In 1752 the French Academy of Sciences reported that the vegetable gum caoutchouc could be used to erase black lead markings. English chemist Joseph Priestley suggested that since it rubs out marks, it should be called “rubber,” and the name stuck.

BRITANNICA.COM

Art History: The Origins of 7 of Your Favorite Art Supplies

Art is one of humanity’s oldest pastimes (aside from...you know, that other one). But how different is art today from art a thousand years ago? Two thousand? Five thousand? When exactly did the supplies you’re using for your lecture hall or boardroom doodles come into play? Read on to find out