1

Money Materials

Image: Jorge Salvador

We call them paper bills, but do they undergo the same process as any other paper? Naturally, they don’t. U.S. bills are mainly made of two materials: 75% of their composition is cotton and the 25% left is linen. Besides, they have randomly disbursed red and blue security fibers embedded in the paper.

This special blend is made by only one company in America and that is Crane & Co . The company, based in Massachusetts patented this special blend and it has been the sole provider of paper for currency since 1879.

2

Origin of the U.S. dollar symbol

Image: Paris Bilal

The dollar sign is a matter of debate. One line or two across a capital S, the symbol is today a worldwide sign for money, but where does it come from?

Even if there are several theories as to where the U.S. dollar symbol comes from, all of them agree that it was derived from the Spanish peso . When the time came, and the new nation needed its own currency, the basis was that of the Spanish coinage, which was the most common currency in the colonies before the country’s independence.

The adoption of the sign was made official in 1785, and today, the United States is not the only country that uses this symbol, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do too!

3

Who appears on the bills?

Image: AR

Having your face forever stamped on the little piece of paper that rules the world should be a milestone in your career, right? However, there were certain rules as to who qualifies to be granted this honor .

Probably, the most surprising, yet the most logical one is that no living person can be portrayed in American currency. Since the Founding Fathers considered it unpatriotic to be portrayed while alive, this was first a tradition and then made official in an Act of Congress in 1866 .

However, contrary to popular belief, this honor is not only reserved for presidents! Anyone who contributes to the nation can be portrayed.

4

Folding Papers

Image: Emilio Takas

Bills come and go all the time. We take them out of our pockets and put them in our purses only to take them out again a few hours later and give them to the shop assistant. For a life that busy, we can only hope the paper is tough enough , right?

Well, as a matter of fact, it is. Compared to regular paper, which can only be folded 400 times before it breaks, money paper can be folded up to 8,000 times before it breaks .

It's not that you’re going to try it out and see, but you can rest assured: Fold your bills away, they can handle it!

5

Damaged Goods

Image: Jp Valery

Even if they can be folded that many times, the life of bills is limited, not to mention accidents happen. Who hasn’t sent a bill to the washing machine by chance?

So, what happens when a bill is damaged? Well, at least 50% of it has to be clearly identifiable for the bank to replace it , otherwise, you’ll just lose your money. You don’t feel like folding them much now, right?

On the other hand, and mainly due to time damage, at least 70% of the new bills are used to replace old bills . These bills, once taken out of circulation are shredded and sent to companies that can recycle them!

6

Security Features

Image: Colin Watts

Counterfeiting has been a problem ever since paper money was created and statistics about which countries counterfeited most of the money are simply shocking. But we won’t get into that.

What we will say is that thanks to technological advancement, the U.S. bill is getting harder and harder to counterfeit. In modern bills, there are at least six security features which are: UV security ribbon, raised printing, microprinting, 3D security ribbon, color-shifting ink, and traditional watermarks. Do you pay attention to them?

7

U.S. Coins

Image: Kenny Eliason

Coin production in America is in charge of the U.S. Mint and there are four production facilities across the country. They are located in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point.

It is estimated that every year the Mint produces about 16 trillion coins which are valued at over $1.09 billion dollars. What is truly impressive is that Americans throw away an estimated 62 million dollars worth of coins every day!

They may not be worth much alone but don’t throw them away, all of them together can make you rich!

8

Green Ink

Image: maria pagan

Have you ever wondered why the U.S. dollar bills were green? It is not about design or aesthetics, even if we think they look pretty.

The decision to use green ink was a matter of security, in order to prevent counterfeiting. Back then, black and white ink made it easier to create photographic fakes. For that reason, green was the color of choice, and, when paper money was standardized in 1929, it had great acceptance due to the positive connotations of the color . Do you like it?

9

Andrew Jackson’s Take on Paper Money

Image: Elsa Olofsson

Every denomination has an important figure stamped on the front. In the case of the 20-dollar bill, Andrew Jackson was the chosen one.

Jackson was the seventh president of the United States and, even if it is not a rule that only presidents can be portrayed, his contributions gained him this honor.

Ironically, Jackson was not in favor of using paper money. For him, only gold and silver coins should have remained legal tender. After learning this, one can only assume he wouldn’t be so happy to be the face of the 20-dollar bill, right?

10

Facelifts and redesigns

Image: Kenny Eliason

One of the ways of keeping paper money safe and hard to counterfeit is by giving the bills new designs.

New faces were expected to appear in future bills, but, in the meantime, the changes always had to do with the proportions of the elements within each denomination. Bigger faces, rearrangement of the signatures, stuff like that.

Now, these changes and facelifts haven’t reached all the bills. 1-dollar bills haven’t been changed or redesigned ever since 1929. Why is that? Because it is not worth the trouble for criminals to counterfeit. One dollar won’t take them too far!

