Cherise Threewitt is a Chicago-based writer and editor with 15 years of experience covering the automotive industry. At HowStuffWorks, Cherise enjoys researching and writing stories that make cars and car culture interesting and accessible for everyone. When Cherise isn't writing, she's probably at the gym, paddling on Lake Michigan, or driving her 2019 Subaru WRX.

Recent Contributions

Nearly every item that you purchase from a grocery store, department store, or mass merchandiser has a UPC code on it somewhere. Ever wondered why? Let's find out how the average UPC code works!

By Cherise Threewitt

Vantablack is one of the darkest substances known, able to absorb up to 99.965 percent of visible light. But is it the blackest of blacks on the planet?

By Cherise Threewitt

We're here to debunk the myth that matte finish paint is super- high maintenance. It just needs proper upkeep to truly shine.

By Cherise Threewitt

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So you've been pulled over by the police, and they've put a breathalyzer in your face. You've heard urban legends that address how to pass a breathalyzer, but are any of them true? Find out right now!

By Cherise Threewitt

When your car's alternator begins to fail — or has already failed — there are certain warning signs that you can expect to see along the way. But do you know what they are?

By Eric Baxter & Cherise Threewitt

One thing is certain: If your car is vibrating, you know you've got a problem. But determining the root cause of that wobble or shake might not be as difficult (or expensive) as you may think.

By Akweli Parker & Cherise Threewitt

What does that funny "H" pattern on my car's gear shift have to do with my transmission? How does it make the car change gears? And when I mess up and hear that horrible grinding sound, what is actually grinding?

By Marshall Brain, Cherise Threewitt & Sascha Bos

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Vehicle fires account for nearly one of every eight fires reported. But cars don't just burst into flames like we see in the movies. So how do they catch fire?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler & Cherise Threewitt

Buying a new household appliance is usually a long-term investment, whether you're replacing an old unit or setting up home for the first time. Before you buy a clothes dryer, though, you need to understand the difference between the two types that are most commonly available: gas and electric.

By Cherise Threewitt

Hygrometers are used by many professionals to monitor levels of humidity in the air. So, do need one in your home?

By Cherise Threewitt

Could solar cells be the asphalt of the 21st century?

By Patrick E. George & Cherise Threewitt

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The United States has emergency crude oil stored in its Strategic Petroleum Reserve that can be tapped only under certain terms and usually only by the president. So how much is in the reserve and how long can it last?

By Cherise Threewitt & Yara Simón

Is 1 mile out of 5 on U.S. interstates really supposed to be straight so that planes can land on them in an emergency? Find out the truth about this long-held urban legend.

By Cherise Threewitt

Whether Formula One or NASCAR, fans of racing hotly debate the merits of various drivers' championships, rivalries and the trophies that got away. So who's the greatest of all time?

By Cherise Threewitt & Jack Sackman

If you drive, you definitely need to know how to jump start a car battery. We'll tell you how.

By Cherise Threewitt

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A Top Fuel dragster accelerates to over 100 miles per hour in less than one second, burns 1.2 gallons of nitromethane (again, per second) and actually registers on the Richter scale as it comes off the line.

By Cherise Threewitt

How many wheels are in the world is a hotly debated question swirling around the internet. But it's not that easy to answer.

By Cherise Threewitt

How often should you change your oil? If you think it's every 3,000 miles, think again.

By Cherise Threewitt

Sales of electric cars keep soaring and the technology just keeps getting better. So how do electric cars work and just how green are they?

By Cherise Threewitt

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What's keeping you from making the leap from your gas-guzzling car to an electric vehicle? We'll tell you why they're easier to buy and own than you think.

By Cherise Threewitt

Do you get easily bored with things like the color of your car? BMW is introducing a couple of concept cars that literally change color at your whim.

By Cherise Threewitt

Knowing how to make a dog throw up may help you save your dog's life. But how do you do it safely?

By Cherise Threewitt

Holidays often bring on auto accidents with their mix of high traffic and high alcohol consumption. But is New Year's Eve the most dangerous day of the year?

By Cherise Threewitt

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James Dean died at the young age of 24 when he crashed his Porsche 550 Spyder. The car and its parts have been connected to many mysterious deaths ever since. Is it cursed?

By Cherise Threewitt

Rummikub is a game based on the card game rummy, but it's played with tiles not cards. How do you play? We'll tell you how and what the Rummikub rules are.

By Cherise Threewitt