Broken Secrets

Secret Archive

These are all of the secrets published since the blog started on November 19, 2009.

• Sugar Does Not Make Children Hyper
• There is a Beer Pipeline
• How to Fix a Stubborn Credit Card
• How to Read the Numbers and Letters on Car Tires
• There is a Standard Symbol for Product Life Expectancy
• The SR-71 Blackbird is Actually Dark Blue
• Serial Killers Were Once Associated With Vampires and Werewolves
• The US Postal Service is FedEx’s Largest Customer
• Mason Jars Can Be Used as Mini Blender Jars
• Do Hotel Key Cards Contain Personal Info?
• Some People Believe Running an Electric Fan in a Closed Room Can Kill You
• Goodbye means “God Be With Ye”
• Sleeping Your Best is All About Timing
• Where the Phrase “Jumped the Shark” Comes From
• Shirt Tags are Moving to the Bottom Left Seam
• It’s Normal For Half Your Nose to Always Feel Blocked
• “Raisin Fingers” May Be an Evolutionary Advantage
• The HOLLYWOOD Sign Originally Said HOLLYWOODLAND
• China Has Travelling Execution Units
• The Dropped Call Rules
• A Third Type of Cell In Your Retina Regulates Circadian Rhythm
• How Hollywood Became the Center of the Film Industry
• Square Watermelons are Smarter Than Round Ones
• Measuring Speed in Knots Started With Tying Knots in Rope
• Syrah and Shiraz are the Same Grape
• Disney Castle Based on Real Castle in Germany
• The QR in QR Code Means Quick Response
• Carrots Do Not Improve Eyesight
• How Steve Jobs Got His 2009 Liver Transplant So Quickly
• Barefoot Running is Better for Joints Than Running in Shoes
• The Plastic End of a Shoelace is Called an Aglet
• You May Have Helped Translate Books Without Knowing It
• Some Fruit Seeds Contain Cyanide
• Guinness Beer Has Fewer Calories Than Skimmed Milk
• The New World Trade Center Remembers What We Lost
• Only One Plane Was Allowed to Fly After Flights Grounded on Sept 11th 2001
• Gold Record Awards Come From the Record Manufacturing Process
• Niagara Falls Water Volume is Lower at Night
• Your GPS Will Disable Itself If It’s Going Too Fast
• Credit Cards Reveal Hidden Symbols Under Black Lights
• Bumblebee Flight is Not Scientifically Impossible
• Story and Plot are Not the Same Thing
• US Navy Employs Dolphins and Sea Lions for Some Missions
• Non-Wing Chicken “Wings” are Called “Wyngz”
• The Term Hat-Trick Comes from Cricket
• Japan: Where the Streets Have No Names
• The “Asparagus Effect” is Not Universal
• Label Cords Cheaply and Easily
• Lobsters Don’t Age
• The First IBM ThinkPad Was a Paper Notebook
• Calculating the Distance to Lightning Strikes
• The Origin of Father’s Day
• Things You Didn’t Know You Could Clean (or Cook!) in Your Dishwasher
• Whales Have Regional Dialects
• Some Avacados Contain Half the Fat of Others
• Starbucks is Named After a Moby Dick Character
• Indy 500 Winners Celebrate with Milk
• Pro Baseball Teams Use 900,000 Balls Each Year
• Shakespeare Coined Hundreds of Words and Phrases In Use Today
• Redheads Require More Anesthesia
• Seattle’s Best Coffee is Owned By Starbucks
• Searing Meat Does Not Lock in Moisture
• Babies Don’t Find Yawning Contagious
• Solubilized Ibuprofen Fastest Non-Prescription Painkiller
• Rulebook Specs for Home Plate are Impossible
• Up to 40% of Online Clothing Purchases are Returned
• The Signature Line on Checks is Not a Line at All
• Poppy Seeds Can Cause Drug Test Failures
• Urinals are Not Just for Men
• The Meaning of Care Symbols on Clothes Tags
• McDonald’s Imports One Third of Mexican Sesame Seeds
• What Does Esquire Mean?
