a risk of damaging the paper.
07:06Hairbands are good not only for getting your hair done,
07:08but also to open a glass jar with canned food.
07:11Your hands might slip on the tightly closed lid,
07:14and if you don't open the can from the first attempt,
07:17your palms tend to get sweaty, making the task virtually impossible.
07:21So, put a hairband on the lid to fix your hand and make your grasp stronger.
07:27A simple rubber band will do as well.
07:29Now, it's time to take my sweaty palms and go.
07:33Ah, the toothpick!
07:35This seemingly ordinary item that you often use after devouring a burger
07:39has a secret history that'll make your jaw drop.
07:42Pun intended.
07:43Don't be fooled by its slim appearance.
07:46The toothpick has been around for ages.
07:48Long before archaeologists could dig up physical evidence of ancient toothpicks,
07:52those toothy wonders were made from materials
07:55that fell apart faster than leftovers in the back of your fridge.
07:58Yep, I'm talking about wood.
08:01However, clever researchers have found hints
08:03that Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens were hardcore toothpick enthusiasts.
08:08They've studied prehistoric bones and deduced that our ancestors regularly used
08:12some sort of tool to keep their pearly whites clean.
08:14In fact, they even found scratch marks on a tooth
08:17that suggest our predecessors were serious toothpickers.
08:21In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best idea
08:23for the delicate enamel coating of human teeth.
08:26Fast forward to more recent times, but still ancient, mind you.
08:30And toothpicks were all the rage among various ancient civilizations.
08:34Literary sources have spilled the beans on this peculiar obsession.
08:38According to an ancient Greek historian,
08:40a local tyrant met his doom by using a poison-coated toothpick.
08:44Yikes!
08:45And guess what?
08:47Toothpicks from those times have survived the test of time for us to see even today.
08:50These fancy picks were often made from more durable materials,
08:54like bone or precious metals.
08:55Who knew a tiny stick could be so dangerous and luxurious at the same time?
09:00Now let's talk about toothpick fashion.
09:02Oh yes, it was a thing too.
09:05Even during the medieval period when life was all castles and chivalry,
09:09folks flaunted their upper class status with gold or silver toothpicks
09:13elegantly tucked away in snazzy cases.
09:16Europeans really knew how to stand out from the toothpick-wielding masses.
09:20One particular fancy toothpick dating from the 16th century is displayed at the British Museum.
09:25It's made with gold and even encrusted with pearls.
09:29The trend continued well into the 19th century,
09:32when the Duchess of Parma even had a whole dozen of valuable toothpicks as part of her dowry.
09:37At one point in history, some crafty ladies in Portugal came up with a toothpick innovation.
09:42Instead of using them to clean teeth, these brilliant women made disposable toothpicks
09:48specifically for picking up sticky sweets.
09:51Bye-bye, messy fingers.
09:53And as luck would have it, toothpick production in Portugal boomed.
09:57Those toothpicks were a hit, finding their way across Europe and the Americas.
10:01An American entrepreneur named Charles Forster found himself fascinated by those same toothpicks
10:07he encountered during his travels.
10:08He was amazed by the exceptional quality of those little wooden wonders.
10:12Inspired, Charles Forster hatched a wild plan in his mind.
10:16He set out to build a contraption that could produce toothpicks at an astonishing rate,
10:21millions upon millions of them in a single day.
10:24He was determined to bring toothpick prosperity to America.
10:27But alas, fate had a quirky sense of humor.
10:31When Forster unveiled his toothpick wonderland to the American people, they just weren't interested.
10:36It seemed they were quite content with whittling their own toothpicks.
10:40Not to mention the idea of spending money on something they could easily make themselves
10:44left them scratching their heads.
10:46Forster knew he needed a magical transformation to create demand and ignite the toothpick frenzy.
10:52So, this daring entrepreneur decided to unleash his arsenal of marketing tactics.
