1

Tin can tab holes

Image: frame harirak

The tab on a tin can, which we use to open it, has two holes—one smaller than the other. If you turn the tab around and place the smaller hole over the can’s opening, you can slide a straw through it , keeping it in place.

2

F and J bumps on keyboards

Image: Jan Loyde Cabrera

Have you ever noticed the small bumps on the F and J keys of every computer keyboard? These bumps are tactile information that lets you know where your fingers are placed on the keyboard without having to look at them.

3

Pasta scoop holes

Image: María Sainz Cabezalí

Most people think the hole in the middle of a pasta scoop is just a strainer for draining excess water. While it does serve that purpose, it is actually designed to measure a single serving of spaghetti .

4

Oven under drawer

Image: Andrea Davis

The drawer beneath an oven is designed to keep food warm without cooking it further. In some models, it functions as a broiler drawer , it can be used for grating cheese. A heating element above the drawer allows for high-heat cooking.

5

Extra fabric

Image: PlanetCare

Some clothing items come with a small piece of extra fabric, matching the garment's material. This fabric isn’t meant as a patch for repairs but rather for testing in the washing machine , allowing you to check how it reacts to different wash cycles before laundering the entire garment.

6

Pan handle hole

Image: Mara Conan Design

The hole at the end of most pan handles is designed to hold a wooden spoon , preventing messes on the kitchen counter. Simply slide the handle of the wooden spoon into the hole, letting the spoon rest over the pan when not in use.

7

Toaster crumb tray

Image: Daniel Salgado

Hidden away at the bottom of your toaster’s side is a small removable tray designed to catch and collect crumbs . You can slide it out to dispose of the crumbs and slide it back in for easy cleanup.

8

Marker on laundry detergent’s bottle cap

Image: Julianna Arjes

Most people who do laundry know that the bottle cap on laundry detergent is used to pour the liquid into the washing machine. However, not everyone notices that these caps have markings inside to measure the correct amount of detergent for a single wash cycle.

9

Utility knife blade replacement

Image: ds_30

When your utility knife blade starts to show signs of wear, you can break off the end segment to reveal a fresh, sharp edge . To do this, remove the detachable plastic piece from the back of the knife. This piece has a small slot where you can insert the blade’s end segment and snap it off safely. Once done, simply reattach the plastic piece, and your knife is ready to use again.

10

Color thread on wheel tire

Image: Jaye Haych

Many tire manufacturers embed colored threads near the outer edge of tires to indicate when they need to be replaced. These thread lines help measure tread depth . When the tread wears down to the level of these colored lines, it signals that the tire is approaching the end of its usable life and may need to be replaced.

11

Pint glass bulge

Image: tito pixel

If you've ever wondered what the bulging part on the sides of a pint glass is for—besides aesthetics—the answer can be found in bars and pubs everywhere. When glasses are stacked, they can sometimes get stuck together . However, pint glasses with a bulging design prevent this from happening .

12

Tic Tac dispenser

Image: jarmoluk

Tic Tac containers have an oval-shaped indentation in the lid, where a single Tic Tac can fit snuggly . This design functions as a dispenser for individual servings. Instead of shaking the container like a salt shaker, simply tilt it on its side, open the lid slowly, and a single candy will appear on it.

1

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Image: Daniel Hooper 🌊

Not all great flavors match, but pizza and barbecue chicken certainly do. This delightful fusion features tangy BBQ sauce, tender grilled chicken, and often sweet onions , creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory.

Some recipes are known to include smoked bacon or sweet corn, adding an extra layer of flavor. It’s a modern, flavorful twist on traditional pizza.

2

Supreme Pizza

Image: Klara Kulikova

The name itself sets the stage for a memorable flavor, and this pizza does not disappoint. Supreme Pizza is a hearty option designed to satisfy everyone. It combines several toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers, and mushrooms .

While it can be made at home, the sheer number of ingredients might make it easier to enjoy from your local pizzeria.

3

White Sauce Pizza

Image: Ivan Torres

The omnipresent tomato sauce, which gives a noble base flavor to our pizza toppings, is set aside for this iteration and trades seats with a creamy white sauce instead.

