Surely each of us at least once in his life wondered, looking into the starry sky - what is there, beyond our Earth? Are there brothers in mind in these endless expanses? We are not talking about the sacramental question "Is there life on Mars?".
About black holes, wandering planets and other space facts - in short and accessible language
Of course, from school textbooks on astronomy, we remember something about our Universe, but over time, if you do not get carried away with this subject, knowledge is forgotten. But that's not the point. It's just that new facts about space are constantly being discovered - from a mega-huge void to "Planet Nine". Or, for example, have you heard about white holes? We were not mistaken, it was about whites (you probably already know about blacks anyway). And how long do you think a person can stay in outer space without a spacesuit?
Do you want to know? Then read our selection. We promise: you will learn a lot for yourself.
1. Any freely moving fluid in outer space will turn into a sphere.
2. The mass of the Sun occupies 99.86% of our solar system.
3. The biggest black hole - Monster Black Hole.
4. If a star passes too close to a black hole, it can be torn apart.
5. The gravity of Jupiter attracts a large percentage of asteroids, and this protects us from cosmic collisions.
6. Saturn would float in water if there was a suitable container.
7. We know more about Mars and our Moon than we do about our oceans.
8. There are more stars in the Universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches of the Earth. That's at least a billion trillion!
9. Earth's Moon is the fifth largest moon in the solar system.
10. Metallic snow and sulfuric acid rain on Venus.
11. Scientists have discovered a 1 billion light-year-wide void in space that could be a parallel universe.
12. Saturn has a huge extra ring that was only discovered in 2009.
13. About once a year, an asteroid the size of a car enters the Earth's atmosphere, but it burns up before it reaches us.
14. Neutron stars can rotate 600 times per second.
15. More than a million Earths can fit inside the Sun, and the Sun is considered a medium-sized star.
16. Comets are the remnants of the creation of our solar system about 4.5 billion years ago, they are composed of sand, ice and carbon dioxide.
17. There is a planet made of diamonds.
18. About 1.4 billion years ago, a day on Earth lasted only 18 hours and 41 minutes.
19. The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes.
20. For many years, it was believed that the Earth was the only planet in our solar system with liquid water. Most recently, NASA presented the most compelling evidence that Mars also periodically flows water!
21. The International Space Station (ISS) is the size of a football field.
22. More than 4,000 exoplanets are known, and their number continues to grow.
23. Mercury is still contracting.
24. At the edge of the solar system there may be a huge planet, nicknamed "Planet Nine".
25. Stars twinkle because light is distorted as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere.
26. Pluto is smaller than the United States.
27. The first living mammal to go into space was a dog named Laika from Russia.
28. There is complete silence in space, because there is no air in space - this is a vacuum.
29. At the center of the Milky Way galaxy are tens of thousands of black holes.
30. The largest known asteroid is 940 km wide.
31. Saturn has 83 known moons and the number continues to grow.
32. There are 2,000,000,000,000 galaxies in the observable universe.
33. Gamma-ray bursts can release more energy in 10 seconds than our Sun in its entire 10 billion years of its life.
34. Shooting stars are space junk that burns up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
35. If you drill a tunnel through the Earth and jump into it, you will reach the other side in 42 minutes and 12 seconds.
36. The estimated cost of a NASA spacesuit made in 1974 is between $15 million and $22 million per unit.
37. If two pieces of the same type of metal come into contact in space, they will forever unite.
38. On Titan, the satellite of Saturn, there are also lakes. The liquid in Titan's lakes is not water, but a substance called methane.
39. The moon has the shape of a lemon.
40. To date, more than 600 people have been in space.
41. The sun makes a complete revolution once every 25-35 days.
42. We always see the same side of the Moon, no matter where we are on Earth.
43. There is a planet in our galaxy where the daytime temperature is almost 1093.333 degrees Celsius, and it may be raining glass horizontally.
44. Halley's Comet won't orbit Earth again until 2061.
45. Planets can wander in space without a parent star.
46. Only 5% of the Universe is visible from Earth.
47. You can't walk on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune because they don't have a solid surface!
48. If you could fly a plane to Pluto, the journey would take over 800 years.
49. Black holes have theoretical opposites known as white holes.
50. Powerful volcanic eruptions occur on Jupiter's moon Io.
51. There are mountains on Pluto.
52. One teaspoon of a neutron star would weigh as much as Mount Everest.
53. The moon is moving further away from the Earth every year.
54. You would last in space for about 15 seconds without a space suit.
55. Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka spent the most in space - 879 days.
56. The rings of Saturn seem to disappear from time to time.
57. If you fell into a black hole, you would stretch out like spaghetti.
58. The dead skin of your feet flakes off in space.
59. The star VY Canis Majoris is the largest star in the universe, its diameter is about 2000 times the diameter of our Sun.
60. The hottest planet in our solar system is Venus, whose temperature reaches 464°C.
Since ancient times, people have been interested in the starry sky. First stargazers, and later astrologers studied such distant and such inaccessible (for the time being) celestial bodies. And, we must say, they managed to learn a lot. However, their knowledge is not comparable to that of modern scientists, with their high-tech equipment for observation, including powerful telescopes, satellites and interplanetary ships.
Cosmic facts about our solar system known to science today
But if you think that the facts about space are difficult for the majority of the population of the Earth to comprehend, then we at Bemorepanda will now prove the opposite to you, since they can be presented in a very accessible and interesting way. For example, that a person in space can grow several centimeters ...
But we are not going to tell you everything here, but we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the facts about our solar system that we managed to find on the Web. And as a bonus, you will have gorgeous images as an illustration of what has been said.
1. All the planets in our solar system can be placed between the Earth and the Moon
At apogee, when the Moon is farthest from the Earth, the surface-to-surface distance is about 398,000 km.
If we align the planets along their polar axes, their total distance is 364,799 km.
Phil Plait, nasa.gov
2. Sunsets on Mars would look blue to human eyes
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
3. Saturn's moon Titan is the only known place in our solar system other than Earth to have a "liquid cycle"
It is the only other place in the solar system known to have an Earth-like cycle of liquids, raining down from clouds flowing across its surface, filling lakes and seas, and evaporating back into the sky (similar to the water cycle on Earth).
nasa.gov
4. If left untouched, footprints on the moon will remain there for millions of years.
nasa.gov
5. Neptune is the only planet in our solar system not visible to the naked eye, and the first one predicted by mathematics before it was discovered.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
6. Jupiter's moon Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
7. Neptune's winds can reach speeds of over 2,000 km/h
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
8. You can grow up to 5 centimeters in space
nasa.gov, nasa.gov
9. Space (Karman Line) is only 100 kilometers away from us
science.org, nasa.gov
10. About 13,630 satellites launched into low Earth orbit
About 8850 of these satellites are still in space and about 6700 are still active.
esa.int
11. The Sun is predicted to live just under half its lifespan.
The sun will eventually run out of energy, like all stars.
