 Rabbits and parrots can see behind themselves without even moving their heads!

 Butterflies taste food by standing on top of it! Their taste receptors are in their feet unlike humans
who have most on their tongue.
 Most of the dust in your home is actually dead skin! Yuck!
 Although the Stegosaurus dinosaur was over 9 metres long, its brain was only the size of a
walnut.
 Humans get a little taller in space because there is no gravity pulling down on them.
 Because of the unusual shape of their legs, kangaroos and emus struggle to walk backwards.
 A hippopotamus may seem huge but it can still run faster than a man.
 Even if an analog clock is broken, at least it shows the correct time twice a day.
 Sneezing with your eyes open is impossible.
 The trickiest tongue twister in the English language is apparently "Sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s
sick". Give it a try and see for yourself.
 

 The Sun is over 300000 times larger than earth. More Sun facts.
 Halley’s Comet was last seen in the inner Solar System in 1986, it will be visible again from Earth
sometime in 2061 (get your camera ready). More comet facts.
 Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system with a surface temperature of over 450 degrees
celcius.
 Many scientists believe that an asteroid impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs around 65
million years ago. More asteroid facts.
 The Solar System formed around 4.6 billion years ago. More Solar System facts.
 The Moon appears to have more craters and scars than Earth because it has a lot less natural
activity going on, the Earth is constantly reforming its surface through earthquakes, erosion, rain,
wind and plants growing on the surface, while the moon has very little weather to alter its
appearance. More Moon facts.
 Saturn isn't the only ringed planet, other gas giants such as Jupiter, Uranus andNeptune also
have rings, they are just less obvious.
 Footprints and tyre tracks left behind by astronauts on the moon will stay there forever as there is
no wind to blow them away.
 In 2006, astronomers changed the definition of a planet. This means that Pluto is now referred to
as a dwarf planet. Learn more dwarf planet facts.
 Because of lower gravity, a person who weighs 100kg on earth would only weigh 38kg on the
surface of Mars.
 The only planet that rotates on its side like a barrel is Uranus. The only planet that spins
backwards relative to the others is Venus.
 Some of the fastest meteoroids can travel through the solar system at a speed of around 42
kilometres per second (26 miles per second). Check out more meteoroid facts or learn
the difference between comets, asteroids and meteoroids.
 The first man made object sent into space was in 1957 when the Russian satellite named Sputnik
was launched.
 Jupiter's 4 biggest moons are named Europa, Ganymede, Callisto and Io. MoreSolar System
moon facts.
 It is because of the Sun & Moons gravity that we have high & low tides.
 For a list of important space definitions take a look at our glossary of easy space and astronomy
definitions for kids.
 

 
 

 
 
Dogs Cats
Dogs are popular animals which make for great If you like cats then you’ll love our range of cat
family pets as well as reliable workers. Enjoy facts that will teach you interesting information
these great dog facts which help explain why dogs about their sleeping habits, hunting
are so special. techniques, powerful senses and much more.
Tigers Sharks
Tigers are the largest members of the cat family. We've all had nightmares about a great white
They are the national animals of many countries shark attack like that in 'Jaws' but that's just
but a number of tiger subspecies are endangered one of many different types of shark species
because of human activity. that swim through our oceans.
Dolphins Lions
Dolphins are intelligent animals that display a Lions are powerful and ferocious but did you
wide range of unique behaviors. Learn about their know that female lions do most of the hunting?
playful attitude, how they communicate with each Enjoy lots more interesting lion information
other and much more. with these fun facts.
Gorillas Frogs
Gorillas are imposing beasts that live in tropical Frogs begin life as tadpoles before they
and subtropical forests. Being a close relative to develop into a fully grown frog. Find out why
the human race they are intelligent animals with a they need to live near water and more cool
complex social structure. frog facts.
Cheetahs
Giraffes
Faster than any other land animal in the world,
Giraffe's are easy to spot thanks to their
cheetahs are unique big cats that love to live life
height and unique necks. Find out what else
in the fast lane. Follow the link for some
makes these safari favorites special.
fascinating cheetah facts.
Elephants Leopards
Elephants are amazing animals that impress with A member of the cat family, leopards are born
more than just their size. Learn where elephants to hunt. They have powerful bodies and other
live in the wild, what they eat and other great physical attributes which help them find food
elephant facts. and survive in the wild.
Whales Wolves
There are many different species of whales and Wolves live and hunt in packs, learning to
they are well known for their incredible size and survive in the wild from an early age. Find out
long migration patterns. Follow the link to read a how they hunt, what their pups are like and
range of amazing whale facts. other interesting wolf facts.

More fun animal facts:

 Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives.
 The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be
detected over 800 kilometres away.
 Horses and cows sleep while standing up.
 Giant Arctic jellyfish have tentacles that can reach over 36 metres in length.
 Locusts have leg muscles that are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of
human muscle.
 Hummingbirds are so agile and have such good control that they can fly backwards.
 Instead of bones, sharks have a skeleton made from cartilage.
 Insects such as bees, mosquitoes and cicadas make noise by rapidly moving their wings.
 The horn of a rhinoceros is made from compacted hair rather than bone or another substance.
 Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world.
 Even when a snake has its eyes closed, it can still see through its eyelids.
 Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each one helps them digest the food they eat.
  Despite the white, fluffy appearance of Polar Bears fur, it actually has black skin.
 The average housefly only lives for 2 or 3 weeks.
 Mosquitoes can be annoying insects but did you know that it's only the female mosquito that
actually bites humans.
 Cats use their whiskers to check whether a space is too small for them to fit through or not.
 
