- [Narrator] We all
have our little secrets and the objects we use
every day are no different. That's right, even supermarket produce, smartphones and backpacks
have secret features that once you learn about them you'll never look at them the same again. (bright music) Number 20, grocery cart loops. Grocery cards seem pretty
straightforward at first glance. Shopping goes in, shopper
pushes shopping around, shopping empties shopper's wallet, much like having a child. But have you ever noticed the loops on the back of child
seats on shopping cards? Occasionally, they'll have
straps secured to them but this isn't their intended purpose. They're actually designed to
hold additional grocery bags so your more delicate groceries, like eggs, veggies and bread
won't get crushed in the cart. Number 19, smartphone magic. Forget Siri or Alexa, Android phones with OK Google
enabled have a secret function that blows the rest out of the water. If you have Google Assistant enabled you can use Harry Potter
spells as voice commands. When you have your AI
assistant's attention, you need to simply say lumos maxima to turn the flashlight on,
and nox to deactivate it. Silencio will put your
phone on silent mode, deactivating all notifications. And if you throw your phone out the window and shout wingardium leviosa, you'll regret it, that's
not a command, yet. Number 18, tape measure movement. The metal cap on the end of a tape measure may seem as though it is
loose and needs fixing, but this is actually part of the design. The cap is designed so you can
get the exact same readings whether you're using the
tape flat against a surface or hooked around something. When it's pressing against
a wall or other surface the cap is pushed slightly inwards because the distance the cap moves by is roughly equal to the cap's thickness, this stops the cap size being added to the length measurement. The opposite occurs when the
cap is hooked onto a surface, because the cap no longer adds
length by being in the way, it extends so the measurement can be taken from the exact same point
on the tape measure. By accounting for the added or
subtracted length of the cap, the reading is accurate every time. Number 17, bottlenecks. Beer bottles have a
pretty distinctive shape. And many people prefer bottles to cans when consuming their favorite beverages. But though they may not realize it, their preferences come down to
a matter of ingenious design. The neck of a bottle of beer was designed for people to hold, instead of grasping
the body of the bottle. By holding the neck, as little body heat as possible is transferred into the beer or beverage, keeping it cooler for longer. The narrow neck also
serves as a built-in funnel in case you're a true connoisseur and like to pour your
beer into boots, like me. Number 16, hollow skyscrapers. If you live in a major city you may have spotted these
strange hollow looking sections on certain skyscrapers. These aren't a sign of lazy
construction workers, though. They're sneaky ways of
getting around zoning laws that limit the number of
floors allowed in a building. As the floor is inaccessible, usually only housing a
stairwell or lift shaft, it can add to the height without legally being considered
a floor of the building. These loophole floors can
be put to good use though, assisting with air flow. Through a little legal trickery, these hallow floors are the quickest way to turn a 50 story building to a 45er without using controlled
explosives, that is. Number 15, sign on the line. When signing a check, you probably assume you're writing on a regular old straight line, but if you look very,
very closely at that line, it's actually made up of repeating print which says authorized
signature over and over. This is called micro printing
where the print is so small that if a document is
illegally photocopied, it becomes unreadable. So if you ever feel you
may be signing something dubious of this kind, just
break out your magnifying glass. Number 14, Google's secret game. I don't know about you,
but I tend to use Google on an almost hourly basis. But considering how regularly
people use the search engine, if you were aware that the
classic Atari game Breakout is secretly available to be played directly in your search results. Simply search Atari
Breakout in Google Images and the page will transform into the game. Let me know your highest
score in the comments below. Number 13, saw-toothed turbines. You've probably never had the opportunity to get up close and personal
with a wind turbine, but if you did, you'd
likely be surprised to see that they have spiked blades. This saw-toothed pattern
actually makes them quieter and more efficient by reducing turbulence inspired by birds wings and whale fins. Renewable energy, you'll
never hear it coming. Number two 12, backpack patches. If you've ever owned a backpack like this you've almost certainly wondered, is this thing just for looks or does it actually serve a purpose? Well, yes, but few people know about it. Known as lash tabs, pig
snouts, and hauling loops, these four-sided patches
were originally designed to pass string through
to attach to equipment, like shoes or hiking gear. You could, and still can secure items to the outside of your
pack for easy access or if they're too big to fit inside. If you're really crazy, you could even attach another backpack. Number 11, watch twist rings. These numbered rotating bezel rings are commonly found on watches, much to the confusion of anyone who refuses to read user manuals. If that sounds familiar,
I'll do the reading for you. The bezel ring is designed
to measure elapsed time. Although you could use it
to monitor your work breaks or time spent on tasks,
it's most useful for divers. Because oxygen tanks only
last a certain amount of time, divers can set the marker to
align with the minute hand at a specific point. They can either set it to
the time the dive began or the time their oxygen will run out. Then it's just a matter of
