COSMIC CURIOSITIES

When will our galaxy collide with another? 10 mind-blowing space facts

Image: Graham Holtshausen

Exploring our surroundings is part of human nature. Thus, humankind has explored the heights of mountains and the depths of oceans. But since our hunger for knowledge is infinite, our curiosity extends to outer space, too. The immensity and beauty of space leave us breathless, and while we've been studying it for ages, there's still so much we don't know about it. Luckily, there are some things we do know. In this article, we'll tell you 10 amazing facts you probably didn't know about outer space!

Image: Nicolas Lobos

Olympus Mons is its name, and it is almost three times bigger than our Everest.

As you probably already know, Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, standing an astounding 5.5 miles above sea level. Huge, right? But wait, Everest looks like a baby compared to the dimensions of Olympus Mons.

At an impressive 13.6 miles in height and some 435 miles across, this Martian giant claims the title of the largest known volcano in our Solar System.

It is located in the Tharsis Montes, a volcanic region in Mars' western hemisphere, and the crater at its summit is no small feat either, measuring about 53 miles in diameter!

Image: NASA

Weather conditions or other people's footsteps will definitely erase the prints you once left on the beach. Footprints on Earth can be ephemeral, but the same is not true on the Moon.

Did you know that the step marks left by astronauts who walked on the Moon more than 50 years ago are still there? And they will probably remain for millions of years.

While this may seem impossible to believe, it's true, thanks to the Moon's unique conditions. Although some properties of the Moon could indeed alter its surface, their effect has proven to be very slight. With no rain or wind to erase them, the human footprints left there can still be seen.

Image: Jeremy Perkins

Have you ever dreamed of time travel? So do we! Whether to fix past mistakes or to take a walk through history, the desire to travel back in time is universal.

Although using a time machine is not (yet) possible, there is an alternative: looking at the night sky. Yes, it's that simple.

Given the huge distances, light from the stars takes years to reach us. So, when you look at the stars, you are actually seeing what they looked like many years ago.

Do you wonder if that star still exists? Well, it's a mystery.

Image: Tengyart

Let's talk about fates. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is destined to collide with our neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy.

Of course, there will be chaos, but although this sounds like a tragedy, the merge of these two will lead to the emergence of a new and more complex galaxy.

Anyway, this will happen in about 4 billion years. It's not something that should stress you out.

Image: NASA

A place where a day lasts longer than a year: This fact may seem crazy, but let's examine it in detail.

For a planet, a year is the time it takes to complete one revolution around the Sun. In contrast, day is the time it takes for a planet to make one complete rotation about its axis.

Venus not only rotates in the opposite direction of Earth but also does so at a relatively slow pace. Venus takes 243 Earth days to rotate on its axis. On the other hand, it takes 225 Earth days to go around the Sun. That is, it takes longer to complete a day than a year.

Fun fact: as the planet rotates backward, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east there.

Image: Martin Jernberg

Speaking of crazy sunsets, this one will blow your mind.

Ah, nothing like watching a beautiful sunset, right? Those orange, red, and even pink shades have moved poets and inspired artists since ancient times.

But if we lived on Mars, things would turn a little blue. According to NASA, a sunset on the Red Planet would appear bluish to the human eye, thanks to its atmosphere, which is dominated by large dust particles. These particles filter out the Sun's red light, allowing the blues to shine.

Image: NASA

Neptune is more than 30 times as far from the Sun as Earth. In fact, it is the farthest planet from the Sun, and, unlike Venus, its days are much (much) shorter than its years. A day on Neptune lasts about 16 Earth hours, while a year on this ice giant takes 165 Earth years!

That's right, cold Neptune has only gone around the Sun once since its discovery in 1846.

Next time you find yourself stressing about taking too long to complete a task, just think of Neptune. Suddenly, you aren’t doing so badly, right?

Image: Ganapathy Kumar

From Earth, we see the Moon as this beautiful, luminous sphere that understands our night sorrows, but its reality is quite different.

In fact, our Moon not only has no light of its own, but it is not even a sphere, at least not a perfect one. You can grab a rubber ball and gently squeeze its opposite sides to get a rough idea of the Moon's shape. Another way to picture its figure is to look at a lemon, with its irregularities and all.

Let's not leave aside the lesson: its imperfection does not make it any less beautiful.

Image: Nathan Anderson

We have more news about the Moon: it is moving away from us. The good part is that it is not that determined to leave us since it is moving only 1.5 inches per year.

Currently, the space between our planet and the Moon could fit about 30 Earths, which is already a lot. But it seems that our Moon needs more room.

