Oil

What do gasoline, rubber bands, dishwashing soap, sidewalks, and bug spray have in common? That’s right – oil is used in all of them. These cool facts and more will get kids thinking about how oil really makes the world go round. Starting with how oil is formed over millions of years, deep in the Earth, this issue then investigates oil’s role throughout history – including its use as a sealant for mummies and medicine for indigestion. Find out why oil is called “black gold,” and how one form of it – kerosene – almost brought the whaling industry to a standstill in the 19th century.

Dig deep into how oil is found – whether on land using oil rigs, or at sea via oil platforms that drill into the ocean’s bed. Ever wonder what happens to oil once it’s found? Follow it into giant supertankers – which can be longer than four football fields – and then into the Acme Refinery, where diagrams show the various processes that produce gas oil, fuel oil, petrochemicals used in plastic, lubricants, paraffin, and asphalt. What happens when an exploding ship or rig floods the sea with oil? For kids interested in the environment, a section on how oil spills damage the environment and kill birds, fish, and wildlife is sure to lead into discussions about how humans should reduce their dependence on oil to ensure a better future for all.

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