Science is so much cooler than baking soda volcanoes and making slime (although slime is undeniably fun!). The planet and the universe is full of amazing and fascinating things. The human body alone is remarkable. So is nature, space, and computing. I could’ve written an endless list of cool science facts, but here are some that I think you’ll find interesting.
The Speed of Light
The speed of light in a vacuum is a constant at approximately 186282.112 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second). This fundamental constant of nature is the ultimate speed limit, and the maximum speed at which information (not just light) can travel in the universe.
The Dreaded Irukandji Sting
The Irukandji jellyfish’s sting inflicts victims with a profound sense of impending doom, a severe reaction unique to this tiny yet formidable creature.
Earthy Riches: More Trees Than Galactic Stars
Trees on Earth outnumber the stars in the Milky Way, with estimates suggesting over 3 trillion trees compared to the galaxy’s 100-400 billion stars. But still, given that trees are literally the lungs of our planet, we should concentrate on planting more and protecting our forests.
The Honeybee’s Waggle Dance
Honeybees communicate the location of food sources to their hive-mates through a unique movement known as the waggle dance. By performing a figure-eight dance and varying the angle, duration, and intensity of the dance, bees convey precise information about the distance and direction of flowers, water sources, or new nesting sites.
A Feline Physicist
In the 1970s, a cat named Chester, also known as F.D.C. Willard, became the co-author of a physics paper, a humorous solution to an authorship dilemma that highlights the playful intersection of science and domestic life.
Human Eyes: The Ultimate Camera
In comparison to the latest technology, the human eye is a superior imaging device, potentially capturing images at an astounding 576 megapixels.
Water’s Anomalous Expansion
Water exhibits a peculiar behavior as it cools; it expands rather than contracts below 4 degrees Celsius until it freezes at 0 degrees Celsius. This anomalous expansion is critical for aquatic life in cold environments, as it causes ice to float on the surface of water bodies, providing insulation and habitat for organisms below.
Rats Laugh
Rats experience joy when tickled, emitting high-pitched sounds akin to giggling, revealing a playful side to these often misunderstood creatures.
The Immensity of the Observable Universe
The observable universe is about 93 billion light-years in diameter, even though it is only 13.8 billion years old. This is because the universe has been expanding since the Big Bang, and the most distant visible objects are now much farther away than the distance light has traveled since the beginning of the universe.
Periodic Table Exclusions: J and Q
Of the 118 elements listed on the periodic table, the letters J and Q remain absent. So, if you like science and think it’s fun to spell out your name in elements (I have totally done this!), you’ll be out of luck if your name includes J or Q.
The Quantum World
In quantum mechanics, particles such as electrons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. This duality is best illustrated by the famous double-slit experiment, which shows that particles can interfere with themselves like waves, creating an interference pattern even when fired one at a time.
Inherited Fears
Our irrational fears might not be so irrational after all, potentially stemming from our ancestors’ experiences, according to genetic studies. The human brain is a truly fascinating thing, and it’s so incredibly complex. And it makes sense that, from a primal, survival-driven perspective, to help keep us safe, our primitive brain inherits fears of things that our ancestors perceived as threats.
Solar Power in Nature
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This process sustains the life of the organism performing it and produces oxygen as a byproduct, which is essential for the respiration of most other life on Earth. Plant more trees, people!
Solo Reproduction in Komodo Dragons
Komodo dragons can reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis, a rare ability among vertebrates, allowing solitary individuals to give birth without a mate. Females and males do come together to procreate, but females have both male and female reproductive organs, so when there are no available males, the females can reproduce on their own.
The Eternal Shelf-Life of Honey
Honey’s extraordinary antibacterial properties, stemming from its high sugar concentration, ensure it remains consumable for millennia, a testament to nature’s preservative powers.
Nature’s Ultimate Survivor
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic animals capable of surviving in the harshest conditions imaginable. They can withstand temperatures ranging from near absolute zero to above boiling point, survive in the vacuum of space, and endure extreme radiation and pressure up to six times that found in the deepest parts of the ocean.
We Have Fewer Bones The Older We Get
We begin life with approximately 300 bones, which, through the process of growth, merge and reduce to the 206 bones that form the adult human skeleton.
Magnetic Navigation in the Animal Kingdom
The Earth’s magnetic field isn’t just for compass navigation. Animals like sharks, salmon, and even birds tap into this geomagnetic field to traverse vast distances, though it’s still a mystery if they’re aware of this navigational aid.
