Home Improvement

How do multi-class dry chemical fire extinguishers work? What is the dry chemical?

There is at least one big advantage that the air outside the house has over the air inside the house. Check out this article to learn what that is.

What is plywood? Why do people use it so much? What about oriented strand board (OSB)?

Metal locks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and are made of various materials. Some locks have the words "Case Hardened" stamped on it. What does "Case Hardened" mean?

Clothes moths can be a real problem in clothes made from natural fibers (especially wool). To combat this, use moth balls. But first, read this article to find out what moth balls are made of and whether they are harmful to your health.

How can motion-sensing lights detect your presence, and what prevents them from seeing you when you're standing still? It all comes down to the movement of light.

What is this bumpy stuff on my ceiling that looks like popcorn or cottage cheese?

I have an electronic stud finder, and I am amazed at how well it works. How does it know where the studs are?

How does pressure-treated lumber work and can it be harmful to humans? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this helpful home improvement article.

Have you ever noticed that paper is listed in weights? What does this mean and how can a piece of paper weigh twenty pounds? Find out the answers in this article.

Circular saws can be so loud that a person may have to wear hearing protectors whenever using it. Vacuum cleaners are also as loud as a jet engine. How can a 30-inch table saw be so much quieter than a circular saw?

A lot of tools, like saw blades and drill bits, come with "carbide tips" that can be used for various purposes. But what is carbide and how does it enhance a tool? Find out about carbide and its many uses in this article.

Most of us are entirely dependent on electricity, so a power outage can become seriously annoying. Learn about the generators and inverters that can put an end to home power failures.

By Marshall Brain

A fascinating look inside a combination lock!

By Marshall Brain

Electric screwdrivers combine batteries, motors, gears and a switch into one extremely compact package. How can such a lightweight, handheld tool drill through tough wood or even metal?

By Marshall Brain

Each time you flush the toilet or wash something down the sink's drain, you create sewage (also known in polite society as wastewater). Find out where it goes and how it's treated before it flows into a river near you!

By Marshall Brain

As the saying goes, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Smoke detectors are amazing: They're pretty inexpensive, but they save thousands of lives each year. Learn all about nuclear and light-sensing smoke detectors.

By Marshall Brain

If you've ever missed the nail and hit your thumb with a hammer, you understand the draw of a nail gun. And the raw power is a nice perk too. Some nail guns can launch nails at 1,400 feet per second.

By Tom Harris

Most of us don't think about what's going on inside a copier while we wait for it to shoot out the copies. Find out how, in mere seconds, you can produce an exact replica of what's on a sheet of paper!

By Ann Meeker-O'Connell

In places where uranium is common in the soil, radon is a popular topic of discussion. Even though radon is "completely natural," it can be a real health hazard. Learn how radon forms and why it is so dangerous.

By Marshall Brain & Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

With energy bills on the rise, homeowners are looking for new ways to use less power around the house. A cutting-edge window technology called the "smart window" allows consumers to fully or partially block light by turning a knob or pressing a button.

By Kevin Bonsor

In movies, burglars can open a lock using a paper clip. Is it really so easy? The basic process of picking a lock is simple, but it takes practice to get it right.

By Marshall Brain & Tom Harris

Blowtorches aren't just for welders and plumbers. These fire-breathing machines can cut metal and brown creme brulee.

By Jane McGrath

The United States has nukes, and so does Russia. Iran and North Korea have conducted nuclear tests, as well. In the event of a nuclear attack, what are you supposed to do?

By John Fuller

A houseboat's one way to stay at the beach. It might sound exotic, but day-to-day life on a houseboat poses some unusual challenges -- like staying afloat.

By John Fuller