When it begins to die, the Sun will turn into a red giant star and become so large that it will swallow Mercury and Venus, and possibly the Earth.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
12. Pluto has mountains
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
13. The biggest storm in our solar system: The Great Red Spot is shrinking
hubblesite.org, nasa.gov
14. Uranus' moon Miranda has the strangest surface features seen on the Moon.
It has giant rift canyons, 12 times deeper than the US Grand Canyon, terraced layers and surfaces that appear very old, and others that look much younger.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
15. A six-way jet stream of winds surrounds a huge storm and forms a hexagon at the north pole of Saturn
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
16. The outer atmosphere of the Sun, the corona is hotter than the "surface" of the Sun (photosphere)
The core of the Sun reaches 15 million °C, the photosphere only reaches 5500 °C, while the corona can reach 2 million °C.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
17. Our solar system formed about 4.5 billion years ago
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
18. Venus is the brightest object in Earth's night sky after the Moon
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
19. There are five dwarf planets in our solar system: Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea and Eris
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
20. Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system - Mount Olympus
It is three times the height of Mount Everest on Earth, and its base is the size of New Mexico.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
21. The rings of Saturn are made up of many small pieces of ice and rocks of various sizes, from dust to the size of mountains.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
22. Jupiter's moon Ganymede is not only the largest moon in our solar system. There is also evidence that it has an underground salt water ocean containing more water than all the water on Earth combined.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
23. Since 1957, there have been about 6250 successful rocket launches.
esa.int, nasa.gov
24. There are over 10,100 tons of space objects in Earth's orbit.
esa.int, nasa.gov
25. If you weigh 40 kg on Earth, you will weigh 94 kg on Jupiter
howthingsfly.si.edu, nasa.gov
26. The Canyon of Mars is 7 times bigger than the Grand Canyon of Earth
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
27. Spaceships have visited all the planets in our solar system.
jpl.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
28. There may be a ninth giant planet in our solar system
Konstantin Batygin, Michael E. Brown, nasa.gov
29. There are over 200 moons in our solar system.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
30. Uranus was the first planet discovered with a telescope
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
31. Asteroids are leftovers from the formation of our solar system.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
32. There are over 130 million space debris.
36,500 space debris larger than 10 cm.
1,000,000 space debris objects ranging in size from over 1 cm to 10 cm.
130 million space debris objects ranging in size from over 1 mm to 1 cm.
esa.int, nasa.gov
33. The temperature on Uranus can drop to -224.2 Husrad Celsius
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
34. Uranus rotates sideways
It rotates at an angle of almost 90 degrees to the plane of its orbit.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
35. Every planet in our solar system has at least some water in different forms.
spacecentre.nz, nasa.gov
36. Mercury is the smallest and closest planet to the Sun in our solar system.
With a radius of 2440 kilometers, Mercury is just over 1/3 the width of the Earth.
With an average distance of 58 million kilometers, Mercury is 0.4 AU from the Sun.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
37. One day on Mercury is about 59 Earth days, and a year on Mercury is 88 Earth days
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
38. The color of Mars is due to the iron-rich dust that covers the surface.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
39. The sun is the largest object in our solar system
To fill the volume of the Sun, you will need 1.3 million Earths.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
40. Here on Earth there are rocks from Mars
jpl.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
41. The solar system is incredibly large
The average distance between the Sun and Pluto is 5,913,520,000 km.
curious.astro.cornell.edu, nasa.gov
42. Winds drive clouds around Venus at a speed of 360 kilometers per hour
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
43. Venus has the hottest surface in our solar system
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
44. The sun makes up 99.8% of the mass of our solar system
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
45. Saturn's moon Iapetus is called the Yin and Yang of Saturn because of its hemisphere.
The front hemisphere has a reflectivity (or albedo) as dark as coal (albedo 0.03-0.05 with a slight reddish tinge), while its rear hemisphere is much brighter at 0.5-0.6.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
46. There are 8 planets in our solar system
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars fall under the category of terrestrial planets, Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants, and Uranus and Neptune are ice giants.
skyandtelescope.org, nasa.gov
47. Our solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy.
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
48. The sun is about 150 million kilometers from Earth
solarsystem.nasa.gov, nasa.gov
49. The moon has no atmosphere
NASA, nasa.gov
50. The average temperature on Mars is -66 degrees Celsius
The word "ecology" can be translated from ancient Greek as "house" or "property". This translation is entirely consistent with the truth because the Earth is our typical home. We must not only constantly remember this but also do everything possible to keep the planet habitable for as long as possible!
Top facts about ecology
1. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for the environment because it accumulates in the environment, as well as in living organisms. In the last century, lead was actively used as an additive for gasoline, but then its dangers were discovered, and now its use as such is prohibited.
2. There is a garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean, the area of which reaches 1.5 million km², which is larger than the area of most countries in the world. The currents carry millions of tons of garbage here every year, and it has turned into a kind of garbage continent.
3. Ordinary cats cause decent environmental damage on some islands. Having got there together with seafarers, they partially became wild, bred and occupied their niche in local ecosystems, crowding out or exterminating the local fauna.
4. In Australia, environmental organizations stretch artificial vines over highways so that koalas do not risk dying by crossing these roads.
5. Half of the world's population drinks water that is polluted to one degree or another, and therefore unsafe for health.
6. About 12% of the surface of our planet has a protected status.
7. Only about 10% of trees are planted annually on Earth from the number that is cut down over the same period.
8. The fight for the environment is best in the northern countries of Europe. In Sweden and Norway, for example, up to 95% of waste is recycled and reused, and internal combustion engines will soon be banned there, giving way to more environmentally friendly transport.
9. About 5% of the world's population lives in the USA, but this country produces up to 30% of all the world's waste.
10. Recycling is important not only because it saves resources, but also because ordinary plastic takes more than 500 years to decompose in nature.
11. The state of ecology is also evidenced by the fact that every year about 30 thousand species of living beings die out on our planet. At this rate, by the end of the 21st century, species diversity will be halved.
12. About 15% of all deaths and fatal diseases in the world are caused by high levels of air pollution.
13. An increase in the average global temperature of only 3-4 degrees can lead to ice melting, global flooding and the disappearance of most of the forests on Earth.
14. Modern cars emit an average of 1.5 kg of gaseous waste into the atmosphere per 100 kilometers.
15. Bad ecology really kills. Thus, in 2015 alone, according to statistics, more than 9 million people died due to environmental pollution.
16. Biological dead rivers flow through some large cities like Kabul and Manila, in which, due to the extreme level of pollution, there is no life at all.
17. The dirtiest air in the world can be breathed not even in Beijing or Mumbai.
18. Every person on Earth consumes about 500-600 m³ of fresh water per year, but it is distributed very unevenly.
19. One large city in Africa or Asia like Lagos or Karachi pollutes the environment more than the average European country.
20. In the 20th century, an ecological disaster broke out in Australia due to the fact that wild rabbits brought to this mainland incredibly bred. It was possible to cope with the threat only when a special virus was created and distributed, which reduced the size of the rabbit population.
21. The best ecology in the world is preserved in Tibet. True, in recent decades, this region has been actively developed by China, so that the local ecosystem in the future may be in a vulnerable position.
22. Due to intensive agriculture, soils are depleted and turn into deserts. In China alone, 1000-2000 km² of land is desertified annually.
23. Clean ponds in Moscow in the recent past were so polluted that they were called Pogany.
24. Modern research shows that excessive air pollution leads to a gradual decrease in brain volume in humans.
25. In Sweden, Iceland and some other Nordic countries, waste heat from crematoria is used to heat houses. The practical descendants of the Vikings do not waste anything.
Half of the 50 interesting facts about ecology are over. So much more ahead.
26. Solar energy is the most environmentally friendly, but petroleum products are still used to produce solar panels.
27. More than 50% of the world's grain harvest is used to feed livestock and produce biofuels.
28. In some African countries, ecologists deliberately saw off the tusks of elephants and the horns of rhinos to protect these animals from poachers.
29. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is constantly growing, new records are recorded every year.
30. Some farm animals have a negative impact on the environment. Their population is in the tens of millions, and the gases they emit on such a scale really pollute the atmosphere. Now geneticists are trying to figure out how to genetically modify cows to rid them of this feature. Kangaroos, for example, do not know how to emit gases at all.
