Secret uses

This is how a tiny hole in an elevator door can save your life

You’ve probably twisted a bread bag closed, filled up your car, or pulled a sheet of aluminum foil from the box thousands of times without giving it a second thought. But many of the everyday objects we’ve used for decades have clever features that most people never notice. From the tiny pocket on blue jeans to the little arrow next to your gas gauge, these hidden designs have practical stories behind them, and once you know them, you’ll never look at these familiar items the same way again.

If you own an iPhone, you’ve probably noticed the tiny black dot next to the rear camera. It’s small, so people tend to assume it’s another camera sensor or even part of the phone’s design. The small hole found near the camera bump on every iPhone is actually a rear microphone.

It captures clearer audio when you’re recording videos and helps reduce background noise during FaceTime and regular phone calls. If you own an iPhone Pro model from the iPhone 12 Pro onward, you'll also see a larger dark circle. That’s the LiDAR scanner, which sends out invisible infrared light to create a 3D map of your surroundings. It helps the camera focus faster in low light, powers Apple’s Measure app, and makes augmented reality features much more accurate.

Whether it's a holiday dinner, an anniversary, or simply a nice meal with friends, you’ve probably held a wine bottle and noticed the deep indentation in the bottom. Many people tend to think the deeper the indent, the fancier the bottle.

That indentation is called a punt, and it’s been a part of the bottle-making for centuries. Originally, it helped strengthen hand-blown glass bottles, making them less likely to crack under pressure. Today, it still adds structural stability, particularly for sparkling wines, while also giving servers a comfortable place to rest their thumb when pouring, though some say it helps collect the sediment as wines age. In any case, a deeper pun doesn’t automatically mean a better or more expensive bottle.

Almost every driver has experienced that awkward moment at the gas station. You pull up to the pump, step out of the car, and suddenly realize the fuel door is on the opposite side.

To help prevent exactly that situation, many modern vehicles include a small arrow next to the gas pump symbol on the dashboard’s fuel gauge. The arrow points towards the side of the vehicle where the fuel filler door is located. It’s a small detail on the dashboard, yet once you notice it, you’ll never have to circle the pump again.

All elevators look pretty much the same. Bigger or smaller, they all look similar, a gray box with a mirror and buttons. But if you pay close attention, you may notice there’s a small round opening near the top of the door.

That opening is a keyhole used by trained maintenance technicians and emergency responders. With a special elevator key, they can manually unlock the landing doors when repairs are needed or if passengers become trapped inside. The system allows professionals to reach the elevator safely without damaging the doors or relying solely on electrical controls. Hopefully, most of us will never need to see it in action. But in an emergency, that tiny opening becomes one of the most important parts of the system.

If you’ve ever stood in the bread aisle comparing loaves, you’ve probably noticed the colorful plastic clips or twist ties holding the bags shut. Contrary to what many think, they’re not simply a part of the packaging.

For many bakeries and grocery stores, the colors indicate the day a loaf was delivered or baked. While the exact color schedule can vary between bakeries and regions, employees use the system to quickly spot older inventory and rotate fresher bread to the back of the shelf. That way, customers are more likely to pick up the freshest loaf available.

Whether you wear jeans every day or only pull them out for yard work, you’ve probably noticed the tiny extra pocket tucked inside one of the front pockets. It’s too small for a phone and not very useful for loose change, but there’s a reason for it.

Back in the 1800s, when Levi Strauss & Co. created rugged denim pants for miners, ranchers, and cowboys working across the American West, pocket watches were commonplace. Workers needed a safe place to carry their watches while riding horses, so that little pocket was designed specifically to protect the watch from damage. Pocket watches disappeared, but the tiny pocket became such an iconic part of blue jeans that manufacturers have continued including it for well over a century.

Almost everyone has had the same frustrating experience. You pull on a sheet of aluminum foil, and suddenly the entire roll slides out of the box and lands on the kitchen counter.

That’s exactly why major manufacturers such as Reynolds introduced the small side tabs, known as end locks, in the mid-1990s. By pressing the tabs inward, they hold the cardboard roll in place like built-in axles. This keeps the roll from sliding out of the box, makes it much more stable as you pull, and helps the serrated edge cut a cleaner, straighter sheet. It also reduces waste by preventing the foil from bunching up or tearing unevenly. It’s a simple design, yet useful as it can get.

Every household has pens lying around for all kinds of purposes. And most of them have a common feature, a hole in the cap, which isn’t simply part of the design.

BIC and other pen manufacturers included the opening as a safety feature. If someone, especially a child, accidentally swallows a pen cap, the hole can allow a small amount of air to pass through, reducing the risk of complete airway blockage while emergency help is on the way. The design became part of border efforts to improve consumer product safety after choking incidents drew attention to the danger of small plastic objects.