Mercury
It's a tough life living next to the sun but someone's got to do it. Find out why Mercury has more in
common with the Moon than our own Earth.

Venus
Similar in size to Earth but just a little hotter, ok make that a lot hotter! Venus is like an oven on a high
temperature thanks to its thick clouds which keep the heat in.

Mars
The 'Red Planet' hasn't quite been conquered by humans yet but it's had a few interesting visitors in
recent years. Find out more about this and the potential for liquid water on this rocky planet.

Jupiter
Its big, its angry and its home to some of the most extreme conditions in our solar system. Welcome to
Jupiter, where storms rage and intense gravity rules.

Saturn
This gas giant is famous for its beautiful rings as well as being the second biggest planet in our solar
system. Learn about the ice crystals that make up the rings and much more.

Uranus
Keen to stand out from the crowd, Uranus rolls like a barrel rather than spinning like Earth. Learn more
about this and its long orbit around the sun.

Neptune
Fierce storms rage on this planet at the edge of our solar system. Read about this and other things that
make Neptune such an interesting planet.

Pluto
Its tough being the little guy and no one knows this better than Pluto who isn't even considered a planet
anymore. Still, there's a lot to learn about an object that orbits so far from the sun.

Computers
Enjoy our wide range of fun computer facts which help shed light on a number of computer related topics.
Learn about hardware, software, the history of computing, networks, how we use computers and much
more.

Video Games
Video games have become a popular form of mainstream entertainment, a multi-billion dollar industry at
the cutting edge of technology. Read some great facts about a range of video game related topics.
History of Robotics
Although we've seen some amazing advancements in robotic technology in recent years, the groundwork
was laid in much earlier times. Read about some of the important moments in the history or robotics.

Types of Robots
Get some great information on the world's most exciting and technologically advanced robots. These
robots range from cute and cuddly to feature packed and functional.

Cell Phones
Mobile phones have become an important part of our everyday lives. We use these powerful tools to keep
in touch with friends, search the web, take photos and more. Check out our fun cell phone facts for more
info.

The Internet
From humble beginnings, the Internet has transformed the way we gather information, interact with
friends and family and entertain ourselves. Enjoy our Internet facts that cover everything from emails to
the World Wide Web.

 Magma is the hot liquid rock under the surface of the Earth, it is known as lava after it comes out
of a volcano. More volcano facts.
 Natural gas doesn't have an odour, strong smells are added to it by humans so it can be detected
when there are leaks. More gas facts.
 Hawaii is moving towards Japan at the speed of 10cm a year. This is because they are on
different tectonic plates.
 The worlds largest desert is the Sahara, it covers about one third of Africa!
  Stretching out to an impressive length of 6696 kilometres (4160 miles) long, the Nile River is the
longest river on earth. More Nile River facts, Amazon River facts,Mississippi River facts and
other river facts.
 The volcanic rock known as pumice is the only rock that can float in water.
 Mt Everest is the highest mountain on earth, its peak reaches 8,848 metres (29028 feet) above
sea level. Check out the highest mountains on each continent of the Earth.
 On average the Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest of Earth’s major oceans. More ocean facts.
 Earthquakes that occur out at sea can cause huge tsunamis capable of reaching land and
endangering people.
 Check out our interesting fossil facts and information.
 The earth isn't perfectly round, it is slightly fattened at the north and south poles.
 Scared of the Bermuda Triangle? Despite its reputation it is actually part of a common sailed
shipping route. More Bermuda Triangle mystery facts.
 Scientists have the dated the Earth as being between 4 and 5 billion years old!
 Talc is the softest mineral found on Earth, reaching just 1 on Mohs scale of hardness, it is often
used to make talcum powder.
 Although earthquakes can be deadly, most are very small and not even felt by humans.
 

 Hydrogen is the first element on the periodic table. It has an atomic number of 1. It is highly
flammable and is the most common element found in our universe. Morehydrogen facts.
 Liquid nitrogen boils at 77 kelvin (−196 °C, −321 °F). More nitrogen facts.
 Around 1% of the sun’s mass is oxygen. More oxygen facts.
  Helium is lighter than the air around us so it floats, that's why it is perfect for the balloons you get
at parties. More helium facts.
 Carbon comes in a number of different forms (allotropes), these include diamond, graphite and
impure forms such as coal. More carbon facts, diamond facts, and coal facts.
 Although it is still debated, it is largely recognized that the word 'chemistry' comes from an
Egyptian word meaning 'earth'.
 The use of various forms of chemistry is believed to go back as long ago as the Ancient
Egyptians. By 1000 BC civilizations were using more complex forms of chemistry such as using
plants for medicine, extracting metal from ores, fermenting wine and making cosmetics.
 Things invisible to the human eye can often be seen under UV light, which comes in handy for
both scientists and detectives.
 Humans breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2). Using energy from sunlight, plantsconvert carbon
dioxide into food during a process called photosynthesis.
 Chemical reactions occur all the time, including through everyday activities such as cooking. Try
adding an acid such as vinegar to a base such as baking soda and see what happens!
 Water expands as it drops in temperature, by the time it is frozen it takes up about 9% more
space.
 Often formed under intense pressure over time, a crystal is made up of molecules or atoms that
are repeated in a three dimensional repeating pattern. Quartz is a well known example of a
crystal.
 Athletes at the Olympic Games have to be careful how much coffee they drink. The caffeine in
coffee is a banned substance because it can enhance performance. One or two cups are fine but
they can go over the limit with more than five. (update - as of 2004 caffeine has been taken back
off the WADA banned list but its use will be closely monitored to prevent future abuse by
athletes.)
 

