Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
Why saying thanks can sound arrogant in Japan
In some Japanese social settings, a bare “thank you” can sound like you're accepting praise too eagerly. A modest response that deflects the compliment may be…
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A sleep mask is a portable dark room
The mask blocks light at the eyes even when a cabin, hotel room, or early sunrise stays bright. In a 2023 study, people sleeping with eye masks performed…
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The South Pole marker moves because the ice does
The ice sheet carrying the research station slowly drifts away from the geographic pole. Each New Year, a new marker is placed at the surveyed position of 90…
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Egypt draws a line between vacation photos and film crews
Egypt permits personal photography at archaeological sites with ordinary cameras as well as phones. Professional equipment and commercial shoots face…
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A travel pillow may work better rotated around your neck
If your head mainly drops forward, support behind the neck can leave the actual problem untouched. Rotating a suitable U-shaped pillow can place cushioning…
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Hotel closet ironing boards squeak loudly
The boards are often flimsy and stained, and can squeak with every movement—hardly ideal when you're trying to press a shirt quietly.
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The King's Guard is a military posting, not a costume performance
The soldiers outside royal residences are serving personnel carrying out guard duty. The ceremonial uniform makes the role a tourist attraction, but their job…
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At Versailles, a toilet could be a piece of furniture
Chamber pots and close stools provided indoor sanitation before modern bathrooms became standard. Servants had to empty and maintain them, so palace life…
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Vegemite is a thin-spread food with a spoonful reputation
Its concentrated salty, yeasty flavor is usually balanced by a small amount on buttered toast. A thick serving changes that balance dramatically. For an…
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Why Yellowstone's bison cause traffic jams
Thousands of bison roam freely through the park and can stop traffic. They may look approachable, but visitors shouldn’t try to pet them.
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How Disney fights mosquitoes with garlic and chickens
Disney uses garlic extract to mask the carbon dioxide scent that attracts mosquitoes, and keeps sentinel chickens whose blood is tested for mosquito-borne…
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Antarctic stations choose a clock that fits their supply line
At the South Pole, every line of longitude meets, so a conventional time-zone boundary would be impractical. The U.S. station uses New Zealand time to match…
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Why room-service fries arrive lukewarm
A 30-minute trip from the kitchen can leave fries lukewarm and soggy by the time the cart reaches your room.
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Marilyn Monroe was sewn into her famous dress
For her 1962 "Happy Birthday" performance for President Kennedy, the crystal-covered gown was so tight that it was stitched closed while she wore it, with…
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Geysers violently spew boiling water smelling of sulfur
As pressurized water and steam escape, geysers can blast hot water into the air. Sulfur compounds can give some eruptions a rotten-egg smell.
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Currency exchange booths entirely reject coins
Many exchange counters reject coins because shipping them back to their country of origin can cost more than they’re worth, leaving travelers with heavy…
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San Francisco's famous crooked street has a quieter rival
Lombard Street gets the postcards, but Vermont Street in Potrero Hill is another exceptionally winding block. The turns solve a practical problem: a zigzag…
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Most of Uluru is hidden underground
Its visible red face is sandstone, while most of the formation lies buried underground.
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Ninety percent of an iceberg hides below the surface
The visible peak gives little sense of the mass below, which can threaten ships passing nearby.
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Why solar cars have almost no room inside
On some experimental solar cars, panels take up so much of the available space that there’s little room left for passengers or luggage.
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The helpful stranger who may be picking your pocket
A stranger who spills mustard on your coat or points out bird droppings may be creating a distraction. While they wipe it off, an accomplice can lift your…
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A British passport can hide a flower that appears under UV light
Some passport designs include ultraviolet-visible daffodils among their security features. Inspectors can check these alongside printing, perforations, and…
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Thirty seconds per Louvre artwork adds up to twelve days
With around 35,000 works on display, even a half-minute glance at each adds up to more than 291 hours. That is over twelve days without sleep, meals, walking…
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Cobblestones turn suitcase wheels into tiny obstacles
The jagged, uneven stones turn rolling a suitcase into a loud, rattling ride.
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