NPR readers share their best methods for finding missing objects — from tiny screws to lost wallets. One favorite tip? Use a good flashlight. How to quickly find something you lost: 10 clever and ...

Updated September 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM EDT This story was originally published on Oct. 31, 2024, and has been updated. A few years ago, I lost my passport two days before a big, international trip.

We asked visual search scientists, a metal-detecting enthusiast and a detective to share the most effective strategies to find missing objects. This story was originally published on Oct. 31, 2024, ...

A piece of Roman jewelry, worth $60,000, was found listed for $48 on eBay. Ollie Croker, Project Curator, and Sara Aly, Art Market Expert, from the British Museum's Recovery Program. Photo: Sara Aly.

A few years ago, I lost my passport two days before a big, international trip. Getting a new passport expedited would cost hundreds of dollars. And I wasn't sure if it would even arrive in time. You ...

A third-century B.C.E. Greek gold chain necklace similar to some of the missing objects © The Trustees of the British Museum under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 More than two ...