Technology
Discover facts about technology. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Technology
A tablet and a phone can share the same electronic blueprint
Both can combine a processor, touchscreen, cameras, wireless radios, and a battery around the same kind of system-on-a-chip. The larger screen changes the…
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Why naming code can be the hardest part
Even after tackling a complex programming problem, a developer can spend ages staring at a blinking cursor, trying to find a name that’s clear without being…
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Desktop computer cases are mostly empty air
Unless it's packed with custom hardware, a desktop case can be mostly empty space—a cavern around the components.
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Motorola began with a car radio
The company, then Galvin Manufacturing, found early success with one of the first commercially successful car radios. Its name combined “motor” with “ola,” a…
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JavaScript is not Java with a little extra scripting
They are separate programming languages with different designs and execution systems, despite similar names and some familiar-looking syntax. JavaScript…
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Cryptographic hashes operate like digital blenders
A tiny change to the input can produce a dramatically different fixed-length hash, but the output isn't designed to reveal the original data.
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Why HTML isn't really programming
HTML structures text; it doesn’t execute loops or complex logic, which is why it’s considered a markup language rather than a programming language.
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Operating systems hide critical files to prevent tampering
Hidden system files help prevent accidental changes, such as deleting startup instructions while clearing space.
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WinRAR's famous reminder isn't an unlimited free license
WinRAR offers a 40-day trial and asks users to buy a license afterward. Its familiar reminder became famous because the program's behavior made the deadline…
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Microsoft’s first mouse was a chunky two-button brick
It was nicknamed the “Green-Eyed Mouse” for its two buttons and bundled with Microsoft Word in 1983.
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Donkey Kong has a level the clock can't handle
At one late level, a bug in the bonus-time calculation gives players too little time to finish before the timer expires.
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Step down transformers reduce dangerous grid voltages
Step-down transformers lower the grid’s high voltage to levels suitable for household outlets and appliances.
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How tensegrity makes solid bars appear to float
Tension cables suspend the rigid bars without letting them rest on one another; opposing pulls hold the structure in balance.
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Copper wiring is slowly being replaced by cheaper aluminum
Some cables use copper-clad aluminum: a thin copper coating over an aluminum core. Aluminum conducts less well than copper and can be more vulnerable to…
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A phone's star-and-hash code can open a conversation with a carrier
USSD codes can request services such as a balance check over the mobile network. Other familiar codes are handled locally by the handset, so not every…
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Photomultiplier tubes detect single stray photons of light
A single photon can release an electron, which is multiplied through a cascade inside the tube into a measurable electrical signal.
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A Sting CD became an early milestone in secure online shopping
In August 1994, a buyer ordered Ten Summoner's Tales through NetMarket for $12.48 plus shipping, sending credit-card information with encryption. Earlier…
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Your security answer may already be in a public record
Answers such as a mother’s maiden name may be easy to find in public records, making them weak account-recovery safeguards.
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Wi-Fi doesn't actually stand for anything
Wi-Fi is a made-up trademark chosen because it rhymed with “hi-fi” and sounded catchy. The underlying standard had an unpronounceable alphanumeric name.
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Atm machines pull bills using thick rubber rollers
Calibrated rubber rollers grip and separate the bills, feeding them out one at a time.
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Computer case shields can draw blood
The thin I/O shield at the back of a PC case can have sharp, unfinished edges, so installing it can leave you with a cut.
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Spacesuits are inflatable pressure vessels
A spacesuit is a multilayered pressure vessel, but pressurized gas makes it stiff; rotational bearings and restraint layers let astronauts bend their joints.
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Indium is a soft silvery metal that bonds to glass
Because indium is soft, it can deform against very smooth glass and form a vacuum-tight seal without heat or adhesive.
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Why aluminum smelting needs so much electricity
Smelters dissolve bauxite in a chemical bath, then pass a continuous, massive electric current through it; simple heat can't separate aluminum from its ore.
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