Surprising Things About Light, Sound, and Little Creatures

Antibiotics Were First Made from Mold
A scientist named Alexander Fleming noticed that when mold grew in a dish, it stopped bacteria from spreading. He studied it and discovered a substance that became the first antibiotic, a medicine that fights infection.

Everything Around Us Is Made of Atoms
Atoms are tiny building blocks and are so small we can’t see them. There are about 140 types of basic atoms. When they join together, they form molecules, which make up everything in the world, from water to people to trees.

There Are Over 350,000 Types of Beetles
Yes, really! The beetle family is the largest insect family in the world. They live almost everywhere. Some are super tiny, less than a millimeter long and others can grow up to 18 centimeters.

Squirrels Help Trees Grow
Squirrels collect seeds, nuts, and cones from trees and hide them underground to eat later. But they don’t always go back to get them. Some forgotten seeds grow into trees, helping forests stay alive and healthy.

Some Diseases Only Happen Once
Illnesses like measles, mumps, and rubella are usually caught in childhood. After someone gets one of these diseases, the body creates antibodies to protect them from getting it again. Today, most children get vaccines, so they don’t get sick at all.

We See Lightning Before We Hear Thunder
Light travels faster than sound, which is why you see a flash of lightning before you hear the thunder, even though they happen at the same time during a storm.

Some Trees Are Taller Than 20-Story Buildings
The tallest tree ever measured was a fir tree that grew to 126 meters, about the height of a 20-story building! Today, the tallest living tree is a redwood in California, standing at 112 meters tall.