Our astrological journey across the cosmos brings us to reveal ten interesting facts about the universe that you may not be aware of.
The night sky is full of wonders, galaxies, celestial bodies, and more that humans are yet to discover.
Today, we seek to provide you with a glimpse of our immense universe with ten fascinating facts that will blow your mind! Let’s get started.
Once you’re done reading this, check out the top 10 mysterious places in the world.
10 Facts About The Universe
- The Universe is (Probably) Flat
- The Universe is Rapidly Expanding
- There are More Stars in the Universe Than Grains of Sand on Earth
- The Universe is 13.8 Billion Years Old
- The Biggest Mountain in the Solar System Isn’t on Earth
- The Universe is Made Mostly of Dark Matter and Dark Energy
- The Speed of Light is Constant
- There May Be Multiverses
- The Universe is Silent
- Black Holes Are Not Empty Space
1. The Universe is (Probably) Flat
What if we told you that, unlike the Earth, the universe was flat?
Studies of cosmic microwave background radiation have shown that the universe has a ‘flat geometry’.
This means that if you kept walking on a straight path, you would never end back where you started.
This article from Space provides an in-depth look at this.
2. The Universe is Rapidly Expanding
The ongoing expansion of the Universe is one of its most intriguing features.
Towards the beginning of the 20th century, Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxies were veering away from us in every direction.
In basic terms, this meant that these galaxies were expanding rapidly.
The Hubble Constant (which measures the cosmic expansion rate) indicates that a mystery component termed ‘dark energy’ was the cause behind the universe’s expansion.
3. There are More Stars in the Universe Than Grains of Sand on Earth
This astounding fact puts the size of the universe into perspective!
Astronomers say that about 70 trillion stars exist in the observable universe alone.
That is more stars than there are sand grains on all of the world’s beaches and deserts combined!
4. The Universe is 13.8 Billion Years Old
Most of us have trouble living past 70 – 80 years, but our universe has a much longer life span.
Research done by NASA’s Planck spacecraft has shown that the universe is nearly 13.8 billion years old!
The story of our universe began with the ‘Big Bang’ which happened nearly 13.8 billion years ago and created the universe as we know it.
This event also reminds me of one of my favorite TV series, ‘The Big Bang Theory’!
5. The Biggest Mountain in the Solar System Isn’t on Earth
When asked about the biggest mountain, everyone answers Mount Everest.
What if we told you that Mount Everest was the biggest mountain on Earth but not the biggest one in the Universe?
The title of the highest mountain in the Universe goes to Olympus Mons on Mars.
This is a shield volcano that’s the size of three Mount Everests put together! That makes Olympus Mons the biggest mountain in our solar system.
It’s just the knowledge we’ve all been given
6. The Universe is Made Mostly of Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Another fascinating fact about the universe is the majority of the universe is made up of dark matter and dark energy.
Since dark matter does not interact with light, it is essentially impossible to examine it.
On the other side, an unknown force known as dark energy is speeding up the universe’s expansion.
They make up around 95% of the universe collectively, while ‘regular’ matter only makes up about 5%.
7. The Speed of Light is Constant
In a vacuum, the speed of light is fixed at 299,792 km/s, independent of the motion of the observer.
In other words, the speed of light is constant even in space. This was one of the key points in Abert Einstein’s theory of relativity which laid the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries.
You can read more about the speed of light here.
8. There May Be Multiverses
One of the most fascinating aspects of the cosmos is the multiverse theory.
It may be hypothetical, but It implies that there might be other universes besides our own!
According to this theory, an endless number of universes with various physical rules may exist.
Despite being unverified, the notion nonetheless fascinates both scientists and astronomy buffs.
Check out this article on Multiverses by National Geographic to learn more.
9. The Universe is Silent
Space is incredibly silent. It’s a vacuum that is devoid of any matter so, sound waves are unable to travel through it.
That’s because sound waves need a medium to travel. So, to put it into perspective, if there was an explosion in space, it would be hauntingly silent.
Read this article on ‘Is there sound in space?’ for more details.
10. Black Holes Are Not Empty Space
Contrary to popular belief, black holes aren’t empty space.
They are massive amounts of matter packed into a very small area, creating a gravitational field so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
They are some of the universe’s most mysterious and powerful phenomena.
Learn all about black holes here!
Conclusion
So, there you have it, 10 interesting facts about the universe that offer a glimpse into the wonders it holds.
Each piece of information sparks our interest and fuels our drive to understand more about the universe.
Who knows what incredible discoveries lie in store for us as we continue to investigate the universe’s mysteries?
Remember, you can explore other captivating articles here at Cryptic Cosmos, like this insightful piece on the top 10 mysterious tribes.
