Learning From the World: Monopolies, X-Rays, and a Brilliant Bird

What Is a Monopoly?

You’ve probably played the board game Monopoly but did you ever wonder what the word actually means? In economics, a monopoly is when one person, business, or organization has full control over a certain product or service. That means there’s no competition. No one else is offering the same thing, so they can set whatever prices they want.

When there’s a monopoly, it usually leads to higher prices and lower quality, since customers don’t have other choices. That’s why many governments around the world have laws that prevent monopolies or work to break them up. Healthy competition usually helps everyone and it keeps prices fair and encourages better products. So next time you pass "GO" in the game, you’ll know the real meaning behind the name!

What Did Wilhelm Röntgen Discover?

In 1895, a German physicist named Wilhelm Röntgen made a discovery that changed the world. While doing experiments, he found a strange kind of invisible energy that could pass through most materials including human skin. He called them X-rays because he didn’t yet know what they were. But he quickly realized how useful they could be.

Röntgen kept researching and developed ways to capture these rays in images, showing bones inside the body. His discovery helped create modern medical imaging, making it possible to diagnose broken bones and many other health issues without surgery. In 1901, he received the very first Nobel Prize in Physics for this amazing breakthrough.

Today, many people still call them “Röntgen rays” in his honor.

Which Bird of Prey Is the Most Colorful?

When we think of birds of prey, the ones that hunt for food, we usually imagine dark colors: browns, greys, blacks. But there’s one bird that’s full of vibrant color: the king vulture.

This striking bird has bright red, orange, black, white, chestnut, and even blue on its head and neck. It’s part of the condor family, known as the “New World vultures,” which live in North, Central, and South America. Most vultures in this family have duller shades, but the king vulture stands out with its beautiful patterns and colorful face.

Even in nature, Hashem fills the world with endless beauty and variety. From powerful predators to healing discoveries, every detail in creation teaches us something deeper—if we take the time to look.