If you grew up sewing or watching somebody do it, you probably remember the classic tomato-shaped pincushion sitting beside the sewing basket. Hanging from it was a tiny red strawberry that looked like nothing more than a cute finishing touch.

In reality, that little strawberry has its own job. Instead of soft stuffing, it’s filled with emery, a gritty material made from crushed abrasive minerals. Running pins and needles through it helps polish away tiny spots of rust, smooth rough edges, and keep the points sharp enough to glide through fabric more easily.

Think back to the first time you learned to type. Maybe it was at work, or on a family computer. Wherever it was, someone probably told you to keep your fingers on the "home row." That’s exactly why the F and J keys have tiny raised ridges.

The bumps let your index fingers find the correct starting position by touch alone, allowing you to type without constantly looking down at the keyboard. The technique, known as "touch typing," is widely credited to American court stenographer Frank Edward McGurrin, who demonstrated it in 1888. As typewriters became more common, manufacturers experimented with different ways to help typists orient their hands, and by the mid-20th century, companies such as IBM standardized the subtly raised plastic bars that remain on nearly every keyboard today.

Mind your manners

10 things that might get you into legal trouble around the world

Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm

What people consider reasonable in terms of the law often changes from nation to nation, and sometimes even from region to region within the same country. However, there are some rules so odd that one cannot help but wonder if they were instituted as a joke and then forgotten. Some make more sense once you learn about the context, but others seem exaggerated. Be mindful of your actions, because you might end up fined—or even imprisoned—somewhere in the world.

Image: Charles Wright

Looking for a way to prevent chewing gum litter, Singapore decided to tackle the root cause and directly banned the import and sale of gum, with an exception made for therapeutic reasons. Blowing bubbles in public might get you fined, and smugglers may face imprisonment.

Image: Andrew Tanglao

This rule may sound odd, but it makes sense once you get the full picture. Greece is home to numerous ancient sites, such as the Acropolis and the Parthenon. To help preserve these monuments, high heels with narrow or sharp points are banned, as they could "damage the structures." Violating this rule can result in a fine of up to €900.

Image: Dan Dennis

Let’s be honest—this one is a bit odd (unless you’ve worked in retail). According to Canadian law, there is a limit to the number of coins you can use in a single transaction. The allowable amount depends on the coin denomination and the total to be paid, but fear not: In true Canadian fashion, the law includes a detailed list of instructions.

Image: James Wainscoat

Camouflage patterns were originally developed as a military tool but have since become a popular fashion trend. Well, not in Barbados. Any civilian wearing clothes or accessories with a camouflage pattern can be fined, imprisoned, or both. Several neighboring Caribbean countries have similar laws, prompting cruise companies to specifically warn their passengers.

Image: David Beale

This one sounds weirder than it actually is. It’s not technically illegal to drive a dirty car in Russia—but it is illegal to drive with an unreadable license plate. So, if your car is so filthy that the dirt obscures your plate, you could be fined.

Image: YoNeKeN

This law stems from a combination of factors. Baht, the Thai currency, depicts the King, making them subject to strict laws requiring respect for the monarchy. Additionally, feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body in Thai culture, which adds another layer of disrespect. Even carrying money in your back pocket—effectively sitting on the King—can get you into trouble.

Image: Cristina Zaragoza

This law isn’t really about selfies—it’s about turning your back on Buddha statues, which is considered extremely disrespectful. Authorities take this very seriously, and tourists have occasionally gotten into trouble for posing with their backs to the statues. Such actions have even led to fines or imprisonment.

Image: Alexas_Fotos

Domesticated animals weighing under 11 pounds are allowed on French trains—but they must have a ticket. Why snails, specifically? The rule applies to all small pets, but it famously led to a dispute between the rail company and a passenger who was caught carrying live snails. Since the snails didn’t have tickets, the owner was fined—though the penalty was later waived.

Image: Nik

This peculiar rule doesn’t apply to all of Poland, but to one specific town where officials rejected Winnie-the-Pooh as a playground mascot—because he doesn’t wear pants. The decision sparked plenty of laughter abroad, though locals defended it as a matter of propriety. As far as we know, Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny haven’t been considered for the job either.

Image: Will Pagel

Tibet, a region in China, is one of the main centers of Buddhism and home to many spiritual leaders regarded as living Buddhas—believed to be reincarnations of previous teachers. According to Chinese law, for these reincarnations to be officially recognized, they must submit an application and receive government approval. The regulation was introduced to limit foreign influence—particularly from the Dalai Lama—over the selection process.