Amazing Facts from Bridges to the Moon

Did you know which “brick” made phone calls? The very first mobile phone, made by Motorola, was so big and heavy that people called it “the brick.” It may have been clunky, but back then, it was an amazing new invention and people were excited to take it everywhere!

Did you know what the biggest diamond in the world is? It’s called the Cullinan Diamond, or the “Star of Africa.” When it was first found, it weighed over 3,000 carats, that’s more than 600 grams! Even after it was polished, it stayed the largest cut diamond ever, at 530 carats.

Did you know some bridges connect two continents? In Turkey, there are two special bridges that stretch across the Bosphorus Strait, linking Europe and Asia. These bridges are the only ones in the world that connect two continents!

Did you know there's a mammal with a duckbill? The platypus is a funny-looking animal that lives in Australia. It’s a mammal, but it lays eggs like a bird and has a bill like a duck!

Did you know where the deepest lake in the world is? It’s called Lake Baikal, and it’s in southern Siberia. It’s about 1,600 meters deep, that’s really far down! It’s also the world’s largest supply of fresh surface water.

Did you know the first spacecraft to reach the moon was Russian? In 1959, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 crash-landed on the moon. It didn’t have people inside, but it was a big moment in history. Ten years later, the U.S. sent the first astronauts to walk on the moon.

Did you know the first paved roads were made in Britain? A man named John McAdam figured out how to make smoother roads using asphalt. These roads started in Bristol County and helped the world move forward literally! Even horses lived longer because of them.