Before the creation of synthetic plastics, patent leather was made by glazing animal hides with layers of resin-based varnish. The coating protected items like boots and carriage parts from wear and ...

The gas station doesn’t know how much fuel you’re going to buy when you pay at the pump. To make sure you have enough funds ...

Getting that campfire smoke smell out of your clothes isn’t as hard as it might seem, thanks to these tips and tricks.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Japan’s geisha are experts in their field, but they’re often treated like tourist attractions. See why Kyoto officials have had to crack down on tourist photos.

From pop royalty to prog-rock gods, here are the household names who decided against showing up to the pop cultural ...

The term ball peen hammer first saw print in 1874, when a mechanic’s dictionary referred to it as a “metal worker’s hammer ...

Remember Chuck E. Cheese? He’s back with arcades aimed at grown-ups featuring classic games, collectibles, and throwback ...

If city lights block the stars over your backyard, this map can help you hunt down the darkest skies for epic stargazing.

From David Lynch to Queen Elizabeth I, these folks achieved a type of lexical immortality when their names became adjectives.

If you ever get the chance to sip an ice-cold soda on a warm Hawaiian beach, you might notice something strange about the can it comes in: There are four ridges around the top. The design isn’t ...

The phrase made famous by ‘Good Will Hunting’ is much older than the 1997 film—and doesn’t have anything to do with actual apples.