• Motel 6 Charged $6.00 for Motel Rooms
• The President’s Limo Carries a Supply of the President’s Blood
• Blog Update – Thanks, Inspiration and Helping Out
• Why Some Restaurants Provide Wet Towels at Meals
• Secret Uses for Olive Oil
• How to Chop Onions Without Crying
• The Incident – Why Buses Open Their Door at Railroads
• Why Aluminum Foil is Dull on One Side
• Food Chains to Display Calories on Menu by 2014
• Disney Movie Secrets
• The Fastest Way to Fold a Shirt
• Military Tanks are Named after Water Tanks
• March Madness Teams are Paid for Performance
• Sunscreen and Sunblock are Not the Same Thing
• Not Making Your Bed Kills Dust Mites
• Baby Proofing Your Home on a Budget
• How to Cure Hiccups
• Transport Suit Jackets Inside-Out to Prevent Lint
• Cocktail Terminology
• Toilets: Taboo for TV Until 1957
• Blue Eyes Are Not Actually Blue
• Brain Freeze is Triggered in the Sinuses
• Real Names of Celebrities
• Secrets of the Red Carpet
• Fertilizer Can Melt Snow and Ice
• How to Clean Up a Leaking Battery
• Craft Breweries Cannot Brew More Than 6 Million Barrels Annually
• Your Passport May Expire Before The Expiry Date
• Boxed Wine Isn’t Necessarily Bad Wine
• More Spent on Flowers at Christmas Than Valentine’s
• People Don’t Explode in Space
• The Banana Plant is an Herb
• The Meaning of the Digits on Your Credit Card
• More US Money is Printed Than MONOPOLY Money
• Emoticons and Other Facebook Tricks
• Your Pupils Dilate When You Lie
• Eight US Presidents Were Born British
• Where the Phrase “Face the Music” Came From
• Standard Keyboards are Designed to Slow You Down
• New Contributors are Joining the Team
• Sarcastic Secret: This is a Toilet Seat
• The Word “Nerd” Was First Written by Dr. Seuss
• The Hidden Lever to Raise Airplane Armrests
• Potatoes: Green Means Stop
• Magazine Mastheads Have a Nautical History
• Finding Home and End on a Mac Keyboard
• The Calendar is Named After The Pope
• Why It Is Called a Swan Song
• How to Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste
• Why We Clink Glasses When We Toast
• Property Donations are Tax Deductable
• Babies Don’t Shiver
• 9 Volt Batteries Contain 6 AAAA Batteries
• What the Toaster’s Bagel Button Actually Does
• Design and History of the Northface Logo
• Most Medications Still Good After Expiration
• Why Airplane Shades Must Be Up for Takeoff and Landing
• The Shoulder is the “Butt” and the Butt is the “Ham”
• How to Taste Defective Wine
• Why They’re Called White Elephant Gift Exchanges
• The Real Names of Brand Name Products
• The Most Popular Types of Liquor
• Why It’s Called Black Friday
• White Wine also Stains Teeth
• Why Some Cars Have Fake Convertible Roofs
• Birthdays Were Not Always Celebrations
• Babies Blink Less Than Adults
• How to Dispose of Medicine
• Broccoli is Manmade
• Bozo the Clown was the First Ronald McDonald
• Differences Between Major Over-The-Counter Pain Drugs
• Daylight Saving Time Was Funded by 7-11
• The Meaning of the PlayStation Button Symbols
• Chewing Gum Digests Within a Few Days
• How to be a Halloween Scrooge
• The Meaning of “Sport” in Ritter Sport Chocolates
• The Difference Between Whiskey and Whisky
• Commonly Misquoted Phrases
• The History of Halloween
• The Swastika Was Once a Symbol of Good Luck
• Jagermeister Does Not Contain Deer Blood
• Google Search Tricks
• Hair and Nails Grow Faster in the Summer
• Studios Pay to Have Movies Rated
• Trader Joe’s Marketed the First Reusable Shopping Bag
• Modern Chewing Gum is Made in a Lab
• Some People are Genetically Predisposed to Dislike Broccoli
• Table Salt Used to Indicate a Person’s Social Status
• How to Watch Blocked Internet Videos
• How to Tell Which Printing a Book is From
• Chewing Sunflower Seeds Can Help You Stay Awake
• Some Eggs Do Not Need Refrigeration
• Why Most New Stuff Comes Out on Tuesday
• Secret Menu Items
• Why Suit Jacket Pockets are Sewn Shut
• McDonald’s Once Owned Chipotle Mexican Grill
• Grocery Store Designs are Based on Psychology
• Why You Shouldn’t Wear White After Labor Day
• Japanese Theft Deterrent
• Stainless Steel Appliances are Not Magnetic
• Microsoft Invested in Apple in 1997
• Corporate Logo Secrets
• Bakery Twist Tie Colors Indicate Freshness
• How Does Information Get On a CARFAX Report?
• The White Dashes at the Top of a TV Picture
• August is the Most Popular Month for Births
• What is the Thirty Mile Zone?
