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Discover surprising new ways to use everyday items and what to do when they work differently than you expect. Learn how to spot useful differences in familiar objects and turn odd situations into simple solutions. Get practical tips, clever tricks, and step-by-step guidance. Your next smart fix might already be in your hands.
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00:00:00Now, this might shock iPhone fans.
00:00:02Oh no! Calm down, it'll be okay.
00:00:05Go to Settings, Privacy, Location Services, scroll down, tap System Services, and choose Significant Locations.
00:00:13Your phone knows not only where you live, but also where you work, where your favorite supermarket is, and other
00:00:20places you visit frequently.
00:00:22If it makes you feel uncomfortable, just turn it off.
00:00:27Multitasking doesn't exhaust your battery as long as the apps in the background aren't actually working, like location tracking or
00:00:33any music player.
00:00:35So, if you don't want to close the apps on standby for some reason, it's okay to leave them be.
00:00:41Cached data consumes a huge amount of precious space, and buying extra cloud space is not the only way to
00:00:47retrieve some.
00:00:48Whenever you see that you're out of memory and you've got literally nothing to delete, check all your messengers.
00:00:54Even if you deleted the photo from the camera roll, it's still stored in a cache.
00:00:59Go to your messenger settings and delete all the cached files.
00:01:03There's a sure sign your charger has gone bad.
00:01:06When you notice it takes more time to charge your phone, like earlier, you could go full charged within an
00:01:12hour and a half, and it now takes more than three hours to do so.
00:01:16You have to replace the charger.
00:01:17If you see your phone cable has turned green, throw it away and replace it with a new one.
00:01:23The wire inside the cable is made of copper, and this metal turns green when it corrodes, just like some
00:01:29statues out there made of it.
00:01:30If the wire has rusted, the charger is not safe to use anymore because it loses its conductive properties and
00:01:37may even cause an electrical fire.
00:01:39So whenever you see a greenish tint on your usually white cable, toss it without hesitation.
00:01:46This one doesn't happen that often, but if you live in a moist or dusty environment, one day you can
00:01:52see rust on the connecting ends.
00:01:54Rust often can't be cleaned, and even if you manage to get rid of it, it might break the delicate
00:01:59pins on the charging cable.
00:02:01So it's probably best to replace your charger right away.
00:02:05Now, charging ports get loose over time, and once it happens, you start to hold your phone at a particular
00:02:11angle to charge it.
00:02:13Take action as soon as you notice it.
00:02:15Either ask a specialist to fix it or replace the charger.
00:02:18Now, if your phone won't charge, it's not necessarily the charger's fault.
00:02:23The problem can be about the adapter.
00:02:25The USB ports and adapters can get loose over time.
00:02:29So if you're sure the cable is fine, check the adapter.
00:02:33Also, sometimes the problem may be about the battery.
00:02:37It may be so that the adapters seem to be fine, same with the cables, but the phone just won't
00:02:42charge.
00:02:43Check the cable jack.
00:02:45Sometimes it catches a lot of lint, which results in charging problems.
00:02:49You can easily clean it with a toothpick.
00:02:52Don't use a needle or any other metal object, though, as you may damage the port.
00:02:56Your phone may malfunction not only because of battery problems.
00:03:00Unnecessary data can make it work slower.
00:03:03So, reboot your phone once a week.
00:03:06Don't overload your device.
00:03:07Too many pics or documents don't make it work any faster, either.
00:03:11If you store all the important information in a cloud, you'll also have access there from any device.
00:03:18A simple explanation as to why 1% might last a long time is that the phone has underestimated the
00:03:25current battery capacity.
00:03:27Then, when it gets down to what it thinks should be almost empty, displaying 1%, it finds that the battery
00:03:34has more capacity left than it estimated.
00:03:36There's also a bit of psychology.
00:03:38When you see that your phone's about to turn off, it kind of encourages you to plug it in ASAP.
00:03:45By the way, modem batteries can't be fully charged or drained.
00:03:49The last 20% of a battery takes longer to charge than the rest because lithium-ion batteries have a
00:03:56bit of a complex charging profile.
00:03:58When the battery is low, the charger supplies a fixed current, generally the peak current that the charger or battery
00:04:05combination can handle.
00:04:06As the voltage increases, the charger switches over to a constant voltage profile, where the voltage is supplied at 4
00:04:13.3 volts or so, and the current is entirely based on what the battery will take.
00:04:18Sleeping with your phone under your pillow is not a very healthy idea.
00:04:23Cell phones, tablets, and other forms of handheld technology release electromagnetic waves caused by x-rays, just as microwaves do,
00:04:31which may lead to serious health issues.
00:04:34Even though an adult person's skull is quite thick, like mine, and protects the brain well, it's best to be
00:04:41on the safe side and put your phone on the bedside table.
00:04:45If you accidentally cracked the screen carrying your phone, replace it with a new one as soon as possible.
00:04:51Yeah, it might not seem a problem since the touchscreen still works, but all the grease and dust will get
00:04:57through the cracks.
00:04:58It can eventually damage the screen, so hurry up!
00:05:02Facial skin is sensitive, and your phone is almost 7 times dirtier than a toilet seat.
00:05:08Talking on the phone seems like rubbing a toilet seat against your cheek, eww.
00:05:12So don't press your phone against your face.
00:05:15You don't want germs, do you?
00:05:17And maybe wash your hands more often.
00:05:19Blue light, brightness, and even font size can be the reason why you get a poor night's sleep, especially if
00:05:27you love to scroll the feed until you fall asleep.
00:05:29Go to Settings and turn on the blue light filter.
00:05:33It's called Night Shift for iPhones, and there are blue light filter apps for Androids, too.
00:05:38Also, adjust the brightness and font size.
00:05:41Be careful using the phone on the beach.
00:05:43Don't leave it in the sun on your beach towel.
00:05:46Though it doesn't need sunscreen, and there's no way it can have sunburn, it can still be badly damaged by
00:05:52scorching rays.
00:05:53Lithium batteries are like humans.
00:05:55Their operating temperature range is 59 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:06:00Now, don't charge your smartphone if it's over 95 degrees, because it may cause damage to the battery.
00:06:06Also, it's bad to charge it on a cover.
00:06:09We know cell phones don't enjoy the heat.
00:06:11The heat gets trapped inside, so it can damage your battery.
00:06:15And never try to cool it off in a freezer, as lithium batteries can't stand cold either.
00:06:21Boy, they're picky.
00:06:22Still, remember that some heat while charging your phone is completely fine.
00:06:27The charger uses a transformer to convert the AC line voltage from a wall outlet to the DC voltage required
00:06:33to charge the battery.
00:06:34No process would be 100% efficient, so some amount of electricity is released as heat.
00:06:41Excessive heat, and especially discoloration, are bad signs that the charger's circuitry is beginning to fail.
00:06:48This may possibly result in an electric shock when you unplug the device.
00:06:53Bzzzt!
00:06:53Ow!
00:06:54Pockets are one of the worst places to keep your phone.
00:06:58You can lose it, accidentally sit on it and crack the screen, or, what's way worse, get radiated.
00:07:04The phone has a full range of signals that are not good for our health.
00:07:08Mobile data, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC were added to the list.
00:07:13By the way, don't use public Wi-Fi if you don't want to leak your personal data.
00:07:17Some people like to jailbreak their phones to access more app stores, not only the official ones.
00:07:23Well, before doing it, remember that this procedure literally eliminates the safeguard the manufacturer installed on your phone.
00:07:31Plus, unofficial app stores and apps can lead to data leaking.
00:07:35If leaking occurs, your phone may need some absorbent undergarments.
00:07:40Baa, just kidding.
00:07:42One thing you may probably never leave home without is a power bank.
00:07:46They are much safer than any public hub.
00:07:50Make sure the amperage is correct.
00:07:52Most modern smartphones charge at 2.1 amps.
00:07:55And most power banks have a range of 2.1 to 2.4 amps, which is totally okay.
00:08:01Check if the phone's not too hot while charging.
