Science Facts for Kids
Mind-blowing science facts
Muscles can only pull — they cannot push. That is why they come in opposing pairs: when you bend your arm, your bicep contracts and pulls, while the tricep at the back relaxes and stretches.
When an acid and a base are mixed together, they neutralise each other and produce a salt and water. For example, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide combine to make table salt and water.
Earth's magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron in the planet's outer core. Without this field, harmful solar radiation would bombard the surface and strip away the atmosphere.
Bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics within just a few hours by passing resistant genes to each other — a major global health challenge that threatens our ability to treat infections.
Ocean tides are mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon stretching the Earth's oceans towards it. The Sun also has a weaker effect, and when the two align, tides are extra large.
The microwave oven was invented by accident in 1945 when engineer Percy Spencer noticed that a radar transmitter had melted the chocolate bar in his pocket. He then deliberately popped popcorn and cooked an egg.
Volcanic eruptions create new land. The Hawaiian islands were formed entirely by undersea volcanoes that built up over millions of years until they broke the ocean surface.
Earthquakes send out seismic waves in all directions, travelling through the Earth's interior. By studying how these waves travel, scientists can map the inside of our planet without ever drilling that deep.
Despite being essential for breathing, nitrogen — not oxygen — makes up the largest part of the air. Roughly 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen, with only about 21% oxygen.
Many common plastics can take up to 500 years to decompose in the environment, which is why plastic pollution is such a serious long-term threat to ecosystems and wildlife.