Balloons are an extra bundle of cheerfulness that is added to every celebration. They are the secret ingredient that makes the ambiance more joyful. No matter what type of celebrations we have, balloons are a must on the list. It isn’t easy to believe that a fascinating invention has existed among us for a few decades. Balloons bring color to any celebration and are specialized in uplifting the mood at any party or special occasion. We have been all aware of balloons since our existence, and surprisingly it also has a great history. To know more about the balloon, stay tuned to this article.
Interesting Facts about Balloons
Ancient Balloons: Chinese invented ancient balloons around 220 AD. These are lanterns that are used to send signals during a military operation. They have a small opening at the base where a small fire is lit. The smoke coming from the fire is used to lift the lantern and make it float in the air.
Hot air balloons: The rubber balloons are a miniature version of big hot air balloons. The hot air balloons were first launched by a renowned scientist Pilatre De Rosier in 1783. These balloons were big enough to carry passengers. But it is worthwhile to note that the first passengers were not humans; they were sheep, ducks, and a rooster.
Foil balloons: It was a different type of balloon made up of foil in the 70s. These were costly as these balloons hold gas inside them a little longer.
Balloons in medicine: You must be astonished to know that balloons were used in medicine. There is a surgical procedure known as angioplasty that uses tiny balloons. These balloons are inserted into a blocked blood vessel then inflated to stretch the wall and clear up the buildup.
First passengers to travel on a balloon: Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier were the first human passengers who attempted to ride on a balloon. The balloon was first released from Paris, flew in the air for around 20 minutes, and did not crash. This is the first successful ride of humans in balloons. Later, Jean Pierre Blancher and his copilot John Jefferies created a huge benchmark. They were the first to fly over the English Channel successfully in balloons.
Balloon Dueling: It is one of the bizarre facts about balloons. Two persons, namely De Grandpre and Le Pique, fought over hot air balloons over a girl. Unfortunately, Le Pique was shot and died due to a balloon crash.
Balloons in Wars: It is quite surprising for us to believe that a simple balloon also played a role in a ferocious war. Balloons were used as observers in war. The great military leader Napoleon used observation balloons in his battle and World War I to check on the battlefield.
Balloons in the field of science: Once they were discovered, they occupied a crucial space in research and science. One of the notable utilities of balloons was found out by Russian Space Investigation in 1983. They shocked the world by using helium balloons to transport atmospheric measuring instruments to Venus.
Iconic Popping sound: You must have heard the sound of balloons popping. This sound comes due to the bursting of balloons because the air present inside the balloon is at higher pressure than that of the environment. The air expands at high speed, which creates a banging sound wave.
Highest altitude record: On October 14, 2012, Felix Baumgartner made an altitude record of 39.045 km in a gas balloon flight.
Biodegradable Balloons: Nowadays, there is an increasing concern about our environment due to elevating pollution rates. But the balloons we use are made of latex obtained from a rubber tree. This latex makes the balloon biodegradable. Researchers said that they would decompose within 6 months to one year.
Noisy Balloons: Hot air balloons produce an irritating noise when the burner is on. But when it is off, the balloon flows in the direction of the wind, and the whole flight becomes noiseless.
Balloons as art: People always say that art is not restricted to a drawing or painting. Art can be any creation of humans from his skill and imagination. Recently balloon art has also made a stable place in the artistic world. Balloon art is the special modeling of balloons in any shape from the creator’s imagination. These balloons are popularly called party balloons, twisting balloons, or pencil balloons.
Advertisement: Balloons have become a multipurpose material. Even in the field of advertisement, balloons have shown noteworthy performance. Mostly, custom-built screen printers are used on balloons to print the logo and design of the company.
Artists: The artists who specialize in shaping round balloons are called stackers. Those who specialize in shaping pencil balloons are called twisters.
Décor: Balloons are often regarded as an excellent décor material. The most popular balloon décor are arches, columns, centerpieces, balloon drops, sculptures, and balloon bouquets.
Balloon drops: Among the other balloon decorative stuff, balloon drops are the most loved by people. They are popular in New year celebrations, birthday parties, other parties, political rallies, and conventions. Here, a plastic bag or net is filled up with air-filled balloons kept suspended from a fixed height. When the net is loosened, all the balloons fall on the target below.
Bizarre records made on balloons: Andrew Dahl is one of the weirdest records made on balloons. He inflated 23 balloons with his nose in 3 minutes, settling his name in the world record. After knowing about this, it is not surprising that Zhang Xijang from Guangzhou knows how to inflate balloons with his ears.
Hydrogen and helium in balloons: The first hydrogen is used as a filler in balloons, but the balloons were able to fly thanks to it. In 1922, a man wanted to show a balloon trick, but unfortunately, he blew up the whole balloon show. So later, it was proposed to use helium instead of hydrogen.
Balloons in baking: From the above surprising facts, it is clear that balloons have tried their luck in different fields and are well known to create a notable space in those fields.
The psychology behind balloons: When people are asked about balloons, the first thing that comes into their mind is parties and celebrations. But according to psychology, there is a positive influence of balloons on humans. A circle or a roundish figure is associated with relaxation and fun. They also mean equalization and liberation. You must have heard of phrases like a family circle, circle of friends, or inner circle that bring color and joy to your life.
The popularity of latex balloons: ”Latex balloons” demand skyrocketed due to their biodegradable nature. Therefore, around one billion latex balloons are made per year.
Who invented the Balloon, and how was the balloon invented ?
The world-famous scientist Michael Faraday discovered the rubber balloons we are using today. It was kind of an accidental invention. He filled one of his rubber bags with gas for research purposes. At that time, rubber bags were made up of two rubber sheets. The edges of the sheets were pressed, which resulted in them sticking to each other. He then used flour as a lining to the rubber bag to prevent them from sticking together. When he filled the bag with gas, he discovered that the bags became elastic and were expanding. After a year, new toy balloons came out.
Balloons have become a center of attraction for any event or festivity. They brighten the atmosphere of any occasion. Without it, a party or any celebration is incomplete. Kids, as well as adults, are completely captivated by them. Balloons give a boost to people’s happiness.
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