From Sleeping Horses to Homemade Soda: Surprising Facts

1. Did You Know Horses Sleep Standing Up?
Most of the time, horses sleep while standing. They have a special way of "locking" their knees, which lets them rest without falling over. This keeps their legs steady like strong posts. Horses switch the lock between front and back legs so each leg gets a chance to relax.

2. Ever Wonder How Homemade Soda Was Made?
In the early days of Israel, many homes had a gadget called a siphon. It used a small canister of carbon dioxide to turn plain water into bubbly soda. It was a household favorite, though today it’s mostly been replaced by newer machines or store-bought soda.

3. What's the Most Expensive Spice in the World?
It’s saffron. It’s so expensive because it’s rare and takes a lot of work to make. To collect just one kilogram, workers spend around 80 hours! Saffron comes from the tiny red threads inside crocus flowers and is also known for its health benefits.

4. Did You Know Buttons Used to Be Made from Snails?
Before plastic was common, people made buttons from snail shells, specifically the turban snail. These shiny shells were brought in from the southern Red Sea and turned into buttons.

5. Why Is America Called America?
Christopher Columbus sailed west hoping to reach Asia but landed in what he thought was India. A few years later, a merchant named Amerigo Vespucci visited the same area and realized it was actually a brand-new continent. That’s why the land was named after him, America.

6. Which Bird Is the Best at Imitating Sounds?
The lyrebird from Australia is amazing at copying sounds. It can mimic other birds but also drills, hammers, camera clicks, car alarms, and even people’s voices!

7. How Do Fruits Turn Into Jam?
Many fruits have something called pectin, which works like gelatin. When you cook fruit with sugar and water, the pectin helps it become jam. If a fruit doesn’t have much pectin, you can add some powder to help it set. That way, you can make jam from almost any fruit or even some vegetables!