31. Only 8% of fresh water is used for domestic purposes. Industry takes 22%, and the rest is spent by agriculture.
32. One of the most global and complex problems of modern ecology is the gradual increase in the level of acidity of the waters of the World Ocean. If nothing changes, in the future it may lead to the extinction of entire ecosystems, and, accordingly, to a global environmental catastrophe.
33. Pollution of the seas and oceans also affects people, and in the most direct way. Under the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation, plastic breaks down into tiny particles, which, due to their similarity to plankton, are eaten by crustaceans and fish that eat these crustaceans. Then these animals get on the table to people.
34. For the production of environmentally friendly electric vehicles, a lot of harmful technologies that pollute the environment are used. Mainly for the production of their batteries.
35. The Russian lake Karachay is the most polluted in the world, as it has been used as a radioactive waste disposal site since 1951. Over the entire period of its operation, 150 million curies have accumulated in it, which is equivalent to 6 Chernobyls. Now the lake is completely isolated and, one might say, filled up.
36. Agricultural water consumption could be reduced by a third simply by modernizing irrigation systems, but all countries prefer to save.
37. The greatest harm to the ecology of the Earth is caused by people themselves. At the same time, the population of our planet is increasing by about 10 thousand people every hour.
38. In recent years, the thickness of the Antarctic ice sheet has been decreasing by about 10 cm annually.
39. Even in a large city with dirty air on the street, it is still 20-30 times cleaner than in a poorly ventilated room.
Well, and the last 10 of 50 interesting facts about ecology. Not tired yet?
40. About 35 million Russians live in settlements where the environment is so bad that the degree of air pollution exceeds the established safe standards.
41. To grow 1 kilogram of potatoes, on average, 120 liters of water are spent, and to obtain 1 kilogram of beef - about 13,000 liters, more than a hundred times more.
42. Electricity consumption for the operation of the Internet is increasing by an average of 10% annually.
43. Every year, people around the world throw away about 125 million fully functional smartphones simply because they are tired of their owners, and only a small part of this garbage is sent for recycling.
44. By the middle of the 21st century, more than 50% of the world's population will experience an acute shortage of clean drinking water.
45. Already now, due to environmental problems, every sixth person lives in conditions hazardous to health.
46. About 14 thousand people die every day because of polluted water. Most of all - in Asia and Africa, least of all - in Europe and North America.
47. Over the past half century, the area of glaciers in the Himalayas has decreased by about 15%. It is gradually decreasing almost every year.
48. Noise pollution is also dangerous, as constant noise interferes with the normal life of a person and other living beings.
49. Over the past 15-20 years, cockroaches have begun to disappear en masse from large cities. Many scientists attribute this phenomenon to environmental degradation.
50. Light pollution is harmful in that it greatly changes the natural level of illumination and thus negatively affects the biorhythms of living beings.
Modern people know a lot about our planet, especially now, when it is possible to travel around the world or, if this is not possible, look into any corner of the globe using the Internet. And even if geography seemed a little boring to someone at school, geography seemed a little boring to someone; in fact, it is worth it to get interested in it, especially if you get acquainted with curious facts about our planet tied to geographical coordinates.
How much gold is hidden in the bowels of the Earth, a city with one inhabitant, and other interesting facts
What might make these facts enjoyable? We answer: to some extent, disbelief - when you want to google this or that information from our list to verify its integrity personally. On the other hand, this is instead a plus - and it will be remembered better, and there will be no reason to doubt what you have read. Yes, and you can always shine in a conversation, giving the impression of an erudite person. But first, could you look at what facts we at Bemorepanda have found for you?
1. Canada has the largest number of lakes - more than 879,000 of them.
Second in size, but first in the number of lakes, Canada surpasses any other country in the number of lakes. The study found that Canada has the most lakes per square kilometer in the entire world. Canada contains 62% of the world's 1.42 million lakes that are larger than 0.1 square kilometers. — nature.com
2. You can get inside a volcanic magma chamber in Iceland
Iceland is a country of volcanoes. If you ever visit this island, be sure to visit the volcanic magma chamber open to tourists. The magma chamber of a volcano is often referred to as its heart. That's where all the "bad things" happen. The only notable exception to this is the Thrihnukagigur volcano, where the magma in the chamber appears to have disappeared. — insidethevolcano.com
3. Lions Are Extinct In 26 African Countries
The kings of the jungle, lions once ruled the African continent and were even present on the European continent before being driven out. According to official figures, lions have become extinct not only in Europe, but also in 26 African countries. It is sad to imagine how much of the lion population was wiped out. — PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
4. There are no mosquitoes in Iceland
Who loves mosquitoes? Probably no one. Luckily for you, there are none in Iceland. Although they are widespread in other countries, they do not exist in Iceland. Due to the cold climate, mosquitoes cannot enter Iceland and lay their eggs on the ground, which prevents them from colonizing the island. — why.is
5. There are more ancient pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt.
There are many interesting facts connected with the pyramids. The Pyramids of Giza are just some of the oldest pyramids in the world. In fact, there are more ancient pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt.
Apparently, there are 138 pyramids in Egypt, and 200-255 pyramids in Sudan. Interestingly, the pyramids in the latter were not built by the ancient Egyptians, who may have moved further south. — sciencealert.com
6. There are more caves in Kentucky than anywhere else on earth.
While Kentucky today may be known as the birthplace of Kentucky whiskey, it also hosts more caves than any other place on Earth. The longest cave system, known as Mammoth Cave National Park, is located on the east coast of this state. So grab your gear, get your tickets, and set out to explore (with a guide, of course) just how deep this state stretches. — nps.gov
7. Peru has floating islands in the lake
Seeing an island in the ocean is common, but what about a floating island in a lake? Well, there are several in Peru. The highest navigable lake in the world, Titicaca, has a small area on which the mobile islands of Uros are located. It is safe to assume that there is nothing like it anywhere else on the planet. peruforless.com
8. The largest desert in the world - Antarctica
Is Antarctica the largest desert? Something is wrong here. Sometimes the desert consists of more than just sand. Deserts can be described as arid places where it is impossible to survive for long periods of time. According to this description, Antarctica is home to one of the largest deserts on earth. Interesting geographical facts like these only demonstrate how unique Antarctica is as a continent. — britannica.com
9. Peru is about 2.9 times bigger than Sweden
Located on the continent of South America, you might be surprised how huge Peru is compared to a large European country like Sweden. Peru is about 1,285,216 square kilometers larger than Sweden, which is about 450,295 square kilometers. It makes you wonder how small Sweden is. — mylifeelsewhere.com
10. There is a supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park
A simple volcano can be intimidating on its own, but a supervolcano? This is really scary and amazing. As the first natural park in the US, Yellowstone is special. Most of the park is located on top of the supervolcano.
While the last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was over 640,000 years ago, one might just wonder how much power lurks beneath this park. yellowstonepark.com
11. Istanbul is the only major city located on two continents
Istanbul, located on the border of the Black and Mediterranean Seas, is the largest city in Turkey, but not the capital. It is also located on two different continents - Europe and Asia. The city is united by a system of bridges, but both sides of the city are still completely different. The European side has banks and historical buildings, while the Asian side is quieter. amusingplanet.com
12. The longest flight in the world lasts 19 hours
Nobody likes to fly or drive for a long time. Because it becomes too boring to sit in one place and just wait. The longest air route in the world, from Singapore to New York, will be operated by Singapore Airlines from October. The route is about 15,322 km long, which is quite a long flight! — forbes.com
13. Japan's Aomori gets over 792cm of snow every year.
Since Japan is an island nation, the weather there gets crazy from time to time. Most of the nearly 0.8 m of snow that falls in Aomori City each year falls between November and April. Due to the city's low winter temperatures, headwinds accelerate cloud formation, resulting in significant precipitation that falls as snow rather than rain. Such incredible facts only stimulate the tourism sector of this city. — tripsavvy.com
14. The deepest place on Earth is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean
The Mariana Trench is a deep-sea trench that runs along the bottom of the western part of the North Pacific Ocean. This is the deepest depression that exists on Earth and is located mainly to the east and south of the Mariana Islands. Its depth is 11034 meters.
