Home Improvement

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.

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

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

Whether you're out camping or in the midst of a power outage, gas lanterns are handy devices. Did you know they're radioactive? Find out how these lanterns produce light.

By Marshall Brain

Have you ever wondered how a house is built? Or what holds up the ceiling and walls? And how do you keep the rain out? It's a complex process that involves quite a bit more than you may think.

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

Before the handy ballpoint, getting a few sentences onto paper was a pretty involved task. Find out how the ballpoint pen stores and manages its own ink supply to make writing a snap.

By Melissa Russell-Ausley