 
 McDonald’s fast food chains employ over 1.5 million people around the world. Morefast food
facts.
 Different parts of the world have their own local cuisine. The diets and general food habits of
various cultures depend on social, religious, economic and safety factors as well as the
availability of different foods.
 Examples of food and cuisine that are popular or famous in certain areas of the world include
hummus in the Middle East, apple pie in the USA, raw fish in Japan, cheese in France, roast
meat and vegetables in England, curry in India and tortillas in Mexico.
 There are around 2000 different plant types that humans use to cultivate food.
 Examples of popular vegetables include lettuce, carrots, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli,
spinach, potatoes and onions.
 Cutting onions releases a gas which causes a stinging sensation when it comes into contact with
your eyes. Your body produces tears to dilute the irritant and remove it from your eyes.
 China is the largest producer of garlic, producing over 10 million tons in 2008 and accounting for
over 75% of world output.
 Examples of popular fruits include apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, peaches, bananas,
apricots and grapes.
 India is the world’s largest producer of bananas, producing nearly 22 million tons in 2007.
 Humans use many different methods for gathering food which include farming, hunting,
gardening, foraging and fishing.
 Humans eat meat from a number of different animals, common examples include meat from
chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Other food products that come from animals include milk, eggs
and honey.
 Although humans are omnivores (eating both plants and animals), many people choose not to eat
meat and fish, they are known as vegetarians. Those who don’t eat or use any products made
from animals (including eggs, dairy products and honey) are known as vegans.
 Food for human consumption is typically made from plants and animals but we also eat other
products such as fermented foods and fungus (mushrooms, truffles etc).
 Cooking is an important part of food preparation that involves applying heat. In most cases this
transforms the chemical make up of food, altering its texture, flavor, nutritional properties and
appearance.
 Types of equipment used in the cooking process include ovens, microwaves, toasters, grills, pots
and frying pans.
 Various cooking methods include boiling, simmering, steaming, sautéing, pan frying and deep-
frying.
 Around 70 million people suffer from food poisoning every year with around 7 million of these
cases being fatal. Careful food storage, temperature control and preparation is necessary to
avoid potentially dangerous bacteria, toxins and viruses.
 Around 8% of children and 2% of adults have some kind of food allergy, this occurs when the
body’s immune system incorrectly assumes a certain food protein is harmful and attacks it.
Common examples of food allergies include reactions to peanuts, gluten and shellfish.
 

 The highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica is 14.6 °C (59 °F), recorded on January 5,
1974. More temperature facts.
 The most rain fall ever recorded in 24 hours is 182.5 centimetres (71.9 inches) in Foc-Foc, La
Réunion, during tropical cyclone Denise on January 8, 1966.
 The most rain fall ever recorded in one year is 25.4 meters (1000 inches) in Cherrapunji, India.
 The highest snow fall ever recorded in a one year period was 31.1 meters (1224 inches) in Mount
Rainier, Washington State, United States, between February 19, 1971 and February 18, 1972.
 The fastest wind speed ever recorded is 484±32 km/h (301±20 mph). This was a 3 second gust
recorded by a Doppler on Wheels (DOW) radar unit in Oklahoma City on May 3, 1999.
 The heaviest hailstone ever recorded weighed 1.0 kg (2.25 lb) and landed in Gopalganj District,
Bangladesh on April 14, 1986.
 Clouds can be categorized into a number of different types; these include cumulus, stratus, cirrus
and nimbus.
 The Earth experiences millions of lightning storms every year, they are incredible discharges of
electricity from the atmosphere that can reach temperatures close to 54,000 °F (30,000 °C) and
speeds of 60,000 m/s (130,000 mph).
 The USA has more tornadoes than any other country in the world, averaging around 1200 a year.
This is due largely to its unique geography which forms an area in central USA called “Tornado
Alley” which is frequently hit by tornadoes.
  Tropical cyclones (often referred to as hurricanes or typhoons) feature strong winds, driving rain,
rough seas and areas of low atmospheric pressure. They frequently form in tropical areas of the
globe and can do considerable damage to populated areas. Examples of this include the 1970
Bhola cyclone, Typhoon Nina which hit China in 1975 and more recently in 2005 when Hurricane
Katrina which caused great devastation and loss of life when it hit southern parts of the USA.
 
 

Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein changed the world of science with his brilliant work in
theoretical physics. His theories, equations and ideas became the stuff
of legend and his image is known around the world.

Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton developed the theory of universal gravitation as well as his famous three laws of motion,
forever leaving his mark on physics, astronomy and mathematics.

Galileo Galilei
Italian scientist Galileo developed telescopes and used them to make revolutionary observations about
our solar system, discovering new objects like the moons that orbit Jupiter.

Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin introduced the idea of natural selection to the world, backing up his theories on evolution
with substantial observational data recorded on his long sea voyages.

Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler was a famous German astronomer and mathematician who made a number of scientific
breakthroughs including his three laws of planetary motion.
Louis Pasteur
French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur created a new level of understanding regarding
microorganisms, the causes of disease and disease prevention.