00:08:03The hotter the battery, the less effective the charging.
00:08:09How many hidden features are there in your car that you have never heard of?
00:08:13Most cars these days have everything color-coded under their hoods.
00:08:17It makes it way easier to know what you need to supervise between services.
00:08:22Like the dipstick, the oil cap, or the coolant.
00:08:26You can even have a look at the brake and washer fluid.
00:08:30Anything else that's black or gray, just leave it to the mechanics.
00:08:35Ever seen a snowflake light on the dashboard of your car?
00:08:39It's not there to let you know the winter holidays are coming, if that's what you're thinking.
00:08:43It's actually a sensor that indicates the exterior ambient temperature.
00:08:48It gets activated and pops up the light whenever there's a road warning due to a sharp drop in temperature.
00:08:56It may sometimes even come on with an audio warning or a message on your dashboard
00:09:01to warn you that the roads may be getting icy.
00:09:03So you can either adapt the speed or change to the appropriate tires if necessary.
00:09:10Most cars come with added features for the summertime too, like those neat sun visors.
00:09:16Yours might have an added bonus you might want to check out.
00:09:19We all know they twist to help the driver out when the sun is not shining from the front.
00:09:23But some of them can also extend, so they can provide shade to a larger area.
00:09:30If you figure out your sun visor doesn't extend, there's a simple solution though.
00:09:35Buy a sun visor extender.
00:09:37You can even find them online.
00:09:39They work by being attached to your existing sun visors or windows for better shade coverage and visibility.
00:09:47Let's find some hidden features at home.
00:09:50It's not rocket science, but there is a wrong way to make ice in the freezer.
00:09:55And that's because you're probably not using the ice cube tray correctly.
00:10:00They come with that particular shape because you need to fill the trays until there's a layer of water on
00:10:05the top.
00:10:06This layer will help remove the cubes faster from the tray because it will crack when twisted and leave each
00:10:12cube poking out.
00:10:14You can then grab them in no time and enjoy your drink.
00:10:18If you find that the heat on your oven is too high or you need to cook some delicate dishes
00:10:23that require more control over the temperature,
00:10:26there's an easy way to adjust that.
00:10:29The knobs on your oven should come with calibration screws on their backs.
00:10:34Pop out the plastic knob and adjust it to your preferences.
00:10:38Be sure to disconnect the oven from any energy source before doing it.
00:10:43Do you know what your stove and your car have in common?
00:10:47They both have hoods that you can open if you need to have a peek or if they need some
00:10:52cleaning.
00:10:53If you look closely at the top of your kitchen stove, you will see two hinges located on the back
00:10:59corners.
00:11:00You'll be able to easily lift it up and clean out all the grime that's been stuck in there.
00:11:06Ever wondered why glue doesn't stick to the inside of the bottle?
00:11:10The answer is a bit more complex, depending on the type of glue.
00:11:14But the simple response is, well, it doesn't have any air in there.
00:11:19PVA glue contains some molecules called polymers and water.
00:11:24When the glue is out, the water evaporates, leaving just the sticky polymers behind.
00:11:31Things are more or less the other way around with superglue.
00:11:34It has a chemical that solidifies as soon as it hits water vapors in the air.
00:11:41Did you know Microsoft Word has a feature that you can use for references and a bibliography?
00:11:47It's not only helpful for keeping track of everything, but it also automatically formats all the information accordingly.
00:11:55If you like to surround yourself with as many houseplants as possible, here's an easy way to figure out if
00:12:01they need watering.
00:12:03Stick your fingers into its soil.
00:12:05It should give you a better idea than simply looking at the plant surface.
00:12:09If you can reach 2 to 3 inches into the soil and feel it's dry, the plant most likely needs
00:12:15some hydration.
00:12:17However, this trick does tend to work better with smaller potted plants because of the limited depth.
00:12:23In any case, it's always best to research the plant's needs in terms of watering and sunlight before committing to
00:12:29a plant.
00:12:31And always be careful not to damage its roots.
00:12:35Be honest, you indeed have clothes you wear all the time and some that just sit there in the back
00:12:40of your closet that you've most likely forgotten about.
00:12:43Here's a neat way to figure out which one is which.
00:12:46For starters, you'll need to turn all of your hangers backwards.
00:12:51If you really feel like putting more effort into this project, you can wrap some pieces of electrical tape on
00:12:56the hangers and write the start date on each.
00:12:59After that, everything is pretty self-explanatory.
00:13:03Each time you wear a particular item, turn the hanger around, making it face forward.
00:13:09After 6 months or a year, all those items that have yet to be turned around should go to donations
00:13:15or yard sales.
00:13:17Another great way to use hangers to help you with your wardrobe organization is to use them for your scarves.
00:13:24They will be wrinkle-free, but you can also see them a lot better and have a clear view of
00:13:28the scarves you actually use and those you should let go of.
00:13:33If you're looking to increase the storage space in your wardrobe, especially when the season changes, go pick yourself up
00:13:40some vacuum-packed storage bags.
00:13:42After that, you just need to fold your garments or other pieces of laundry, like bedding or blankets for example,
00:13:49and place them in the bags.
00:13:52Turn on your vacuum cleaner, place the nozzle on the bag seal and remove all the extra air from the
00:13:58bag.
00:13:58It helps with reducing the storage size of clothes and keeps the clothes clean, dry, and moth-free.
00:14:06Should you have an empty basket lying around and you aren't sure if you want to recycle it just yet,
00:14:11you can always repurpose it as a cool lamp.
00:14:14Wicker baskets work best for this.
00:14:17Just cut a small hole in the bottom of the basket and place a pendant light kit there.
00:14:22You can even paint it manually or spray paint if you need it to be in a particular color.
00:14:27Another way to neatly repurpose things around the house is to use leftover cookie jars to store dryer balls, but
00:14:34the sky's the limit here.
00:14:36You can also use dryer sheets to remove dust from screens around your house, like computers, laptops, or TVs.
00:14:44These items are electrically charged, so they generally attract a lot of dust particles.
00:14:51Dryer sheets are made to reduce static cling, so they won't only remove the dust but also help keep it
00:14:56at bay for a longer period of time.
00:14:59Dryer sheets also help out if you're having a bad hair day, believe it or not.
00:15:03They can seriously help out taming flyaways whenever your frizz just gets out of control.
00:15:10Run one of those dryer sheets from the roots of your hair all the way down to the tip and
00:15:15be amazed.
00:15:16If there's a particular type of soap bar you like the smell of and want to replicate that on your
00:15:22clothes too,
00:15:23pick up one of those bars to make a day's clothes fresher.
00:15:27Place it in a fabric and place it anywhere between your clothes.
00:15:31Your shirts should smell awesome every time you pick them up.
00:15:35You can also save on fabric softener.
00:15:38I don't know about your washing machine, but mine does love to jump, I'll tell you that.
00:15:43If yours tends to run out of its designated place, especially during those intense spinning cycles,
00:15:49it happens because it's not perfectly fixed to the floor.
00:15:53The good thing is that most modern washing machines can self-level since they come with a pair of legs.
00:15:59Just lift the back of the device off the surface area it sits on, and it will drop them,
00:16:05locking them into place once it's perfectly leveled.
00:16:14So get this, an extra hole at the upper part of the sink has multiple hidden functions.
00:16:20First, in case someone forgets to close the tap, the water won't overflow and the bathroom won't get flooded.
00:16:25Second, thanks to that hole, the water drains faster and it gives an escape for the air, helping the water
00:16:31flow down.
00:16:33Those two holes on a side of any Converse shoe are not only to let the stinky air out.
00:16:38Sure, breathability is important for any athlete.
00:16:41The second reason is that athletes lace through those holes to get a better grip.
00:16:48Donuts have a hole in the middle and it doesn't stand for O in donut.
00:16:52It's not designed for an easier grip either, though it can be quite convenient.
00:16:56It's actually made this way for mass baking, so that they can cook all the way through evenly.
00:17:02Baby carrots are tiny and, unlike regular carrots, wet.