10:58He hired people to masquerade as toothpick-hungry customers in stores, causing a toothpick-buying
11:03need among the unsuspecting shoppers.
11:05But that wasn't enough.
11:07He even recruited the brightest minds from Harvard University and gave them a secret mission.
11:12Whenever they ate at restaurants, they had to ask for toothpicks.
11:15Like magic, the habit spread.
11:18And soon enough, toothpicks became the must-have accessory for anyone.
11:23While Forster was busy masterminding the toothpick revolution, there were a few others
11:27who wanted a slice of the toothpick pie.
11:29In 1869, a quirky fellow from Philadelphia snagged a patent for his toothpick invention.
11:35It had a fancy hooked end and a spoon-like mechanism, perfect for cleaning out hollow and sensitive teeth.
11:41There were others who sought to improve the toothpick experience even further.
11:45One clever inventor dreamed up a retractable toothpick case for the suave and stylish toothpick enthusiast.
11:51And oh, there was a scented coating invented, designed to make your breath smell fresher than
11:56a field of daisies on a spring morning.
11:59As time marched on, the toothpick empire grew to epic proportions.
12:03By the end of the 19th century, billions of toothpicks were being produced each year.
12:08In 1887 alone, the count soared to an unimaginable 5 billion toothpicks, with our toothpick hero,
12:15Charles Forster, responsible for more than half of them.
12:18And just when you thought the toothpick madness couldn't get any crazier, there was a factory
12:23in Maine that emerged, defying all toothpick limits.
12:27It churned out toothpicks by the billions.
12:30Back to current times, it seems like luxurious toothpicks are ready to make a grand comeback.
12:36Leading the charge is a cheeky Toronto-based company that's on a mission to revolutionize
12:41the toothpick game.
12:43Now, you might be wondering, toothpicks?
12:46Really?
12:47How can they be luxurious these days?
12:50Well, these people have set their focus on crafting exquisite toothpicks from white birch
12:54and offer them in six delightful flavors.
12:57And believe it or not, there's something about toothpicks that taps into our primal instincts.
13:03Maybe it's because our ancestors were big fans of toothpick hygiene, and that trait has stuck
13:08with us through the ages.
13:10Everything about these toothpicks is in luxury and style.
13:13Imagine a slender bottle, sealed with a cork and elegantly embossed with the company's name.
13:18And that's not all.
13:19Each toothpick has one charred end, adding a touch of mystique.
13:24To take it up a notch, the company even offers chic leather carrying cases.
13:30Style and pizzas aside, some dental experts claim using a toothpick may not always be good for us.
13:36If you find yourself in a sticky situation with something lodged between your teeth
13:40and you have absolutely nothing else on hand, you can cautiously consider using a toothpick.
13:45But hey, don't make it a habit.
13:46But dental professionals strongly advise against prolonged toothpick use.
13:51Why, might you ask?
13:52First off, breakage.
13:53As you're merrily picking away at your teeth, the little object might suddenly snap.
13:57You might even get a little piece stuck in there, which beats the whole initial purpose, right?
14:03Hygiene is another thing you consider.
14:05If you didn't buy that toothpick yourself, you can't guarantee its quality.
14:09It's hard to know if it's been stored properly, or if it hasn't come in contact with harmful
14:13elements for our smile.
14:14A fantastic alternative is, of course, dental floss.
14:18It's the best way to give those food particles the old goodbye from your chompers.
14:22It can reach those tricky nooks and crannies without causing any gum damage or pesky irritations.
14:29But alas, if you already have a bunch of toothpicks at home and don't necessarily want them to
14:34go to waste, there are many other projects you can use them for at home.
14:39For starters, you can use them in your garden.
14:42Toothpick barriers can shield your delicate plants and seedlings from creepy crawlies.
14:46Watch your plants grow tall and strong, safe from sneaky caterpillars.
14:49And if a plant has a little accident, don't worry.