The Moon's gradual receding from the Earth happens due to gravitational interactions between the two celestial bodies. When this occurs, the Earth's rotation slows down, and the Moon moves into a more distant orbit.

Image: NASA

Imagine looking up at the night sky and seeing not one but two moons. It would be moving, wouldn't it? Now, if you increase the number to five or ten moons, things can start to look a little weird.

Jupiter has 95 moons, which already seems overwhelming. But Saturn beats it by far, with 145 moons discovered so far around the planet.

With this number, Saturn has more moons than all the other planets in the Solar System combined!

BEYOND THE MYTH

10 Surprising Facts About Abe Lincoln You Probably Didn't Know

Image: Caleb Fisher

Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s most revered presidents, is a man whose sagacious leadership steered the country during its most tumultuous periods. But beyond the larger-than-life figure lies a man of intriguing depth. Join us to learn 10 curious facts about Honest Abe that you probably didn’t know!

Image: Siora Photography

Abraham Lincoln holds the distinction of being the tallest president in American history, standing at a towering height of 6 feet 4 inches. His imposing stature often commanded attention, both in the political arena and among his peers. Despite his remarkable height, Lincoln's presence was characterized by a gentle demeanor and humble disposition.

Image: Provincial Archives of Alberta

Lincoln wasn't just a formidable politician; he was also an accomplished wrestler. Allegedly, early in his career, he defeated a local bully in a wrestling match, becoming the town hero. In any case, his strength and skill in the ring earned him a reputation as a formidable opponent. Amassing 300 victories over 12 years, he was only defeated once, by fellow soldier Lorenzo Dow Thompson during the Black Hawk War of 1832.

Image: Pawel Czerwinski

Contrary to popular belief, Lincoln's voice didn't match his towering stature. Instead of a deep, booming voice, he spoke in a surprisingly high-pitched tone. The somewhat unexpected tone of his voice, however, didn’t take away from his powerful speeches, and any perceived awkwardness was soon overshadowed by his wisdom and ideas.

Image: Bjarne Vijfvinkel

Before he entered politics, Lincoln co-owned a general store and drinking establishment called Berry and Lincoln in New Salem, Illinois. It was here that he obtained a license to sell liquor, making him a licensed bartender. However, the joint venture soon ran into debt, and Lincoln wasn’t able to fully recover economically until he became a Congressman.

Image: National Library of Ireland on The Commons

Lincoln's iconic stovepipe hat wasn't just a fashion statement; it served as a convenient storage space for his notes and documents. He would tuck memos or important notes inside his hat, utilizing its ample space to keep his thoughts organized while working or reading. This quirky habit - one of many, actually - illustrates Lincoln's pragmatic personality and wit.

Image: Clark Young

Despite his rugged appearance, Lincoln had a soft spot for poetry. As a teenager, he often wrote short stanzas and satirical verses on the flyleaves of books, and later in life, he worked on longer poems, some of which he published or sent in letters to close friends. One of his longer works, My Childhood-Home I See Again, dealt with his feelings of melancholy and yearning upon visiting his childhood home.

Image: Sven Mieke

Lincoln was far more than just a skilled politician, he often liked to tinker with things, making up solutions to various problems. Proof of this is that, in 1849, while serving in Congress, he was granted a patent for a device that could lift boats over shallow waters or other obstructions in a river. Though he never saw it in action, his invention demonstrated his innovative spirit.

Image: Zeke Tucker

Lincoln adored cats and was often seen playing with his cats Tabby and Dixie in the White House. In fact, he was quite a cat person, and during the war, he rescued motherless kittens every time he could. His fondness for animals, in general, was well known, and he let his sons keep as many pets as they wished, resulting in quite a menagerie living within the White House premises, including rabbits, turkeys, horses, and two beloved goats called Nanny and Nanko.

Image: Josh Sorenson

Lincoln's iconic facial hair wasn't always a part of his look. He allegedly grew it at the suggestion of Grace Bedell of Westfield, New York, an 11-year-old girl who wrote to him, claiming it would improve his appearance because "his face was so thin" and it would earn him more votes. While it is unknown whether she actually influenced his decision to grow a beard, he began to grow his distinctive beard soon afterward.

Image: Metin Ozer

Despite the immense pressures of leading a nation during a tumultuous time, Lincoln remained remarkably laid-back in his approach to fatherhood. He enjoyed spending time with his children, often engaging in playful activities and games with them. Julia Taft Bayne - a close friend of the Lincoln family - recalled in her memoirs that one time, both Lincoln’s sons barged into his office and asked him to pardon a doll accused of spying. Their father willingly played along, and then sighed to his secretary, "And I only wish they were all that easy."