Look inside your appliances with 11 awesome animations (pictures)

Our homes are filled with all sorts of unseen scientific marvels -- and most of us don't think twice about them, if at all.

That's where our Appliance Science series comes in, offering fascinating glimpses at hidden household wonders. From the kitchen to the cloud, we've investigated it all in an effort to make the how and the what simple and elegant, complete with the beautiful animated artwork of CNET veteran Colin West McDonald. Click through and enjoy.

The Appliance Science series got its start with a deep dive into the world of refrigeration. If you've ever wondered how the ol' icebox keeps things cold, here's a quick and easy explanation.

I felt like I'd spent my whole life taking ice makers for granted when I first saw this animation. Never again!

Today's ovens have a few extra tricks in their toolkit to help make you a better cook. The most common is convection baking -- a fan in the back of the oven circulates hot air throughout the oven cavity for more even cooking.

There's even science going on inside of your food. Take bread, for instance. Ever wonder why yeast makes it rise? Well, now you know.

Up on top of the oven, most of us still use a gas or electric cooktop, but induction is an emerging trend at the high-end. Watching a cold-to-the-touch burner boil a pot of water might seem like magic, but it's actually just the magic of magnetism at work.

Did you know that there's magnetism at play inside of your countertop microwave, too?

It's true! Go on, take a closer look at how the magnetron in your microwave cooks up the energy that cooks your food.

There's no magnetism at play in your countertop espresso machine, though. Just thermodynamics, with a subtle assist from good ol' gravity.

Let's take a detour into the laundry room. Did you know that your stain-lifting detergent quite literally lifts the stains? Science!

The ever-handy HEPA filter's fibers use aerodynamics to their advantage to trap particles while letting fresh air through.

As the smart home continues to evolve, expect to see more and more connected appliances -- and the connected sciences that come with them -- in your daily life. And when you're curious about how it all works, remember where to turn.