From Glowing Cat Eyes to Gunpowder: Fun Facts

Gunpowder Is an Ancient Invention
You might think gunpowder is a modern creation, but it’s actually very old. It came to Europe from the Arab world about 700 years ago. It’s made by mixing potassium nitrate, charcoal powder, and sulfur, along with a little water to keep it from exploding on its own.

Potatoes Can Be Used in Many Ways
Potatoes aren’t just for eating. While we enjoy them baked, boiled, or fried, they’re also used to make starch and even alcohol. At one point, almost half the potato crop in the U.S. was used to make chips for industrial use!

Cat Eyes Glow in the Dark
If you’ve ever seen a cat’s eyes shining at night, it’s not your imagination. Cats and other night animals have a special layer in their eyes that reflects light, helping them see in the dark and making their eyes appear to glow.

Horses Wear Shoes to Protect Their Hooves
Wild horses walk on soft ground, but domesticated horses often walk on hard roads. That’s why they wear iron horseshoes just like shoes for people. The shoes protect their feet and help them move around safely.

Earth Isn't a Perfect Ball
While the Earth looks like a round ball, it’s not exactly a perfect sphere. It’s actually a little flatter at the top and bottom. Scientists call this shape an “oblate spheroid.”

Trees Help Stop Deserts From Spreading
Deserts grow when wind blows sand over big areas of land. Trees act like walls, blocking the sand and keeping it from taking over. That’s why planting trees helps protect the land from turning into desert.

Birds Have Ears Too
Birds don’t have ears like people do, but they can still hear very well. On each side of a bird’s head, hidden under feathers, there’s a small hole that works as an ear.