? 1. There’s a Planet Made of Diamond
Meet 55 Cancri e, a planet twice the size of Earth, made mostly of carbon—and scientists believe it’s largely composed of diamond. Talk about a shiny new world!
? 2. Space Smells Like Hot Metal and Rum
Astronauts who’ve been to space say the air outside the International Space Station (ISS) has a distinct smell. It’s described as a mix of hot metal and rum, due to the chemical reaction of space dust and high-energy radiation.
? 3. There’s a Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of Every Galaxy
Every galaxy—including our Milky Way—has a supermassive black hole at its center. The one in our galaxy, Sagittarius A, has a mass equivalent to 4 million suns!
? 4. The Largest Volcano in the Solar System Is on Mars
The Olympus Mons on Mars is a volcano that stands about 13.6 miles high, nearly three times the height of Mount Everest. It’s also the largest known volcano in the entire solar system.
? 5. You Could Fit the Entire Solar System Inside VY Canis Majoris
The star VY Canis Majoris is so massive that you could fit the entire solar system inside it, with room to spare. It’s one of the largest stars known to man, with a radius around 1,500 times that of the sun.
? 6. A Year on Venus Is Shorter Than a Day on Venus
Because Venus spins so slowly, a day on Venus (one full rotation) takes about 243 Earth days, while a year (its full orbit around the sun) takes only 225 Earth days. Strange, right?
? 7. We’ve Only Explored About 5% of the Ocean
While we’ve made great strides in space exploration, we’ve actually explored only about 5% of the Earth's oceans. There’s still so much to discover beneath our own planet’s surface!
? 8. The Largest Known Structure in the Universe Is a Supercluster
The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall is the largest known structure in the universe. It’s a supercluster of galaxies that spans about 10 billion light-years, far beyond our wildest imagination.
? 9. Time Passes Slower Near a Black Hole
Thanks to Einstein’s theory of relativity, time actually slows down the closer you get to a black hole. If you were to orbit a black hole, you’d age slower than people far away from it.
? 10. There’s Water on the Moon
In 2009, scientists confirmed that there is water ice on the Moon. Found in the permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles, it could be key for future lunar colonization!
? Conclusion: The Universe Is More Mysterious Than Ever
From diamond planets to time-warping black holes, space is full of mind-blowing phenomena that defy our understanding. If you’re fascinated by the cosmos and love uncovering strange facts, be sure to check out fun facts lovelolablog for more out-of-this-world discoveries.