Secret histories of your desk drawer
The global shower
Secrets of the wardrobe
The physics of the kitchen
misslily Tap ordinary desk items to discover the surprising history of things you use every day.
misslily After a 1564 storm in Borrowdale revealed graphite used for sheep, Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay in 1795 to make pencils.
What ingredient did Nicolas-Jacques Conté mix with graphite in 1795 to control pencil hardness?
misslily László Bíró's patented design conquered extreme atmospheric pressure changes during World War II.
What industry inspired László Bíró to develop a quick-drying ink for his new pen?
Why did the British Royal Air Force adopt László Bíró's ballpoint pen during World War II?
Space pencils: NASA switched from pencils to pressurized pens because floating graphite debris could cause electrical short circuits.
What was 3M scientist Spencer Silver originally trying to build when he invented sticky note adhesive?
A piece of bent wire or plastic used to hold sheets of paper together. During World War II, Norwegians wore these wire fasteners on their lapels as symbols of patriotic resistance.
What did writers and artists commonly use to erase pencil marks before rubber erasers were invented?
Who coined the English word 'rubber' in 1770 after discovering the material could rub out pencil marks?