Sponge (tool) facts for kids
A sponge is a handy tool we use for cleaning and washing things. It's made from a special material that has lots of tiny holes. When you rub a sponge on a dirty surface, it helps to lift and remove the dirt.
Long ago, people only used natural sponges. But today, we also have artificial sponges that are made in factories.
Here are some different types of sponges:
-
An artificial sponge, often made from polyurethane.
-
A close-up look at an artificial sponge.
-
A natural sponge. This is actually the skeleton of a sea sponge (an animal) from the Demosponges group.
Contents
Natural Sponges for Cleaning
Most natural sponges used for cleaning today come from the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean Sea. Places like Izmir in Turkey and Tripolis in Greece are big markets where natural sponges are bought and sold.
Special Qualities of Natural Sponges
Natural sponges can be more than just cleaning tools. They have some interesting features!
Sponges and Medicine
Some sponges, or the tiny living things that live inside them, can produce special chemicals. These chemicals might help fight off bacteria and other germs. Scientists are studying these compounds to see if they could be used to make new medicines.
Dolphins Using Sponges
Did you know that some Bottlenose dolphins use sponges as tools? This amazing behavior has been seen in Shark Bay in Western Australia. The dolphins pick up live sponges from the seafloor and use them to protect their noses while they search for food in the sand. It's thought that adult dolphins teach this trick to their young. The only other sea mammals known to use tools are Sea otters.
Images for kids
-
A sponge made from wood fiber, often combined with a scouring pad.
-
Bacteria can grow on kitchen sponges if they are not cleaned properly.
-
A close-up photo showing all the tiny holes in a synthetic cleaning sponge.
-
Natural sponges for sale in Crete, Greece.
-
A luffa sponge, made from a plant. Its rough texture is good for scrubbing skin.
-
A section of a Luffa aegyptiaca sponge, magnified 100 times.
-
A close-up of the openings in a synthetic sponge.
-
A souvenir made from an artificial sponge.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Esponja de baño para niños
