7 Surprising Facts About Nature, History, and Inventions

• Did you know that toilet paper is made from recycled paper?
Long ago, people used leaves or plain paper for hygiene. In 1890, the toilet paper roll we know today was invented. It’s still made from recycled paper! The process includes pressing the paper into a pulp, flattening it, rolling it, cutting it into pieces, and then sending it out to stores.

• Did you know which plant Alexander the Great gave his soldiers?
It’s a plant called rough licorice. It contains a natural sweetener called glycyrrhizin, what we call licorice. Besides tasting sweet, it helps the body hold onto water, which was very useful for long marches in dry places.

• Did you know why Northern Europe is colder than the South?
It’s because of the Alps, a mountain range that stretches from Austria to France. These high mountains block the cold winds from reaching Southern Europe, so places in the South stay warmer than the North.

• Did you know how mineral water is made?
Actually, it’s not man-made at all. Hashem creates it naturally in mountain springs. Rainwater soaks into the earth, picking up minerals along the way. That water flows into springs, and people collect, filter, and bottle it—ready to drink.

• Did you know what happened in the “Miracle on the Hudson”?
In January 2009, a plane took off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Just minutes later, birds flew into the engines and stopped them. The pilot chose not to return to the airport and instead landed the plane right on the Hudson River. It worked and all 155 people survived. That brave landing became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

• Did you know who invented the telescope?
That’s a bit of a mystery. Some say Galileo Galilei, and others say it was a Dutchman named Hans Lippershey. Lippershey may have made a playful version first, but Galileo saw its true potential and improved it so people could use it to look at the stars.

• Did you know which animal inspires architects?
Termites! Their homes are built with a maze of rooms and even natural air conditioning. Architects study termite mounds to learn how to design buildings in smart, energy-saving ways.