Introduction:
The universe is a vast and awesome place, home to billions of stars, planets, comets, and more. So what are the 10 facts about space that you may not have known? A lot of space is considered dark but there's so much more than meets the eye. We take a look at some interesting facts about the universe that you might not know!
Space is one of the most fascinating topics in the world today. It's so interesting that everyone has a different image of what it's like to be in space. In fact, it's more than just an image — there are incredible things you might not know about space and everything around it!
1. Myth: There is no gravity in space
Myth: There is no gravity in space
In fact, there is gravity everywhere. It’s just not visible to the naked eye because it’s so weak compared to what we see on Earth, but it's there—and that's why our bodies have weight! Even spacecraft are in free fall and not floating because they are falling toward Earth thanks to their own mass and inertia.
2. Myth: You can fly around in a vacuum
Myth: You can fly around in a vacuum
You can float around, but you cannot fly. This is because air has mass and therefore affects gravity (and vice versa). This means that even if there were no atmosphere or other effects on your body, it would be difficult for you to move through space because of how much resistance there would be from the air itself. In order to travel through space without being affected by gravity at all (which would mean being able to reach speeds beyond those which we experience here on Earth), astronauts need protective suits that keep them from losing too much weight during their missions outside of Earth's atmosphere.
3. Myth: Stars twinkle
Myth: Stars twinkle because of the atmosphere.
This is a common misconception, but it's wrong! The fact that stars twinkle in our atmosphere has nothing to do with how far away they are from you or even any other planet in your solar system. In fact, it's difficult to prove that any object could be seen as twinkling at all if you were right outside a telescope on Earth!
The only reason why we think stars look like they're twinkling is that light travels through air and gets bent by water molecules in our atmosphere before reaching our eyes—and since light needs time to travel across large distances (like between galaxies), sometimes it appears as though an object isn't moving at all when really it is!
4. Myth: You can't cry in space
You can cry in space.
It’s true! While it may not be the most pleasant thing to do, you can openly express your emotions without fear that your tears will float away from your face due to lack of gravity. In fact, some astronauts have been known to cry while in space (or at least admit they did).
However, this doesn’t mean that there are easy ways for crying astronauts—or even those who simply want some privacy—to get their tears out in such an isolated environment. The reasons why are numerous: First of all, no one knows how much time has passed since someone last cried on Earth; secondarily, there is no air pressure difference between here and there; thirdly (and most importantly), there's nothing around them but blackness and empty space--therefore making it impossible for them even just thinking about trying something like wiping away their tears without actually doing so first!
5. Myth: Space is silent
Myth: Space is silent.
The truth is that space is not silent at all, but rather filled with sound. The sounds of space can be very different from those on Earth, and there are many different types of sounds in space. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that some of the sounds we here on Earth hear every day are actually caused by things out in space!
These include everything from thunderstorms to meteors crashing back down onto our planet’s surface (yes—meteors!).
6. Fact: The airless moon has quakes
The moon has quakes, but they’re smaller and less frequent than those on Earth. The reason? The moon doesn’t have an outer core as we do, so it doesn’t have the same rigid structure that can cause earthquakes. Instead, the gravitational pull of all that mass causes small movements in the interior of our satellite world: These movements produce what scientists call “moonquakes”—much like what happens when you drop something heavy onto a table or throw some dice into a cup on Earth!
The fact that these quakes are much smaller than those found on our planet means that they don't affect us much at all (unless we happen to be standing directly beneath them). But if there was ever any doubt about whether or not these little booms could cause damage... well then look no further than this video clip from 2012 showing an unlucky tourist walking away from one such quake without injury:
7. Fact: Radiation is a big concern
Fact: Radiation is a big concern in space
Radiation can be dangerous if astronauts are exposed to high levels of it for long periods of time. The International Space Station is protected from radiation by its aluminum hull, but this does not protect against other types of radiation exposure like cosmic rays and solar particles. These are different from terrestrial sources like X-rays and gamma rays, which come from our sun or other stars (the sun emits mostly energetic photons). Cosmic rays are also called “high-energy” particles that travel through space at nearly the speed of light (the speed limit for everything else). They can cause serious health problems for astronauts due to their high energy and penetrating properties - one way they do this is by causing other types of radiation (such as ultraviolet) when they collide with atoms in space! There are ways we have already designed equipment on board spacecraft such as satellites that shield astronauts against cosmic ray bombardments while still allowing them access during mission operations - these include Cherenkov detectors which detect particle collisions; equipment called wire chambers used specifically during EVA spacewalks; lead shielding material placed around windows where crews might view Earth below them...
8. Fact: Water is everywhere in space
Water is everywhere in space. It's present in the air, the soil, and even rocks. In fact, water is essential for life on Earth; we need it to survive and breathe.
Water also makes up about two-thirds of your body weight—that's about 3% of your total mass! And it's a major component of human blood (about 65%). Our bodies are made up mostly of liquid—we're made up mostly of water!
Spacecraft can carry up to five liters (1/2 gallon) per person per day; this amount is enough for one mission but not enough food or oxygen if you have been stuck outside for years at a time during extreme weather conditions like those experienced by NASA astronauts during their time on board the International Space Station (ISS).
9. Fact: Space looks really dark, but isn't completely black
Space looks really dark, but isn't completely black
If you think about it, space is actually pretty bright. The stars and planets are very bright, but they're still in space. On Earth (the planet we live on), the sun has lit up everything for billions of years—and even though it's a small piece of what makes up our galaxy, it's still thousands of times brighter than any star or planet! Think about how bright your phone screen would have to be before you could see anything else around you at night—it wouldn't be easy with all those lights turned off!
10. Fact: Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space
It's a common myth that astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space. In fact, it's not just a myth: NASA actually bans astronauts from eating beans before their mission.
The reason for this is simple: if you're on a spacecraft floating through space, your digestive system will be working at full force in order to digest your food and produce waste products like gas and belching (which sounds gross). And if the spacecraft has no pressurization system or masks available for breathing pure oxygen (which it doesn't), then any movement could cause flatulence or even explosive methane buildup—which could make you vomit at random intervals during mission time!
So yes: Beans are bad news for astronauts.
Conclusion:
Space is a beautiful and mysterious place. It fills us with awe, wonder, and a sense of peace. There is no better way to truly appreciate the greatness that space provides than by looking at some of our most amazing facts about space. The universe is so big and contains so much we still don't understand. But it never hurts to try to better understand this most fascinating of mysteries.
Space is vast and contains more mysteries than we can imagine. People are flying into space more frequently than ever before and finding incredible new information that could potentially change the world. The farther we go into space the more we learn about our Earth, the universe, and everything around us.