Discover the fascinating process of mass-producing pencil leads at Japan's only factory specializing in this craft. From raw ...

No.2 pencils are widely used, but you may not know what the number actually refers to. This video explains how pencils developed into their modern form and the significance of the labeled numbers.

Pieces of pencil lead on the floor marked up the new carpeting. Only one teacher enforced the new rule, Nora said, pretty much erasing the ban. Nora’s 17-year-old brother Leo Rodriguez said he ...

The pencil “lead” is actually a mixture of graphite and clay. More clay in the mixture makes the lead harder. A harder lead has a higher number. Pencils are numbered from 1-3 but most people use a ...

"Pencil" is derived from the Latin word "penis" meaning "tail", because Roman writing brushes were made from tufts of fur from an animal's tail. "Lead pencils" achieve the same effect without ...