Mirrors have fascinated humans from the very beginning. The idea that you can see yourself feels almost magical. But then humanity began to see even greater potential in mirrors, as well as finding them to be a source of fear. For example: In many cultures it’s believed that a mirror placed on an outside wall … Read more
Ponchos are an ancient form of clothing originating in the Andes, although precisely where in this vast region the term “poncho” originated is anyone’s guess. The most basic poncho was made of woven alpaca fur and consisted of one or two blanket-shaped pieces of fabric that had a hole cut in it for the head, … Read more
Found within the halls of the toy museum are many items which we might not consider to be toys. Among the greatest toys in history is the cardboard box, which is meant for transporting and storing goods. There’s also the baseball bat, which exists to fend off zombies when your chainsaw’s out of fuel. But … Read more
One of the oldest and most easily recognizable instruments in the world, the flute can be found in almost every corner of the planet. The earliest recovered flutes were made of bone and date back more than 40,000 years. Today, simpler flutes still exist, but most have become quite complex and may be made of … Read more
Food has a way of getting to us beyond just a way to fill hunger. For example, food history is an increasingly popular topic. There are countless diets to not only lose weight but to build muscle or have other specified health effects. And then there is the sheer variety a single food can provide. … Read more
Bagpipes – the mere utterance of this word can bring shivers of excitement to some and cause others to run for their earplugs. But love them or hate them, bagpipes are far more popular than most people realize and are among the oldest instruments still in use. For example, in Scotland, pipers are regarded as … Read more
Just about everyone can identify a bulldozer or dump truck, but these iconic construction vehicles barely scratch the surface of what’s out there. From trailer-mounted accessories to massive excavators, you might be surprised at what’s available. Here are 27 different types of construction vehicles to whet your appetite. See Also: 12 Types of Fire Trucks … Read more
Buying a furnace can be a lot more complicated than it first seems. Not only are furnaces often divided into the three most popular fuel types (electric, natural gas, and propane), but there are literally dozens of different designs and features. Even more confusing (and fascinating) are the many alternative fuel types and industrial-grade furnace … Read more
When you think of weightlifting, the first thing that come to mind is probably a barrel-chested man lifting heavy disks on either side of a metal bar. But you might be surprised to know barbells are a lot more complicated than they first seem. In fact, there have been a lot of innovations over the … Read more
When it comes to service vehicles, one usually thinks of ambulances or fire trucks, but there’s another essential vehicle out there we’ve all seen and only think about when we need it ourselves: the tow truck. These vehicles move cars and other vehicles from one place to another, usually for the purposes of repair or … Read more