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Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered just how much we really know about the universe? It’s mind-boggling to think that this vast, endless expanse – 13.8 billion years old – is still full of secrets we’re only beginning to uncover. From planets made of diamond to a massive reservoir of water floating out there in space, the universe is stranger than we can imagine.
And get this—it even has a smell! Weird, right?
Today, we’re diving into 10 jaw-dropping facts about the universe. From the silence of space to how astronauts grow taller while orbiting Earth, these cosmic wonders will leave you amazed and wanting to know more. Let’s explore the incredible mysteries waiting beyond the stars!
The Universe is Expanding Through an Unknown Power
In the 1920s, a famous astronomer named Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is not stable. It is constantly changing and expanding over time. According to his discovery, the speed of this expansion was thought to be slowed down by the gravity of the matter present in the universe.
However, in 1998, scientists found that the universe is expanding not because of gravity but due to an unknown power driving it. This mysterious force remains unexplained by science even today.
The Universe is Completely Soundless
You may know that sound needs a medium, like air, to travel. On Earth, we can talk to each other because air carries sound waves.
But have you ever wondered how communication happens in space? Since there is no air in the universe, sound cannot travel. This is why space is completely silent at all times.
Because of this, astronauts use radio waves to communicate with each other in space.
Diamond Planet
There is a planet in the universe made entirely of diamonds! Its name is Planet 55 Cancri e, and it is located 40 light-years away from Earth. This planet is three times larger than Earth.
The high amount of carbon and oxygen on this planet has led to the formation of abundant diamonds. It was discovered on August 30, 2004, and is often called “Super-Earth” because its mass is eight times that of Earth.
Imagine if you had a chance to visit this planet—wouldn’t you want to collect some diamonds first?
Alcohol is Also Found in the Universe
You might wonder—how can alcohol exist in the universe?
Well, there is a giant cloud of alcohol in space called Sagittarius B2. This cloud, made of ethyl alcohol, is located 390 light-years away from the center of our galaxy.
However, don’t start planning a trip just yet! This alcohol cloud is 58 quadrillion miles away from Earth, making it impossible to reach anytime soon.
Height of an Astronaut
Did you know that astronauts grow 2 inches taller when they travel in space? This happens because there is no gravity in space. Without gravity, the joints in their spines loosen and straighten, making them slightly taller than their normal height on Earth.
Color of the Sun from Space
Have you noticed that the sun sometimes looks red, yellow, or orange? In reality, the sun is actually white.
On Earth, the atmosphere scatters sunlight, causing us to see the sun in different colors. However, since there is no atmosphere in space, the sun appears white when viewed from there.
The Universe Has a Huge Water Reservoir
There is a place in the universe with an enormous reservoir of water—140 trillion times the amount of water in all the oceans on Earth combined!
This water is found near a massive black hole called a “Quasar,” located 12 billion light-years away from us. However, the water exists in the form of water vapor.
According to Matt Bradford, a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this Quasar’s atmosphere is unique and generates an incredible amount of water around it.
In our galaxy, water also exists, but it is mostly in the form of ice, and the amount is 4,000 times less than the water near the Quasar.
The Smell of the Universe
Can space have a smell? The answer is “yes.”
The smell of space is described as being like hot metal or roasted meat. Even though space is a vacuum, it is not completely empty. It contains dark matter and other tiny elements.
When astronauts leave their spacecraft in space, these particles stick to their spacesuits. When they return to Earth, they notice the smell of roasted meat or hot metal on their suits.
Universe Stars
Have you ever wondered how many stars exist in our universe? The truth is, it’s impossible to count them because there are countless stars in the universe.
Stars are constantly being born and dying, making it unimaginable to estimate their total number. Scientists cannot determine an exact figure, and it remains one of the many mysteries of the universe.
Black Hole: A Cosmic Demon
There is a “demon” in the universe that devours everything around it—this demon is called a Black Hole.
The gravitational force of a black hole is so strong that it pulls in and absorbs anything nearby, including entire galaxies. Even light cannot escape its grip.
In fact, there is a massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Other Amazing & Cool Facts About the Universe
- Every 15 years, the rings of Saturn become invisible from Earth. This happens because, during that time, Earth, Saturn, and its rings align in the same plane.
- Our Sun is so large that it can hold more than one million Earths inside it.
- The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth at a rate of about 1.5 inches every year.
- If someone steps on the Moon, their footprints will remain there for about 100 million years. This is because the Moon has no wind, water, rain, or atmosphere to erase them.
- The universe is incredibly vast and constantly changing. It is expanding, and its center remains unknown.
As we journeyed through these fascinating facts about the universe, it’s clear just how small we are in the grand cosmic scale. The universe is a vast, mysterious place full of wonders that challenge our understanding and ignite our curiosity.
From black holes and diamond planets to the ever-expanding cosmos, every discovery brings us closer to unraveling its secrets—yet it also reminds us of how much is still unknown.
So, the next time you look up at the stars, take a moment to marvel at the endless mysteries that lie beyond. Who knows? The next big discovery might completely change how we see our universe!