Ernest Rutherford
Often referred to as the father of nuclear physics, New Zealand born chemist Ernest Rutherford won a
Nobel Prize in chemistry, developed a new model of the atom and mentored other scientists.

Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall is known for her life long study of the behavior of chimpanzees in social situations as well
as being a tireless animal rights advocate and humanitarian.

Michael Faraday
What British physicist and chemist Michael Faraday lacked in formal education he more than made up for
with brilliant experimental techniques and revolutionary electromagnetism ideas.

Edwin Hubble
Edwin Hubble was a major contributor in the field of astrophysics, helping open our eyes to the idea of
other galaxies. He was honored by NASA who named the Hubble Space Telescope after him.

Pierre & Marie Curie

The husband and wife combination of Pierre & Marie Curie contributed much to science through both their
own individual work and their combined research efforts in the field of radioactivity.
James Maxwell
Scottish physicist James Maxwell brought together the ideas of electromagnetic fields, describing their
nature in publications such as ‘A Dynamic Theory of the Electromagnetic Field’.

Stephen Hawking
British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is famous for his work on black holes. He also wrote books
such as ‘A Brief History of Time', enabling a wide audience to appreciate his ideas.

Aristotle
Aristotle's famous work covered many subjects. He wrote about philosophy, politics, logic and music as
well as developing many new and influential scientific ideas.

 
 
 
 

 Water is made up of two elements, hydrogen and oxygen. Its chemical formula is H2O.

 Each molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom.
 The existence of water is essential for life on Earth.
 Water has three different states, liquid, solid and gas.
 The word water usually refers to water in its liquid state. The solid state of water is known as ice
while the gas state of water is known as steam or water vapor.
 Water covers around 70% of the Earth’s surface.
 The three largest oceans on Earth are the Pacific Ocean (largest), the Atlantic Ocean (second
largest) and the Indian Ocean (third largest). More ocean facts.
 Found in the Pacific Ocean, the Mariana Trench is the deepest known point in the world’s
oceans.
 Ocean tides are caused by the rotation of the Earth and the gravitational pull of the Moon and
Sun acting on ocean water.
  Water from a sea or ocean is known as seawater. On average, every kilogram (2.2lb) of seawater
contains around 35 grams (1.2 oz) of dissolved salt.
 The freezing point of water lowers as the amount of salt dissolved in at increases. With average
levels of salt, seawater freezes at -2 °C (28.4 °F).
 The longest river in the world is the Nile River, it reaches 6650 kilometers in length (4132 miles).
 The second longest river in the world is the Amazon River, it reaches 6400 kilometres (4000
miles) in length.
 The longest river in the USA is the Mississippi River, it reaches 6275 kilometers in length (3902
miles).
 Water makes a good solvent with many sugar, salts and acids easily dissolving in it. On the other
hand oils and fats don’t mix well with water.
 The water cycle involves water evaporating (turning into a gas), rising to the sky, cooling and
condensing into tiny drops of water or ice crystals that we see as clouds, falling back to Earthas
rain, snow or hail before evaporating again and continuing the cycle.
 Water in the form of ice is found at the polar ice caps of the planet Mars, some scientists have
also suggested the possibility of liquid water on the red planet.
 Pure water has no smell and no taste, it also has a pH level around 7.
 While most people know that water boils at 100 °C (212 °F), this is at the normal conditions of
sea level. The boiling point of water actually changes relative to the barometric pressure. For
example, water boils at just 68 °C (154 °F) on the top of Mount Everest while water deep in the
ocean near geothermal vents can remain in liquid form at temperatures much higher than 100 °C
(212 °F).
 Water expands as it cools. In freezing conditions, water has been known to burst water pipes as it
freezes to ice.
 Water can move up narrow tubes against the force of gravity in what is known as capillary action.
Check out this capillary action experiment for more.
 Most people around the world have access to clean drinking water but it is a major problem in
poorer areas of the world. Water pollution and low quality water can lead to dangerous bacteria,
disease and viruses such as E coli and Cryptosporidium.
 Drinking water is needed for humans to avoid dehydration, the amount you need each day
depends on the temperature, how much activity you are involved in and other factors.
 An important use for water is in agricultural irrigation, this is when water is artificially added to soil
in order to assist the growth of crops.
 Water is used frequently by firefighters to extinguish fires. Helicopters sometimes drop large
amount of water on wildfires and bushfires to stop fires spreading and limit the damage they can
cause.
 The water industry helps deliver water to homes in various cities and countries around the world.
This can involve services such as purification, sewage treatment, filtering, distillation and
plumbing.
 Electricity can be created from hydropower, a process that uses water to drive water turbines
connected to generators. There are many hydroelectric power stations around the world.
 Water also plays a role in cooking. Steaming and boiling food are well known cooking methods.
You may have noticed this last time you made pasta or noodles.
 Water is also used for fun. Water sports are a very popular recreational activity and include things
like swimming, surfing and waterskiing. Ice and snow is also used in ice skating, ice hockey,
skiing and snowboarding.
 
 
  

 Sound comes from vibrations. These vibrations create sound waves which move through
mediums such as air and water before reaching our ears.
 Our ears vibrate in a similar way to the original source of the vibration, allowing us to hear many
different sounds.
 Dogs can hear sound at a higher frequency than humans, allowing them to hear noises that we
can’t.
 Sound is used by many animals to detect danger, warning them of possible attacks before they
happen.
 Sound can’t travel through a vacuum (an area empty of matter).
 The speed of sound is around 767 miles per hour (1,230 kilometres per hour).
 The loud noise you create by cracking a whip occurs because the tip is moving so fast it breaks
the speed of sound!
 When traveling through water, sound moves around four times faster than when it travels through
air.
 The scientific study of sound waves is known as acoustics.
 Although music can be hard to define, it is often described as a pleasing or meaningful
arrangement of sounds.
 The sound of thunder is produced by rapidly heated air surrounding lightning which expands
faster than the speed of sound.
 
