Science Facts for Kids
Mind-blowing science facts
The Venus flytrap counts — it requires two touches of its trigger hairs within 20 seconds before it snaps shut, preventing it from wasting energy on rain or blowing debris.
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by massive events such as colliding black holes. First detected in 2015, they travel at the speed of light and were predicted by Einstein 100 years earlier.
When you cut yourself, a rapid chain of about 13 chemical reactions involving proteins called clotting factors causes blood to form a gel-like clot within minutes, plugging the wound and preventing dangerous blood loss.
Rubber is bouncy at room temperature, but if you cool it with liquid nitrogen to about minus 70 degrees Celsius, it becomes as rigid and brittle as glass and will shatter if dropped.
Plant roots actively grow towards water in a process called hydrotropism. The roots detect moisture gradients in the soil and change their direction of growth to follow the water source.
The periodic table currently contains 118 confirmed chemical elements. The heaviest, oganesson (element 118), was first synthesised in 2002 and exists for only a few milliseconds before decaying into lighter elements.
The human genome — the complete set of DNA instructions in every cell — contains about 20,000 protein-coding genes, plus large regions that regulate those genes. The first complete human genome sequence was published in 2003.
Falling objects do not accelerate forever — air resistance increases until it balances gravity, at which point they reach a constant speed called terminal velocity. A skydiver's terminal velocity is about 195 kilometres per hour.
Sodium metal reacts so violently with water that it catches fire and can explode. It releases hydrogen gas, which ignites, and produces sodium hydroxide — a powerful alkali.
Ecosystems with greater biodiversity are more resilient to disturbances like drought, disease, or climate change. When one species is lost, others can often fill its role — but only if diversity is maintained.