But it wasn't until the 17th century that attempts were made to harness the power exhibited by Heron's aeolipile for practical purposes. In the first century A.D., Hero of Alexandria invented the aeolipile, or primitive steam turbine. Credit: Public domain.
Borax is a good natural choice for cleaning mold. It is toxic if you swallow it, but otherwise, it does not emit dangerous fumes or chemicals when you use it. What makes it great to use on mold is that it disinfects the surfaces it cleans. You mix borax with water in a one cup to one gallon ratio.
While borax can kill fleas, never use it on your pup -- it's toxic to him. Sodium borate, more commonly known as borax, is a naturally occurring mineral salt of boric acid. This white, powdery substance frequently serves in detergents and pest control products. Because of its insecticidal properties, some people sprinkle borax around their homes to kill pests like fleas and roaches.