1. What Is a Ruby? A ruby is a precious gemstone that is famous for its gorgeous, deep red color and sparkling shine.

2. Made of the Same Stuff as Sapphires: Rubies and sapphires are actually close cousins! They are both made from a mineral called corundum, but chromium is what gives rubies their fiery red color.

3. The King of Gems: Ancient people loved rubies so much that they called them the "King of Gems" and believed they held the power of life because their color looked like glowing fire or blood.

4. July's Special Birthstone: Rubies are the official birthstone for the month of July, making them a very popular and special birthday gift for summer babies!

5. Harder Than Almost Anything: Diamonds are the hardest things on Earth, but rubies are a close second on the hardness scale, which means they are tough and rarely scratch.

6. Super Expensive Pigeons' Blood: The rarest and most valuable rubies in the world have a very specific, bright red color that gem experts poeticly call "pigeon's blood."

7. Used in Real Lasers: Because of how they bounce and focus light, synthetic (man-made) rubies were actually used in some of the very first lasers ever invented!