Space Mysteries That Will Make You Feel Tiny
The universe is vast, dark, and filled with phenomena that defy logic. Even with our most advanced telescopes, we are only scratching the surface of what is out there. Here are five mind-blowing facts about the final frontier.
- The Diamond Planet: Scientists have discovered an exoplanet called 55 Cancri e that is twice the size of Earth and likely made of 1/3 solid diamond. Because it is so close to its star, the surface is also incredibly hot.
- Space Smells Like Seared Steak: Astronauts have frequently reported that after a spacewalk, their suits smell like a distinct metallic aroma, often described as burnt meat, hot metal, or welding fumes.
- A Massive Water Reservoir in the Clouds: Astronomers found a cloud of water vapor floating in space that holds 140 trillion times the amount of water in all of Earth’s oceans combined. It is surrounding a massive black hole billions of light-years away.
- The Silent Vacuum: Unlike the loud explosions you see in movies, space is completely silent. Sound needs a medium like air or water to travel, and since space is a vacuum, no one can hear you scream (or sing).
- Neutron Stars are Incredibly Dense: A single teaspoon of a neutron star would weigh about 6 billion tons. That is roughly the equivalent of the weight of every human being on Earth packed into one tiny spoon.