The Secret History of Your Kitchen Sponge

Your kitchen sponge is basically a skeleton. That colorful scrubber used to be

a living sea creature called a sea sponge. Ancient Greeks and Romans dove underwater

to grab these squishy animals for bathing. The synthetic version was invented during

World War Two when natural sponges became scarce. Scientists created the artificial alternative from

cellulose and chemicals, mimicking the real thing. You are essentially using a lab-made

replica of an ancient ocean animal's corpse. This innocent tool connects your kitchen

to prehistoric seas and wartime innovation.