There are a few ideas about the origin of the name funny bone. One is that the weird sensation can make you laugh and cry at the same time-kinda like when you're being tickled. Another is that the ulnar nerve runs through your humerus bone (the bone in the top part of your arm). LOL. Humorous! Okay, that's about as funny as hitting your funny bone-but it makes sense.
It is a human invention, a plant that does not exist naturally in the wild. It can only survive if planted and protected by humans. Scientists believe people living in central Mexico developed corn at least 7000 years ago. It was started from a wild grass called teosinte. Teosinte looked very different from our corn today. The kernels were small and were not placed close together like kernels on the husked ear of modern corn.
Columbus found corn growing in Cuba, and brought some back to Europe. Later, cultivated corn was found growing all the way from Canada to Chile, for it was the main food item of the Aztec, Maya, and Inca Indians. Within one generation of Columbusâs return, corn was growing all over Europe too. In England, the word corn was used for all grains, so the Pilgrims called maize âIndian corn.â This became âcornâ in America, but in England, corn still means âgrain.â What we call corn, the English call maize. The United States produces some seven billion bushels of corn a year, about half the worldâs supply.