We’ve likely all heard of latex, the rubbery material used to make surgical gloves, balloons, swim caps, and a host of other products. But did you ever wonder where this precursor for modern plastics came from, and more importantly, its vital role in global communication?

In 1842, Dr. William Montgomerie was shown the strange substance by his gardener in Singapore. It came from a tree called the Gutta Percha and it would soon blow Victorian minds.

Watch the video to find out about the tree that changed the world!