Our beautiful home – planet Earth – has some unusual secrets that you probably didn’t know. A lot of these will make us rethink a lot of what we learned at school!
1. The Earth’s Core isn’t Much Cooler than the Sun
Caltech geochemist Paul Asimow said, “Within uncertainty, the temperature at the center of the Earth is the same as the temperature at the surface of the sun (5800 K).” That’s a lot of heat, at approximately 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Moss Can Be Found Almost Anywhere
Moss can be found on the surface of the soil in deserts all over the world. Moss has the unique capacity to catch water directly from the air, thanks to these specialized structures called awns, which seem like small hairs growing out of their leaves.
3. Sea Levels May Rise 2.5 Feet By the Year 2100
According to climate scientist Tapio Schneider, we will see at least a two-foot rise in sea level by the end of the century. This might pose serious challenges to low-lying island nations, as well as the loss of narrow, shallow channels.
4. Earth Is Radioactive
Approximately half of the heat generated by the Earth comes from radioactive decay in its core, according to a 2011 study. And according to scientists, the radioactive decay of thorium, uranium, and potassium accounts for half of Earth’s heat.
5. No One Knows Who the Earth Got Its Name From
Earth is the only planet whose name is not derived from a Greek or Roman god, unlike other planets whose names can be traced back to someone (or a group of people).
6. Earth Would Be Split in Half By a Magnitude 12 Earthquake
Since an event on a fault much longer than the diameter of the Earth is required for an earthquake of magnitude 13, it is theoretically impossible.
7. One Teaspoon of Soil Contains a Billion Microbes
According to estimates, there are roughly one billion microbes in a teaspoon of soil.