14:53Toothpicks to the rescue for broken branches and injured leaves.
14:57These little objects are also the ultimate ninja cleaners.
15:00Dust and dirt hiding in hard-to-reach spots won't cause trouble anymore.
15:04You can use them to clean grime around remote control buttons, phone buttons, and toys.
15:09They can also be used to clean up buildup in your hairbrushes and showerheads, too.
15:15Ready to join the toothpick tradition passed down from generations?
15:19Well, it's called the testing for doneness.
15:22Grab a toothpick and poke it into freshly baked cakes, loaves of bread, or brownies.
15:26If there's still any batter left over on the toothpick once you pull it out,
15:29your dessert might not be done quite yet.
15:33If you ever find yourself stuck in the trunk of your car, stay calm.
15:37All cars are supposed to be equipped with an emergency latch
15:41to help open the trunk from the inside in the unlikely case it happens.
15:45These latches are so well thought out that they can be opened by people of all ages.
15:50More so, handles are designed to glow in the dark, too.
15:54You can even pull them with a mouth if there's not enough wiggle room to use your hands.
15:58Never mind how you ended up in the trunk in the first place.
16:01Moving on.
16:02If you're ever working with needle and thread,
16:05remember, you don't need to stick the needle directly into the spool.
16:09You may end up losing the needle altogether.
16:12Not to mention, you can easily hurt your fingers.
16:14A lot of modern sewing kits these days come with a designated place for safeguarding the needles.
16:20It's located at the bottom part of the thread spool.
16:23You'll just need to pull it out.
16:25It's even made to hold multiple sewing needles at a time.
16:29Disposable ballpoint pens come with a little secret of their own.
16:32Did you ever notice that in some of them, there's a small hole in the plastic part?
16:38It's actually a rudimentary ventilation system.
16:41It's supposed to let the ink easily make it to the tip of the pen.
16:45Okay, I know it's in the name, but you really don't need to shake the seasoning shaker to get any
16:51product out.
16:52Don't believe me?
16:53Hey, you're not the only one.
16:54Go grab your favorite seasoning bottle out of your pantry.
16:58If it has one of those removable plastic caps, it's perfect for the experiment.
17:03Instead of shaking the bottle, try holding it from the plastic cap while it's upside down.
17:09Now gently twist the bottle from side to side and, before you know it,
17:13you get some gorgeously flowing seasoning without having to wiggle the shaker and make a mess all over the stove.
17:20On the same note, most salt and pepper shakers should have ridges on the bottom of the glass portion.
17:27In case you get any seasoning stuck in there,
17:29place the bottom of the salt shaker against the bottom of the pepper shaker and wiggle it around,
17:34so the ridges click with each other.
17:36The seasoning should easily pour out now without you having to open the bottle.
17:41In colder weather, you often have so many clothing layers on you
17:45that you can hardly feel the purse or back straps on your shoulder anymore.
17:50Not to mention how fast they can slide off.
17:53Some jackets come with a built-in solution for that,
17:56in the form of a small tab on the shoulder with either a hook or a button.
18:00It's meant to be opened and closed comfortably,
18:02so you can keep your purse in place at any time.
18:07You're most likely using it merely to peel the skin of potatoes, carrots, or cucumbers.
18:12But you can use your vegetable peeler for chopping fine strips of onion as well.
18:17Just cut the onion into quarters vertically and then start slicing.
18:22This might also help out with those embarrassing onion tears.
18:26Most people miss this one,
18:28but should you ever have a closer look at your toothpaste tube,
18:32you will surely see some sort of coloring there,
18:34either a dot or a block.
18:36Colors can vary.
18:38They can be black, green, red, or even blue.
18:41These color spots are actually meant to help the assembly machines
18:45back of the toothpaste factory.
18:46They recognize when and where these machines need to cut the toothpaste tubes
18:50and proceed to fold them for packaging.
