This should be kind of fun.
Here are some everyday things you may have wondered about. These things aren’t going to cure cancer, help you find love, or save us from the next pandemic bug, they’re just kind of fun, that’s all.
1. Arrow on Gas Gauge
Since 2010, cars have been built with an arrow on the gas gauge that points either left or right. The arrow points to the side of the car where you put in the gas.
2. Dip in Wine Bottle
Do you know why wine bottles come with a dip at the bottom? There are a few reasons. First, the dip, called a “punt” or a “kick up” prevents the bottle from falling over. Second, it makes the bottle stronger to hold up against higher pressure if there’s champagne or sparkling wine inside. Third, it makes it easier to distribute steam during the cleaning process before the wine is poured in.
3. Holes in Airplane Windows
Ever noticed a tiny hole in the window of an airplane? It’s called the breather hole. When an airplane climbs, air pressure drops outside. The breather hole makes it possible for the two outer panels of the aircraft to manage the pressure difference.
4. Holes in a Padlock
If you look at the bottom of a padlock, there’s a little hole (maybe two). These holes serve two purposes. First, the holes are there to drain water that has entered the lock. Second, these holes allow you to pour oil or WD-40 in the lock in case it gets jammed and won’t open.
5. Keyboard Bumps
Have you ever noticed thee two little bumps on the F and J keys of a computer keyboard? If you are typing with both hands, they will be aligned so that your left pointer finger is on F and your right pointer finger is on J. This allows you to keep your eyes on the screen while typing with your hands in the correct position.
6. Lines on Red Solo Cup
There are three lines on a red Solo cup. Here’s what they mean: the first line at the bottom measures one ounce or one shot. The next line is five ounces – the perfect pour for a glass of wine. The line at the top equals 12 ounces, which equals one beer.
7. Plastic Lids on Cups
The plastic lid that comes along with your disposable cup can also be used as a coaster, both for coffee cups and soda beverages. The ridges of the lid are designed to grip your cup and hold it in place.
8. Golf Ball Dimples
Golf balls were originally smooth. Eventually experienced golfers started to notice that older balls that had bumps and nicks would travel further.
These imperfections help create turbulence in the air around the ball, which then helps to reduce drag. Modern golf balls are designed with these dimples so that the balls go higher and farther.
9. Ridges on Coins
Quarters and dimes have rough edges as opposed to pennies and nickels, which don’t. To prevent criminals from filing shavings from the sides of the coins and selling the metal, in 1972 minters put ridges on coins to make it easy to tell if the edges had been shaved off. It also made it more difficult to counterfeit the money.
10. Long Neck Bottles
Why are some beer bottle necks long? For one thing, it makes it comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Long necks also help distribute heat throughout the entire bottle when your warm hand is around it.
So there ya go. Hopefully now you feel a little smarter, a little wiser, and a bit more ready to take on your day. Glad to help out.
Good luck and have a good week.
Joe Still
2024.01.28
Cite
“There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.”
– Bertrand Russell