We’ve all seen that too-cool guy in movies chew on a toothpick to assert his fully unbothered persona. But if he were to swallow that toothpick accidentally, that guy—and his body—would be extremely ...

The plain wooden toothpick is among the sim­plest of manufactured things. It consists of a single part, made of a single material, and is intended for a single purpose, from which it takes its name.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American The room is pitch black. Every light, from ...

Toothpicks seem so innocent. Whether staking down juicy sliders on game day or harpooning fruits bobbing in happy-hour cocktails, the mini skewers often spike our festive occasions. But, make no ...