Mary Anning

40

‘She sells seashells by the seashore’ is about a real person. Mary Anning was an 1800s English woman from a poor family who dug up fossils on the beach and sold them to make money. She made many important scientific discoveries and her inspirational life inspired a song that eventually became a famous tongue twister.

Corn Sweat

42

Corn plants release water into the air in a process called “corn sweat” which can raise humidity levels by up to 10%. One Acre of corn can release 3,000-4,000 gallons of water per day.

In The Limelight

57

Before electricity, theaters would use heated calcium oxide (commonly known as quicklime), to illuminate their stages. This is where the phrase “in the limelight” comes from.

Perfume Pulse Points

58

The reason perfume is applied to necks and wrists, with behind the knees being the most ideal location, is because these are pulse points that warm the perfume and release fragrance continuously.

Methuselah Tree

56

The world’s oldest living tree is a Bristlecone Pine named Methuselah. It’s located in California and is an estimated 4,852 years old.

Living Bridges

56

There is a tribe in India that has passed down for generations the art of manipulating tree roots to create a system of living bridges.

The Albatross

57

The Albatross is a large bird that can go years without landing. They don’t touch the ground for the first six years of life but soar continuously over the ocean.

Leo Loved Animals

117

Leonardo da Vinci loved animals. He would often buy animals in cages just so he could set them free.