00:17:07Baby carrots aren't some special sort of carrots.
00:17:09They're actually made of regular carrots by cutting off the skin and outer layers and then polishing them to look
00:17:15that pretty.
00:17:16The problem is that they can't retain moisture.
00:17:18A regular carrot retains some water inside because of the layers that locks it in.
00:17:23Once they're chopped out, baby carrots can dry out easily, so they usually sell them in bags with some water
00:17:28inside.
00:17:30Toy stores are filled with Beanie Baby plush toys, and a detail that is even more iconic than their huge
00:17:36eyes is their tags, saying T.Y.
00:17:39That's a small manufacturing company not so many people have heard of.
00:17:43Beanie Babies appeared in 1993, and they went insanely popular.
00:17:48T.Y. is the name of the company, but it's not an abbreviation.
00:17:51It's the actual name of the company's founder, H. Ty Warner.
00:17:57Most metallic zippers have a hidden lock inside them to save you from awkward situations, such as an undone fly.
00:18:03Oh boy.
00:18:05Don't leave the zipper handle in an upward position.
00:18:07When you pull it downwards, it automatically locks.
00:18:10It's all thanks to those tiny grooves hidden underneath the handle.
00:18:16Almost any public toilet has a large gap between the floor and the door.
00:18:20The reason for such a zero-privacy thing is to actually minimize the level of privacy and comfort,
00:18:26so that people wouldn't stay there long and there'd be no lines.
00:18:29It's also easier to clean, and safer if some emergency occurs.
00:18:36Headrests in a car are about comfort, and detachable headrests are about safety.
00:18:41If you pull the headrest out of a seat, you'll see two bars, which are quite sturdy.
00:18:46If you ever get locked or trapped in a car, you can get out of there smashing the window with
00:18:50these bars.
00:18:54Many cups and mugs have little grooves on the bottom on purpose.
00:18:58They're designed for dishwashing machines.
00:19:00Sometimes, the grooves let the water flow and not spill over your feet when you take the cup out.
00:19:05Also, those grooves let the air flow so the cup doesn't crack even if the tea is scalding.
00:19:13Almost all measuring tapes have a metal tip with a small slot on the end.
00:19:17You can use this slot to hang the tape on a nail or a screw to make measurements without anyone's
00:19:22help.
00:19:24Sometimes, this tip has a row of sharp points along the edge on one side.
00:19:28That comes in handy when you want to leave a mark without using a pencil.
00:19:33Doorknobs are usually made of brass, bronze, and some other copper alloys for a reason.
00:19:38They have an antibacterial effect, so they stop microbes from spreading.
00:19:43They get rid of a range of harmful germs pretty fast within a couple of hours.
00:19:47But don't forget to wash your hands anyway.
00:19:51Grocery carts have loops for a reason.
00:19:54You don't want to put your jacket in a cart next to potatoes and onions.
00:19:57Hang it on a loop.
00:19:59This little hook-like thing is there to help you better organize the space in your cart.
00:20:04The carts also have a super handy grid.
00:20:07Whenever the cart's full, you just need to lift the grid and attach the shopping basket for extra purchases.
00:20:12Placing it in between the horizontal bar above the wheels and the hooks the grid has.
00:20:19A point in an ointment cap is there for a reason too.
00:20:23Most tubes are usually sealed with foil, and it's better to avoid opening it with fingers unless you're ready to
00:20:28say goodbye to your nails.
00:20:30A point easily opens even the most safely sealed tube.
00:20:36Silica gel can often be found in different things you buy like bags, shoes, and many others.
00:20:41Don't throw it away.
00:20:42It's meant to absorb excess moisture.
00:20:44So anytime your shoes are a bit wet, just throw in a packet with silica gel.
00:20:50People used to co-live with rats, and these guys like gnawing on everything they see in their way, including
00:20:57paper.
00:20:58Still, rats weren't able to chew more than the space left on the margins.
00:21:04That black grate on a microwave isn't just some fancy decoration.
00:21:08It's called a Faraday shield, and it prevents the rays from escaping the microwave.
00:21:13It also speeds up the heating, so you can enjoy yesterday's leftovers faster.
00:21:17It may also block phone signals.
00:21:20So if you're tired of numerous calls, just put the phone into a microwave.
00:21:23But don't turn it on.
00:21:28All Tic Tac containers are designed to dispense one Tic Tac every time you open it.
00:21:33The lid has the same shape as the candy.
00:21:35Turn the container upside down, gently shake it, and open it slowly.
00:21:39You'll notice only one candy stuck between those lid grooves.
00:21:42So if you just open the container and shake it until five or even more candies fall into your mouth,
00:21:47it means you've been eating Tic Tacs wrong all this time.
00:21:55Those little holes in the airplane windows are designed to control the cabin pressure.
00:21:59They also protect the windows from fogging up as the temperatures drop and rise.
00:22:03By the way, the airplane window is round for a reason.
00:22:06This way, pressure is evenly distributed so it doesn't get deformed.
00:22:12Blue bristles on a toothbrush are actually an indicator that it's just about time to change the brush.
00:22:18As the bristles get in contact with water, the blue, or whatever other, pigment fades away.
00:22:23So the more you use it, the duller the color becomes.
00:22:28A triple handle on a jerry can is there to make it easier for two people to carry it and
00:22:32distribute the fuel evenly.
00:22:34Gas cans often have a second hole that actually needs to be uncapped too before you pour the gas.
00:22:39The air passage will prevent it from pouring out, so no more fuel waste.
00:22:45Jeans first appeared in 1873.
00:22:48They were invented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss.
00:22:52Davis was a tailor who was producing covers and tents, and Strauss was a businessman who, among other things, was
00:22:59selling cloth.
00:23:00The first jeans were made by Davis from denim, the fabric he bought from Levi Strauss & Co.
00:23:06Together, they patented the design.
00:23:09Blue was a standard color for denim that was dyed using an indigo dye.
00:23:13The blue color is a tradition that is still often followed today to replicate the original look of a pair
00:23:19of jeans.
00:23:19Jeans also have metal rivets, and they've been there from the very beginning.
00:23:24Jacob Davis, the man who made the first pair of jeans, added copper rivets to spots where pants were more
00:23:29likely to rip, flies, and pockets to make them stronger.
00:23:33Today, they have more of a decorative purpose since they're distinctive and traditional for jeans.
00:23:40Another special thing about jeans is those tiny pockets they have that seemingly serve no purpose.
00:23:45Well, maybe it's true now, but years ago, when many cowboys were wearing jeans, the pocket was made specifically to
00:23:52keep a pocket watch there.
00:23:54Also, back then, a pair of jeans had just four pockets.
00:23:57That tiny pocket, the watch pocket, two big pockets in front, and just one pocket on the back.
00:24:05Many zippers have the letters YKK engraved on them.
00:24:08It's an abbreviation that stands for the name of the company that can be translated as Yoshida Manufacturing Shareholding Company.
00:24:16This Japanese company is the largest zipper manufacturer in the world, so they put their initials on all the zippers
00:24:22they produce.
00:24:23That's around half of the zippers in the world.
00:24:26And that's why you see their zippers more often than any other zippers.
00:24:31Those little white golf balls have dimples all over them.
00:24:34It turns out they aren't there just randomly.
00:24:37At first, golfers were playing with a smooth ball.
00:24:39With time, the ball would get all punched and damaged, but also, it would start to travel way further.
00:24:45The reason here is aerodynamics.
00:24:48Dimples allow the air to flow more smoothly around the ball, taking it further.
00:24:52So the idea was adopted, and the balls got their dimples all around, allowing them to travel longer distances.
00:25:00If you look at it on the street, you'll think a fire hydrant is about 3 feet in height.
00:25:05But the actual size of the device used to provide water supply to firefighters all over the world is twice
00:25:11as large.
00:25:11That is, if you count the rest of the hydrant, which is hiding underground.
00:25:15They're mostly red, and it's not just a matter of urban design.
00:25:18First of all, they need to be of bright, easily noticeable colors, so firefighters can spot them fast when they
00:25:24need to.
