Technology
Discover facts about technology. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Technology
Why were local phone numbers originally designed to be exactly seven digits long?
Why were local phone numbers originally designed to be exactly seven digits long?
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For years, Steve Jobs drove a silver Mercedes with absolutely no license plates. How did he legally get away with this?
For years, Steve Jobs drove a silver Mercedes with absolutely no license plates. How did he legally get away with this?
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Today, buying a website domain costs money. But before 1995, what was the standard rule for claiming a dot-com name?
Today, buying a website domain costs money. But before 1995, what was the standard rule for claiming a dot-com name?
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You've seen the Mozilla Firefox logo countless times, but you're probably wrong about the animal. What is it actually?
You've seen the Mozilla Firefox logo countless times, but you're probably wrong about the animal. What is it actually?
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Nobody reads the Terms of Service. To prove this, one software company hid a secret prize in their EULA. What was it?
Nobody reads the Terms of Service. To prove this, one software company hid a secret prize in their EULA. What was it?
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Windows computers start their main storage at the 'C: Drive'. What exactly happened to the A and B drives?
Windows computers start their main storage at the 'C: Drive'. What exactly happened to the A and B drives?
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The original limit for text messages was 160 characters. How did the inventor decide on this incredibly specific number?
The original limit for text messages was 160 characters. How did the inventor decide on this incredibly specific number?
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An MP3 file is much smaller than an uncompressed song. What is the sneaky trick it uses to save so much space?
An MP3 file is much smaller than an uncompressed song. What is the sneaky trick it uses to save so much space?
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The GPS on your phone is completely free to use everywhere. What tragic historical event pushed the US to release it globally?
The GPS on your phone is completely free to use everywhere. What tragic historical event pushed the US to release it globally?
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The computer mouse is arguably the most famous hardware on the planet. What bizarre material was the very first one?
The computer mouse is arguably the most famous hardware on the planet. What bizarre material was the very first one?
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Dating apps sometimes deliberately delay your notifications and hold them hostage for days. Why do they do this?
Dating apps sometimes deliberately delay your notifications and hold them hostage for days. Why do they do this?
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If you play PC games, your left hand naturally rests on the W, A, S, and D keys to move. Why did this cluster win out?
If you play PC games, your left hand naturally rests on the W, A, S, and D keys to move. Why did this cluster win out?
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Your smartphone likely switches to a warm, yellowish Night Shift mode before bed. What invisible threat is this fixing?
Your smartphone likely switches to a warm, yellowish Night Shift mode before bed. What invisible threat is this fixing?
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For years, annoying reCAPTCHA tests forced you to type out blurry words. You weren't just proving you were human.
For years, annoying reCAPTCHA tests forced you to type out blurry words. You weren't just proving you were human.
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Millions use the iPhone calculator daily, yet it's missing a vital feature. What common action is notoriously absent?
Millions use the iPhone calculator daily, yet it's missing a vital feature. What common action is notoriously absent?
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Your bank account is protected by a shockingly short 4-digit PIN. Why did the inventor choose such a weak standard?
Your bank account is protected by a shockingly short 4-digit PIN. Why did the inventor choose such a weak standard?
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Teens will go to truly obsessive lengths to maintain their Snapchat streaks. This exploits a famous cognitive bias.
Teens will go to truly obsessive lengths to maintain their Snapchat streaks. This exploits a famous cognitive bias.
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Billions of items are scanned daily at supermarkets. What was the profoundly mundane first product ever scanned?
Billions of items are scanned daily at supermarkets. What was the profoundly mundane first product ever scanned?
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Swiping down to refresh your social media feed feels incredibly satisfying. Which psychological trap exploits this?
Swiping down to refresh your social media feed feels incredibly satisfying. Which psychological trap exploits this?
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Your headphones magically erase the roar of a jet engine but let voices through. How do they actually destroy noise?
Your headphones magically erase the roar of a jet engine but let voices through. How do they actually destroy noise?
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The modern world relies entirely on complex algorithms. Shockingly, who wrote the first computer algorithm in history?
The modern world relies entirely on complex algorithms. Shockingly, who wrote the first computer algorithm in history?
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Why is it completely physically impossible for the government to secretly track your location via microchips in vaccines?
Why is it completely physically impossible for the government to secretly track your location via microchips in vaccines?
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How long does it currently take a standard hacker's software to instantly crack an 8-character password with no symbols?
How long does it currently take a standard hacker's software to instantly crack an 8-character password with no symbols?
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Despite decades of massive cybersecurity warnings, what remains the most commonly used password on the entire internet?
Despite decades of massive cybersecurity warnings, what remains the most commonly used password on the entire internet?
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