Did You Know? Folding Bridges and Other Wonders

Which Instrument Came Before the Guitar?
Before the classical guitar, there was the lute. It came from the Arabic oud, and even its name comes from that word. While the oud is played with a pick and plays one note at a time, the lute was played with fingers and could play chords.

How Do We Make Sound?
Inside your throat, you have two muscles called vocal cords. When you speak or sing, the cords move close together. Air from your lungs passes through and makes the cords vibrate, which creates sound.

Can Buildings Really Rotate?
Not fully but some can move! Thanks to new technology, some buildings are designed to slowly turn toward the sun or change direction. There’s a rotating villa in Los Angeles and a building in Brazil where each floor can turn on its own. Plans for more rotating buildings exist in places like Dubai and Moscow.

How Do Bees Make Wax?
Bees make wax from a tiny gland on the side of their body. They use it to build the honeycombs in their hives. After honey is taken out, the leftover wax can be used to make candles, healing creams, and even makeup.

Is There Really a Folding Bridge?
Yes! In London, there’s a special bridge called the Paddington Bridge, also known as the "Acrobatic Bridge." It opens and closes at certain times. When it’s closed, it folds up like a piece of modern art in the shape of an octagon.

Which Fish Has the Most Babies?
The sunfish also called “mola mola” can give birth to an amazing number of babies: up to 300 million at once! It looks very unusual and is one of the ocean’s most unique fish.

What’s the Smallest Snake in the World?
It’s a tiny snake called Leptotyphlops carlae. It grows to just about 10 centimeters long, about the length of a finger and is as thin as a spaghetti noodle. This little snake lives on the island of Barbados.