00:25:25The choice of color depends on how much water the hydrant can hold.
00:25:29It can sometimes vary depending on the location, but here's the breakdown.
00:25:33A red fire hydrant can splash 500 gallons of water per minute, while an orange one at least 1,000
00:25:40gallons.
00:25:41Green ones mostly process 1500 gallons of water per minute, and the most plentiful ones, colored blue, can generally contain
00:25:49over 1500 gallons.
00:25:51Hey bowling fans, isn't it super annoying when your bowling ball gets cracked?
00:25:55Turns out that most of them get damaged because of incorrect storage or spikes in temperature.
00:26:02Now come on and face it, since it's already cracked a bit, aren't you curious what's actually inside the bowling
00:26:07ball?
00:26:07Because I sure am.
00:26:08Let's have a look.
00:26:10They mostly make the inner core of the ball of powdered metal oxides, like calcium or iron oxide.
00:26:16They mix them with some resin and catalyst to harden the whole mixture.
00:26:20So that light bulb shape you now see inside of the ball is actually its heaviest part.
00:26:24It also influences how your bowling ball rotates when going down the lane.
00:26:29The same goes with spray paint cans.
00:26:32When you shake it, it makes a weird noise, but what is that thing in there?
00:26:36It's called a pee, and it's meant to hold the paint mixture in place and maintain its shape.
00:26:41They generally make it out of plastic, metal, or ceramic.
00:26:44It basically acts as a whisk to make sure your paint is well mixed together before you apply it to
00:26:49your surface of choice.
00:26:51Ever wondered how soda bottles keep that refreshing fizz for that long?
00:26:56Well, they have a little plastic ring fastened to the lid.
00:26:59They place it there to keep the gas from escaping and making the soda go flat, even if you shake
00:27:04it around in your bag the whole day.
00:27:07Speaking of things we use on a hot summer's day, wait, wait, don't put your baseball cap on just yet.
00:27:13Take a look at it for a minute, and you'll notice there's a small button on the very top.
00:27:17Is it functional, or is it just there for the sake of design?
00:27:20Way back when people started using fabrics to cover their heads, some say the button was actually functional.
00:27:26Since it's on top of the cap where the fabric panels come together, the top button helps keep the cap
00:27:31crown in one single piece.
00:27:34Now, with recent advances in fabric and pattern design, the button is more of an aesthetic feature.
00:27:39It's used to cover up the joint point of the fabric panels.
00:27:42Your cap might not have a button at all, but don't you think a cap actually looks better with one?
00:27:48Cotton pads have two sides, and if you take the time to look at them carefully, they're actually different in
00:27:53texture.
00:27:54Just in case you've ever wondered why, the textured side is for applying makeup, and the even side is for
00:28:00removing it.
00:28:03Bookworms. This one is for you.
00:28:04Dust jackets that come with a lot of hardcover books are not just meant to make your book look pretty.
00:28:09They also double as a bookmark.
00:28:11Just fold the pages you've already read underneath the inside of the jacket, and voila!
00:28:17Next time you reach out for your favorite shirt, take a look at the top buttonhole.
00:28:21It should be stitched horizontally, and all the other ones are vertical.
00:28:25Turns out that the dress shirt was designed this way, since the first and the last buttons were the first
00:28:30ones to unbutton throughout the day.
00:28:32They then changed the direction of the buttonhole to ensure the shirt would stay nice and fitted before you're ready
00:28:38to take it off.
00:28:40These days, we have so many variations of this awesome dessert that it's hard to imagine we've ever lived without
00:28:46it.
00:28:46You can find different types of cookie dough ice cream or even chocolate chip cookie cake basically everywhere, but the
00:28:52famous cookie wasn't actually invented until 1930.
00:28:56The story goes that a woman named Ruth Graves Wakefield was preparing some chocolate cookies as she was waiting for
00:29:01some guests to arrive.
00:29:03She soon figured out she was out of baker's chocolate, a crucial ingredient for the classic cookies.
00:29:08To fix things up, she chopped up a block of semi-sweet chocolate, thinking it would eventually spread out evenly
00:29:14throughout the batter, given the heat of the oven.
00:29:16Things didn't necessarily go as planned.
00:29:18But hey, it's great they didn't because this is how she invented this modern dessert we now can't get enough
00:29:24of.
00:29:26And speaking of popular snacks, the potato chip is even younger than the chocolate chip cookie.
00:29:31Well, at least historically.
00:29:33There are many stories trying to explain how it was invented.
00:29:37One of them goes like this.
00:29:38A chef named George Crumb, based in New York, put the chips together in 1953.
00:29:44He decided to try a different cooking solution when one of his customers didn't have nice things to say about
00:29:50his french fries.
00:29:51He said they were too thick and kind of mushy.
00:29:54Then, Crumb came up with potatoes that were thinly sliced and fried until brown.
00:29:59People absolutely loved the dish.
00:30:01And they welcomed the first ever batch of chips with open arms.
00:30:06Ice cream, anyone?
00:30:07If the story is true, back in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair, one ice cream shop owner ran
00:30:13out of cups to serve his dish.
00:30:15So, he fashioned a waffle into the shape of a cone.
00:30:18And the rest was history.
00:30:21Okay, I'll admit it, chewing gum-like treats have been around since the ancient Greeks.
00:30:25So, this one isn't particularly a revolutionary discovery.
00:30:29But the actual gum we buy today wasn't there until the late 1800s.
00:30:34An American inventor named Thomas Adams wanted to mix together different chemicals to create rubber.
00:30:39He tried and failed, for that matter, to play with Chickle for his experiment.
00:30:43But ended up fashioning this neat treat.
00:30:46They still use Chickle to this day to produce most chewing gums.
00:30:50Back in the 1800s, there lived a man named Jean-Baptiste Jolly, who worked in the fabric industry as a
00:30:56textile maker.
00:30:57How he came up with this next invention that we use a lot these days has less to do with
00:31:02him and more to do with his maid.
00:31:03The story goes that the woman accidentally knocked a kerosene lamp over onto a tablecloth.
00:31:10Instead of getting upset over the damaged fabric, Jolly noticed that the substance actually made the material cleaner.
00:31:17Figured it out yet?
00:31:18Yep, that's how the idea for the very first dry cleaner popped up.
00:31:22A very neat accident, if I do say so myself.
00:31:26Now this one I loved.
00:31:28Did you know matchsticks were initially called friction lights?
00:31:31Or at least that's how their inventor, a chemist named John Walker, called them back in 1826.
00:31:38He scraped a stick coated in chemicals across his hearth totally by accident one day and realized that they ignited
00:31:44and created a spark.
00:31:46Initially made out of cardboard, they were then made using wooden splints and sandpaper.
00:31:53Back in the 1940s, a man named Harry Coover stumbled upon a chemical formulation that seemed to stick to everything
00:31:59it touched.
00:32:00The scientific community at the time didn't look much into it as the formula didn't seem to have many applications
00:32:06back then.
00:32:08It wasn't until 1951 that he looked a bit more into the formula and decided to repurpose it.
00:32:13Along with a fellow Eastman Kodak researcher named Fred Joyner, they gave it a proper full name.
00:32:19But you must know it by the shorter version.
00:32:23Superglue.
00:32:25It also has many uses in security these days that it's hard to believe that we didn't come up with
00:32:30this one on purpose.
00:32:31Back in 1903, a scientist named Edward Benedictus knocked over a flask by accident.
00:32:37He looked down and was amazed to see that the glassware had just slightly cracked but maintained its shape.
00:32:43He was expecting it to break into a million tiny pieces.
00:32:47Curious about this hidden feature, he looked into it and figured out what was keeping the glass together was a
00:32:53substance coating the inside of the glass.
00:32:55Ta-da!
00:32:56That's how humanity came up with safety glass.
00:33:00Now, music might help you with keeping pesky mosquitoes at bay.
00:33:05Not all genres, though.
00:33:06Based on a study published in 2019 in the journal Acta Toppica, electronic dance music could scare away insects.
