Discover the Top 8 Surprising and Entertaining Facts About Oil You Never Knew!

1. Whale Oil Lamps

Before Moby Dick was just a whale of a tale: Whale oil was the go-to fuel for lamps in the 18th and 19th centuries, causing overhunting and near extinction of many whale species, leading to the search for alternatives like kerosene and camphine from lumber products which eventually paved the way for our current reliance on fossil fuels and exploitation of natural resources.
Source => huntington.org

2. Dynamite's Nobel Origins

If dynamite is the life of the party, then its inventor, Alfred Nobel, was the party planner extraordinaire: He found out that mixing nitroglycerin with diatomaceous earth not only turned the explosive liquid into a paste perfect for drilling, but also made it much safer to handle and stabilize, transforming it into the go-to tool for construction, demolition, and mining industries.
Source => gangalib.org

Did you know fossil fuels, also known as hydrocarbons, are actually derived from ancient plants and animals that were experts at capturing the sun's energy? Discover how these prehistoric powerhouses play a role in today's climate change.

=> Fun Facts about Fossil-Fuels

3. Castor Oil's Hair Tales

Next time you're having a bad hair day, consider the oily equivalent of a superhero cape: castor oil to the rescue! Are we saying it can turn your flowing locks into Rapunzel's mane? Alas, no: Despite popular belief, castor oil doesn't directly promote hair growth, but it does keep your scalp healthy with its anti-inflammatory properties, adds shine, and protects your tresses from environmental damage. Take that, frizz!
Source => prevention.com

4. Cracking Hydrocarbon Humor

Who says you can't crack a good oil joke? Perhaps you'd be more amused by the cracking of hydrocarbons: In 1937, Eugene Houdry invented catalytic cracking, a process that utilized catalysts to create chemical reactions, ultimately producing more gasoline and replacing thermal cracking in gasoline production.
Source => thoughtco.com

5. Oil's Prehistoric Soap Opera

Did you know that oil's birth story rivals a steamy prehistoric soap opera, complete with dramatic deaths, entwining layers of sediments, and the perfect pressure-cooker conditions? Brace yourself for the plot twist: Most oil deposits were formed in the Mesozoic age, when dead plankton mixed with organic-rich mud in warm, shallow oceans, eventually transforming into kerogen. When kerogen experiences temperatures between 90°C and 160°C, it produces oil and natural gas, which rise through rock pores and are sealed in by thick, impermeable layers – all thanks to geological changes bringing them closer to our reach.
Source => energyeducation.ca

6. Crude Oil Cures of the Past

Who needs an oily massage when you can have an ancient oil change: Persians and Greeks once believed crude oil possessed medicinal properties, using it to treat ailments such as muscle soreness, joint pain, and skin diseases, with the Persians even swearing by its anti-inflammatory powers!
Source => progasllc.com

7. Olive Oil: Ancient Swiss Army Knife

Olive oil: the ancient world's Swiss Army knife, miraculous elixir, and one slippery character! From secretly scenting Zeus's beard to softening Hercules's favorite pair of sandals, it's been the MVP of Mediterranean life for centuries: In fact, Hippocrates listed 60 different ailments that could be treated with olive oil and it was used for purposes like creating scent-filled ointments, tanning leather, and medicine – no wonder those wise Greeks dubbed it "liquid gold"!
Source => oldtownolive.com

8. Ancient Lube: Slippery Greeks & Romans

Slippery when wet, rather unmistakably so: The ancient Greeks and Romans were no strangers to the art of lathering up, utilizing the trusty olive oil as their go-to personal lubricant. Good news, however, for those tempted by the alluring sheen of the green - today's experts advise against following in their slick footsteps, as olive oil can lead to irritation and infections when used for carnal purposes.
Source => latina.com