1

The Walker Method by Madame C. J. Walker

Image: TopSphere Media

It was Einstein who said that in the midst of every crisis lies an opportunity, and if he said so, it must have been for good reason. Or so thought Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, who turned her personal hair loss struggles into a revolutionary business.

Do you know how hair is different for everyone? Well, she created a specialized hair care system for Black women that included pomade, a specific brushing technique, and heated combs. She called it the "Walker Method," and it was all about creating confidence while taking care of hair. Walker’s products became wildly popular because she also empowered others by training saleswomen and teaching them entrepreneurial skills.

2

Portable fridge by Frederick Jones

Image: Eric Prouzet

Frederick Jones’ brilliance lies in his ability to solve real-world problems—like the need to transport perishable goods safely (or keeping our soda cold at the beach).

During World War II, he developed portable refrigeration units, developed during World War II, made it possible to transport food, blood, and medicine to soldiers on the frontlines. This invention didn’t just change the war effort; it revolutionized how we transport essentials today.

A self-taught engineer, Jones received over 60 patents, many related to refrigeration but also to X-ray machines and engines. His cooling technologies still affect our daily lives, from grocery stores to hospital supplies. With his work, Jones quietly transformed modern logistics. He showed us that staying cool under pressure can lead to incredible things!

3

Ironing board by Sarah Boone

Image: Eric Vö

We get so used to certain everyday objects, that we usually forget (or not even think about) who was the brilliant mind behind them. Take the ironing board, for example, have you ever wondered who made ironing a little easier?

Well, the creator was Sarah Boone, a dressmaker who improved the basic ironing board design.

In the late 1800s, ironing clothes meant laying them flat on a wooden plank which was, ultimately, awkward and inefficient. Boone improved it with a design of a curved, padded board that fit better inside dresses and allowed for easier pressing.

It was collapsible for storage, a feature we still appreciate today. Boone’s 1892 patent made her one of the first Black women in America to secure such recognition. Thanks to her, ironing boards became a must in every home and, ironing, an easier task for everyone!

4

Electronic television by Philo T. Farnsworth

Image: Muhammed ÖÇAL

Philo T. Farnsworth might not be a household name, but his creation certainly is. Farnsworth is responsible for the first electronic television. As a young boy, Farnsworth’s dream was to transmit images electronically, and in 1927, that is exactly what he did.

Life was not fair with him so, although much of his career was spent in legal battles defending his invention, his technology paved the way for modern broadcasting. Beyond television, Farnsworth also contributed to radar and nuclear fusion research. While RCA eventually marketed the first home televisions, Farnsworth’s work was the true foundation of it all. So, turn your modern TV on and cheer to Philo!

5

Super Soaker by Lonnie Johnson

Image: Michael Starkie

Not all inventions are created in a lab, some of them happen by accident, like Lonnie Johnson’s Super Soaker! While working on a heat pump for NASA, Johnson came up with a new idea in his bathroom. When a powerful jet of water shot out of his experimental device, he realized he had a potential toy in his hands.

After tweaking the design, he sold it to the Larami Corporation in 1989, and the Super Soaker became a backyard sensation. Ever since, millions of kids (and adults, don’t deny it!) have enjoyed epic water fights thanks to this fun twist of fate.

6

Kodak Moments: George Eastman’s Picture-Perfect Idea

Image: britt gaiser

Photography wasn’t always as simple as point-and-shoot, but George Eastman changed that forever. In the late 1800s, he invented the Kodak camera and made it affordable and easy for the average person to snap photos. His invention included a roll-holder device and a new type of flexible film, which made cameras lighter and more portable. Before Eastman, photography was a complicated process reserved for professionals, as you can imagine.

But by 1900, with the launch of the Brownie camera, every man and woman could document their everyday lives. Eastman’s vision of making photography "as convenient as the pencil", as he put it, became a reality. Now, every selfie we take can be traced back to his work.

7

Handy pencil sharpener by John Lee Love

Image: Detmold

Next time you sharpen a pencil, thank John Lee Love for making it a whole lot easier. This talented carpenter and inventor patented a portable pencil sharpener that was rather similar to the ones we use today.

Originally known as the "Love Sharpener," his design was simple, yet genius: The main benefit was it could fit in your hand and didn’t require much effort. Before his invention, sharpening a pencil meant dealing with large, bulky devices. He fully understood it’s the small details that make life easier and more effective so, his invention was, as we can see today, highly popular!

8

Sewing machine by Isaac Singer

Image: Claudio Schwarz

Don’t we all have a mother or grandmother who wouldn’t just put away their Singer machine? Well, the name Singer is nothing less than its creator’s last name. Isaac Singer’s sewing machine invention didn’t just change fashion, it changed the whole industry.

His design from 1850 included a presser foot and could sew 900 stitches per minute, a huge improvement compared to previous models. Singer’s machine was versatile too, able to sew curves, not just straight lines, making it easier to tackle a wide range of garments. Now, about the company, that was the result of his connection with Edward Clark, together they turned the invention into a household name.