00:33:14That's because it combines high and low frequencies.
00:33:17It's also generally quite loud and has escalating pitches throughout a song.
00:33:21So, imagine you're in a dark room with no lights whatsoever and spent a couple of minutes there with your
00:33:27eyes closed.
00:33:28What do you expect to see once you open your eyes?
00:33:31Pitched blackness?
00:33:32Well, here's a surprise for you.
00:33:34What you'll actually be seeing is sort of a dark gray shade.
00:33:38What's more curious is that this particular color shade has a name.
00:33:42Eigengraal.
00:33:43It's German for intrinsic gray.
00:33:46Now, I hope this never happens to you.
00:33:48But if you lose a fingernail completely, it will take quite some time to grow back.
00:33:53There's even research done on the matter that says, for a fingernail, it takes about six months to grow all
00:33:59the way from the base to the tip.
00:34:01For toenails, it can take up to a whole year.
00:34:04They don't grow equally as fast on both hands, though.
00:34:07On your dominant hand and on your bigger fingers, they tend to grow faster.
00:34:11They also have a sort of a growing boost in the daytime and during the summer season.
00:34:16There's a very strong material hidden inside your body.
00:34:21Specialists say the human bone is, in fact, stronger than both steel and concrete.
00:34:25That is, if you measure it ounce for ounce.
00:34:28That means that a cubic inch of bone can technically sustain a load of 19,000 pounds,
00:34:34which is more or less the weight of five standard pickup trucks.
00:34:38With that in mind, your bones are four times as strong as concrete.
00:34:42Speaking of things the human body is very good at, such as delivering four entrees at the same time at
00:34:48a restaurant,
00:34:49when your brain sends information through the nerves, it does it through a process that can be as speedy as
00:34:55200 miles per hour.
00:34:57Surprisingly, the hardest natural material found on all our planet is located in a very tiny creature.
00:35:04It's called the aquatic snail, and its teeth can withstand more pressure than it takes to transform carbon into diamonds.
00:35:12Ever wonder why the space bar is so wide?
00:35:15It's designed that way so you can easily enter spaces between words while you type with a thumb from either
00:35:21hand.
00:35:21That's also the reason why it's located at the lowermost row of each keyboard.
00:35:27Speaking of typing, those little dots that you see on the letters J and I when typed in lowercase actually
00:35:33have a name.
00:35:35They're called tittles, and the word is most likely a combination of the word tiny and little.
00:35:41When visiting a natural history museum, you'll most likely believe dinosaurs were related to lizards.
00:35:47But they actually have more in common with birds than with reptiles.
00:35:51Researchers at Harvard University even confirmed in 2008 that the famous T. rex shares more genetic information with chickens than
00:35:59with alligators.
00:36:00And you thought you had weird relatives.
00:36:03There's a city named Rome or Roma on every continent on this planet.
00:36:08Okay, apart from Antarctica, but that's basically just ice and snow anyway.
00:36:13Whenever you get a custom pair of shoes, or you need to get your feet measured inside a store,
00:36:18the salesperson needs to measure them with a curious-looking metal tool.
00:36:22It's called a Brannock device.
00:36:24A man named Charles Brannock cleverly invented and then patented in 1926.
00:36:30The Brannock device company keeps making them to this day.
00:36:34Accuracy aside, I know each of mine are simply a foot long.
00:36:39Some dogs out there don't bark.
00:36:41Okay, so some dogs from smaller breeds have higher-pitched barks,
00:36:45and larger dogs have deeper howls and lower growls.
00:36:49But the Basenji doesn't bark at all.
00:36:51They're not silent, though.
00:36:53They do communicate through sounds similar to a chortle or a yodel.
00:36:57What a great name for a dog.
00:36:59Here, yodel.
00:37:01Did you know Antarctica is the biggest unclaimed territory on our planet?
00:37:05According to a document called the Antarctic Treaty System,
00:37:09It's covered by countries such as Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
00:37:17This extreme weather piece of land can only be used for a whole lot of science, though.
00:37:22There are approximately 2,000 thunderstorms happening on planet Earth at any point in time.
00:37:29Of course, some areas experience extreme weather more often.
00:37:32The National Severe Storms Laboratory has calculated this average.
00:37:36According to them, there are thousands of storms happening all the time.
00:37:41On an annual basis, however, there are somewhere around 16 million thunderstorms across the globe.
00:37:47At some point in time, one letter was completely removed from the alphabet.
00:37:52Heard that right.
00:37:53Around 300 B.C., a Roman censor named Appius Claudius Caesus
00:37:58had Z removed from the alphabet because he thought people weren't using it all that much.
00:38:03For the next 200 years, this letter wasn't in the alphabet.
00:38:08It sounds more like the subject of a sci-fi movie, but there's a creature on Earth with eyes all
00:38:13over its body.
00:38:15It's called the horseshoe crab, and it has a total of 10 eyes, even near its mouth and down its
00:38:21tail.
00:38:22If you've ever thought about becoming a pilot, there's a secret language you need to learn.
00:38:27It's called Aviation English, and it's composed of 300 words that senior air crew members need to know,
00:38:33no matter where they are or what their native language is.
00:38:37It's crucial for people coordinating air traffic to be able to communicate and understand each other.
00:38:42Yes, that would be helpful.
00:38:43Did you know there are buildings out there so massive that they ended up with their own zip code?
00:38:49It's the case for the Empire State Building.
00:38:52This one, hosting so many businesses, has its own zip code, 10118, even though it's in the 10001 area.
00:39:02Dogs may not have unusual fingerprints like humans, but they do have their own equivalent, their nose.
00:39:08Your dog's sniffing machine has a unique pattern, similar to that of a human fingerprint.
00:39:14You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but you sure can recognize it by its nose.
00:39:20Avocados are some of the only fruits that don't ripen while they're still on the tree.
00:39:24You need to pluck them before they can reach that creamy texture we're all looking for in guacamole.
00:39:30One-fourth of all the products at an average bakery have ingredients that come from corn.
00:39:35Now, if that seems like a lot, think about it.
00:39:38Those crispy french fries and chicken nuggets get their unique texture from corn fiber.
00:39:43Not to mention, most soft drinks contain corn syrup, so it does kind of make sense, doesn't it?
00:39:49Wouldn't it be great to have the superpower of being in two places at the same time?
00:39:54Me? I'd definitely choose the beach.
00:39:56Well, that might not be possible just yet, but there is a building in Chicago
00:40:01from where you'll be able to see four different states on a clear day.
00:40:05It's called the Willis Tower, and from its 1,353-feet-high sky deck,
00:40:11you'll be able to see Illinois, of course, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
00:40:17Olympic gold medals aren't all gold, apparently.
00:40:20If you're more of the athletic type and are dreaming about one of those medals,
00:40:24know that these days they're 92.5% silver.
00:40:28They're plated with at least 6 grams of gold, though.
00:40:31Olympic gold medals used to be made out of pure gold,
00:40:34but the last time an athlete received one of those was in 1912.
00:40:38Are you still into sports? Didn't mean to ruin it for you.
00:40:42If you like swimming, or are generally a fan of water,
00:40:45then the state of Michigan is the perfect place for you if you consider relocating.
00:40:50At any given moment in Michigan, you're never more than 6 miles away from a body of water.
00:40:55More so, you'll also be within 85 miles of any one of the Great Lakes.
00:41:01One of the most popular pastimes these days, 3D movies, actually date back to September 27, 1922.
00:41:09That's when the first movie of this kind had its premiere.
00:41:12It was called The Power of Love,
00:41:15and the lucky audience was watching it at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel Theater.
00:41:20Ooh, it looks so real!
00:41:23There are two sides to every story.
00:41:26Just like to a regular cotton pad,
00:41:29two different textures to be more precise.
00:41:31One is smooth, and you're supposed to use it for more sensitive areas of your face,
00:41:35for example, the eyes.
00:41:38The rougher side can help you remove makeup and clean your face in less sensitive areas,
00:41:43like the forehead.
