Timeline of United States discoveries 4–6, 1942 and the decisive turning point of the Pacific War when the United States Navy defeated an attack by the Empire of Japan. First known as "Middlebrooks Islands", Midway Atoll was discovered by U.S. Captain N.C. Brooks aboard his ship, "Gambia", on July 8, 1859. 1859 Petroleum jelly Petroleum jelly, petrolatum or soft paraffin is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties. The raw material for petroleum jelly was discovered in 1859 by Robert Chesebrough, a chemist from New York. In 1870, this product was branded as Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. 1873
Grass jelly Grass jelly Grass jelly, or leaf jelly, is a jelly-like dessert eaten in Malaysia, Indonesia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. It is made using the "Platostoma palustre" plant (a member of the mint family) and has a mild, slightly bitter taste. It is served chilled, with other toppings such as fruit, or in bubble tea or other drinks. Outside Asia, it is sold in Asian supermarkets. Grass jelly is made by boiling the aged and slightly oxidized stalks and leaves of "Platostoma palustre" ("Mesona chinensis") with potassium carbonate for several hours with a little starch and