Sometime between 1500 and 1565 a large graphite deposit was discovered in Cumbria, England. Because the graphite was extremely pure and solid it could easily be sawed into sticks. The graphite was ...

From sticks of graphite wrapped in string to mechanical pencils made of gold, centuries of innovation went into crafting the perfect writing utensil. The pencil isn't just for the SATs. It is the ...

Some coloured pencils are water soluble - water can be brushed over them to blend colours. Water-soluble pencils are usually softer than ordinary coloured pencils and will go blunt more quickly.

“Yes of course,” and the lady at the counter hands me a cigarette. I awkwardly resist and say “I actually do need a pencil.” She judges me a bit and hands me one, probably wondering why an adult might ...