The Challenger Deep, a small steep-walled valley at the bottom of the main depression southwest of Guam, is where the deepest depths are found. Fun facts like these might make you want to take a dip in the ocean! — nationalgeographic.org
15. The full name of Bangkok consists of 163 letters.
While the Swedish city "O" has the title of the shortest city name, Bangkok can be the title of the city with the longest name of 163 letters. Ready?
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Nopparat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchanivet Mahasatan Amon Piman Avatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
Try to remember it. —theculturetrip.com
16. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -89.2 °C (-128.6 °F)
While it can be cold in Russia, how cold can it be on Earth as a whole? Vostok station in Antarctica reported the lowest air temperature ever measured on the surface of the planet on July 21, 1983 at 02:45 UT: -89.2°C (-128.56°F). Because of the high susceptibility to marine air mass intrusion, as Rossby wave activity shifts across the peninsula, surface temperatures at Vostok station fluctuate greatly in winter. nora.nerc.ac.uk
17. Hurricanes hit China more than any other country.
The fact that China's typhoon season lasts all year makes it the country most prone to hurricanes. Typhoon Rammasun was the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in China. When it hit China in 2014, its speed was 257 km/h. Since 1970, more than 127 hurricanes have hit the Chinese mainland. They caused significant damage to the developing economy of the country. — borgenproject.org
18. 42 buildings in New York have their own zip codes
The island is home to 4 million people, so a huge amount of mail passes through Manhattan every day. The postcode system is needed to complete the enormous job of getting all the mail to where it needs to go. It is interesting to note that 42 buildings in Manhattan have unique zip codes. — convene.com
19. The most remote place on Earth - Point Nemo
When the closest person to you is an astronaut in space, then you know that you are quite far from civilization. Point Nemo is as far away as it can be. Whenever they fly over Point Nemo, astronauts on the International Space Station, which is 415.211 km away, are closest to that point. — allthatsinteresting.com
20. The red rock of Uluru in Australia is bigger than you think.
Stones! They are everywhere, but Australia is probably the largest. At 863 meters above sea level, Uluru/Ayers Rock rises 348 meters above the surrounding desert plain. Researcher Ernest Giles, South Africa's first deputy, is home to a complex of seasonal waterfalls known as the Tugela Falls in Royal Natal's Drakensberg National Park. It consists of five free-falling cascades, the largest of which is 411 m. The total height of the cascade is 933 m. It may be the highest waterfall on Earth. praguemonitor.com
22. The diameter of Australia is 600 km larger than that of the Moon.
The diameter of Australia is 600 km (372.82 miles) larger than the diameter of the Moon. While Australia spans over 4,000 km (2,485,485 miles) from east to west, the moon's diameter is only 3,400 km (2,112,662 miles). — www.awol.com.au
23. The Diomede Islands, located at a distance of 4 km from each other, are 20 hours away from each other
Time zones can be weird and create strange situations. The Diomede Islands are separated by only 4 km (2.4 miles), but due to the fact that the International Date Line runs through them, they are not only in different time zones, but also 20 hours apart. — www.atlasobscura.com
24. The Dead Sea is sinking
Shrinking seas are one of the worst side effects of global warming. The Dead Sea is one of them. According to studies, the surface of the salty sea sinks by more than 91.44 cm per year. — bbc.com
25. The world's largest war memorial is a road
As the First World War came to an end, many Australians returned home and took local jobs to support themselves and their families. Some have been building roads along the coast of Australia. One of the roads, built in 1932, with a total length of 241,402 km, became a memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers, called the "Great Ocean Road". adb.anu.edu.au
26. The largest sandy island in the world is in Australia.
Listed as a World Heritage Site, Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island, is almost 123 km long and 22 km wide at its widest point. The highest dunes on the island rise to a height of 244 m, while most reach only 100-200 m. - fraserisland.net
27. Yuma, Arizona is the sunniest place in the world, averaging over 4,000 hours of sunshine.
Arizona has 91 percent of daylight hours per year, earning it the title of the sunniest city on Earth. — ncdc.noaa.gov
28. Australia's Deadliest Animals Are Horses
While Australia is a place of strange animals that seem scary and dangerous, the most dangerous animal there is the horse. Between 2008 and 2017, 77 people were killed by horses and cows in Australia. — aihw.gov.au
29. The tallest tree in the world named Hyperion is located in Redwood National Park in California.
Sequoia sempervirens, native to California's Redwood National Park, is the tallest surviving tree. The coast sequoia known as Hyperion was found by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor on August 25, 2006, and in order to preserve it, its exact location is being kept a closely guarded secret. — guinnessworldrecords.com
30. Mauna Kea above Everest
Everest is called the highest mountain because of the highest peak, but it is not the highest mountain. If you measured the mountain from the bottom where it starts, the title of the highest mountain would go to Mauna Kea, which starts from the bottom of the ocean and reaches a total of 10,210 m. - oceanservice.noaa.gov
31. There are about 7,640 islands in the Philippines
Many facts about geography focus on the mountains, and few of them concern the islands. The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,640 islands, approximately 2,000 of which are inhabited. The second largest island of the Philippines, Mindanao, is located at the southern tip of the archipelago and can be divided into three main regions: Luzon, Visayas and the country as a whole. — nationalgeographic.com
32. Jericho is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. This territory belonged to the ancient city of Palestine, founded 9000 years before the birth of Christ and located on the Jordan River. Jericho is not only the oldest city in the world, but also the lowest due to its location at 258 m below sea level. — W. David Kingery, Pamela B. Vandiver, Tamar Noy
33. One resident lives in a city in Nebraska
Located in Nebraska, Monowi is possibly the smallest city in the United States. The only resident of Monowi, Nebraska, is 84-year-old Elsie Eyler, who pays taxes and issues a license to sell alcohol. — bbc.com
34. There are 840 languages in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea claims to be the country with the most languages, with 840 active languages. Second place is occupied by Indonesia, which has 711 languages. Nigeria ranks third with 520 surviving languages. — ethnologue.com
35. Brazil is home to over 3,100 animal species.
Ah, the Amazon rainforest! A wonder of this world, a place where life thrives and many species of animals exist. According to current data, there are 3,100 different species of animals living in the Amazon rainforest. One can only guess what is hidden behind the trees and leaves of this magnificent place. — iucnredlist.org
36. There is a lake inside the island on the lake inside the island
Like a Russian nesting doll, there is an island with a lake inside, on which there is an island ... on which there is a lake. Perhaps one of the most surprising geographic facts is that these initial type island types are usually summed up and referred to simply as recursive islands. earthobservatory.nasa.gov
37. The Russian Trans-Siberian Railway crosses 3901 bridge
The Siberian part of Russia is quite large and hosts one of the longest railroads that can be found in an industrialized country. The length of the Trans-Siberian Railway is approximately 9200 km. This railway crosses 3901 bridges until it reaches its final destination, Vladivostok. — thetranssiberianexpress.com
38. The highest recorded temperature was 56.7 °C (134 °F)
At the Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, California, USA, on July 10, 1913, a temperature of 56.7 ° C (134 ° F) was officially recorded as the highest temperature on record. The previous record was held by El Azizia, Libya, with a temperature of 58 °C (136.4 °F), but was withdrawn for various reasons. — guinnessworldrecords.com
39. The shortest flight in the world takes 57 seconds
If you're ready for a short flight, why not take a 57 second flight? In Scotland, a flight between Westray and Papa Westray is the shortest commercial flight in the world. marketwatch.com
40. Russia has the highest mountain in Europe - Elbrus
The Alps, ski resorts and attractive mountain villages often come to people's minds when they think of mountaineering in Europe. In fact, Europe's highest peak, Elbrus, is in the Russian Caucasus, not the French Alps. Elbrus with its two-cone volcano (5642 meters above sea level) is 832 meters higher than Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Despite its sheer size, most people can climb Europe's highest peak, but it takes effort and determination. — lonelyplanet.com
41. Russia has the coldest inhabited place on Earth
We humans tend to live where the sun shines and the weather is nice, but the inhabitants of this place seem to have a different outlook on life. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Oymyakon, also known as the "Pole of Cold", was -71.2°C.