18:53For most types of footwear,
18:55if there's anything that seems a bit out of place,
18:57always know that it's there for a reason.
19:00Most manufacturers don't put extra items on shoes just for fun.
19:04It would definitely be a waste of time and resources.
19:07For footwear, like boots, for example,
19:10there's often a small loop at the top back of the shoe.
19:13It's there to help you when you need to put the shoe on,
19:16since you can quickly pull on it.
19:18Plus, you can also hang the shoes somewhere,
19:20most likely to dry,
19:22since most boots are meant to be worn in the colder weather.
19:25Now, I've been guilty at least once of overdressing with a bunch of layers
19:30just so I won't need to jam everything in my check-in bag.
19:33But does it become a problem when you actually have to get seated?
19:37What do you do with your coat or your jacket?
19:40Well, have a closer look next time you board a plane on the seat in front of you.
19:45The hook that keeps the tray table upright can double as a jacket hook.
19:49As long as you don't need to have any meals while in the air,
19:53you're good to go.
19:54Now, most mascaras expire within 3-6 months, I'm told,
19:59depending on the manufacturer.
20:00But you can help speed up that process if you're not careful enough.
20:05Continuously pumping the mascara wand,
20:07trying to mix in the product,
20:09actually pushes more air into the tube.
20:11This can make it dry much faster,
20:13and you evidently won't get the desired results with it anymore.
20:17There's an easy way to check if your mascara is still good enough to use.
20:21If you don't hear a popping noise when you take the brush out,
20:25you may very well need to go get yourself a new mascara tube.
20:29Now, I know we're living in the era of Bluetooth-connected devices.
20:34But for better quality sound,
20:36they still recommend using headphones that connect via audio jacks.
20:40Remember seeing black ridges on those jacks?
20:43They aren't there just to make them fit when you plug them into your phone or laptop.
20:48Made out of a special insulating material,
20:50these bands are meant to guard the wires when sound is being transmitted.
20:54Based on the number of bands,
20:56you can figure out which end goes where.
20:59Some empty space under noodles in a cup
21:01doesn't mean the company producing them wants to cheat you out of a full portion.
21:06No, no.
21:06It's a manner of keeping the noodles intact during their transportation.
21:10It also helps with the circulation of hot water
21:13that is poured over the products before you can enjoy them.
21:17The V-shaped neckline was initially designed to serve a bunch of objectives.
21:21First, as a way of prolonging the life of the garment
21:24that would maintain its shape over the years.
21:26It's also there to fit your head through the shirt
21:29in case it needs some stretching.
21:31This way, it ensures a snugger grip around the neck.
21:34Lastly, it helps absorb sweat
21:37in case you're wearing the shirt while exercising.
21:40Now, it's not necessarily a custom anymore,
21:42but you may have stumbled upon a dinner jacket
21:45with an additional mysterious pocket on the right side.
21:49Turns out, this pocket was used by men to easily reach their train tickets
21:53since most of them had to travel to work every day.
21:56It helped them keep their jacket buttoned up
21:59but also benefited from the use of a pocket.
22:02Now, it's only added as a decoration
22:04and it doesn't serve an actual purpose anymore.
22:07Speaking of things we don't use these days
22:10or at least for their initial purpose,
22:12did you know Play-Doh was originally a cleaning product?
22:16In the 1920s, the market was in need of a product
22:19that could help them wipe the wallpapered areas
22:22around coal-burning furnaces.
22:24The recipe for what we now know as Play-Doh
22:27was thus invented.
22:28It was manufactured in white only
22:31and was supposed to clean wallpaper
22:32by being rolled back and forth over the dirt.
22:35It was only later in the 1940s
22:38that new products for cleaning wallpaper were brought up
22:41and Play-Doh was redirected toward another area of the market.
22:46Now, while I enjoy a nice piece of toast for breakfast,
22:49isn't it pesky to have to clean out the toaster?
