Mary Beth Wood, age 13, of Casper, Wyo., for her question:

WHO MADE THE FIRST FAN?

Ancient Assyrians and Egyptians learned they could make themselves feel cooler on hot days by waving a palm leaf through the air and creating an artificial breeze.

Historians tell us the folded fan was invented in Japan about A.D. 700. It is believed that the inventor made the fan after noticing the way in which a bat folds its wings.

Japanese artists painted fans with bright colors and the finished products were then used in ceremonial dances.

The Chinese in early days also used the folding fan. The idea traveled to Portugal in the 1500s. During the reign of Louis XV of France, both men and women carried dainty folding fans.

The electric fan has now largely replaced the hand held fan.