In the 1920s and 1930s, reindeer herders stopped in the village, which is now home to 500 people, to water the herds from the thermal spring. Ironically, due to the nearby hot spring, Oymyakon means "non-freezing water". — dailymail.co.uk
42. There is no rain in the Dry Valleys
The dry valleys in Antarctica, where there has been no rain for about 2 million years, are the driest regions on Earth. Covering 4,800 square kilometers, this area has almost no water, ice or snow and no precipitation. The lack of rain in this area is caused by katabatic winds, which are mountain breezes so wet that gravity pulls them out of the valleys. — universetoday.com
43. 14 countries have less than 1% forests (3 have no forests)
Due to pressure from growing populations on available land, tiny countries with high population densities typically have little or no forest area. While the small states of Monaco and Nauru have 0% of their territory covered by forests, the island states of Kiribati and the Maldives have between 2% and 3% of their territories covered by forests. — worldatlas.com
44. Pygmy elephants only exist in Borneo and Sumatra
Bornean elephants, the smallest subspecies of Asian elephants, are noticeably smaller than their relatives on the mainland. According to DNA data, these elephants diverged from their counterparts in mainland Asia and Sumatra about 300,000 years ago. They currently live on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. — worldwildlife.org
45. You will only find narwhals in the wild in Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway and Russia
The narwhal has a long spiral tusk protruding from its head, which gives it the appearance of a hybrid of a whale and a unicorn. Tusks are most commonly found in males, and some may have two.
In Arctic waters off the coast of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia, narwhals live their entire lives. The Baffin Bay and Davis Strait region is home to most of the world's narwhals, spending up to five months hibernating under the sea ice there. — worldwildlife.org
46. There are underwater lakes and rivers
Lakes and rivers are found not only on the surface, but also below us. As salt water rises from the seabed, it dissolves the surrounding salt layer and collects in the resulting depressions. So at the bottom of the ocean, underwater lakes and rivers are formed. Unique fish live in water bodies within a few kilometers of each other
Looking at the map, you might think that Australia and New Zealand are practically neighbors, only a few thousand small steps apart. Well, the distance between these two countries is only 4163 km apart. If you were to fly from one island to another, you would have to fly over 4 hours! — distancefromto.net
48. Mount Everest is not as close to the Moon as Mount Chimborazo
Being one of the highest mountains not only on the Asian continent, but also in the world, Everest has a height of 8,848 m, but it is not the closest mountain to the Moon. Since the Earth is not the perfect circle we all imagine, some points are much closer to the Moon than others. Since the Earth's largest bulge is just one degree south of the equator, the summit of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, which is located there, is the highest point above the center of the planet. With this in mind, this means that Mount Chimborazo is closer to the moon and stars than Everest's highest peak. oceanservice.noaa.gov
49. Iceland is growing at 5 centimeters a year
As one of the youngest land masses in the world, Iceland is home to some of the most active volcanoes. The island was formed by a huge volcanic fissure in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. Even now, the country is expanding at about 5 cm per year as it expands at the collision points of two tectonic plates. — iceland.is
50. The Sargasso Sea is the only sea in the world that does not have a land border.
The only sea in the world that is completely surrounded by sea is in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its northern, western, southern and eastern boundaries are formed by the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Equatorial Current and the Canary Current. Like a land coastline, these currents create a gyre that circles the Sargasso Sea in a clockwise direction. — www.atlasobscura.com
51. Africa spans all four hemispheres
The world can be divided into four different parts, known as hemispheres. Africa is located in such a way that it is in all four hemispheres, which makes it the only continent of the four main ones. — worldatlas.com
52. Water covers most of the planet, but most of it cannot be used by humans.
Although there is water in the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, people cannot use all of it. We can only use fresh water. Fresh water makes up a very small fraction of the total amount of water on the globe. Although water covers nearly 70% of the earth's surface, only 2.5% of it is fresh water.
Only 1% of our fresh water is readily available, and most of it is in glaciers and snowfields. In fact, only 0.007% of the world's water is used to hydrate and nourish 8 billion people. — nationalgeographic.com
53. It's snowing in Hawaii
On the tropical island of Hawaii, snow falls from time to time, but only on the tops of the highest peaks of the Big Island, and Maui is covered with it. The snowstorms that return every winter usually only cover mountains above 11,000 feet (3.35 km), so snow can only be seen on Mauna Kea (13,803 feet - 4.2 km) and Mauna Loa (13,680 feet). – 4.1 km). — popsci.com
54. There are over 300 indigenous tribes in Brazil.
There are people in our world who prefer to live in tribes. Approximately 305 tribes, or about 900,000 people, make up 0.4% of Brazil's current population. For the indigenous population, the government has recognized 690 districts, which is almost 13% of the territory of Brazil. This protected area is located almost entirely in the Amazon. survivalinternational.org
55. Mawsynram in India is the wettest place on Earth
The village of Mawsynram in northeast India is the wettest place on earth, averaging an incredible 11,871 millimeters of rainfall per year. From June to August alone, an average of 3,000 millimeters of precipitation fell. Due to the unusual shape and orography of the catchment, moisture from the Bay of Bengal is concentrated here, causing heavy rains. — worldatlas.com
56. The Caribbean is the deepest of the seven seas.
Jack Sparrow's secrets aren't the only dark depths hidden in the Caribbean. With a maximum depth of 7,686 m below sea level, the Caribbean Sea is the deepest sea in the world and the second deepest sea in the Atlantic Ocean. It is deeper than the Arctic Ocean and is the fifth deepest body of water on earth. — worldatlas.com
57. Colombia is home to most bird species.
In Colombia, you can find the largest number of different types of birds! Currently, 1958 species of birds live here, 80 of which are endemic, which makes up Indonesia. The province of North Sulawesi produces most of the country's coconuts. Coconuts grown in Indonesia are exported in large quantities abroad. Indonesia is also one of the largest pineapple producers in the world. — worldatlas.com
59. Polar bears live only in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and some northern islands belonging to Norway.
The sea ice that forms over the open waters where their prey, the seals, is essential to the survival of polar bears. Because they are good swimmers, polar bears can travel long distances between shore and sea ice. Polar bears often swim between floating ice islands when the ice breaks off. Currently, polar bears can be found in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and the islands of Northern Norway. — nwf.org
60. The Pacific is shrinking
The world's largest Pacific Ocean shrinks by several centimeters every year. This is due to the fact that the tectonic plates on which America is located are shifting to the west.
