HowStuffWorks

The Skinny on the Goods

Check out the goods that are the stars of the HowStuffWorks series. Find out what makes them what they are and how they became so indispensable.

Corn
Let’s get right to the point: Corn is much more than a backyard barbecue side dish.

Turkey
It’s probably fair to say that many noshers look forward to big turkey meals during the holidays. So how do these birds get from farm to table?

Water
You could call water a liquid paradox.

Iron
There's more to iron than horseshoes and frying pans.

Lead
Ever wonder why the abbreviation for lead is "Pb"?

Aluminum
If you need a handy metal, you can't get much better than aluminum.
Coffee
Are you one of the millions of people who can’t focus until they have their caffeine fix?

Salt
The world's oldest food additive!

Beer
Barley, water, hops and yeast might not sound like a recipe for success, but together, these ingredients make the stuff of legend.

Rubber
Take a quick look around you. Chances are you're surrounded by plenty of things made of rubber!

Wheat
Even if you've never boarded a plane, you've probably seen the checkerboard pattern of wheat fields from high above in movies or on TV.

Timber
Timber: It starts as a tree and becomes the home you live in or the paper upon which you sign your mortgage check.