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More Shorts — Part 2

The Built by Buit shorts library, continued — bite-size tech facts and how-things-work explainers.

Shorts — Part 2

Did you know 'laser' is secretly an acronym?▶Did you know ‘laser’ is secretly an acronym?Why is it called a 'podcast'?▶Why is it called a ‘podcast’?WiFi came from a failed hunt for black holes▶WiFi came from a failed hunt for black holesWhy does your WiFi fight with your microwave?▶Why does your WiFi fight with your microwave?Did a 1940s movie star help invent WiFi?▶Did a 1940s movie star help invent WiFi?Why does email have a 'CC' line?▶Why does email have a ‘CC’ line?What does 'SIM' in SIM card actually stand for?▶What does ‘SIM’ in SIM card actually stand for?What does 'PDF' actually stand for?▶What does ‘PDF’ actually stand for?Why does every airplane window have a tiny hole?▶Why does every airplane window have a tiny hole?Why do CAPTCHAs make you click traffic lights?▶Why do CAPTCHAs make you click traffic lights?Why do we still say we 'hang up' a phone?▶Why do we still say we ‘hang up’ a phone?Why do the F and J keys have tiny bumps?▶Why do the F and J keys have tiny bumps?Why is Amazon called Amazon?▶Why is Amazon called Amazon?Why does the Apple logo have a bite out of it?▶Why does the Apple logo have a bite out of it?Why is Adobe called Adobe?▶Why is Adobe called Adobe?Why is it called LEGO?▶Why is it called LEGO?Why is it called IKEA?▶Why is it called IKEA?What does Haagen-Dazs actually mean?▶What does Haagen-Dazs actually mean?Why is it called Pepsi?▶Why is it called Pepsi?Why is it called Sony?▶Why is it called Sony?Why is it called Canon?▶Why is it called Canon?Why is it called Nikon?▶Why is it called Nikon?Why is it called Yahoo?▶Why is it called Yahoo?Why is it called Skype?▶Why is it called Skype?Why is it called Verizon?▶Why is it called Verizon?Why Doesn't the Elevator Close Button Work?▶Why Doesn’t the Elevator Close Button Work?Why Can't Some Phones Mute the Camera Shutter?▶Why Can’t Some Phones Mute the Camera Shutter?Why Do Touchscreens Ignore You in Gloves?▶Why Do Touchscreens Ignore You in Gloves?Where Does a Deleted File Really Go?▶Where Does a Deleted File Really Go?Why Can't You Stop Scrolling Your Feed?▶Why Can’t You Stop Scrolling Your Feed?Why Do Damaged QR Codes Still Scan?▶Why Do Damaged QR Codes Still Scan?Was the Big Bang Hiding in Your TV Static?▶Was the Big Bang Hiding in Your TV Static?What Was the First Thing Ever Sold Online?▶What Was the First Thing Ever Sold Online?What Was the First Ever YouTube Video?▶What Was the First Ever YouTube Video?Why Do You Look Worse in Photos Than Mirrors?▶Why Do You Look Worse in Photos Than Mirrors?Why is it called an algorithm?▶Why is it called an algorithm?Why Does Your Voice Sound So Weird in Recordings?▶Why Does Your Voice Sound So Weird in Recordings?Why is it called an avatar?▶Why is it called an avatar?Why Are Airplane Windows Never Square?▶Why Are Airplane Windows Never Square?Why Does 'Emergency Calls Only' Still Work?▶Why Does ‘Emergency Calls Only’ Still Work?Why Is GPS Free for the Whole World?▶Why Is GPS Free for the Whole World?