61. Earth has enough gold to cover itself with it.
Gold is not only shiny and valuable, but also lies deep in the earth where we cannot get it. According to modern scientific theories, there is enough gold in the Earth's core to cover the surface of the planet with a layer of pure gold 4 meters thick. — westcoastplacer.com
62. Middle East imports sand from Australia
Australia and Saudi Arabia are two desert countries, but one exports sand and the other imports it. Saudi Arabia is an importer of sand from Australia due to their huge construction needs. This demand is only growing, and Australia is happy to try. — dailytelegraph.com.au
63. Egypt is located in both Africa and Asia
Egypt is called a "transcontinental nation". It is located in both Asia and Africa. However, since most of Egypt is in Africa, most people think of Africa when talking about Egypt. Asia contains another small part of Egypt. This is the Sinai Peninsula, located in the southwest of the country. — furtherafrica.com
64. There are underwater volcanoes
The Earth's most active volcanic systems are submerged in water that is typically 2,600 m deep. It is estimated that 75% of the annual volcanic activity is produced by the global mid-ocean ridge system below the oceans.
It is estimated that lava erupted over an area of 3 cubic kilometers. The edges of the new oceanic plates are formed by magma and lava, which also provide heat and chemicals to some of the planet's most unusual and exotic organisms. — Martin Speight, Peter Henderson
65. Russia has 11.0% of the earth's land
Throughout history, Russia has been in the top 5 countries by land area and has stayed there for a long time. At present, even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is still the largest country in the world. With a total area of 17,098,242 square kilometers and a land area of 16,376,870 square kilometers, or 11% of the total 148,940,000 square kilometers
Ready for the smart quiz? 90 questions and answers to them about space. How much do you know about the planets, about the Universe and our solar system? Do you want to test your knowledge? Then let's check them out right now together. It will be interesting, informative and just useful!
Remember what you forgot, find out what you did not know, and do not forget to show off your new knowledge with your friends on New Year's holidays.
Quiz: a list of questions and answers on the topic of space
So, Bemorepand's editors have selected 90 questions of varying complexity, the answers to some of which can be found by both novice astronomers and advanced people who are interested in the question…
1. When will Halley's comet be seen next?
Answer: She will return in 2061.
2. Which constellation is located in the hottest place in the universe?
Answer: Virgo.
3. What is the most plausible estimate of the age of the Earth?
Answer: 4.54 billion years.
4. On which planet can rain of diamonds be found?
Answer: Saturn.
5. What is the closest planet to the Sun?
Answer: Mercury.
6. How many stars are in our star system (galaxy)?
Answer: About 200 billion.
7. How many planets in our solar system are made of gas?
Answer: Four.
8. Who was the first person to go into space?
Answer: Yuri Gagarin.
9. What is the most common type of star in the Milky Way?
Answer: Red dwarfs.
10. One of the most famous constellations is Orion. In honor of whom did it get its name?
Answer: In honor of the hunter in Greek myth.
11. How many volcanoes do you think are on the surface of Venus?
Answer: More than 1600 volcanoes.
12. Physical space is often represented in how many linear dimensions?
Answer: In three linear dimensions.
13. What stars in the universe have a rotation speed of 600 revolutions per second?
Answer: Neutron stars.
14. The weight of the Sun in relation to the total mass of the solar system?
Answer: 99.866% of the total mass of the entire solar system.
15. Which planet in our solar system is the densest and has only one satellite?
Answer: Earth.
16. The word "astrophysics" comes from a combination of Greek words. Do you know what the word "Astro" refers to?
Answer: Star.
17. What is the second smallest planet in our solar system?
Answer: Mars.
18. What is the brightest planet in the night sky?
Answer: Venus.
19. Which planet has the most moons?
Answer: Saturn.
20. In what year was Pluto reclassified as a dwarf planet?
Answer: 2006.
21. Where can you find the biosphere?
Answer: The lower part of the atmosphere, the entire hydrosphere and the upper part of the lithosphere.
22. What phenomena keep the planets in a stable orbit around the Sun?
Answer: Gravity.
23. What color would the sky be if you were standing on the Moon and the Sun was shining on you?
Answer: Black.
24. Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
Answer: Neil Armstrong.
25. Who was the first woman to go into space?
Answer: Valentina Tereshkova
26. What color is the Sun?
Answer: The sun appears white to the eye.
27. What elements does the Sun consist of?
Answer: First of all, hydrogen and helium, with a number of some other microelements.
28. Which celestial body in the solar system has the largest mass?
Answer: Sun.
29. What is space debris?
Answer: Any artificial object left to fly in Earth's orbit.
30. How many stars make up Ursa Major?
Answer: 7 stars.
31. Why does the moon glow?
Answer: The moon does not glow by itself, but only reflects sunlight.
32. What is the third brightest celestial object in the sky?
Answer: Venus.
33. How does a meteor become a meteorite?
Answer: When it falls to the surface of the Earth, burning up in the atmosphere.
34. What is the frequency of lunar eclipses?
Answer: At least twice a year.
35. How old is the universe?
Answer: Approximately 13.8 billion years.
36. Imagine that we have arrived at the next planet, Venus. In visible light, we cannot see the surface of Venus from space. Why?
Answer: Venus is covered by a thick layer of clouds.
37. What is the distance between Earth and Mars?
Answer: About 56 million km.
38. Which planet is closest in size to Earth?
Answer: Venus.
39. How many stars are there in the Andromeda Galaxy?
Answer: One trillion.
40. What is an Emission Nebula?
Answer: An interstellar cloud that emits light in the optical range due to the ionization of the gas of which it is composed.
41. What is the size of the Earth in kilometers?
Answer: 40 075.
42. What percentage of the mass of our solar system are the planets?
Answer: 0.135% of the mass of the solar system.
43. On which planet does the wind speed exceed supersonic?
Answer: Neptune.
44. This planet, also known as the "morning star" and "evening star", has long inspired poets. What is this planet?
Answer: Venus.
45. What is the name of the planet, which is sometimes called the sister of the Earth?
Answer: Venus.
46. What are the five most famous dwarf planets?
Answer: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake and Haumea.
47. What is the name of the planet closest to the Sun?
Answer: Mercury.
48. What is the smallest planet in our solar system?
Answer: Mercury.
49. Around which planet does the moon called Titan revolve?
Answer: Saturn.
50. Which planet is larger - Neptune or Saturn?
Answer: Saturn.
51. What protects the Earth from meteorites and solar radiation?
Answer: Atmosphere.
52. How many planets can be seen without a telescope?
Answer: 5 - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
53. Phobos and Deimos are satellites of which planet?
Answer: Mars.
54. Which planets do not have moons?
Answer: Mercury and Venus.
55. Which planet rotates around its axis the fastest?
Answer: Jupiter.
56. How long is a year on Jupiter?
Answer: 12 Earth years.
57. What is the oldest planet in our solar system?
Answer: Jupiter.
58. What is the densest planet in our solar system?
Answer: Earth.
59. Which planets have rings?
Answer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
60. Which planet has the most volcanoes?
Answer: Venus.
61. What are the names of the four largest moons of Jupiter?
Answer: Europa, Ganymede, Callisto and Io.
62. Which planet rotates in the opposite direction relative to the others?
Answer: Venus.
63. What are the four planets - "gas giants"?
Answer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
64. What are the four terrestrial planets in the solar system?
Answer: Mercury, Venus, Mars and Earth.
65. Why does Mercury have craters?
Answer: Its atmosphere is too thin for meteoroids to burn up without harming the surface.
66. Which star is the center of our solar system?
Answer: Sun.
67. How old is the Sun?
Answer: Approximately 4.5 billion years.
68. How long does it take for the sun's rays to reach the earth?
Answer: Eight minutes.
69. When was the solar system formed?
Answer: 4.5 billion years ago.