9

Model T by Henry Ford

Image: Nadine E

Some creations are popular worldwide, but they started in our country and no article about our inventions would be complete without mentioning the assembly line by Henry Ford. Ford invented the car, that’s right, and thanks to it he put the whole country on wheels with the Model T. This car represented the first affordable vehicle for the everyday American.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ford’s biggest breakthrough came five years later, in 1913 with the moving assembly line, which cut production time and reduced the cost of manufacturing. This meant more Americans could own cars, changing life as we knew it. Before Ford, cars were luxury items for the rich, but the Model T and the way it was manufactured made personal transportation accessible.

10

Apple computer by Steve Jobs

Image: Tetsuya Tomomatsu

Sadly, Steve Jobs was not the inventor of the first computer ever. However, alongside Steve Wozniak, they brought computers out of laboratories and into our homes.

Up until this moment, computers were not an everyday object and even if that wasn’t until later, the path’s first steps were taken by this dynamic duo.

In 1976, they started Apple Computers in Jobs’ family garage. They created machines that were more affordable and user-friendly than anything else at the time. Their first major hit was the Apple II, which helped define the personal computer market.

Jobs left the company and came back a few years later but, the rest, from the Mac, to the iPod, to the iPad and every cellphone every year, is simply history!

1

Sleep routine

Image: Tina Witherspoon

Your body is a routine animal. If you eat at a certain time, you’ll probably feel hungry around that same time the next day. If you go to sleep at a certain hour, you’ll likely feel sleepy at that same hour the next day.

Use this to your advantage by sticking to a consistent sleep schedule , both for going to bed and for waking up. If you do this consistently, your body will embrace this routine, and it will start to come naturally.

2

Food and drinks

Image: Kelsey Chance

Avoid going to bed shortly after a large meal. Your digestive system will stay active for a long period of time potentially keeping you awake until it finishes processing the food and drink you've consumed.

The same goes for alcohol: while it might make you feel drowsy at first, it can disrupt your sleep later in the night.

3

Create a good sleeping environment

Image: Ainur Iman

A dark, quiet, and cool bedroom makes for a good sleeping environment . Your senses will continue capturing and processing any light or sound present in your bedroom, which is why it is important to minimize these distractions as much as possible.

4

Avoid long naps

Image: Tânia Mousinho

This one is quite straightforward: your body only requires a certain amount of sleep , and if you use up a large portion of it during the day, you may find yourself staying awake longer at night. While a short, 20-minute nap during the day can help restore your energy, a longer rest period will subtract from your nighttime sleep.

5

Physical activity

Image: Chander R

Regular physical activity and spending time outside every day are great ways to promote better sleep at night. However, it’s important to avoid physical exercise if you are too close to your bedtime to avoid overstimulation.

6

Avoid going to bed with worries

Image: Yohann LIBOT

Whatever worries you may have in your life, try to avoid thinking about them while you're trying to sleep. Stressful thoughts can delay sleep and create anxiety , leading to less-than-optimal rest. Instead, write down any issues you need to deal with and save them for the next day.

7

Light exposure

Image: Gabe

Spending time in natural sunlight or bright light during the day can help keep your circadian rhythm healthy and, in turn, improve your daytime energy and enhance the quality and duration of your sleep at night.

In contrast, avoid exposure to screens for at least half an hour before going to bed. Nighttime light exposure can have the opposite effect from daytime exposure because it reduces your levels of melatonin, which helps you relax and get deep sleep.

8

No alcohol before bedtime

Image: Vinicius amnx Amano

As mentioned earlier, drinking alcohol before bedtime is not recommended . Alcohol can cause or worsen symptoms of sleep apnea, increase snoring, and disrupt normal sleep patterns. It also alters nighttime melatonin production, which plays a key role in regulating your body’s circadian rhythm.

9

A good bed and pillow

Image: Andrew Neel

Poor-quality bedding can lead to increased lower back pain , making it harder to sleep well. Firm and medium-firm mattresses are available at different price ranges and can be a good choice for comfort and to avoid back pain.

Pillows should not cause neck pain, either. Find a pillow that isn’t too high and offers comfort for your sleep style. It will make for a better rest, and your body will thank you in the morning.

10

No liquids right before bed

Image: Steve Johnson

There’s nothing wrong with being hydrated during your sleep time, but having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom is not great. If this happens repeatedly, it can negatively affect your sleep quality and daytime energy.

To minimize interruptions, try reducing your fluid intake in the last hour before bed . This can help lower the chances of waking up during the night.

11

Good sleeping temperature

Image: Vin Jack

One way to guarantee uncomfortable sleep is a bedroom that’s either too cold or too hot . The ideal temperature can vary based on the individual, but most research suggests that sleeping in a cooler room—around 65 to 68 degrees—is optimal.

12

At least seven hours of sleep

Image: sq lim

Each age group requires a different amount of sleep each night, but for most people, seven hours is the bare minimum to ensure proper rest. If you have a specific wake-up time, calculate a target bedtime that allows for at least seven hours of sleep . Give yourself extra time before bed to wind down and prepare for sleep whenever possible.