22:52Well, not anymore,
22:54since I recently found out that toasters
22:56have a slide or a panel at the bottom
22:59that helps get rid of all those annoying breadcrumbs easily.
23:05Now, there used to be a time
23:07when you could only have access to video games
23:09by inserting cartridges in your console of choice.
23:12These tiny objects gave many doctors a lot of headaches.
23:16People soon started popping up in hospitals
23:19after swallowing small game cartridges,
23:22especially the younger generation.
23:24Nintendo, the company that manufactures
23:27the majority of these devices,
23:28had to come up with a creative solution
23:30to prevent these accidents.
23:32So, these days,
23:33Nintendo Switch cartridges are purposely coated
23:36with specific chemicals
23:38that can leave a really bad bitter taste in the mouth.
23:41Not that I'd, you know,
23:42recommend you ever try and taste for yourself.
23:45Hmm.
23:46You're thirsty,
23:47so you crack open a soda can
23:49and take a few big gulps.
23:51Next thing you know,
23:52you're out of commission.
23:54Turns out,
23:55that can was contaminated
23:56with something nasty,
23:58like rat urine,
23:59and you had no clue.
24:01Just goes to show,
24:02you never know what might be lurking
24:04in that seemingly innocent drink.
24:07During transportation,
24:09storage, or handling,
24:10cans can pick up germs,
24:12bacteria, and dirt.
24:13When you drink straight from the can,
24:15those germs can easily enter your body.
24:18Cans are often stored in warehouses
24:20and rarely get a good cleaning
24:22before they reach you.
24:24Warehouse conditions can be pretty gross.
24:26Think rats running over them
24:28and less than ideal hygiene.
24:31To stay safe,
24:33it's a good idea to clean cans
24:34before drinking from them.
24:36Experts suggest giving them a quick wash
24:38with soap and water
24:39to avoid contamination.
24:41Studies have shown that
24:42unwashed bottles can be full of bacteria,
24:45so this step is really important.
24:48Now, quick question.
24:50Who's taken out more people?
24:52Sharks or vending machines?
24:54Surprisingly,
24:55vending machines have a darker history.
24:57Let's dive in.
24:58But first,
24:59let's define what counts
25:00as a vending machine casualty.
25:03We'll rule out things like
25:04expired snacks or electric shocks.
25:07Those aren't the machine's fault.
25:09What we do count
25:10are incidents
25:11where someone was severely harmed
25:12or, what's worse,
25:14passed away from rocking
25:15or tilting the machine.
25:17For sharks,
25:18any fatal encounter counts.
25:22In a 1995 report,
25:24there were two severe incidents
25:26that ended up in demise
25:28and one serious injury
25:29linked to vending machines.
25:31Since 1978,
25:33there have been at least
25:3437 such incidents
25:35and 113 injuries,
25:38which gives us about
25:39two fatalities per year.
25:41Compare that
25:42to one shark-related incident
25:44in 2021.
25:46However,
25:47this data is quite old.
25:48Since 2008,
25:49there haven't been
25:50any reported
25:51vending machine incidents.
25:52Why the drop?
25:54It could be due
25:55to warning signs
25:56and credit card readers
25:57reducing the need
25:58to shake machines.
25:59But remember,
26:00your risk varies
26:01based on where you live
26:03and your habits.
26:05In the end,
26:06the vending machine
26:07versus shark comparison
26:08isn't quite accurate anymore.
26:10Today,
26:11you're more likely
26:11to have a serious encounter
26:13with a shark
26:13than a vending machine.
26:15But the point remains,
26:16sharks aren't
26:17the bloodthirsty hunters
26:18they're made out to be.
26:20So,
26:21someone pointed out
26:22your visible nose hairs
26:23and now you're looking
26:24for ways to deal with them.
26:25You might think
26:26plucking is the way to go,
26:27but hold up,
26:29it's not as safe
26:30as you think.
26:30Here are three solid reasons
26:33to avoid plucking
26:34your nose hair.
