7 Fascinating Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Whales Know How to Sing
Each winter, baleen whales gather together and sing long songs, sometimes for almost an entire day! What’s even more amazing is that they create new tunes every year during their gathering.

A Plant That Hardly Needs Water
The cactus can survive with very little water. It grows in deserts thanks to its deep roots and very few leaves, which help it hold on to every drop of moisture.

CDs Use Light to Play Music
The name "CD" comes from the idea of a "light record." A laser beam reads the small bumps and grooves on the disc, which are set in a spiral shape. This reflection of light helps your computer or player find the right sounds and data.

The Inventor of Dry Cleaning Was Enslaved
About 200 years ago, Thomas Jennings, a Black man living in the U.S. during the time of slavery, invented dry cleaning. He became the first Black person in America to receive a patent. He used the money from his invention to free his family from slavery.

Cocoa Fruit Is Not Brown
We know chocolate is brown, but the fruit that gives us chocolate is actually orange, yellow, or red! The cocoa beans inside the colorful fruit are what we use to make cocoa and chocolate.

There’s a Liquid That Can Melt Gold
There’s a special mix of two acids called aqua regia, which means “royal water.” It’s powerful enough to dissolve gold, which is often called the “king of metals.”

The Sewing Machine Took 100 Years to Invent
The sewing machine didn’t come all at once. It started with small steps, like inventing a double-pointed needle. About 100 years later, Isaac Merritt Singer created the first full sewing machine. His company, Singer, still makes sewing machines today!