All Facts
Every fact here links to the source it was checked against.
There Is Only One Global Ocean
There is only one global ocean, which covers 71 percent of the Earth and is divided into named regions.
The Pacific Holds More Than Half of Earth's Free Water
The Pacific Ocean contains more than half of the free water on Earth, and all of the world's continents could fit into its basin.
All the Asteroids Together Weigh Less Than the Moon
The total mass of all the asteroids combined is less than that of Earth's Moon.
Earth Is the Only Planet Not Named for a Greek or Roman God
Earth is the only planet in the solar system whose English name does not come from Greek or Roman mythology; the name was taken from Old English and Germanic.
The Moon Always Shows Earth the Same Face
The Moon rotates at the same rate that it revolves around Earth, so the same hemisphere faces Earth all the time.
Mars Is Red Because Its Surface Is Rusty
Mars looks red because iron minerals in the Martian dirt oxidize, or rust.
Saturn's Rings Are Vast but Only About 30 Feet Thick
Saturn's ring system extends up to 175,000 miles (282,000 kilometers) from the planet, yet the main rings are typically only about 30 feet (10 meters) thick.
Saturn Has 274 Confirmed Moons, More Than Any Other Planet
As of March 2025, Saturn had 274 confirmed moons, far more than any other planet in our solar system.
Jupiter Has the Shortest Day of Any Planet
Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system, taking about 9.9 hours to spin once on its axis.
Venus Is the Hottest Planet in the Solar System
Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system, with a surface temperature of about 872 degrees Fahrenheit (467 degrees Celsius).
Decaf Coffee Still Contains Caffeine
Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free: an 8-fluid-ounce cup of decaf coffee typically has 2 to 15 milligrams of caffeine.
Everyone Dreams for About Two Hours a Night
Everyone dreams, spending about two hours each night dreaming, although most dreams are not remembered.
People Spend About a Third of Their Time Asleep
People spend about one-third of their time sleeping.
Thunder Can Be Heard Only About 10 Miles Away
Thunder is the sound caused by a nearby flash of lightning, and it can be heard for a distance of only about 10 miles from the strike.
The First Flight Faster Than Sound Was on October 14, 1947
On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager, became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound.
Lindbergh's Flight From New York to Paris Took 33 and a Half Hours
Charles Lindbergh's solo flight from New York to Paris in May 1927 took 33 hours and 30 minutes and covered 3,610 miles.
Your Heart Is About the Size of Your Fist
The human heart is an organ about the size of your fist that pumps blood through your body.
The Human Brain Weighs About Three Pounds
The human brain is a three-pound organ, described by the US National Institutes of Health as the most complex part of the human body.
Skin Is the Biggest Organ of the Human Body
Skin is the biggest organ of the human body, and it is organized into three main layers.
Mammoth Cave Is the Longest Known Cave System in the World
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system.