"Drinking tubes" have been around along time

Image 1. Bendy straws make it easier to share a milkshake! The bendy straw was invented by Joseph B. Friedman, who got the

idea after watching his daughter try to drink a milkshake through a straight straw. Photo from Getty.

Straws have been around for a long time. When did people first start using these "drinking

tubes"? No one knows for sure. But an old tomb has some clues.

The tomb is 5,000 years old. On the outside is a seal. It has a picture of two men drinking. They

are drinking through a straw.

Inside the tomb, scientists found a golden tube. It was decorated with stones. Some believe it

was used as a straw. This tube is just one example of an early straw. Others can be found from

all around the world.

Later, people used ryegrass straws. These were made of real ryegrass. They were very popular.

But they were not perfect. Ryegrass straws often broke down in liquid.

By 99 Percent Invisible, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.21.18

Word Count 493

Level 360L

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Paper Tubes

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One night, Marvin Chester Stone was sipping a drink. His straw started to fall apart. Mr. Stone

was an inventor. He had an idea. He wrapped a strip of paper around a pencil. Then he glued it

together. The paper formed a tube.

Later, Mr. Stone coated the straw with wax. That made it even stronger. Mr. Stone's new straw

was better than the old one. Soon, he was selling his straws to the public.

About 50 years later, another man had an idea. His name was Joseph B. Friedman. One day, he

bought his daughter a milkshake. Mr. Friedman noticed something. His daughter was struggling

with reaching the straw. He wondered if he could improve it.

Bendy Straws

Mr. Friedman started to experiment. First, he put a screw inside a straw. Then he tightened the

screw. This made ridges. Now the straw could bend! That made it easier to drink through. It was

the first bendable straw. Mr. Friedman started selling his new straw. His first customers were

hospitals. Bendy straws were great for patients who could not sit up in bed.

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Not Perfect

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But the story does not end there. Today, few people use paper straws. Most use plastic straws

instead. These straws are made to be thrown out. Unfortunately, they create a lot of waste. It

takes a very long time to break down. So straws are not perfect. They could still be improved

today.

California is trying to help. The state has made new laws. They stop restaurants from just giving

out straws. A customer can still get one. But they have to ask for it first. This will keep some

people from using straws. And that will mean a little less plastic waste.

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