Transport
Discover facts about transport. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Transport
In movies, a crazy passenger pulls the handle and opens the airplane door mid-flight. Why is this impossible?
In movies, a crazy passenger pulls the handle and opens the airplane door mid-flight. Why is this impossible?
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You are driving a rental car and suddenly need gas. How can you tell which side the fuel door is on instantly?
You are driving a rental car and suddenly need gas. How can you tell which side the fuel door is on instantly?
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Transporting humans into space comes with weird side effects. Why is it physically impossible to burp in orbit?
Transporting humans into space comes with weird side effects. Why is it physically impossible to burp in orbit?
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In Germany and the US, you can find completely fake bus stops placed directly outside of nursing homes. Why?
In Germany and the US, you can find completely fake bus stops placed directly outside of nursing homes. Why?
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Deep inside the London Underground, you might notice the tunnel air feels strangely warm year-round. Why?
Deep inside the London Underground, you might notice the tunnel air feels strangely warm year-round. Why?
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Why are millions of gallons of highly flammable jet fuel stored inside the thin wings instead of the main body?
Why are millions of gallons of highly flammable jet fuel stored inside the thin wings instead of the main body?
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Why is every automatic car's gear shift explicitly arranged in the exact same P-R-N-D-L order?
Why is every automatic car's gear shift explicitly arranged in the exact same P-R-N-D-L order?
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You're sitting on a stationary train. The train next to you moves, and you panic, fully believing you are rolling backward. Why?
You're sitting on a stationary train. The train next to you moves, and you panic, fully believing you are rolling backward. Why?
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Many modern cars have a CVT transmission that creates 'fake' gear shifts. Why program a machine to stutter on purpose?
Many modern cars have a CVT transmission that creates 'fake' gear shifts. Why program a machine to stutter on purpose?
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Why do military submarines completely switch to eerie red lighting in the control room during night operations?
Why do military submarines completely switch to eerie red lighting in the control room during night operations?
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Why did early commercial jetliners suddenly start falling out of the sky in the 1950s?
Why did early commercial jetliners suddenly start falling out of the sky in the 1950s?
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The brilliant inventor of the reflective road studs (Cat's Eyes) was inspired by what terrifying near-death experience?
The brilliant inventor of the reflective road studs (Cat's Eyes) was inspired by what terrifying near-death experience?
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Why do massive modern cruise ships and naval destroyers still measure their immense speed in "knots"?
Why do massive modern cruise ships and naval destroyers still measure their immense speed in "knots"?
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Why do highway engineers purposefully design long stretches of flat road with slight curves instead of straight lines?
Why do highway engineers purposefully design long stretches of flat road with slight curves instead of straight lines?
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Despite huge costs for insurance and gas, what percentage of its life does the average car spend parked?
Despite huge costs for insurance and gas, what percentage of its life does the average car spend parked?
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The iconic NYC subway token wasn't just replaced for convenience. It was phased out to stop a totally gross crime.
The iconic NYC subway token wasn't just replaced for convenience. It was phased out to stop a totally gross crime.
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The handle above your car window is universally known as the "Oh Crap" handle, but that is completely wrong.
The handle above your car window is universally known as the "Oh Crap" handle, but that is completely wrong.
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If you walk up the grand staircases of most major luxury cruise ships, you will realize something impossible is missing.
If you walk up the grand staircases of most major luxury cruise ships, you will realize something impossible is missing.
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Google Maps magically knows when there is a massive traffic jam ahead of you in real-time. How does it know?
Google Maps magically knows when there is a massive traffic jam ahead of you in real-time. How does it know?
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Your car seat headrest is completely detachable for a chillingly specific, life-saving reason. What is it?
Your car seat headrest is completely detachable for a chillingly specific, life-saving reason. What is it?
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A flight from New York to LA actually takes significantly longer today than it did in the 1970s. Why the slowdown?
A flight from New York to LA actually takes significantly longer today than it did in the 1970s. Why the slowdown?
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What is the genuinely vital purpose of that weird band of black dots permanently framing the edges of your car's windshield?
What is the genuinely vital purpose of that weird band of black dots permanently framing the edges of your car's windshield?
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It deeply defies visual physics—so how does a relatively tiny metal anchor manage to stop an incredibly massive modern cruise ship?
It deeply defies visual physics—so how does a relatively tiny metal anchor manage to stop an incredibly massive modern cruise ship?
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Why do most major city subway systems force you to sit awkwardly facing total strangers across the aisle?
Why do most major city subway systems force you to sit awkwardly facing total strangers across the aisle?
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