Silica gel packets. Yes, those little white packets stamped all over with “Do not eat” actually have a purpose beyond … well, whatever their actual purpose is. (Don’t worry—we’ll cover ...

You have probably seen silica gel packets in many places. Shoeboxes, dried food, and even bubble wrap. It's a white packet that always says 'do not eat' on it.

The packets hold up to 40 percent of their weight in moisture, thanks to the accommodating chemical structure of the silicon dioxide molecules inside. And though the packets might be the way we ...