• How to Get Less Meat on a Deli Sandwich
• Bluetooth Headsets Can Reduce EMF Exposure
• Cars Built Since 2008 Have Tire Pressure Warning Lights
• Sherlock Holmes’ Famous Saying Wasn’t Part of the Original Works
• eInk Doesn’t Use Power to Maintain an Image
• Air Conditioning Affects Gas Mileage
• How to Take the Bone Out of a Chicken Wing
• Why Some Knives Have Serrated Blades
• Your Dryer’s Lint Filter Should Be Washed
• How to Increase Mobile Phone Battery Life
• White Chocolate is Real Chocolate
• Warning Gauges are Usually Center Normal
• Lights Use More Energy While Turning On
• How to Save 25% on Medical Bills
• Drinking and Driving is Legal in Mississippi
• Disney World has Many Legal Powers of a City
• Alcohol Does Not Completely Burn Off in Cooking
• Sarcastic Secret: Signal Lights
• How They Make Burgers Look Perfect In Ads
• Tires Do Not Protect You During a Vehicle Lightning Strike
• ID is Not Required to Buy Cooking Wine
• The Magic Kingdom is Built on a Series of Tunnels
• That Falling Feeling When Going To Sleep
• Shoes on Power Lines
• Quantum Teleportation is Real
• Tea Contains Less Caffeine Than Coffee
• Secret Codes in Public Places
• Lock Your Car Better With Your Chin
• Broken Secrets: Phase 2
• How to Remove Skunk Smell from Pets, Clothes, etc.
• Trap Doors on Car Bumpers
• Desktop Snacking Without a Greasy Keyboard
• How to Cut Lime Wedges Like a Bartender
• Run When It’s Raining to Stay Drier
• YouTube URL Secrets
• How to Chop Food Quickly, Safely and Easily
• Dog’s Mouths Are Not Cleaner Than Human’s
• Mosquitoes are Attracted to Men More Than Women
• The Real Reason Cell Phones are Banned on Planes
• Stock Market Analysis Began with Rice in 18th Century Japan
• Coupons You Get at Grocery Stores are Based on Your Purchases
• The Purpose of Color and Registration Marks on Packaging
• What are Truck Weigh Stations for?
• Cats Cannot Taste Sweetness in Food
• Why Chocolate is Dangerous for Dogs and Not Humans
• License Plates and Headlights Increase Visibility to Traffic Radar
• Carousels Were Invented By The Military
• WD-40 Ingredients and Uses
• There are Three Stanley Cups
• Diesel Fuel Nozzles Don’t Fit in Standard Fuel Cars
• How to Make Your Grass Greener
• How to Buy the Right Shoes for Your Feet
• The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air
• Sarcastic Secret: How to Make Ice
• Exhaust Fans Help Cool Your Home During Summer
• You Can’t Grow Hemp in the US But You Can Import It
• A Secret Government Spaceship is Circling the Earth
• Michelangelo Hid Images in Sistine Chapel Paintings
• You Can Stop Your Microwave From Rotating
• U-Shaped Plumbing Stops Sewer Gases
• Inactive Cell Phones Can Still Call 911
• Increase Your Income With Your Credit Card
• Most Expensive TV Pilot in History: LOST
• Free Text Messaging on iPhone and iPod Touch
• Altitude Does Not Increase the Effect of Alcohol
• Arial is Not a Font
• Fake Smoke is Not Usually Dry Ice
• Survivor Contestants Cannot Share Winnings
• Police Do Not Have a Speeding Ticket Quota
• Defenestrate Means: To Throw Out of a Window
• Celebrities Pay for Their Star on the Walk of Fame
• One US Highway Uses Kilometers Instead of Miles
• Watering Hard to Reach Plants
• Rotten Eggs Float
• Some Palm Trees Can Survive Freezing Winters
• Punctuation is Not Allowed in Mailing Addresses
• iPhone and iPod Tricks
• Every UPC Barcode Has 30 Bars
• How Ballparks Stripe Their Grass
• Keeping Secrets Safe at Home
• Remove Farmville Updates from Your Facebook Feed
• Understanding Trucker Signals
• Pure Vanilla Extract is 35% Alcohol
• Use Your Watch as a Compass
• Start Your Lawn Mower in One Pull
• Stop Cords from Falling Behind Your Desk
• Caffeine Makes Headache Medicine Work Faster
• Extend the Life of Printer Ink Cartridges
• Hot Dog Etiquette
• Aluminum Foil Retainers
• The Gas Arrow
• The Space Bar Scrolls Down in Your Browser
• Why U-Hauls Have Arizona License Plates
• Keeping Headphones Untangled
• How to Increase Shower Water Pressure
• Vocal Throat Spray for Singers
• Neil Armstrong’s Famous Words Include a Mistake
• Why do Some Cars Have Blue Headlights?