26:35Your nose is full
26:37of delicate nerves,
26:38follicles,
26:39and plenty of bacteria.
26:41Plucking nose hair
26:42can damage the sensitive skin
26:43inside your nostrils,
26:45letting germs in
26:46and causing issues
26:47like infections
26:48and inflammation.
26:49Also,
26:50just like with waxing,
26:52plucking nose hair
26:52can result in ingrown hairs.
26:54As the hair grows back,
26:56it might curl
26:57into the follicle,
26:58causing bumps,
26:59discomfort,
27:00and inflammation.
27:01This can lead
27:02to folliculitis,
27:03which shows up
27:04as small,
27:05pus-filled red bumps
27:06and can be itchy
27:07or painful.
27:08In severe cases,
27:10plucking nose hairs
27:11can cause
27:12nasal farunculosis,
27:13a deep follicle infection
27:15with swelling
27:16and discomfort.
27:17This infection
27:18can spread to blood vessels
27:19near the brain,
27:20potentially leading
27:21to cavernous sinus thrombosis,
27:23a condition
27:24where blood clots
27:25form behind
27:26the eye sockets.
27:27If not treated,
27:28this condition
27:29can be life-threatening
27:30and may cause
27:31permanent brain damage.
27:32To avoid these problems,
27:35go for trimming
27:35your nose hair instead.
27:37Trimming doesn't make
27:38your hair grow back
27:39thicker or faster,
27:40and it helps maintain
27:41the right amount
27:41of nose hair
27:42to keep out pathogens.
27:46Contact lenses
27:47are meant to help you see,
27:48but they can make you
27:50turn completely blind.
27:52One big no-no
27:53is wearing your contacts
27:54in the shower.
27:55It's bad for both your lenses
27:57and your eye health.
27:59Showering with contacts
28:00is like swimming
28:00or sleeping with them in.
28:02It's a common mistake.
28:04Water and contacts
28:05just don't mix.
28:06You need to keep
28:07your lenses clean
28:08to avoid any issues.
28:10If water gets behind
28:12your lens,
28:12germs or chemicals
28:13like chlorine
28:14can get in there
28:15and cause trouble.
28:16At best,
28:17you might end up
28:18with sore or itchy eyes.
28:19Worse,
28:20you could get
28:21conjunctivitis
28:22from a bacterial infection.
28:23In rare,
28:24serious cases,
28:25you might even face
28:26infections,
28:27which can sometimes
28:28lead to blindness.
28:31Most people wear contacts
28:32in the shower accidentally
28:33rather than doing it
28:35on purpose.
28:35If this happens,
28:37close your eyes right away
28:38and carefully step out
28:39of the shower
28:40to remove your lenses.
28:41If your eyes feel sore
28:43or look red afterward,
28:44contact your optometrist,
28:46ASAP.
28:47Always use the cleaning solution
28:49your optometrist recommends
28:51to sterilize your lenses
28:52before putting them back in.
28:54But really,
28:54it's best to take out
28:55your contacts
28:56before showering
28:57or bathing.
28:58If there's one piece
28:59of home decor
29:00you should keep
29:01a close eye on,
29:02it's snow globes.
29:03They might seem harmless,
29:05but a family
29:06in East Hampton, Massachusetts
29:07would beg to differ.
29:09In a crazy turn of events,
29:11a snow globe
29:12sparked a fire
29:13in their apartment
29:14while no one was home.
29:15Luckily,
29:16quick-thinking neighbors
29:17and a swift response
29:18from the fire department
29:19kept the blaze
29:20from spreading
29:21through the entire complex.
29:23It was a normal
29:24Thursday morning
29:25when,
29:26around 11.30 a.m.,
29:27neighbors heard
29:28smoke alarms
29:29blaring in the apartment
29:30and dialed 911.
29:32Firefighters arrived
29:33to find the place locked,
29:34so they had to
29:35force their way in.
