5 amazing science facts that will blow your mind (2024)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 15, 2021 15:56 IST

Children both younger and older -- are curious by nature and science is one such subject where people learn and explore, putting their minds to test and play. Fun facts about everyday life and the great mysteries of the universe always fascinate us, no matter our age.

Here are a few lesser-known science facts that will excite and interest children and adults as they learn more about the subject:

1. A teaspoonful of neutron star

Neutron stars are the remnants of giant stars that died in a fiery explosion known as a supernova. Neutron stars and their density are usually measured in solar masses.

They have a mass of about twice that of the sun (bigger than 10 suns) and are the smallest and dense stars known to exist in the universe.

If we dig up one teaspoon of mass from a neutron star, the mass will weigh around 6 billion tons which proves how dense the star can be!

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2. Metals that explode when in contact with water

There are certain metals like potassium, sodium, lithium, rubidium, and cesium that are reactive, and they tarnish instantly when exposed to air and explode when dropped in water!

The alkali metals have only one electron on their outer shell, making them ultra-keen to pass on this unwanted passenger to another element via bonding.

As a result, they form compounds with other elements so readily that they do not exist independently in nature.

3. Hawaii is moving closer to Alaska by 7.5cm every year

Yes! This is caused by tectonic plates which are in constant motion, driven by currents that rise and fall under them.

Hawaii remains in the center of the Pacific plate and every year due to this constant motion, Hawaii is slowly and steadily heading to the North American platform, back to Alaska.

4. Sunflowers are known as hyperaccumulators

Like many other hyperaccumulating plants, sunflowers remove metal compounds from deep in the soil and transport them into the stem, leaves and, flower head.

They can take up high concentration of toxic materials and are adept at extracting radioactive metals from a particular place in a period of 3-4years.

Hyperaccumulating plants are used to clear up waste during a process called phytoremediation.

5. A co*ckroach can live for up to one week without its head

co*ckroaches are infamous for their tenacity and are often pointed to as the most possible nuclear war refugees.

Due to their open circulatory system, and the fact that they breathe through little holes in each of their body segments, they are not dependent on the mouth or head to breathe.

The roach only dies because without a mouth, it cannot drink water and dies of thirst.

Encouraging children to learn and discover new things through science everyday will develop their knowledge and practice many skills.

And not just children, adults will also always benefit from learning new facts and gaining new information on a day-today basis!

- Article by Nabanita Bhattacharjee, Master Teacher, Vedantu

Read: Here are 10 amazing facts about our universe

Read: 20 interesting General Knowledge facts that you should know