70. If you weighed 80 kg on Earth, how much would you weigh on Mars?
Answer: 30 kg.
71. What causes the ebb and flow?
Answer: Gravity of the Sun and Moon.
72. How long does a solar eclipse last?
Answer: About seven and a half minutes.
73. Name the three most famous asteroids.
Answer: Ceres, Pallas, Vesta.
74. What is the name of a large number of meteoroids that appear at the same time and in the same place?
Answer: Meteor shower.
75. How many Earths can fit inside the Sun?
Answer: One million.
76. What color is the sunset on Mars?
Answer: Blue.
77. Where can you go to see projections of the night sky?
Answer: Planetarium.
78. What is the name of the outer atmosphere of the Sun?
Answer: Crown.
79. How is the distance between the Sun and the Earth measured?
Answer: In astronomical units (AU).
80. How long does it take for the moon to go through all its phases?
Answer: 29 days.
81. Where is the Oort cloud located?
Answer: Right behind Pluto.
82. How long does it take for the Moon to complete a revolution around the Earth?
Answer: 27 days.
83. Who was the third astronaut to walk on the moon?
Answer: Pete Conrad.
84. Which astronaut is famous for writing his daughter's initials on the moon?
Answer: Gene Cernan.
85. What are the names of the storms created by the Sun?
Answer: Solar storms.
86. In what constellation are the stars Castor and Pollux?
Answer: Gemini.
87. What studies stars, planets and galaxies?
Answer: Astronomy.
88. Which constellation has the shape of a winged horse?
Answer: Pegasus.
89. Which star is closest to the Earth?
Answer: Sun.
90. What is the name of the path traveled by a celestial body in space?
Answer: Orbit.
Perhaps Earth Day should be celebrated every day because we should always strive to care for our planet. This holiday, which takes place annually on April 22, serves as a reminder to appreciate precisely how we live and how it affects our environment.
Earth Day was originally the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin who wanted to educate the nation about the environment. Since the first celebration in 1970, Nelson has inspired a billion people to take action to protect the future of our planet.
Earth Day - celebrate it every day
There are endless ways to celebrate Earth Day this year: share themed quotes with friends to inform and inspire them to take action to save the planet, engage in fun activities with their kids, or educate yourself and figure out how to stay environmentally conscious during a pandemic.
But first, read the Earth Day Facts to learn more about ways to reduce your carbon footprint and why this holiday is so critical to our future.
The United States almost leads the way in waste production
Compared to other countries, Americans are pretty wasteful: the average US citizen produces about 2 kg of garbage per day, including a significant part of recyclables. On average, the world's daily waste per person is about 700 g, so the amount of waste in America is almost three times the global average.
We have too many bottles
About 1 million water bottles are sold every minute worldwide - that's 1.3 billion bottles a day! About 35 million bottles in the US are sent to landfills each year, where they will take about 1,000 years to decompose.
If you want to stay hydrated on the road, consider purchasing a reusable container. It will keep the water cold but reduce your waste. And you will become an excellent example for others. In general, disposable water bottles are one of the single-use items that you should ditch right now.
Devices need to be turned off
Just because you have turned off the button on the device does not mean that you have turned off the power. Backup power, also known as phantom power, extends to devices such as computers, mobile phones, game systems, cable boxes, etc., as long as they are connected to the mains.
This waste of energy is bad for the environment and your wallet. You will save approximately 10% on your electricity bill! More importantly, reduce your home's carbon footprint by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.
Our lifestyle is impossible to maintain
There are currently more than 7.6 billion people globally, and the population continues to grow. According to the United Nations, if the population reaches 9.6 billion by 2050, it would take three of our planets to produce enough natural resources to support our current way of life. This order is unstable and clarifies that we need to make some changes.
Polluted drinking water is a natural killer.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2 billion people worldwide are forced to drink water contaminated with feces. And this leads to severe consequences.
About 485,000 people die from diarrhea caused by drinking contaminated drinking water. Even more troubling, the organization estimates that by 2025, nearly half of the world's population will live in water-stressed areas.
Smog is another big problem
Suppose you thought smog was just an unfortunate consequence of manufacturing. In that case, you might be shocked to learn that about 7 million people die each year from air pollution worldwide.
Pollution refers to atmospheric (outdoor) air pollution and indoor (or domestic) pollution. The problem is so widespread that it is estimated that 9 out of 10 people breathe contaminated air.
Take a cue from Greta
Greta Thunberg is an inspirational figure and one of the youngest women to make history. In 2019, she made headlines by ditching air travel and traveling from Europe to the US by boat.
What was the reason? Draw the public's attention to the fact that aviation accounts for 2% of global carbon emissions today and that passenger numbers are predicted to double by 2037. Travel by train or bus to significantly reduce your carbon footprint whenever possible.
Our oceans are choking on plastic
According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic has been found in 60% of seabirds and 100% sea turtles! Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans, endangering wildlife and the environment.
There's a good reason for banning plastic straws
It's time to buy reusable straws! If you're wondering why plastic straws are slowly disappearing from restaurants, there's an excellent reason. Somewhere they were banned somewhere; they are issued at customers' request. The National Park Service estimates that 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the US alone. Sadly, they are not recyclable. And that means they end up in the oceans and landfills.
Eating less meat and dairy is a good idea
Eliminating meat and dairy from your diet would be the most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. Meat and dairy products, including livestock, account for 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gases annually. This is the same amount of emissions as all trucks, cars, planes, and boats combined.
Meat and dairy products require a lot of water resources
The next time you buy a hamburger, remember that it took a lot of one of our most valuable resources, water, to produce it. Yes, it takes 2,500 liters of water to grow enough beef to make a pound of burgers. Meanwhile, it takes only 40 liters to grow enough wheat for a slice of bread.
Buying used clothes saves more than money
If you love scouring secondhand stores for hidden gems, you know that buying used items saves you a lot of money. It also protects the environment.
When you buy used clothes, they don't end up in landfills, use fewer resources, and result in less pollution than making new clothes. This is an important detail, considering that it takes about 6800 liters of water to produce one pair of jeans!
Your pets are another part of the problem
A medium-sized dog has the same carbon footprint as a large SUV. Of course, no one is saying to give up pets; just know that there are workable ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your beloved family member. For example, switching to a diet with less meat is better for the environment. But before changing your pet's diet, you should talk to your veterinarian.
We need to stop wasting food
In the US, the Department of Agriculture estimates that 30 to 40% of the food supply goes to waste. In comparison, more than 12% of Americans struggle with food insecurity.
This is not only a moral issue but also an environmental issue, as the world's precious resources are being used to produce food, which is wasted as a result.
The USDA says the best way to reduce food waste is not to produce so much. Ordinary people can also contribute by shopping more mindfully and preparing and storing food more carefully.
Recycling is the key to success
While many plastics are recyclable, 91% of recyclable plastic products are never recycled. If this continues, by 2050, there will be 12 billion tons of plastic in landfills.
It will take a global effort to solve this problem, from the actions of ordinary people to the policies of large companies that must consciously abandon single-use plastic.
Almond milk is terrible for the environment
If you love adding almond milk to your morning coffee, it might be time to consider looking into an alternative. It takes 6,000 liters of water to produce one liter of almond milk. Almond milk has another disadvantage that no one talks about: bees on almond farms are under stress.
Almonds require more insects to grow than most other crops. Even the growing season of the plant begins earlier, which means that farmers force insects to “go to work,” not at the call of nature.
Sustainability is big business
Sustainability is not only an ethical choice but also a business intent. Small purchases add up not only to a tidy sum but also go into maintaining the only planet we will ever have.