 
  Modern society relies heavily on the convenience and versatility of electricity. It powers your
microwave, helps light your house, lets you watch TV and so much more.
 Electric current is measured in amperes (amps).
 Electric potential energy is measured in volts.
 Two positive charges repel each other, as do two negative charges. Opposite charges on the
other hand attract each other.
 When an electric charge builds up on the surface of an object it creates static electricity. You
have probably experienced static electricity in the form of a small electric shock, which is what
happens when the electric charge is quickly neutralized by an opposite charge.
 Electric eels can produce strong electric shocks of around 500 volts for both self defense and
hunting.
 Electric circuits can contain parts such as switches, transformers, resistors and transformers.
 A common way to produce electricity is by hydropower, a process that generates electricity by
using water to spin turbines attached to generators.
 The world’s biggest source of energy for producing electricity comes from coal. The burning of
coal in furnaces heats boiler water until it becomes steam which then spins turbines attached to
generators.
 Lightning is a discharge of electricity in the atmosphere. Lightning bolts can travel at around
210,000 kph (130,000 mph), while reaching nearly 30,000 °C (54,000 °F) in temperature.
 Electricity plays a role in the way your heart beats. Muscle cells in the heart are contracted by
electricity going through the heart. Electrocardiogram (ECG) machines used in hospitals measure
the electricity going through someone’s heart, when the person is healthy it usually shows a line
moving across a screen with regular spikes as the heart beats.
 You may have heard of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). The difference between
the two is in the way the electrons flow. In DC electrons move in a single direction while in AC
they change directions, switching between backwards and forwards. The electricity use in your
home is AC while DC comes from sources that include batteries.
 Back in the 1880’s there was even a ‘war of currents’ between Thomas Edison (who helped
invent DC) and Nikola Tesla (who helped invent AC). Both wanted their system to be used with
AC eventually winning out due to the fact that it is safer and can be used over longer distances.
 Electric fields work in a similar way to gravity with an important exception being that while gravity
always attracts, electric fields can either attract or repulse.
 American Benjamin Franklin carried out extensive electricity research in the 18th century,
inventing the lightning rod amongst his many discoveries. Lightning rods protect buildings in the
event of lightning by conducting lightning strikes through a grounded wire.
 
 

 
  Because of differences in gravity, a 100kg (220 pound) person would only weigh 38kg (84
pounds) on Mars. More gravity facts.
 Electric eels can stun both predators and prey with electric shocks of around 500 volts.
More electricity facts.
 Energy from food is usually measured in joules or calories. More energy facts.
 Light from the Earth takes just 1.255 seconds to reach the Moon. More light facts.
 Sound travels at a speed of around 767 miles per hour (1,230 kilometres per hour). More sound
facts.
 When traveling at 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour), cars use around half of their fuel
just to overcome wind resistance.
 Water can work against gravity, moving up narrow tubes in a process called capillary action.
 A magnifying glass uses the properties of a convex shaped lens to magnify an image, making it
easier to see.
 A scientist who studies physics is known as a physicist.
 Uranus is the only planet in our solar system that rolls on its side like a barrel, while Venus is the
only planet that spins in the opposite direction to Earth.
 The fastest land animal in the world is the Cheetah, clocking a max speed of around 113 km per
hour (70 mph).
 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics was won by Albert Einstein for his work in the field of theoretical
physics.
 

 It might only take you a few minutes to finish a meal but it

takes your body around 12 hours before it has completely
digested the food.
 The human body needs iron to help perform a number of
important functions. Iron helps carry oxygen to parts of your
body in the form of hemoglobin. Not having enough can lead
to iron deficiency and symptoms such as weakness and
fatigue.
 Examples of iron rich foods include red meat, fish, chick peas,
tofu, beans and lentils.
 Red blood cells are created inside the marrow of your bones, they serve the important role of
carrying blood around your body.
 Antibiotics can be useful in fighting off bacteria but they are ineffective against viruses, this is
because bacteria and virus are completely different, both having unique characteristics that need
specialized treatments.
 Viruses are usually around 100 times smaller than bacteria.
 Around 7 million people die every year from food poisoning out of a total of around 70 million
cases. Careful food preparation and storage is vital in order to avoid dangerous toxins, viruses
and bacteria.
 Food allergies are fairly common amongst adults and even more so among children. Around 2%
of adults and 8% of children suffer from some type of food allergy where the immune system
 makes a mistake and thinks a certain food protein is dangerous and attacks it. Well known food
allergies can include unwanted reactions to gluten, seafood and peanuts.
 Access to clean drinking water can be taken for granted by people living in developed countries.
In poorer parts of the world the quality water and pollution can give rise to dangerous diseases
and bacteria such as cryptosporidium and e coli.
 Obesity can increase the chances of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes
and heart disease.
 In recent times there has been a drop in the amount of physical activity both adults and children
do. Some of the reasons for this include new technologies that require less physical labor and
increased time watching TV. It has been suggested that at least 60% of the world’s population
doesn’t do enough exercise.
 In 2007, heart disease was the leading cause of death in the USA.
 In 2007 around 13% of all deaths worldwide were caused by cancer. The branch of medicine
related to cancer study and treatment is known as oncology.
 Infectious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis lead to around 26% of worldwide
deaths in 2002.
 