29:36Inside,
29:37they found a small fire
29:38on the coffee table
29:39and a room
29:40filled with smoke.
29:42There,
29:42they also saw
29:43the culprit.
29:43It was a snow globe.
29:45It was sitting
29:46just right on the coffee table
29:47and the sunlight
29:48hit it
29:49at the perfect angle,
29:50magnifying onto
29:51some cardboard
29:52and styrofoam
29:53and setting them
29:54on fire.
29:55While it's not common,
29:57fires started
29:57by magnified sunlight
29:59do happen.
30:00Many firefighters
30:01have seen blazes
30:02ignited by mirrors
30:03and magnifying glasses.
30:05So,
30:05keep those snow globes
30:07out of direct sunlight.
30:08Better safe than sorry.
30:12All right,
30:14let's talk about
30:15fatal fruit.
30:16No,
30:17I'm not going to
30:17bore you
30:18with another lame list
30:19of the most poisonous
30:20fruits out there.
30:21Instead,
30:22I'm going to tell you
30:23about something
30:23heavenly tasty
30:25that can make you
30:26teleport to the heavens
30:27in a matter of seconds.
30:28Meet the coconut.
30:30This seemingly
30:31innocent fruit
30:32has a dark side.
30:34Coconuts are responsible
30:35for around
30:36150 fatalities
30:38each year.
30:38These bad boys
30:40have a whole page
30:41dedicated to the fatal
30:42incidents they've caused.
30:43A full-size coconut
30:45weighs about
30:463 pounds 3 ounces.
30:47And if you know
30:48a thing or two
30:49about physics,
30:50you'll understand
30:50that gravity
30:51makes them even more
30:52dangerous when they
30:53fall from trees.
30:55But it's not just
30:56falling coconuts
30:57you need to worry about.
30:59Consuming large amounts
31:00of coconut water
31:01can lead to
31:02sudden cardiac arrest
31:03due to hyperkalemia
31:05thanks to its
31:06high potassium levels.
31:08And while rare,
31:09there have been
31:09cases of anaphylaxis
31:11in people
31:11with coconut allergies.
31:13While the most
31:14common way coconuts
31:15cause harm
31:15is by falling
31:16and hitting someone,
31:17there have been
31:18some unusual
31:19incidents too.
31:20In December 1923,
31:22a man in Newcastle,
31:24Pennsylvania
31:24passed away
31:25while trying to
31:26crack open a coconut
31:27with the butt end
31:28of a loaded revolver.
31:29It went off
31:30and he was shot
31:31in the abdomen.
31:33You know those
31:34handy selfie sticks
31:35that help you
31:35nail the perfect shot?
31:36But, turns out,
31:38they can be way
31:38more dangerous
31:39than you'd expect.
31:40These little gadgets
31:41have led to a
31:42surprising amount
31:43of injuries
31:44and even some
31:45fatalities.
31:46People have
31:47accidentally knocked
31:48themselves or
31:49others out,
31:50taken a tumble
31:51off cliffs
31:51and even been
31:52hit by cars
31:53while trying to
31:54get that
31:54insta-worthy pic.
31:56Some popular landmarks
31:58have even banned
31:59selfie sticks
31:59altogether.
32:00For instance,
32:01the oceanfront
32:02in Mumbai
32:03has said no
32:04to selfie sticks.
32:05India, by the way,
32:06leads the world
32:07in selfie-related deaths.
32:09Nearly 40%
32:10of the 49
32:11globally recorded
32:12fatalities
32:12over the past
32:13three years
32:14happened there.
32:15If you still think
32:16selfie accidents
32:17aren't a big deal,
32:18consider this.
32:20From 2008
32:21to mid-2021,
32:22a staggering
32:24379 people
32:26lost their lives
32:26while trying to
32:27get that perfect shot.
32:28So yeah,
32:30it's definitely
32:30something to take
32:31seriously.