Technology
Discover facts about technology. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Technology
Why adding a device can reset your charging brick
When a second device is plugged in, the charger briefly cuts power to its ports while it recalculates how to divide the electricity, disconnecting the first…
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The Apple IIe's logo keys could impersonate joystick buttons
The open-Apple and closed-Apple keys were wired to the same inputs as buttons on the game connector. Software could therefore check those inputs for either…
Discover moreArnoldC makes movie one-liners executable
The joke programming language replaces familiar instructions with Arnold Schwarzenegger catchphrases. “TALK TO THE HAND” prints output, while “I’LL BE BACK”…
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Idle games play themselves entirely while users just watch
Idle games automate actions and keep numbers climbing while the player does little or nothing. The gameplay becomes watching progress rather than directing…
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Hash collisions make different files look identical
Because hashes have fixed-length outputs, different files can sometimes share the same hash—a match called a collision. An attacker who engineers one may be…
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Correction fluid hides ink using opaque chemicals
Correction fluid covers permanent ink rather than removing it. It’s fast-drying, opaque white paint in a volatile solvent that evaporates on the page; a…
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High refresh rate monitors aggressively drain batteries
A 120-Hz display refreshes twice as often as a 60-Hz one, which can make the processor and display use more power and shorten battery life.
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Who saves pages before they disappear
A nonprofit uses automated web crawlers to save snapshots of webpages, preserving versions that may later disappear from their original sites.
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Hitachi Global Storage Technologies proudly released the world's first one-terabyte computer hard drive in early 2007
The Deskstar 7K1000 sold for $399; it held about 200,000 times as much data as the refrigerator-sized 5 MB drive introduced in 1956.
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Joy-Con rumble can suggest objects that are not inside the controller
Its haptic actuators produce carefully controlled vibrations rather than only a uniform shake. Games can use those patterns to suggest moving objects or a…
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Why electrical plugs have holes in their prongs
In some outlets, matching bumps fit into the holes and help hold the plug in place.
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Why your controller aim starts drifting
Analog sticks measure movement with a metal wiper sliding across a carbon track. As the track wears down, changing resistance can produce readings the…
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Why motorcycle chains waste less power than belts
A well-oiled steel roller chain transfers nearly 98% of engine power to the rear wheel; rubber belts are quieter and need less maintenance but can flex and…
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The knot that keeps your shoelaces tied
The bow is a double-slipped reef knot: friction at the crossover holds it in place, while the loops make it easy to pull undone.
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Typewriter once meant the person at the keys
In the late 19th century, some companies used “typewriter” as the job title for female clerks who operated the machines.
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Power steering uses pressurized fluid to assist weak arms
An engine-driven pump pressurizes hydraulic fluid; when you turn the wheel, a valve directs it against a piston in the steering rack to help turn the wheels.
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AOL flooded America with free CDs
The company mailed enormous numbers of trial discs to make trying its internet service almost effortless. A physical CD worked as both advertising and…
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Cron jobs are invisible bots doing repetitive chores
Administrators schedule cron jobs to run tasks such as clearing logs or backing up files. Each job waits until its designated time, then runs automatically.
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How rust and aluminum make molten iron
When ignited, aluminum strips oxygen from iron oxide in a highly exothermic reaction, producing molten iron and temperatures above 4,000°F.
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Partitioning slices one physical drive into virtual pieces
A single physical drive can be split into virtual drives that the operating system treats separately, keeping system files apart from personal files.
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Multi-core processors act like several chips in one body
A multicore processor puts multiple processing units on one chip, letting it handle separate tasks at once—for example, running an antivirus scan while…
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Why Twitter was limited to 140 characters
Twitter launched in 2006 with SMS in mind: texts were limited to 160 characters, so it reserved 20 for a username and left 140 for the post.
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Why 3D artists test models on a chimpanzee head
Blender includes Suzanne, a monkey-head mesh with curves, creases, and recognizable facial features. Artists can use it to test lighting, materials, and…
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An iron lung makes the chest expand from the outside
The chamber lowers pressure around the body while the head remains outside, helping the chest expand and draw air into the lungs. It supported people whose…
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