Umbrella

inventions · practical · weather protection

Born for shade. Umbrellas started in warm countries where people needed protection from the hot sun, not rain. Over time, people realized they worked great for rain too, and now we use them for both.

Ribs hold it up. The umbrella's canopy is stretched over wooden or metal ribs that fan out from a central pole. These ribs work like a skeleton, giving the umbrella its shape and strength.

Different names worldwide. Some countries use the word parasol for sun protection and parapluie for rain protection. There's even a special umbrella called an en-tout-cas that works really well for both sun and rain.

Silver coating trick. Modern umbrellas often have a silver inner lining that bounces back the sun's rays and protects you from ultraviolet rays that can harm your skin. The black outside looks sleek while the silver inside does the hard work.

Water resistant design. Today's best umbrellas are treated to be water-resistant, meaning water beads up and rolls right off instead of soaking through the fabric.