Combine olive oil and garlic to coat the dough or make a homemade white sauce. This white pizza version can use a ricotta cheese base. Keep the toppings simple so the sauce remains the star—think mozzarella cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

4

Pickle Pizza

Image: SuckerPunch Gourmet

Another flavor that shouldn't work—but does—is a pizza topped with pickled cucumbers. Some pizza joints across the country offer this unique version that uses pickles and spices as its topping .

The pizza is completed with the classic tomato sauce and a light cheese, to avoid clashing too much with the vinegar from the pickles.

5

Grilled Pizza

Image: Revolve Pizza Oven

Unlike the previous versions, the distinctive flavor of this pizza comes from its unique cooking method. The stretched dough is placed directly on the grates over hot coals , cooking it on one side, flipping the dough, and topping it in reverse—cheese first, sauce second. After this, the pizza goes back to the grates in order for the other side to cook and for the cheese to melt.

The resulting pizza is a crispy, airy, well-charred delight with a smoky flavor. Grilled pizza can be topped with virtually any ingredient according to personal preferences.

6

Green Peppers Pizza

Image: Anna Evans

A healthy and popular pizza topping in America, green peppers bring a crispy and refreshing dimension to any slice. Combined with onions and maybe even mushrooms they create an extremely flavorful, crispy, and crunchy ingredient that adds a refreshing dimension to a pizza.

7

Mexican Pizza

Image: Nik Owens

Mexican food is often associated with tacos, guacamole, nachos, and other delicious treats but Mexican pizza is a force to be reckoned with, too. The main ingredients are chorizo, jalapeños, pepperoni, red onion, and cannellini beans . It’s spicy and tangy, with a satisfying texture thanks to the ground meat and beans.

If you ever see this on the menu, don’t hesitate—go for it! You won’t regret it.

8

Burrata Pizza

Image: Klara Kulikova

Burrata cheese is like the supreme version of mozzarella: creamy, soft, and utterly delicious. A good burrata pizza includes cherry tomatoes, pistachio mortadella, and, of course, burrata cheese .

It’s not often you’ll find this on your local pizzeria’s menu, so if you spot it and want to try something special, give it a shot!

9

Greek Pizza

Image: Brenna Huff

Mediterranean cuisine goes beyond Italian flavors and Greek pizza adds some interesting ingredients to the recipe. This version is characterized by its thick, slightly wet dough, greasy cheese, and tomato sauce with a strong taste of oregano .

The typical ingredients for Greek pizza include artichokes, feta cheese, and Kalamata olives.

10

Pesto Pizza

Image: Klara Kulikova

If you associate pesto with pasta rather than pizza, you are not alone. But, as a fellow Italian specialty, pizza also benefits greatly from this aromatic sauce and its ingredients. The rich flavors of cheese and pine nuts in pesto complement the basic ingredients of a cheese pizza perfectly. Topped with parmesan cheese, mushrooms, and oregano , this pizza is nothing short of amazing.

1

Knicks

Image: Kelly Sikkema

"Knicks" is the shorter, catchier version of "Knickerbockers." The New York team name was chosen in the 1940s because of its association with Dutch settlers in the city. In Washington Irving's satirical book A History of New York , the author used "Diedrich Knickerbocker" as a fictional narrator. Over time, the term came to symbolize the city’s colonial heritage.

One of the oldest teams in the NBA, the Knicks never changed their worldwide-known name or their headquarters. They also boast one of the most iconic sports arenas in the world: Madison Square Garden . The Knickerbockers brand became so well-established that it intentionally opted to never introduce a team mascot, to preserve its classic image.

2

Nuggets

Image: PIX1861

The Denver Nuggets don’t allude to any form of food. Let’s look at the team’s history before explaining its name. Originally, as members of the American Basketball Association, they were called the Denver "Rockets" in reference to one of the owner’s businesses. However, when the team prepared to join the NBA in the 1970s, they had to change their name because Houston already had a team named the Rockets.

After a fan contest, the name "Nuggets" was chosen as a nod to Colorado’s gold and silver mining heritage , where prospectors sought valuable "nuggets" of precious metals. The team adopted a logo featuring a miner holding a pickaxe, and the name has stuck ever since.

