5 Amazing Space Facts Every Student Should Know
From silent skies to diamond planets, five facts that will change how you see the universe.
August 28, 2023 · By Arushi Dubey
Space never stops surprising us. Whether you are a student in Dubai revising for GCSE Physics or simply love staring up at the night sky from anywhere in the world, these five facts are proof that the universe is far stranger, and far more fascinating, than it first appears.
Space Is Completely Silent
Have you ever heard the phrase, "in space, no one can hear you scream", and wondered why that might be? It is because there is no air in space: it is a vacuum. Sound waves need a medium to travel through, and the lack of air particles means that no matter how loud you shout, you will not make even the slightest sound. Space begins about 100 km above the Earth, where the atmosphere essentially disappears.
There Might Be Life on Mars
Out of all the planets in our solar system, it is thought that the likelihood of there being life on Mars is the highest. This is because the confirmation that water once actually flowed there suggests that Mars may have had the environmental factors needed to support life.
There Is a Planet Likely Made of Diamonds
An exoplanet located 40 light years away from us may be covered in diamonds. Scientists conducted research that led them to find that the exoplanet has a high carbon to oxygen ratio, which would lead to the formation of diamonds. It is thought that at least a third of the planet's mass could be diamond!
There Are More Trees on Earth Than Stars in the Milky Way
You may have heard that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand, which may well be true. However, if we compare Earth to the Milky Way galaxy, we find that there are actually more trees on Earth than stars in the galaxy. There are roughly 3 trillion trees on our planet, and around 400 billion stars in the Milky Way.
A Day on Venus Is Longer Than Its Year
Venus has a very slow axis rotation that takes 243 Earth days to complete one full cycle. The planet orbits the Sun faster than Earth does, so a year on Venus takes only 225 Earth days, meaning that a day on Venus is longer than its year!
Keep Looking Up
The universe is full of surprises, and the more you learn, the more questions you will find. If these facts sparked your curiosity, bring that same sense of wonder into your next Physics or Science lesson. Curiosity is the best study tool there is. And if these are the kinds of questions you could happily talk about for hours, our Physics and Science tutors feel exactly the same way, so you can always request a tutor to explore them with.
Arushi Dubey
Student contributor to the Unitors blog, writing about science and curiosity.
Want to make science this exciting every week?
Our Physics and Science tutors bring the wonder of the universe into every lesson. Get matched within 24 hours.