Glass is another environmental problem
If, after all this talk about plastic, you might be surprised to learn that glass creates problems too. According to recycling company Rubicon, glass bottles take 4,000 years to decompose.
But the good news is that glass is one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. It can be recycled over and over without loss of integrity. The trick is in the proper way of disposal: in a special wastebasket and not in a standard bucket.
NASA says humans are responsible for climate change
NASA scientists say there is over a 95% chance that humans are responsible for the current global warming trend. This means that we, too, are responsible for solving this problem to save the planet for future generations. Start small by replacing some frequently used items with organic products.
Ice cover is shrinking
NASA is also collecting data on our planet's shrinking ice sheet, and that's terrible news. Ice masses in Greenland and Antarctica are shrinking at an alarming rate. Between 1993 and 2016
Greenland was losing an estimated 286 billion tons of ice per year, and Antarctica lost 127. If you are wondering what will happen if the glaciers continue to melt, the answer is disappointing: sea levels will rise, the land configuration will change, and people will have to change their place of residence.
We need to start recycling soda cans
US residents use 65 billion aluminum cans a year! Fortunately, aluminum can can be recycled as much as you like. What's more, you can produce 20 recycled cans with the same amount of energy it would take to make one new one.
Turn off incandescent lamps
Turn off these incandescent lamps (wire-filament electric lamps) when not in use. They not only do not need to illuminate a room in which no one is sitting, incandescent lamps, in principle, are not the most efficient use of energy. Only 10% of their energy produces light, the rest giving off heat, an unnecessary and often unpleasant by-product.
Consider buying an electric car
Americans use about 9 million barrels of oil a year, about 2/3 of which is used for transportation. Switching to an electric or hybrid car will not only reduce fuel emissions but will also save you money in the long run as gas prices are volatile and tend to be very high.
Global warming causes dangerous hurricanes
Rising sea levels caused by melting polar ice make hurricanes even more dangerous. They increase storm surge levels, endangering people living near the ocean. Unfortunately, by 2100 the water level will rise by another 30-60 cm!
Sustainability brings health benefits
Cycling to work instead of driving is a great way to reduce your negative impact on the planet. But the benefits don't end there. A Canadian study found that workers who cycled to work were less stressed 45 minutes into the day than their counterparts.
Energy consumption is only increasing
Despite all the information available, the world's energy consumption continues to increase. The US Energy Information Administration predicts that energy consumption will grow by 50% by 2050, with the most significant consumption coming from Asia.
Global warming leads to drought
Due to climate change, droughts are becoming more and more frequent. In the United States, California was particularly hard hit, with a drought that lasted from 2011 to 2019 and was interrupted by particularly wet winters. This had an economic impact on farmers and also provoked the worst forest fires.
Time matters too
According to the UN, we need to reduce global emissions by 7.6% per year to combat climate change. And so on until 2030. If we had started ten years earlier, we would have only had to cut global emissions by 3.3% by 2030.
Scientists say the current situation is an emergency
At the end of 2019, 11,000 scientists worldwide declared that climate change is not just a cause for concern but a real emergency. They issued a document warning that if the situation is not changed quickly, "untold human suffering" awaits us.
Industrial activity causes significant damage to the environment
Over the past 15 decades, industrial activity has raised carbon dioxide levels from 280 ppm to 412.
Carbon dioxide leads to the appearance of the greenhouse effect when gases enter the earth's environment, affect the heat exchange of the planet and cause global warming. One way to solve this problem is to buy recycled items whenever possible and not contribute to producing a large number of new products.
Washing clothes in cold water is much more environmentally friendly
The easiest way to reduce energy consumption in your home is to wash your clothes in cold water. Most of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with laundry come from heating the water in the washing machine. By flying in cold water, you will not only do your part to protect the environment but also save on your energy bill by reducing your energy consumption.
We need to build intelligent buildings
Buildings account for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Building more energy-efficient buildings and switching to alternative energy sources such as solar energy will be a big step toward reducing the negative human impact on nature.
Greening isn't always about lawns
If you are interested in a green policy, you should consider reducing the size of your front lawn. In the US, grounds use nearly 13 trillion liters of water a year, and lawnmowers require 200 million gallons of gas. If these facts are not enough, we have another one: lawns contain 30 million kg of pesticides.
Bees are also in danger
If you have ever wondered why the world needs bees, the answer will surprise you. They produce honey, but they also pollinate every third piece of food we put in our mouths. These insects are also under threat: US beekeepers lost 22.2% of their colonies last year to pesticides, mites, habitat loss, and climate change.
Use clotheslines
There are about 90 million clothes dryers in the US. The next time you wash your laundry, dry it naturally - don't turn on the dryer. This step will reduce your family's carbon footprint by 1 kg per year and save you money. In addition, air drying is one of the many ways to extend the life of your favorite clothes.
Composting can make a difference
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that food and yard waste makes up more than 28% of household waste in the US, and most of it can be composted. Composting will help enrich the soil and produce the perfect crop. Still, it will also reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
Pump your tires all the way
Believe it or not, the US Department of Energy says under-inflated tires are bad for the environment. You can save up to 3% on fuel consumption if you inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. Using less of it will save you money. Still, it will also ensure that your car emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Turn down the heat at night
Turning the thermostat a few degrees lower before bed will save a few percent of energy in 8 hours. This is another easy way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
Bring back the stars!
80% of the world's population lives under light-polluted skies, while in Europe, this number rises to 99%. This means that the stars do not shine very brightly. And also - that we spend too much unnecessary energy. To reduce light pollution, it is necessary to turn off unused lights and not waste energy lighting unnecessary spaces.
Take care of wild animals
The World Wildlife Federation estimates that global warming puts 20 to 30% of wildlife species at risk of extinction. For example, the tiger population has already dwindled to 3,200. Global warming will only increase that number as sea levels rise and their habitats are threatened by droughts and wildfires.
Climate change makes it harder to grow food
A 2018 study concluded that by 2100 the growth of vegetables and legumes could be reduced by as much as 35% due to water shortages and ozone problems if we do not stop the current course of climate change.
Preventing a global food crisis is in our hands
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report showed that the likelihood that climate change will affect food production is very high. This is mainly due to the threat of an increase in extreme weather conditions - severe storms and droughts - which will affect both agriculture and livestock.
Our food is becoming less nutritious
The same study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revealed another major problem with our food: All the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reduces our crops' nutritional value. For example, grain has grown in areas with high carbon dioxide levels containing up to 8% less iron and up to 13% less protein.
Climate change affects life expectancy
A recent study of 4,100 different species of terrestrial vertebrates from around the world concluded that warmer temperatures associated with climate change affect the way cold-blooded organisms such as amphibians and reptiles age. In short, higher temperatures lead to faster aging and a shorter lifespan.
Not only cold-blooded creatures suffer
According to researchers, global warming is affecting human health more than ever. It is expected that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year. It becomes clear that we need to change something.
Wealthy people contribute more to the environmental problem
Living a luxurious lifestyle and accumulating wealth means that, in general, the rich are more of a contributor to climate change than the poor. Oxfam estimates that the carbon footprint of the rich could be 175 times that of the less wealthy. Buying used goods, ditching private jets, and making smart investment choices will have a significant impact on reducing their negative environmental impact.
Rainforests are one of our best climate change mitigators
When rainforests thrive, they absorb billions of tons of harmful carbon dioxide from the air. In other words, rainforests are at the forefront of the fight against climate change. This is one of the many reasons it is essential to protect them.
In the US, they don't recycle everything they can
If you believe that the US is leading the way in saving the planet, you should think twice. There are many things that other countries recycle that the United States does not. In the United States, only 35% of waste is recycled or composted.