keeping one eye on the watch and the other on any sea monsters that are coming too close for comfort. Number 10, toothpick trick. Though these types of
toothpicks might look like the wooden-hilted
sword of a hamster samurai, the reality is not quite as exciting. The first groove on the toothpick is weak and it can be broken off easily. This allows you to serve
as a stand after use, helping avoid contact with
the table or the tablecloth and keeping things a little
cleaner and classier. Number nine, backpack blowers. No that strange protrusion on the side of your
backpacks fastening clip isn't a weird manufacturing error. A surprisingly large number
of people don't realize this is actually an emergency whistle. Many backpacks include them on the chest trap clips
for immediate easy access. You know, in case you
get lost in the woods or are called to referee a
soccer match last minute. It happens to the best of us. Number eight, oven storage? Many freestanding ovens
have a drawer beneath them. And many of these drawers are
filled with cookie sheets, pots, and pans. While it may be the perfect size, that's not actually the
drawer's intended purpose. These drawers are actually
meant to keep food warm or in some instances, even slow cook foods on lower temperatures than
the main oven provides. Number seven, brown beer bottles. It may surprise you to know
there's a very good reason behind the coloration of
different beer bottles. Most beer bottles were
green until the 1930s when it was discovered that
Brown bottles are far superior at blocking out light. This was handy, as prolonged exposure to different kinds of light causes a chemical reaction in beer that results in some pretty potent aromas when the drink is finally open. With brown bottles, this effect
is filtered out effectively. That said, some green
and clear bottle brands intentionally keep the skunky smell as it's become strongly associated with the familiar experience
of drinking their beer. I'm looking at you, Desperados,
ya stinky delicious devil. Number six, quick tips. Winglets, sharklets, little doohickeys. These are all names
given to the upturn tips at the end of aircraft wings. Far from just an aesthetic choice, these upturn tips save
airlines a pretty penny in fuel expenses every year. They help reduce the amount of
drag pulling against the wing and create more lift, helping
to streamline airflow, increase efficiency and
consequently, reduce fuel costs. And let's be honest, they
look pretty cool too. Number five, flying spikes while we're on the topic of airplanes, their mighty wings are
also commonly equipped with little metal spikes running
up and down their lengths. These are known as static wicks and provide a low resistant point to discharge static
electricity that can build up while flying through air and clouds. Not only does this prevent navigation and radio interference, it also considerably reduces the chances of a plane
being struck by lightning. So yeah, these spikes are your friend. Number four, window holes. Let's go for the aviation triple whammy with these tiny holes at the
bottom of airplane windows. If you're like me,
you've probably thought, isn't a hole the last thing
you want in an airplane window? Well, they're actually there
to regulate the pressure between the outside of
the cabin and the inside. Airplane's windows
actually have three panes and the helps to ensure a
balance of pressure between them, placing most of the
load on the outer pain. The hole also stops the
windows from fogging up and so is responsible for all
those awesome cloud top views. Number three, cryptic produce. For most of us, those
little stickers on fruit are just a mild inconvenience. But for those in the know, they're actually a handy way to make sure you're getting what you pay for. The stickers usually feature numbers which contain essential
information about the produce. For example, if the sticker
has a five digit number where the first number is a
nine, the food is organic. If there's a four digit number beginning with a three or a four, the item has been conventionally farmed. And if the sticker features
a five digit number starting with an eight, the produce has been genetically modified. Hmm, maybe a mutant veggie
sticker would be more suitable for those last ones. Number two, roadside rumblers. If you've ever had the jarring experience of driving over these
bumps in highway roads, you've actually experienced them working precisely as intended. These raised bumps, known as sleeper lines or rumble strips are there to keep drivers alert. If a driver begins drifting
off to sleep at the wheel, when their car starts to veer off course, their wheels hit the rumble strips. When they do, loud noises and vibrations are emitted throughout the vehicle to wake up the sleepy
or distracted driver. More annoying than a regular alarm, but a potential lifesaver nonetheless. Number one, colorful toothpaste. Ever wondered why so
many toothpaste varieties have different colored stripes? The practice has its
origins in the seventies when consumer demand rose for toothpaste that not only prevented decay
but also freshened breath. So, toothpaste brands at a
different colors to their product representing different aspects. There was the white fluoride based for cavity and decay protection, a blue aqua gel for fresh breath, and a red gel for healthy
gums and plaque prevention. Interestingly, with many
brands of stripe toothpaste, each colored component
is actually composed of the same substance,
fulfilling the same role. The different coloration
is just a marketing choice to create a distinctive look and most non-stripe toothpaste offer nearly identical hygienic benefits. But decades of market research have proven that many buyers prefer
the stripey variety over the plain old white product. So it's fair to say, colorful toothpaste
has earned its stripes. Have you figured out
any of your own secrets hidden in objects we encounter every day? Let me know in the comments
section down below. Thanks for watching. (upbeat music)
