Why are pencils shaped like hexagons, and how did they get their iconic yellow color? Pencil shop owner Caroline Weaver takes us inside the fascinating history of the pencil.
Small Thing Big Idea, a TED original series, celebrates the lasting genius of everyday objects so perfectly designed that they changed the world around them. Check out more here: https://go.ted.com/STBI
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Interesting, Ted Talks- Small Thing Big Idea
Why the pencil is perfect | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
December 9, 2019
More from this series:
- How the jump rope got its rhythm | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- How the button changed fashion | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- Why the pencil is perfect | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- The 3,000-year history of the hoodie | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- The hidden ways stairs shape your life | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- How the progress bar keeps you sane | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- The genius of the London Tube Map | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- How the hyperlink changed everything | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- Why pasta comes in all shapes and sizes | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
- The evolution of the coffee cup lid | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series