3

Rockets

Image: NASA

So, why did Houston name its team The "Rockets"? Technically, it didn’t. The team was founded in San Diego in the 1960s as an NBA expansion team. The name "Rockets" was chosen through a fan contest, inspired by San Diego’s slogan at the time, "A City in Motion," and its ties to the aerospace industry.

Less than 10 years later, the team relocated to Houston, Texas. It was understood that a name change wasn’t necessary: "Rockets" fit seamlessly with Houston’s role as NASA’s space center and its nickname, "Space City."

4

Pistons

Image: Tim Mossholder

The Pistons were originally founded in Indiana as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons . Their owner, Fred Zollner, also owned a manufacturing company that produced pistons for automotive and railroad engines. The team carried the last part of the name forward when they joined the NBA, and later moved to Detroit.

Detroit, known as "Motor City" for its global reputation as the center of the American auto industry, was the perfect fit for the Pistons name. The concept that the Pistons symbolized "horsepower" was what inspired the introduction of their mascot, Hooper, a horse wearing the Pistons’ jersey.

5

76ers

Image: Jimmy Woo

The Philadelphia 76ers derive their name from an entirely different source than most other teams. Honoring the city’s insignia as the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the team’s name pays tribute to this pivotal moment in American history.

In its inception, the team was based in Syracuse, New York, and was known as the "Syracuse Nationals." It was one of the NBA’s original franchises. When it moved to Philadelphia, though, a fan contest was issued to select the best possible name. "76ers" was selected and it quickly became the popular consensus to shorten it to the nickname "Sixers."

6

Grizzlies

Image: Greg Johnson

Everyone’s first reaction upon hearing where the Grizzlies are based is the same: "But are there any grizzlies in Tennessee?" The answer is, none that we know of. But the team was founded far from those lands, in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the mountainous regions of western Canada, grizzly bears are indeed a thing.

However, the team faced financial difficulties and fan support challenges in Vancouver, leading to their relocation to Memphis in the early 2000s. At the time, there was some debate about whether to change the name. Ultimately, the NBA and team management decided to keep "Grizzlies" to maintain a connection to the team’s origins and avoid the costs of rebranding.

7

Heat

Image: Maxim Tajer

As many people observe, it’s unusual for a team name not to be a plural word. "Heat" is as fiery as it is accurate, belonging to the hottest state in the U.S. The city’s tropical weather inspired one of the most abstract names in the NBA, often symbolized by fire and the colors red, orange, and black.

The Miami "Heat" name was designated after winning a fan contest, beating other options like "Sharks" and "Barracudas." Fans also suggested names such as "The Beaches" and "The Miami Vice."

8

​​Timberwolves

Image: Andrew Ly

There may be no grizzlies in Memphis, but there are certainly timber wolves in Minnesota. In fact, the state has the largest population of timber wolves in the contiguous United States. The name for Minneapolis’ team was chosen through a statewide contest as a nod to Minnesota’s wilderness and natural wildlife. It was an instant hit.

The other finalist in the contest was the option "Polars," but it seems people found "Timberwolves" to be more unique. In later years, the team introduced its mascot, Crunch , a wolf often seen at events around the city.

9

Pacers

Image: Rui Alves

The Pacers emerged and remained in Indiana. The name was chosen mostly to pay homage to Indiana’s rich racing heritage: pace cars were used in the iconic Indianapolis 500 auto race , which evolved from horse races held annually in the state. However, it can also be considered a pun on the "fast-paced" style of playing that the team hoped to live up to.

In fact, one of the investors of the Pacers franchise was Chuck Barnes , who represented three legendary race car drivers: Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, and Rodger Ward. The team proudly retained the name when they joined the NBA in the 1970s after achieving remarkable success in the ABA.

10

​​​​Cavaliers

Image: PublicDomainPictures

Lastly, Cleveland’s "Cavaliers" is another example of a team name chosen through a fan vote. A local fan suggested the term, which refers to gentlemen trained in arms and horsemanship, for its associations with boldness, a fighting spirit, and a certain elegance. This option won, and over time, enthusiastic fans began referring to the team as "the Cavs."

Other contestants in the row were "Jays," "Foresters," and "Presidents." The "Cavs" nickname gained significant popularity during the LeBron era , as the star player’s success helped the team gain a stronger national following. Interestingly, the best-known rivalry for the Cavs is none other than the Golden State "Warriors."