00:41:45If you like having greenery in your home,
00:41:48you've probably noticed the flower pots have holes at the bottom.
00:41:52These holes are the reason your green friends live a happy life.
00:41:56They're extremely important for water drainage.
00:41:59Thanks to these holes,
00:42:01you'll avoid stagnant water buildup that can eventually ruin your plant.
00:42:05Also, thanks to those holes,
00:42:07roots can grow and expand beyond the limits of your pot.
00:42:12Have you noticed aviator sunglasses mostly have green lenses?
00:42:16It has something to do with their origin.
00:42:19First, they showed up in the 1930s.
00:42:22Before that, pilots had goggles to protect their eyes while they were in the air.
00:42:28High altitudes with glaring sun and sub-zero temperatures were a real test for their eyes.
00:42:34The goggles helped them with those issues,
00:42:37but there was another one.
00:42:38Since the temperature differences between the air,
00:42:41outside, and within the goggles were big,
00:42:43the lenses would fog up and obscure the pilot's view.
00:42:47So, the company Bausch & Lohm came up with teardrop lenses
00:42:51surrounded by a light metal frame.
00:42:54These lenses were dark green because this tint cuts out blue light,
00:42:59which is also a problem for pilots when they're flying above the cloud line.
00:43:04Plus, green lenses also reduce glare and improve contrast and sharpness.
00:43:10Holes in the side of your Converse sneakers,
00:43:13hmm, are those really necessary?
00:43:15Well, they allow air to enter your shoe so your feet can stay cool.
00:43:20You can also use them to style up your shoes and tie them in different ways too.
00:43:26There are two reasons plastic bottles have grooves.
00:43:30First, if you're drinking cold water and it's hot outside,
00:43:33you'll see there's a lot of condensation on your bottle.
00:43:36Or maybe if you're playing some sport or working out.
00:43:40Your hands are sweaty and if a bottle had a smooth surface,
00:43:43it would be more difficult to grip it.
00:43:45So, the ridges are there to improve your hand grip.
00:43:48The second reason is that because of these ridges,
00:43:51manufacturers can use thinner plastic.
00:43:54That means they need less material in overall production.
00:43:58And that plastic is still firm enough for the bottle to maintain its shape.
00:44:04Wooden coat hangers are not just there to look nice.
00:44:07Since they're made of cedar wood, they bring a nice scent to your closet.
00:44:11Plus, they repel bugs.
00:44:13They're also quite firm, so they come in handy for heavy clothes, such as jackets.
00:44:18And it's hard to damage them.
00:44:20So, they'll serve you longer.
00:44:23You may have noticed there's a colored square at the bottom of your toothpaste.
00:44:28These blocks mostly come in blue, red, green, and black.
00:44:33They are some sort of eye marks.
00:44:35Since they help manufacturing machines at the assembly line recognize where and when to cut the toothpaste and seal the
00:44:42end of the tube.
00:44:44Some boots have loops at their top and back.
00:44:48Looks like a fashion statement, doesn't it?
00:44:50Or maybe it's something that manufacturers add for fun.
00:44:53But those loops actually have their purpose.
00:44:56With them, you can pull the shoe up when trying to wear it.
00:44:59Plus, you can easily hang them or use the loop for better support for the laces.
00:45:05Confession time.
00:45:06Remember those attachments your vacuum cleaner came with?
00:45:10Did you also put them somewhere aside and never use them again?
00:45:14They're actually pretty helpful when you're cleaning the house.
00:45:17Because you can use them for particular areas that are sometimes hard to reach with the regular attachment.
00:45:23We all know what the vegetable peeler is for.
00:45:26But besides peeling the skin of carrots or potatoes, you can use it for onions too.
00:45:31It may be faster than doing it with a knife.
00:45:33Plus, it will save you some onion tears.
00:45:36Some sweatshirts have something pretty specific in the neck area.
00:45:40A V-shaped stitch you can see in the middle of the collar.
00:45:45The ribbed insert, similar to the ribbing at the hem and the sleeves, would allow the owner to put the
00:45:50garment on more easily.
00:45:52And it wouldn't even lose shape.
00:45:53The V-insert would stretch, so a person wearing the sweatshirt could get their head through the neck.
00:45:59Its purpose was also to absorb sweat.
00:46:01In its early versions, sweatshirts had both the back and the front of the collars.
00:46:06Through time, they lost the back one.
00:46:08And this V-insert became something decorative since manufacturers started to stitch a V at the collar,
00:46:14without using the ribbed material they had added before.
00:46:18Brightly colored squares or circles you see on food packages aren't an indication of vitamins, minerals, or certain flavors that
00:46:26food contains.
00:46:27And nope, it's not some secret code consumers are supposed to crack.
00:46:31It's actually for printing engineers.
00:46:34They're called process control patches, or printer's color blocks.
00:46:38During the process of printing the food packaging, manufacturers use those colored blocks to check if the printing ink is
00:46:45correct.
00:46:46They compare the color of blocks they print to make sure the brand they print for has a consistent and
00:46:51recognizable quality all over the world.
00:46:55The majority of printers only use four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
00:47:01Some printers have additional colors, such as green, orange, and violet.
00:47:06That's why you sometimes see multiple circles on certain packages.
00:47:11They test each ink color.
00:47:14Margins in notebooks.
00:47:15They're not there as some sort of a guide for taking notes and writing.
00:47:19Someone came up with a potential solution that was supposed to protect the written work from, well, rats.
00:47:24They used to be pretty common residents in people's homes.
00:47:28They are known for their diet, including basically anything, like paper, for example.
00:47:33So, people started adding wide margins as an appetizer that was supposed to keep rats full.
00:47:39This way, they wouldn't want to get to the main dish, the written pages.
00:47:44Suits have a buttonhole close to the top of the lapel.
00:47:48Manufacturers sew it shut so you can't open it without ruining your suit.
00:47:52And when you compare it to the other lapel, you see that one is completely smooth, without any clues.
00:47:58You won't find such an unpartnered buttonhole on a suit jacket only.
00:48:02Camp shirts, pea coats, and some other clothing pieces have them too.
00:48:07And they have to do with the history of lapels.
00:48:10The earliest ones showed up at the beginning of the 19th century.
00:48:13Before this, men mostly wear frocks with high collars.
00:48:17They would button them all the way up to the top.
00:48:20During hot days, they would relax the button stance, turn down the collars, and leave the top button undone.
00:48:26It was a relief from the swelter.
00:48:28Plus, their folded overlaps would be symmetrical at the chest.
00:48:31And today, we recognize that as a lapel.
00:48:36People stopped using that buttonhole after they came up with a lapel, unless it was for some formal occasion.
00:48:41Like, for example, when you wanted to put a flower in there.
00:48:44That's why suit makers left it, as a fashion feature.
00:48:48Tea bags.
00:48:49It's pretty easy to guess what they're for.
00:48:52But they come in handy if you have smelly feet after a long day in your shoes.
00:48:56Just pop tea bags, unused of course, in your shoes during the night.
00:49:00By the time you wake up, tea bags are going to effectively absorb all the unwanted odors.
00:49:06Binder clips can also have a helpful purpose besides their main one.
00:49:10You can clip your money to keep it together.
00:49:13Same is true for paper clips.
00:49:15If your favorite bracelet broke and you're looking for a way to hold it on, a paper clip might help.
00:49:21Just hook one through each end of the bracelet, twist it tightly, and your bracelet is good to go.
00:49:28You've probably heard that when a burglar decides which house to target, they start by casing it.
00:49:34This means that they watch the owners, find out information about their routine, and determine the best time for entering
00:49:41their home.
00:49:42By the time they're ready to commit the crime, they already know for sure when there won't be anybody inside
00:49:48or when the owners will be distracted.
00:49:50One of the tricks thieves use to gather information about your routine is so simple that you may not even
00:49:56give it a second thought.
00:49:57But the next time you hear a quiet crackle under the sole of your shoe, stop and check what it
00:50:03was.
