Atlantic Trivia (n.): that quiz which is too easy when one gets three of three correct and too difficult when one correctly answers any fewer.
Atlantic Trivia
What ninth-century Chinese invention was at first employed primarily for fireworks rather than in the capacity that would change the world centuries later?
Its main ingredient is saltpeter.
And by the way, did you know—also a tidbit from Ross’s article—that the Chinese used their newfangled invention of paper only for packing and padding in the early days? It was not used for the dissemination of knowledge until some time later.
Still, the Chinese used paper for writing before any other society did, and they were pioneers in another of its uses too: TP. The first recorded use of toilet paper comes from the scholar Yan Zhitui in 589 C.E.: “Paper on which there are quotations or commentaries from the Five Classics or the names of sages, I dare not use for toilet purposes.” Implicit here is that less heady stuff was fair game.
Have a great weekend!
Find previous questions here, and to get Atlantic Trivia in your inbox every day,sign up for The Atlantic Daily. If you think up a question yourself, send it my way via [email protected].
![China has not publicly taken a side in the West Asia conflict [File]](https://charm-retirement.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1774589261_1x1_spacer.png){kind=small}