 People that study biology are known as biologists.

 Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth. Reaching over 2000
kilometres (1240 miles) in length.
 The first person to see a live cell with a microscope was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, in 1674.
 Ecology is the study of ecosystems and how organisms interact with their environment.
 While some bacteria can make you sick, others have positive benefits such as helping you
digest food or even make yoghurt.
 Moulds, yeasts and mushrooms are types of fungus.
 The common cold is a type of virus.
 Viruses can be treated with antiviral drugs.
  Bacteria are extremely small and are made up of just one cell.
 Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
 Animals that eat plants as their primary food source are known as herbivores.
 Endangered species are those that are in danger of being completely wiped out, they include blue
whales, tigers and pandas. Without protection these species may eventually become extinct.
 Born on July 5th 1996, Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell.
 When the DNA of an organism changes and results in a new trait (characteristic) it is known as
mutation.
 French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur was well known for inventing a process to stop
various foods and liquids making people sick. Called Pasteurization, it reduces the amount of
microorganisms that could lead to disease without having a noticeable effect on taste and quality
in a way which methods such as sterilization might.
 Charles Darwin developed the idea of natural selection, sometimes called survival of the fittest. It
is a process that involves living things with favorable traits being more likely to reproduce,
passing on their favorable traits to future generations.
 
 

 Tree resin which has been fossilized is known as amber, it

sometimes contains plant material or small animals that were
trapped inside.
 Some plants are carnivores, gaining nutrients by eating various
small insects and spiders. A well known example of a
carnivorous plant is the Venus Flytrap.
 Bamboo can be a fast growing plant, some types can grow
almost a metre (3.28 feet) in just one day!
 While using energy from sunlight, plants turn carbon dioxide into food in a process called
photosynthesis.
 Around 2000 different types of plants are used by humans to make food.
 Onions might taste good but they can be painful to chop. A gas is released when you cut onions
that irritates you eyes, the tears you produce while this happens are your body’s way of washing
it from your eyes.
 In the agricultural industry, to ensure crops of food grow well water is often added to soil in the
form of irrigation.
 Plant matter found at the bottom of areas with water such as swamps can eventually turn
into coal due to a process called metamorphosis (changing form).
 There are over 200,000 identified plant species and the list is growing all the time.
 Poison ivy produces a skin irritant called urushiol. Touching poison ivy will cause an allergic
reaction, usually in the form of an itchy rash on the skin.
 Fertilizers are chemicals added to plants to help them grow. Important elements in fertilizers
include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Manure (animal waste) is also used as a fertilizer.
 
  In physics, light refers to electromagnetic radiation. The light we
normally talk about in everyday life refers to the visible
spectrum (the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the
human eye can see).
 Other animals can see parts of the spectrum that humans can’t.
For example, a large number of insects can see ultraviolet (UV)
light.
 UV light can be used to show things the human eye can’t see,
coming in handy for forensic scientists.
 The wavelength of infrared light is too long to be visible to the human eye.
 Scientists study the properties and behaviors of light in a branch of physics known as optics.
 Isaac Newton observed that a thin beam of sunlight hitting a glass prism on an angle creates a
band of visible colors that includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV).
This occurred because different colors travel through glass (and other mediums) at different
speeds, causing them to refract at different angles and separate from each other.
 Light travels very, very fast. The speed of light in a vacuum (an area empty of matter) is around
186,000 miles per second (300,000 kilometres per second).
 Light travels slower through different mediums such as glass, water and air. These mediums are
given a refractive index to describe by how much they slow the movement of light. Glass has a
refractive index of 1.5, meaning that lights travels through it at around 124,000 miles per second
(200,000 kilometres per second). The refractive index of water is 1.3 while the refractive index of
air is 1.0003, meaning that air only slightly slows down light.
 Light takes 1.255 seconds to get from the Earth to the Moon.
 Sunlight can reach a depth of around 80 metres (262 feet) in the ocean.
 One of the many things Italian scientist Galileo Galilei worked on was telescopes, producing
telescopes with around 30x magnification in some of his later work. These telescopes helped him
discover the four largest moons orbiting Jupiter (later named the Galilean satellites).
 Photosynthesis is a process that involves plants using energy from sunlight to convert carbon
dioxide into food.
 
  The word energy comes from the Greek word energeia.
 Most types of energy are either a form of kinetic energy or potential energy.
 Common examples include heat energy, elastic potential energy, chemical energy, sound energy,
nuclear energy, geothermal energy and gravitational potential energy.
 Kinetic energy refers to the energy an object has because of its movement. A car in motion has
kinetic energy, as does a basketball when you pass or shoot it.
 Energy can be transformed from one form to another. In lightning, electric potential energy
transforms into light, heat and sound energy.
 The law of conservation of energy states that energy can only be transformed, it can’t be created
or destroyed.
 You might have heard of Albert Einstein’s famous formula E = mc² (energy equals mass
multiplied by the speed of light squared).
 Food contains chemical energy which is used by living organisms such as animals to grow and
reproduce. Food energy is usually measured in calories or joules.
 Wind farms contain large numbers of wind turbines which are used to transform wind energy into
a useful energy such as electricity. The use of wind power to generate electricity doubled
between the years 2005 and 2008.
 Plants use energy from sunlight during an important process called photosynthesis.
 A person standing on a diving board above a swimming pool has gravitational potential energy.
 During chemical reactions, chemical energy is often transformed into light or heat.
 Stretched rubber bands and compressed springs are examples of elastic potential energy.
 
