The Drinking Straw

What is one of the most important yet over looked inventions ever? The Straw.
Rarely do I ever notice such an important commodity, but just like the Post It Note I’ve sometimes wondered, “Man, I wish I would have thought of that!”
The straw as we basically know it today was invented in 1888 by Marvin Stone. The earliest drinking straws were hollow stems of grass, literally made of straw. (Hence the name.) Now, a straw is a thin tube of plastic that comes in many colors and shapes. The basic straw is a straight plastic tube about 8-inches long and is normally clear or white. The “crazy” straw is made of hard plastic and has lots of twists and turns at the top. When liquid is sucked through the straw, it quickly flows up through the winding path, for the drinker’s entertainment. The “bendy straw” invented in 1937 is a bendable straw that has an accordion-like hinge near the top for extra convenience. A straw works when the muscular action of the mouth reduces the air pressure in the mouth, whereupon atmospheric pressure forces the drink up the straw. One interesting advantage of using a straw when drinking besides convenience is the reduction of tooth decay. Using a straw reduces the liquid contact with teeth so you when you drink your sugary Dr. Pepper the straw reduces your risk of getting cavities.