The Discovery of Gravitational Waves
In 2015, scientists directly observed gravitational waves for the first time, a century after Albert Einstein predicted their existence in his general theory of relativity. This groundbreaking discovery, made by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), opened up a new way to observe the universe and study phenomena such as colliding black holes and neutron stars.
The Mpemba Effect: Hot Water Freezes Faster
The Mpemba effect is a counterintuitive phenomenon in which, under certain conditions, hot water can freeze faster than cold water. Although the exact mechanism behind this effect is still debated, it has been observed in various experiments and has implications for our understanding of heat transfer and the molecular behavior of water.
The Incredible Journey of the Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterflies embark on one of the most remarkable migrations in the animal kingdom, traveling up to 3,000 miles from the United States and Canada to overwinter in the mountain forests of Mexico. This multi-generational journey spans the lives of several butterfly generations, with each generation traveling a portion of the route based on inherited knowledge.
Laser Light Captivity
A laser beam can be bent and followed along a stream of water, effectively getting “trapped” within the water flow due to the refraction of light.
Camel Blood Adaptations
Camels have adapted to desert life not by storing water in their humps, but by maintaining normal blood viscosity even when dehydrated, showcasing a remarkable biological adaptation to extreme heat.
Human Bioluminescence: Our Invisible Glow
Unknown to many, humans emit a faint glow. This bioluminescence is too weak for our eyes to see but exists nonetheless, adding a whole new meaning to personal radiance.
The Surprising Weight of Clouds
Contrary to their fluffy appearance, cumulus clouds can be incredibly heavy, with some weighing as much as a million pounds.
Immortality in the Animal Kingdom
The Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish and American lobster display forms of biological immortality, with abilities to revert to earlier life stages or continuously regenerate, offering fascinating insights into life’s resilience.
Mosquito Have Favorite Colors
Mosquitoes show preferences for certain colors, including black and red. Understanding these inclinations can offer strategies for avoiding these persistent pests and enjoying outdoor activities more comfortably.
The Deceptive Nature of Gas
Natural gas is odorless in its pure form. Mercaptan is added to it to produce a detectable and unpleasant smell, serving as a warning for leaks.
Oxygen’s Hidden Hue
Oxygen, contrary to common belief, is not colorless. In its liquid or solid state, it has a very pale blue color.
Diamond Showers on Gas Giants
While diamonds are a symbol of rarity on Earth, they might fall like rain within the atmospheres of some gas giants in our solar system, suggesting a wealth of diamonds in space.
Invisible Polar Bears
Polar bears, masters of camouflage in the snow, are also invisible to infrared cameras due to their fur’s exceptional insulation, which conceals their body heat. This unique trait is inspiring the development of infrared-invisible fabrics.
Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Gas
The three classic states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—are just the beginning. The realm of physics introduces us to exotic states like quark matter and superionic ice, though these extraordinary forms are not found in everyday life.
The Vast Unknown of the Universe
Gazing at the stars, we only see a sliver of the universe’s vastness. Around 25% of it is composed of dark matter, a substance invisible to our current observational tools.
The Moon’s Aromatic Secrets
Moon dust carries the scent of gunpowder, according to astronauts returning from lunar missions. This revelation adds to the moon’s mystery but sadly dispels any cheesy myths.
Lab Rats: Our Close Genetic Relatives
The genetic makeup of lab rats mirrors humans closely, with a 90% similarity, making them valuable models for scientific research and understanding human diseases.
Banana Peel Slipperiness Explained
The classic cartoon gag holds truth: banana peels are indeed slippery. Stepping on one releases a slick substance, validating a piece of comedic lore with scientific fact.
The Ancient Lineage of Sharks
Sharks have prowled Earth’s oceans for 400-450 million years, outdating even the formation of Saturn’s rings and shining a light on the deep, ancient history of our planet’s marine life.
Pet Allergies to Humans
It’s not just humans who suffer from allergies; pets can be allergic to us, too. A significant number of dogs react to human dander, complicating our shared environments and relationships with our furry companions.
Our Microbial Majority
We’re more microbe than man, as bacteria and microorganisms in our bodies outnumber human cells by a ratio of 10 to one. Despite their numbers, these tiny inhabitants constitute less than 3% of our body mass.
Discovering Zealandia
Zealandia, Earth’s “eighth continent,” is mostly submerged, with New Zealand and a few other islands as its visible parts. This vast landmass, 93% underwater, challenges our traditional continent concepts.
The Bite That Changes Diets
The lone star tick, with a bite capable of inducing alpha-gal syndrome, can transform your diet by making you allergic to meat and dairy, a startling reminder of nature’s complex interactions.
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