 

 Metals are usually solid, good conductors of electricity and

heat, shiny when clean, strong and malleable (meaning they
can be bent and shaped).
 Gold is shiny and doesn’t corrode, this means it is a great
metal for making jewelry. More gold facts.
 The chemical symbol used for silver is Ag, this comes from
the Latin word for silver, argentum. More silver facts.
 While aluminum is the most common metal found in the
Earth's crust, the most common metal found on Earth is
iron, mostly because it makes up such a large part of the
Earth's core. More iron facts.
 Copper is a good conductor of electricity and is often used for making wires.
 At room temperature, mercury is the only metal that is in liquid form.
 Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and is often used to make cooking pots.
 Alkali metals such as sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium are extremely reactive
elements, just putting them in water can result in an explosion! They are carefully stored in oil to
prevent this happening. More alkali metals facts & properties.
 Tungsten has a very high melting point, after carbon it has the second highest melting point of all
elements.
 Metals are strong and are useful for making tools, buildings, bridges and other structures where
strength is important.
 Steel is an important alloy (combination of metals) that is created from a mixture of metals, mostly
iron. There are many different types of steel including stainless steel, galvanized steel and carbon
steel. Steel is commonly used to make a number of products including knives, machines, train
rails, cars, motors and wires.
 Bronze is a metal alloy made from copper and tin. Copper makes up the larger amount, usually
between 80 to 95%.
 

 Objects with mass are attracted to each other, this is known as gravity.
 Gravity keeps Earth and the other planets in our solar system in orbit around the Sun. It also
keeps the Moon in orbit around Earth.
 Tides are caused by the rotation of the Earth and the gravitational effects of the Moon and Sun.
 Because Mars has a lower gravity than Earth, a person weighing 100kg (220 pounds) on Earth
would only weigh 38kg (84 pounds) on Mars.
 It is thought that Isaac Newton’s theories on gravity were inspired by seeing an apple fall from a
tree.
 While Newton’s older law of universal gravitation is accurate in most scenarios, modern physics
uses Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity to describe gravity.
 Acceleration of objects to due to the gravity on Earth is around 9.8 m/s2. If you ignore air
resistance (drag) then the speed of an object falling to Earth increases by around 9.8 metres per
second every second.
 The force of gravity 100 kilometres (62 miles) above Earth is just 3% less than at the Earth’s
surface.
 The human body can handle increased g-forces as seen in activities such as dragster races,
airplane acrobatics and space training. The highest known acceleration voluntarily experienced
by a human is 46.2 g by g-force pioneer John Stapp.
 While formula one racing drivers may feel around 5 g’s under heavy braking, they can experience
over 100 g’s if a crash causes them to decelerate extremely quickly over a very short distance.
 Some roller coasters have been known to include g-forces of around 4 to 6 g.
 The higher something is, the greater its gravitational potential energy. Back in the Middle Ages,
weapons called trebuchets were used to take advantage of this principle, using mechanical
advantage and the gravitational potential energy of a counterweight to hurl rocks and other
projectiles at or over walls. In modern times we use the gravitational potential of water to create
hydroelectricity.
 
  

 Olympic gold medals are actually made mostly of silver.

 Dimples on a golf ball help reduce drag, allowing the ball to fly further than a ball without dimples.
 Anaerobic exercise refers to high intensity activities over a short duration (e.g. sprinting) while
aerobic exercise refers to physical activity performed at a moderate level over longer periods of
time (e.g. jogging).
 Regular exercise helps boost the immune system.
 The string tension of most tennis racquets is around 50 to 70 pounds (220 to 310 newtons). With
lower tension a tennis racquet produces less control and more power while higher tension
produces more control and less power.
 The official distance of a marathon is 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles).
 The tallest basketball players to ever play in the NBA were Manute Bol (from Sudan) and
Gheorghe Muresan (from Romania). They were both 7 ft 7 in tall (231 cm).
 Common sports injuries include muscle cramps, muscle pulls, back strains, shin splints, tennis
elbow (tendonitis), sprained ankles and plantar fasciitis (foot pain).
 The fastest recorded tennis serve was 155 mph (249 kph), by Andy Roddick in 2004.
 Regulation Major League baseballs feature exactly 108 stitches.
 Snowboarders and ice skaters glide on a thin layer of water as their skates and boards heat the
snow beneath them.
 Modern swimwear has developed to the point where the fabric and designs are actually faster
through the water than human skin. Controversial neck to ankle suits have been one of the
reasons behind the consistent breaking of world record times since they were introduced around
the year 2000.
 Curling stones used in the Olympic sport of curling are made from granite.
 Astronaut Alan Shepard played golf on the Moon after he smuggled a golf ball and club on to the
NASA Apollo 14 mission to the Moon in 1971.
 The diameter of a full sized basketball is half the diameter of a basketball hoop.
 
 
  
 
 
 

 Engineers solve practical problems by applying mathematical and scientific knowledge.

