From Chocolate Flowers to Space: Surprising Discoveries

Which Flower Smells Like Chocolate?
One of the most unique flowers in America is the Chocolate Cosmos. It’s deep brown in color and smells just like chocolate! It’s rare, but if you ever come across one, take a sniff and you’ll be amazed.

How Can a Volcano Be Blocked?
Sometimes, after a volcano erupts, the leftover magma hardens in the volcano’s opening. This forms a kind of rocky “plug” called a volcanic plug. It can stop the volcano from erupting again by blocking its path.

Which Metal Stays Pure?
Gold is special because it doesn’t mix with other substances. When gold is taken from the ground, it’s already pure. Unlike other metals, it doesn’t need to be separated from other materials, it just needs to be cleaned from the surrounding rock.

Can a Distance Be Measured in Years?
Yes! In space, distances are so big that astronomers use “light-years” to measure them. A light-year is how far light travels in one year, about 9.5 trillion kilometers!

Why Was Nylon Invented?
In 1935, the American company DuPont invented nylon to compete with silk made in Japan. Today, nylon and similar materials are used all over the world in clothes, bags, and even ropes.

What’s the Longest Wall in the World?
The Great Wall of China is the longest wall on Earth. It stretches about 6,500 kilometers and is so wide in some places, up to 9 meters—that entire groups of soldiers could march across it.

What’s the Lightest Solid in the World?
Aerogel is a solid that’s 99.8% air. It’s super light, but strong enough to hold weight. It’s also great at keeping heat in or out. First made in 1931, NASA has improved it, and it’s now used in space, buildings, and even cosmetics.