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 ...

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

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 ...

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.

Like the Townshend Acts and Bacon’s Rebellion, tariffs are one of those topics you may vaguely remember from high school history class. Let’s take another look at how tariffs work—and what ...

Scanning the barcode on a loaf of ciabatta bread at a supermarket isn’t considered particularly revolutionary today, but before 1982, this wasn’t something you could cross off your to-do list ...

It’s a stock visual in any 1980s movie montage: A character jumps into a cool sports car, revs the engine, and activates the pop-up headlights. Violating the speed limit inevitably follows. You ...

To do something willy-nilly is to do it haphazardly, without planning or thinking, or without concerning yourself about what the consequences of your actions might be. It’s a bizarre turn of ...

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

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 ...

Showers are a nonnegotiable part of life, but should you take them at night or in the morning? Professionals have different opinions on what’s best. Dr. Jason Singh, a Virginia-based physician ...