Materials 01
Why cardboard is corrugated
A shipping box is not just thick paper. Its hidden waves make a structure.
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Materials
What structure adds to a familiar material.
Stories in this topic
Materials 02
How super glue works
A trace of moisture turns a liquid of small molecules into a solid connection.
5 min read
Materials 03
Why pencils write
The point wears away on purpose. The paper keeps what it removes.
5 min read
Materials 04
How erasers work
An erased line has gone somewhere. Look in the crumbs.
5 min read
Materials 05
Why glass is transparent
Light must get through without losing the picture it carries.
5 min read
Materials 06
Why stainless steel resists rust
Its protection is a very thin reaction layer that can form again.
5 min read
Materials 07
Why nonstick pans are slippery
The pan supplies heat. A different material supplies the contact surface.
5 min read
Materials 08
How tempered glass works
A controlled balance of internal stresses changes how a pane resists and releases a crack.
5 min read
Materials 09
Why bubble wrap protects things
The air pockets make a short stop happen over a little more time and distance.
5 min read
Materials 10
Why bottle caps have liners
The thread holds the cap down. The seal lives at the contact surface.
5 min read
Materials 11
Why tape measures are curved
One strip has to behave like a straight ruler and a compact coil. Its cross-section makes the compromise possible.
5 min read