00:50:04The chances are high that you'll find yourself face-to-face with a crushed cookie.
00:50:08If that's the case, it's your clue that something has gone terribly wrong.
00:50:13The thing is, this is a rather effective tool criminals use to find out if you've left on a trip
00:50:18or when exactly you come home in the evening.
00:50:21A cookie is such an innocent object that people don't usually give it much thought, if they even notice it
00:50:27at all.
00:50:28You arrive home, step on the cookie, make it crumble, and automatically reveal all your secrets to burglars.
00:50:34They know for sure if the house is lived in and can also figure out the schedule of its owners.
00:50:39Things get even worse if you're away from home.
00:50:42The cookie under the doormat remains whole, thus alerting criminals that the house is perfect for a break-in.
00:50:49So, if you find some treats under your doormat, that's pretty bad news.
00:50:53Someone is interested in your house and watching it.
00:50:56It might be a good idea to notify the police or take some safety measures.
00:51:01Now, the ploy with a cookie is just one of the numerous tricks used by burglars.
00:51:05One more sign that can alert you to the fact that you're being watched.
00:51:09Is white pebbles left near the house or in the driveway?
00:51:12This means that a criminal has already visited your home and marked it as worth entering.
00:51:18Another reason why thieves may have left the pebbles is to indicate that your house stays empty during the day.
00:51:24So, if you're walking along the street and notice a USB flash drive sticking out of a curb or a
00:51:30wall, don't get confused.
00:51:32You have most likely stumbled across a dead drop.
00:51:36Despite its ominous name, this is a global art project that has borrowed some tricks from the world of spies
00:51:42and espionage.
00:51:43Lots of people who know about this project are happy to be able to put on their black coat and
00:51:48dark sunglasses and go to swap confidential information with others.
00:51:52The thing is that many decades ago, spies had their own ways to exchange secret materials.
00:51:58There was a live drop when spies met in person, but this was often extremely dangerous.
00:52:04That's why a dead drop system was invented.
00:52:06In this case, some loose bricks and a wall in an alleyway hid important documents that had to be picked
00:52:12up later.
00:52:13Nowadays, there are more than 1,500 dead drops all over the world, and the accumulated data on these flash
00:52:20drives reaches 10 terabytes.
00:52:22You can come across a dead drop on any continent you visit, except Antarctica, maybe because there are not so
00:52:28many walls there.
00:52:29So, if you find one, what do you do with it?
00:52:33First of all, it's highly inadvisable to connect random USB flash drives to your computer.
00:52:38You never know what viruses are lurking there, looking forward to destroying your hard drive content.
00:52:44And while risk is a part of the game, don't overdo it.
00:52:47If you're 100% sure that you want to play, secure your computer as well as you can, or even
00:52:53better.
00:52:54Secondly, you can't even guess what information will be waiting for you on a flash drive.
00:52:59Anyone can download videos, photos, or text files, and this has already led to several problems.
00:53:05Speaking of which, have you got a parcel with a USB stick in it?
00:53:09Whatever you decide to do with it, don't plug the flash drive in.
00:53:13Such cases have been more and more frequent in Australia.
00:53:17The police warn people that hackers have invented a new tactic.
00:53:20They drop unmarked memory sticks to letterboxes.
00:53:23It'll probably come as no surprise that these devices contain malware able to mess up your computer.
00:53:29They evidently rely on human curiosity, and, in all honesty, it pays off.
00:53:35People can't fight an inexplicable desire to check the contents of a mysterious gift.
00:53:41As a result, almost half of USB sticks received by post get plugged in.
00:53:47After that, people start having serious problems with their laptops and computers.
00:53:51For example, fraudulent media begins to stream service offers,
00:53:55or computer viruses harm files and programs on a PC.
00:53:59So, no touching the free flash drive, okay?
00:54:03Now, you leave a shopping mall, your office, an airport, and go to the parking lot to find your car.
00:54:08You unlock it and put the key in the ignition.
00:54:11When you're about to start your vehicle and drive away, you see something strange on your windshield.
00:54:16Is that a $100 bill wrapped around your wiper?
00:54:20Oh, you could certainly find a way to spend this unexpected gift.
00:54:24But do you really think someone accidentally put money on your windshield and forgot all about it?
00:54:30Beware, this is nothing but a ruse.
00:54:33Because, as soon as you get out of your car to get a closer look at this mysterious banknote,
00:54:38the owner of the banknote will take action.
00:54:41They will get into your car and drive off at a record-breaking speed.
00:54:44Let's admit that no one would turn off their ignition and take their belongings with them
00:54:49if they got out of their car to check the windshield for a C-note.
00:54:53As a result, in under a minute, you'll lose your car, your wallet, and your documents,
00:54:58and you'll be left stranded in the parking lot.
00:55:01People have recently started to find some article of clothing,
00:55:04like a shirt, for instance, lying on their windshield or wrapped up in their wipers.
00:55:08If you ever happen to be one of these people, don't fall into this trap and don't try to remove
00:55:14the object.
00:55:14Just get in your car and drive away as fast as you can from the place you were parked.
00:55:19This seemingly misplaced garment is actually a new con being used by muggers and thieves.
00:55:25It works like this.
00:55:26If you see some random piece of clothing that prevents your wipers from moving or obscures your view,
00:55:32your first reaction will be to remove it, of course.
00:55:34But while you're distracted untying it or trying to get it off,
00:55:39the criminal has plenty of time to jump you.
00:55:41The most commonplace for this sort of scam is parking garages.
00:55:45They're usually badly lit and pretty deserted,
00:55:48which means there are few witnesses around and plenty of dark spaces for the attacker to lie in wait.
00:55:54Now, if one day you come home and notice some graffiti or markings on your door or house,
00:55:59call the police immediately.
00:56:00Even if it just looks like a teenage prank or a simple scratch,
00:56:05it's better to be safe than sorry because burglars use certain marks to tell other criminals different things about your
00:56:12house.
00:56:13For example, something resembling a Roman numeral 2 means that the homeowners are rich,
00:56:18so the place is a great target.
00:56:20On the other hand, a crossed circle tells other burglars that there's nothing valuable to take from the house.
00:56:26Hmm, kind of makes you want to mark your own house like that.
00:56:29Now, a long horizontal rectangle divided into four parts means the place has a big aggressive guard dog.
00:56:36A triangle divided into two parts by a vertical line tells criminals to hit the place only at night,
00:56:42while a reversed one says that a house or apartment is free after dinner.
00:56:47And something looking like a combined A and K
00:56:50lets their fellow burglars know that the house is always full of people.
00:56:54Hey, did you know there's even a fraternity for burglars who love to steal desserts named Iota Grab a Pie?
00:57:01Sorry, I made that up.
00:57:03A new trick being used by car thieves.
00:57:06And that's the trick with a coin.
00:57:08They slip it into the space between the door and the door handle.
00:57:11When a car owner thinks they've locked the door with a remote, the vehicle is, in fact, still open.
00:57:16The coin prevents the lock on one of the doors from working.
00:57:20As soon as the owner walks away from the car, the thief has no problems at all opening the door
00:57:25and driving away.
00:57:27Another trick.
00:57:28As soon as there's some public gathering, a big party, or even a busy day at the mall,
00:57:33car thieves make an announcement over the PA system that a particular car, chosen by them, of course,
00:57:39has blocked their vehicle in and they can't leave.
00:57:42As soon as the owner comes out to move his car, a group of guys start to act.
00:57:47They assume, and for good reason, that the person is carrying the key to his car.
00:57:53Decades ago, no one would ever imagine keeping a stick in their pocket that could hold hundreds of gigabytes.
00:57:58We've come a long way since then and got used to USBs transferring our files from device to device with
00:58:04ease.
00:58:05In 2000, two major companies developed and sold the first USB flash drives 1.0,
00:58:11which snowballed into USB 2.0, 3.0, Type-C, and so on.
00:58:17Physically, they can endure rough treatment and won't get damaged easily, especially if you get proper protection.
00:58:23By design, USBs are almost perfect.