 The word engineer comes from a Latin word meaning ‘cleverness’.
 Learn about different types of engineering jobs such as civil, mechanical and electrical with
our engineering job facts.
 As of 2010, the tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. It reaches an
incredible 828 metres (2717 feet) in height. Check out more building facts or our list of the tallest
buildings in the world.
 The building of the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, was one of the
most difficult engineering projects ever. It is estimated that over 25000 workers lost their lives
during the long and dangerous project, with most dying from disease and landslides.
 Golf balls have dimples because they help reduce drag, this allows the ball to fly further than a
smooth ball would.
 As of 2010, the longest suspension bridge in the world is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe,
Japan. Opened in 1998, it spans an amazing 1991 metres (6529 feet). Check out more interesing
bridge facts or our list of the longest bridges in the world.
 Used for water distribution, the Delaware Aqueduct in New York, USA is the longest tunnel in the
world (as of 2010). Drilled through solid rock, it reaches a staggering 137 kilometres (85 miles) in
length. More tunnel facts.
 The Hoover Dam, built along the Colorado River between 1931 and 1936 reaches 726 feet in
height (221 metres). More interesting dam facts.
 High speed passenger trains in China reach speeds of up to 350 kph (220 mph).
 The London Eye in England is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, standing at a height of
135 metres (442 feet).
 The tallest wind turbine in the world has rotor tips that reach over 200 metres (656 feet) above the
ground.
 Branches of engineering
include aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil,computer, electrical, environmental, forensic, genet
ic, mechanical, military,nuclear, reverse, software and structural.
 

 The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest reef system.

 The waste hierarchy or 3 R’s are (in order of importance) reduce, reuse and recycle.
 Around 75% of the volcanoes on Earth are found in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area around the
Pacific Ocean where tectonic plates meet.
 Despite it name, the Killer Whale (Orca) is actually a type of dolphin.
 Giant water lilies in the Amazon can grow over 6 feet in diameter.
 The largest ocean on Earth is the Pacific Ocean.
 The largest individual flower on Earth is from a plant called Rafflesia arnoldii. Its flowers reach up
to 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter and weigh around 10kg.
 Plants on the surface of the Earth have existed for around 400 million years.
 Unlike humans, cows and horses sleep while standing up.
 When an insect touches the hairs of a Venus Fly Trap it triggers the plant to close, trapping its
victim before killing and dissolving it in acid.
 Although Polar Bears have white, fluffy fur, their skin is actually black.
 Female lions are better hunters than male lions and do most of the hunting for a pride.
 Around three quarters of the increase in CO2 levels from human activity over the last 20 years is
from the burning of fossil fuels. The rest is made up largely of land use changes such as
deforestation.
 The largest land based mammals on Earth are elephants.
 Born in 1809, Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who developed the idea of natural
selection and changed the way we think about evolution.
 

 The word dinosaur comes from the Greek language and means ‘terrible lizard’. The word was
coined by English paleontologist Richard Owen in 1842 and was meant to refer to Dinosaurs
impressive size rather than their scary appearance.
 Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for over 160 million years, from the Triassic period around 230 million
years ago through the Jurassic period and until the end of the Cretaceous period around 65
million years ago.
 The time period from 250 million years ago until around 65 million years ago is known as the
Mesozoic Era. It is often referred to as the Age of the Dinosaurs because most dinosaurs
developed and became extinct during this time.
 It is believed that dinosaurs lived on Earth until around 65 million years ago when a mass
extinction occurred.
 Scientists believe that the event leading to the extinction may have been a massive asteroid
impact or huge volcanic activity. Events such as these could have blocked out sunlight and
significantly changed the Earth’s ecology.
 The first dinosaur to be formally named was the Megalosaurus, back in 1824.
 A person who studies dinosaurs is known as a paleontologist.
 Rather than being carnivores (meat eaters), the largest dinosaurs such as the Brachiosaurus and
Apatosaurus were actually herbivores (plant eaters).
 To help fight meat eaters such as the Allosaurus or Spinosaurus, many plant eaters had natural
weapons at their disposal. Examples of this include the spikes on the tail of the Stegosaurus and
the three horns attached to the front of the Triceratops’s head shield.
 Pterodactyls are not dinosaurs, they were flying reptiles that lived during the age of dinosaurs but
by definition they do not fall into the same category. The same goes for water based reptiles such
as Plesiosaurs.
 Birds descended from a type of dinosaurs known as theropods.
 Despite being long extinct, dinosaurs are frequently featured in the media. One of the more
memorable examples of this is Michael Crichton’s 1990 book Jurassic Park. Adapted to movie in
1993, the story features cloned dinosaurs brought to life with the help of DNA found in
mosquitoes trapped in amber.
 
 

 The noise that is thunder is created when the air around lightning gets rapidly heated and
expands at a rate faster than the speed of sound.
 Rather than putting on weight from eating celery you actually lose it, you burn more calories from
the chewing than you put on from the food itself.
 Sound travels 4 times faster in water than it does through air.
 Cranberries can be tested for ripeness by bouncing them, if they are ripe they should have a
bouncing quality.
 Travelling at 80 kilometres per hour, a car uses half its fuel to overcome wind resistance.
 The largest living structure on Earth is the Great Barrier Reef. Found in Australia, it is over 2000
kilometres long.
 The QWERTY keyboard layout used on most computers was invented way back in the 1860's.
 Some types of bamboo can grow nearly a metre a day!
 Diamonds are the hardest known substance.
 Light from the sun can reach a depth of 80 metres in the ocean.
 When you crack a whip, it makes a loud noise because the tip is actually moving faster then the
speed of sound!