Book 26, Question 4 · Video
How did a weak glue become sticky notes?
In 1968, a scientist named Spencer Silver at 3M tried to make a super-strong glue but made one that barely stuck. For years nobody knew what to do with it. Then a coworker, Art Fry, was annoyed when the paper bookmarks in his song book kept falling out. He used the weak glue to make bookmarks that stuck and peeled off cleanly. Sticky notes were born.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How did a weak glue become sticky notes?
The Big Idea
Sticky notes are everywhere! But they came from a glue that didn't work well. Let's find out how.
Weak Glue
Step one: Weak Glue. In 1968, scientist Spencer Silver at 3M tried to make a super-strong glue. Instead, he made one that barely stuck.
Waiting
Step two: Waiting. For years, nobody knew what to do with it. The weak glue sat on the shelf.
Bookmarks
Step three: Bookmarks. A coworker, Art Fry, was annoyed when the paper bookmarks in his song book kept falling out. He used the weak glue to make bookmarks that stuck and peeled off cleanly, and sticky notes were born.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! The glue is gentle. It's on paper. It sticks again and again. It comes in many colors.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Sticky notes are sold in dozens of colors. Two people teamed up. It took years to find a use. Weak can be useful.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Make a sticky note from a strip of paper. Add a thin line of washable school glue on one edge. Let it dry a little. Does it stick? Does it peel off cleanly?
Outro
A weak glue became sticky notes when Art Fry used Spencer Silver's barely sticky glue to make bookmarks that stuck and peeled off cleanly. A failure found the perfect job! Science is amazing! The world is full of surprises. Keep asking big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!