Science Facts for Kids
Mind-blowing science facts
Large pieces of plastic in the environment gradually break down into tiny particles called microplastics — less than 5 millimetres wide — which have been found in every ocean, in the air, in food, and even in human blood.
Earth's surface is divided into about 15 major tectonic plates that move a few centimetres every year. Where plates collide, pull apart, or grind past each other, you get earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges.
Most scientists do not consider viruses to be truly alive, because they cannot reproduce on their own — they must invade a host cell and hijack its machinery to make copies of themselves.
Absolute zero — minus 273.15 degrees Celsius — is the coldest possible temperature, at which all molecular motion stops. It has never been fully achieved in a laboratory, only approached to within a billionth of a degree.
When a sperm and egg cell combine at fertilisation, each contributes 23 chromosomes, creating a new cell with 46 — a unique combination of genes from both parents that has never existed before.
The jet stream is a fast-flowing river of air about 10 kilometres high in the atmosphere. Aeroplanes flying from the US to the UK use it to shorten flight times by up to an hour, while those flying westwards must fight against it.
Acid rain forms when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released by burning fossil fuels react with water in the atmosphere to form weak acids, which damage trees, lakes, and stone buildings.
Skin is the largest organ in the human body. In an adult, it covers about 2 square metres, weighs about 3.6 kilograms, and completely renews itself approximately every 27 days.
Copper turns green over time due to a chemical reaction with oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide in the air, forming a compound called verdigris. This is why the Statue of Liberty, which is clad in copper, is green.
Your body temperature is regulated by a tiny region of the brain called the hypothalamus, which acts like a thermostat — triggering sweating to cool you down, or shivering to warm you up.