00:58:26So perfect that you always make the mistake of inserting it in the wrong way.
00:58:31Admit it, the two square holes are used to help the USB secure its position once it's inside the port.
00:58:37It's not strong enough to keep it stuck, but strong enough to do its job.
00:58:43You can protect your USB with proper encryption.
00:58:46This means that if anyone gets their hands on them, they won't be able to read them.
00:58:50Encrypted files end up being scrambled into gibberish of a series of letters and numbers
00:58:54instead of comprehensive words to anyone who tries to read it.
00:58:58The file is only accessible if someone gets their hands on that USB.
00:59:03But if you're using certain online services like messaging or emailing,
00:59:07then encryption is simply not enough.
00:59:09Sure, the person on the other end can't read the contents of the work,
00:59:13but the hosting website can.
00:59:17This is where end-to-end encryption comes in.
00:59:19That means any information that goes in and out is, again,
00:59:24scrambled into gibberish to anyone who is in the way of your traffic,
00:59:27including the hosting service.
00:59:29Cloud Storage has taken the world by storm.
00:59:32You can now save everything that's on your desktop to the internet
00:59:36and access that data across multiple devices.
00:59:39All you need is an email and password,
00:59:42and boom, you're safe and have all your files in one place.
00:59:46Cloud Storage isn't data floating up in the clouds,
00:59:50but, less excitingly, servers that physically store data.
00:59:53They're like regular computers, just minus the monitors for viewing.
00:59:57These servers take up a lot of money.
01:00:00That's why you normally have to pay for their services.
01:00:02The servers are placed in data centers all around the world
01:00:05where third-party companies manage them.
01:00:08It's like getting remote access to a computer.
01:00:11The servers include a master control server,
01:00:14backup server,
01:00:15and a linked supply of servers operating to maintain a good quality service.
01:00:19The more money you pay,
01:00:21the better the server your data will be stored in.
01:00:25In the realm of computers,
01:00:26you just can't delete something to be gone forever.
01:00:29Whatever file you want to remove
01:00:31is already present in the hard disk as electrical impulses.
01:00:36And, depending on your gadget,
01:00:37it will be disposed of in a recycle bin or the garbage.
01:00:41That isn't to say that it isn't still there.
01:00:43It simply implies that the file has been moved to a different folder
01:00:47from which you can easily recover it.
01:00:49So, if you're worried about accidentally deleting
01:00:51a crucial document you've been working on for weeks,
01:00:54don't panic.
01:00:54It's not gone for good.
01:00:56But if your device breaks,
01:00:57then all your data is lost.
01:01:00If you own a device that has Windows 10,
01:01:03then you've probably been shutting down
01:01:05thinking that your computer or laptop is completely off.
01:01:08This is not the case.
01:01:10Windows 10 doesn't actually shut down,
01:01:12but goes into a state of hibernation.
01:01:14It keeps your app saved for you to recover.
01:01:17The proper way to shut it down is by resetting it.
01:01:21Windows operating system is known for being user-friendly
01:01:24with all the commands displayed in front of you.
01:01:27But for computer whiz kids,
01:01:29know that you can open the search bar
01:01:30and type CMD for the command prompt.
01:01:34It looks just like a bunch of random characters,
01:01:37but this is where you can achieve a lot with your device.
01:01:41If you don't like the black window,
01:01:43you can always change the color of your suiting.
01:01:46Once you launch the command prompt window,
01:01:49right-click on the title bar
01:01:50and then on Properties.
01:01:52Another window will open
01:01:53which has the option of choosing colors.
01:01:55You can pick the colors you want for the background
01:01:58and text or fix the opacity for the CMD window.
01:02:03This is easy mode.
01:02:04The real work is typing commands in the window.
01:02:07If you want to look for all your drivers
01:02:09on your Windows 10 device,
01:02:11then type in this command in the window.
01:02:14Don't forget to add spaces.
01:02:16The list of servers will magically pop up on your screen.
01:02:19This is a good way to get to the bottom of your issue
01:02:21instead of searching for them manually.
01:02:24You can also hide specific folders on your computer
01:02:27through the command prompt by typing this command
01:02:30and pressing enter.
01:02:32Of course, you'll have to type in the folder you want to hide
01:02:36and poof, it's gone.
01:02:38The non-tech way of doing this
01:02:40is by opening the Properties pane in the folder
01:02:42and clicking on the checkbox that shows Hidden.
01:02:46While this is indeed the easy way of hiding your folders,
01:02:50it's not the most effective.
01:02:52You can simply write
01:02:53Show Hidden Files and Folders
01:02:56and every checkbox you check will be visible again.
01:03:00The command prompt isn't all about business.
01:03:03You can try playing a game there to pass the time.
01:03:06Don't expect a AAA kind
01:03:07with realistic graphics and epic gameplay.
01:03:10Type this command
01:03:12and you'll be transported into the game via text.
01:03:15This game will allow you to create characters
01:03:17and engage in this imaginary world.
01:03:21Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers on the net,
01:03:24but you can also play a text-based game there,
01:03:27just like in the command prompt.
01:03:29First press Ctrl plus Shift plus J
01:03:33to open the console.
01:03:34Then type textadventure into the search box.
01:03:38Don't freak out,
01:03:39you just open the sort of a back end of the page.
01:03:43Next, click on the box that says Console.
01:03:46You'll be greeted with a text that will ask you
01:03:48if you want to play a game.
01:03:50Type Yes
01:03:51and you'll instantly begin.
01:03:53They'll give you some basic commands
01:03:55which are easy to follow
01:03:56and an opening premise of the journey.
01:03:58If you're looking for something
01:04:00a little more contemporary,
01:04:01then get ready to play some Solitaire.
01:04:03No worries,
01:04:04you don't have to type some command to play it.
01:04:07All you need to do
01:04:08is type Solitaire in the search bar
01:04:10and you're there.
01:04:11You can play the exciting game of Solitaire
01:04:14in your web browser.
01:04:16And when you get bored,
01:04:17you can play the classic game Pac-Man.
01:04:20If you're from the generation
01:04:22of the classic bulky phones,
01:04:24then this next game will bring back
01:04:25all those memories of your childhood.
01:04:27Open Google and type Snake
01:04:30and there you go.
01:04:33When the internet is down,
01:04:34you can play the dinosaur game
01:04:36in your browser window
01:04:37while you're impatiently waiting
01:04:38for the Wi-Fi to come back.
01:04:40This game is very simple.
01:04:42After pressing Enter,
01:04:43you just have to hit the space bar
01:04:45to jump over obstacles.
01:04:46And at a certain point,
01:04:48you'll have the option to duck down,
01:04:50which will make it even more challenging.
01:04:52Even without Wi-Fi,
01:04:53you can still have a good time.
01:04:55You can pause the game whenever you want
01:04:57by pressing the Alt key or F11.
01:04:59You can just click on your screen
01:05:01to continue the game at any time.
01:05:04Windows 11 has some cool hidden features
01:05:06that are very useful,
01:05:08like adjusting the volume
01:05:09for each individual app.
01:05:12You can go to Settings
01:05:13and click on System.
01:05:15Hit the Sound section.
01:05:17This will bring you to all the sound levels
01:05:18and the master switch.
01:05:22Copy-pasting is so essential
01:05:23to our everyday workflow
01:05:25that Windows 11 decide
01:05:26to take it to a whole other level
01:05:28with Clipboard History.
01:05:30This option allows you
01:05:32to save your copied texts
01:05:33in one designated area,
01:05:35which you can access anytime.
01:05:38And the good news is that
01:05:40this option is also available
01:05:41on Windows 10.
01:05:43Just click on the Windows key
01:05:44plus V and you're good to go.
01:05:48If you have too many windows opened
01:05:50on Windows 11,
01:05:51you can grab the window
01:05:52that you want to keep
01:05:53and shake it.
01:05:54It will minimize all the remaining windows
01:05:56in the background
01:05:56so that you can have
01:05:57a pleasant, productive workflow.
01:06:00Oh wait, it's happening now!
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