X-Rays, Microwaves, and the World’s Biggest Insect

What Is an X-Ray?

Have you ever fallen and hurt your arm or leg? Hopefully not, but if you did, you may have heard a doctor say you need an X-ray. So what is it, and how does it help?

X-rays are a special kind of light that can pass through many things but not through hard stuff like bones. That’s why when you take an X-ray, it shows your bones clearly. Doctors use it to check for broken bones, tooth problems, objects inside the body, and sometimes even signs of infection.

How Was the Microwave Invented?

About 80 years ago, a scientist named Percy Spencer was working in a lab that made radar machines. One day, he noticed something strange, the chocolate in his pocket had melted! He was standing near a device called a magnetron, which gives off special waves of energy.

He started testing other things such as frozen meat, eggs, and popcorn. The egg exploded, the meat defrosted, and the popcorn popped! That gave him an idea: to build a small box that could safely hold those energy waves. And that’s how the first microwave oven was created.

What Is the World’s Largest Insect?

The biggest insect in the world is called the Giant Weta. It can grow up to 17 centimeters long, bigger than some birds and it weighs about as much as three small mice!

The Giant Weta lives on an island in New Zealand where it’s safe from animals that might eat it. It spends its days quietly and calmly in its natural home.