Paper

materials · plants · invention

Made from trees. Paper comes from wood fibers that are broken down into a soupy pulp using water and chemicals. Once the fibers are mixed together in this slushy mixture, they're pressed and dried to create the paper you use for homework and drawing.

Strong and flexible. Even though paper feels light and thin, it's actually quite strong because all those tiny plant fibers are matted together like a cozy blanket. Different types of paper can be thick and stiff or thin and crinkly, depending on how tightly the fibers are packed.

Comes in many types. Not all paper is the same. Some paper is smooth and glossy for printing photos, some is thick and bumpy for drawing, and some is super thin for tissue. Each type uses different fibers and gets different coatings to do its special job.

Can be recycled. One of the coolest things about paper is that you can recycle it and turn it back into pulp to make brand new paper. This means the same fibers can be used over and over again instead of always needing new trees.

An ancient invention. People have been making paper for thousands of years, starting in China where they figured out how to turn plant fibers into writing sheets. This invention changed the world by making it possible for lots of people to write things down and share ideas.