• Improve Monitor Picture Quality in 15 Seconds
• The Origin of April Fools’ Day
• How to Sterilize Your Toothbrush
• How to Clean an LCD Screen
• The Purpose of Beer Bottle Bumps
• 3D TVs are Available Now
• Save Your Wet Electronics by Sticking Them in Rice
• Why Beer Bottles are Green, Brown or Clear
• State Health Care in Hawaii Since 1975
• Australian Toilets Do Not Flush in the Opposite Direction
• How Restaurants Make Taco Shell Bowls
• Use Blue Food Coloring to Make Green Beer
• The History of St. Patrick’s Day
• Bad Fats Can be Hidden on Nutrition Labels
• You Shouldn’t Use Fabric Softener on Towels
• Airplanes Refresh Cabin Air 20 Times an Hour
• Chilean Earthquake Shortened Earth Days
• Caffeine Free Coffee Beans Discovered
• Caller ID Can Be Hacked
• Dishwasher Detergent Has Bleach In It
• Big Mac Sauce is Not Just Thousand Island Dressing
• Food Nutrition Labels are Not Accurate
• The Mall of America Does Not Have a Central Heating System
• The Vancouver Olympic Medals Contain Recycled Metal
• How to Get the Best Price When Shopping Online
• The Ideal Vehicle Speed for Best Fuel Economy
• Warm Your Car Up Faster
• Why do Airplanes Fly at High Altitudes?
• Botox can be Prescribed by Your Doctor
• Why Vinyl Records are Becoming Popular Again
• How Much is the Gold in an Olympic Medal Worth?
• Why Airplanes Don’t Always Fly in Straight Lines to Their Destination
• Some Rechargable Products Use Standard Batteries
• You Can Buy Your Own Dental Tools
• The History of Valentine’s Day
• Rescue a Disc From Your CD Drive With a Paperclip
• The Massive Underground Vault Near the North Pole
• The Meaning of the Numbers Inside the Recycling Symbol
• Shop at Off-Peak Hours for Time Savings
• Starbucks Drink ID Codes
• Sarcastic Secret: The Left Lane is for Passing
• How to Accelerate and Slow Banana Ripening
• How to Fold a Fitted Sheet
• Why Do People Eat Organic Food?
• How To Make Your Laptop Battery Run Longer
• There Are Only 14 Possible Calendar Configurations
• How to Order at Starbucks
• You Can Easily Buy Tamper Proof Screwdrivers
• Peanuts Are Not Actually Nuts
• Your Eyes Adapt to Darkness In 20-30 Minutes
• Organic Food May Contain Non-Organic Ingredients
• Why is Coffee Called Java?
• How Do You Solve a Rubik’s Cube?
• Getting The Most For Your Charitable Donation
• Listerine Was Once Sold as Floor Cleaner
• The Sugar in Most Foods is Not Natural Sugar
• Satellite Dishes are Gray Because…
• Roadway Marks Used For Speeding Tickets
• What Do AM and PM Stand for?
• Google Provides Free 411 Searches and Connections
• Colored Sunglass Lenses Can Improve Your Sight
• Automatically Add WWW. and .COM to a Website Address
• How to Get Free HDTV Channels
• How to Prevent a GPS From Falling Off the Windshield
• Leap Years and Leap Seconds
• Ball Drops Did Not Start in Times Square
• Web Browser Secrets
• How to Apply Cologne and Perfume
• Instantly Brighten Your Basement With CF Lights
• The Origin of Boxing Day
• Use Hot Water To Make Crystal Clear Ice Cubes
• Sarcastic Secret #1: Walk Left Stand Right
• Prevent Snow Buildup on Your Shovel
• Locking the Gas Pump Trigger
• How Mechanics Keep Their Hands Clean
• Casino Carpets Are Ugly So You Gamble More
• Defog Your Bathroom Mirror In 30 Seconds
• How to Properly Focus Your Digital Camera
• Idling a Cold Engine Is GOOD For The Environment
• One Side of Toilet Paper is Softer Than the Other
• You Shouldn’t Drink Hot Water From Your Tap
• The Fastest Way to Chill Drinks
• Opening a Bottle of Wine Without a Corkscrew
• Headphones Can Be Used As Microphones
• You Can Request a Mini Fridge in Your Hotel Room
• Keeping Takeout Food Warm While You Drive Home
• How to Properly Pour a Cup of Coffee
• Rear Fog Lights
• The Roadkill Waiting List
• Coca-Cola Supplier Imports 100 Tons of Coca Leaves Per Year
• Why Restaurant Food Stays Hot on Your Plate
• Change Traffic Lights Like a Fire Engine
• Stringless Banana Peeling
• Why Airlines Dim Interior Lights Before Night Landings
• The Secret Marks on McDonald’s Cups
• You CAN Use Foil in the Microwave

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