Was science your favorite subject in school? Many students are enthralled with all the possibilities of the three different branches of science; biology, chemistry, and physics. And teachers do their best to make science interesting to students, but the truth is that America’s school system simply isn’t as good as it could be. Many students have a mind for science, but they are poorly taught, and as a result, they never end up pursuing science facts in their lifetimes.
Science is full of amazing possibilities, and there are so many different fascinating branches that you can study. If you think geology is boring, maybe you’re better suited to learning about astrophysics or microbiology! Contrary to popular belief, when it comes to science, there’s something out there for everyone. Even just one interesting fact can be enough to spark a child’s curiosity, which can lead to a whole lifetime of learning, and even the development of a successful career.
Choosing Career Fields Also In Science
Even if you’re too old to switch career fields and become a scientist, it’s never too late to pick up a hobby, or a few books from your local library. One of the amazing things about being a human is having the possibility to grow and change all throughout your life.
So, if you always imagined that science was boring, be prepared to have your mind blown. In today’s video, we’re going to take a look at some incredible science facts that we’re sure your school curriculum didn’t cover. From astronomy to mycology, we’re sure that there will be something in this video for everyone. While most of the facts in this video will cover some of the crazy things that go on on our planet, we have a few facts that are truly out of this world. Make sure you stick around to find out which planet in our own solar system might contain extraterrestrial life!
Science Facts #1 Cracked Eggs Don’t Fall Apart Underwater
We all know just how messy eggs can be. Dropping an egg on the floor will result in a potentially salmonella-contaminated mess that will take ages to mop up. These fragile food items are delicious when they’re cooked right, but they can be difficult to handle. However, in certain circumstances, eggs are far less messy.
If you were to crack an egg sixty feet underwater, it wouldn’t make a mess at all! This is because the weight of the water above it increases the atmospheric pressure by 2.8 times. This added pressure is the perfect amount to hold an egg together. However, if you bring an egg too deep underwater, it ends up making an even bigger mess. Scientists brought an egg 416 feet below the surface of the ocean, and it ended up imploding!
Science Facts #2 Hawaii Gets 7.5 Centimeters Closer to Alaska Each Year
In school, you almost certainly learned about the tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s crust. These tectonic plates are constantly shifting, which can cause earthquakes and other natural disasters. As these tectonic plates move, Earth’s many islands and continents move, as well. Hawaii is located in the center of a tectonic plate called the Pacific Plate, which is slowly and steadily moving north-west, towards the tectonic plate where North America is located. This means that, every year, Hawaii becomes about 7.5 centimeters closer to Alaska. This may seem unimaginably slow to us humans, but in the grand scheme of things, the rate at which our tectonic plates shift is enough to drastically affect our planet’s surface. Someday, Hawaii will likely become a part of North America, although it’s improbable that humans will still be alive by then.
Science Facts #3 It’s Possible to Freeze and Boil Water at the Same Time
Students learn about the three states of matter at a young age; liquids, solids, and gases. We are taught that these states change with temperature. However, what you probably didn’t know is that it’s possible for a substance to exist in all three states of matter at the exact same time. This phenomenon is known as the triple point, although it’s a very difficult state to reach. To reach this state, a substance must exist in a very specific temperature and pressure at the exact same time.
When it comes to water’s triple point, the temperature must be 0.01 degrees Celsius, which is just barely above freezing, and the atmospheric pressure has to be at 0.006.
Science Facts #4 Neutron Stars Are Extremely Heavy
A neutron star is an amazing astronomical phenomenon. It is what remains of a massive star after it has burned all of its fuel. When a star finally runs out of fuel, its core collapses and forms a supernova. If the star was a supergiant or particularly massive, a neutron star is formed as a result. Neutron stars are much smaller than the original star, but contain as much mass, meaning it is extremely dense. Scientists consider neutron stars to be among the densest matters in our universe! In fact, a neutron star is so heavy that just a teaspoon of it would weigh as much as 6 billion tons! However, the exact weight would vary depending on what the original star was made of. For example, stars that were rich in metal would have a heavier neutron star.
Science Facts #5 Extraterrestrial Life May Exist in Our Very Solar System
Humans have been asking themselves for ages whether or not we are alone in this universe. After some recent research, it seems that the answer may very well be no. For a time, scientists wondered at the possibility of life on Mars. While we have not yet found evidence of life on Mars in the past or present, scientists have recently turned to another planet in our solar system. The unlikely planet Venus might play host to life. While the atmosphere of Venus is toxic to humans, life could have evolved to live safely on this planet.
Scientists have detected a certain chemical in Venus’ clouds, known as phosphine. After much research, scientists have concluded that the most likely explanation for the existence of this chemical can be attributed to life. While it’s highly unlikely that this life on Venus is intelligent, it opens up endless possibilities when it comes to the search for extraterrestrial life.
Of course, before we go looking for life on other planets, humans might want to consider ensuring our safety on this planet. Make sure you stick around until the very end of the video, where we’ll reveal which part of Earth is essential to human life, as well as why this part of our planet is in grave danger. And, if you’re liking this video so far, please consider taking a moment to like this video and subscribe to our channel for more exciting content.
Popping Your Joints Isn’t Always Bad for You
Many children grow up with parents who warn them against popping their knuckles. However, it turns out that there are rarely negative effects to popping your joints. While it can be unhealthy to crack certain joints, others are perfectly fine. When you crack your knuckles, that satisfying sound is the result of popping small bubbles of nitrogen gas which accumulate in your joints. This kind of popping is perfectly harmless. However, in some cases, the sound you hear when you pop your joint is from your bodies’ bones or tendons grinding against one another. If you pop these joints excessively, it can result in undue wear and tear on your body, which can deteriorate with age. If you’re popping your knuckles, it’s perfectly safe, but be careful about popping other joints in your body!
There Are More Than Three States of Matter
Everybody learns about the three states of matter in school; liquids, gases, and solids. Some even learn about the fourth state of matter, which is known as plasma. However, there are even more states of matter than this! While these states of matter are highly exotic and can only exist in very specialized circumstances, they are still fascinating to learn about. One of these states of matter is known as the Bose-Einstein condensate. In this state of matter, atoms are chilled to 0.000001 degrees above absolute zero. At this point, the atoms begin to behave like waves! There are over a dozen other states of matter which are highly complex and rare. Scientists still have a lot to learn about these states of matter, but maybe someday, we can use this information to change the way we view the world!
Mushrooms Are Closer to Humans than Plants
Many people mistakenly believe that mushrooms are a kind of plant. However, mushrooms and other fungi are not closely related to plants at all. In fact, these organisms actually have more DNA in common with humans than they do with plants. After a lot of careful research, scientists have even discovered that mushrooms and humans share a common ancestor, which existed 1.1b billion years ago.
A Large Percentage of Earth’s Oxygen Comes from the Amazon Rainforest
We all know that humans breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Trees and humans rely heavily on one another. The Amazon Rainforest, located in Brazil, is so massive that it produces 20% of the oxygen found on Earth. This rainforest is crucial to the survival of many living things on Earth. However, deforestation and increased wildfires have decimated large portions of this rainforest. Not only do we need the Amazon Rainforest to produce oxygen, but it is also home to many species that cannot survive anywhere else. If we continue to destroy the Amazon Rainforest for farmland and profit, we will lose one of our most precious resources.
As you can see, there are a lot of facts about science that weren’t covered in school. Were you more interested in the facts about our planet Earth, or in the facts about outer space? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to Facts Verse for more!