15 Weird Space Facts to Cram in Your Noggin

Neill Lynskey Published 04/03/2025 in Science & Technology

The universe is vast, and much stranger than you know.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of researching outer space, but what we’ve learned so far is literally otherworldly. On Mars, there’s a 13-mile-high volcano. The atmosphere of space warps and deforms the bodies of astronauts permanently. The moon quakes more than California, and there are even gargantuan space clouds full of alcohol light-years away.

Set out into the unknown and come back with weird knowledge that can only be obtained off-planet.

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1. Earth has more trees than the Milky Way has stars
There are about 3 trillion trees on Earth and about 350 billion stars in the Milky Way.
2. The Moon quakes
Moonquakes, caused by tidal forces and thermal expansion, can crack the lunar surface.
3. The Sun isn’t yellow
When viewed outside Earth's atmosphere, the Sun emits all visible wavelengths equally, appearing white.
4. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars
Olympus Mons is about 13 miles high.
5. Mercury has a day longer than its year
One day on Mercury (sunrise to sunrise) lasts 176 Earth days, while a year is 88 Earth days.
6. Astronauts grow taller in space
Without gravity compressing the spine, astronauts can grow up to 5 cm taller.
7. Uranus smells like rotten eggs
Because of the hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, Uranus smells absolutely terrible.
8. The Moon is moving away from Earth
The Moon recedes from Earth at a rate of approximately 3.8 centimeters per year.
9. You can’t cry in space
In microgravity, tears form floating blobs instead of falling.
10. Metal fuses together naturally in space
When two pieces of the same metal touch in a vacuum, they can bond without heat due to atomic fusion.
11. There’s a planet made out of diamond.
55 Cancri e is believed to have a carbon-rich composition that may include crystallized diamond.
12. Space can ruin your eyesight
Fluid shifts in microgravity can flatten the eyeball and affect visual acuity.
13. Most of the universe is made of dark matter
95% of the universe consists of substances that cannot be directly observed.
14. There are massive clouds made out of alcohol in space
Sagittarius B2, near the center of the Milky Way, contains huge quantities of ethyl alcohol.
15. The universe has an average color
Scientists have determined the average color of all light in the universe is a beige color called “Cosmic Latte.”

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15 Weird Space Facts to Cram in Your Noggin

1. Earth has more trees than the Milky Way has stars
There are about 3 trillion trees on Earth and about 350 billion stars in the Milky Way.

2. The Moon quakes
Moonquakes, caused by tidal forces and thermal expansion, can crack the lunar surface.

3. The Sun isn’t yellow
When viewed outside Earth's atmosphere, the Sun emits all visible wavelengths equally, appearing white.

4. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars
Olympus Mons is about 13 miles high.

5. Mercury has a day longer than its year
One day on Mercury (sunrise to sunrise) lasts 176 Earth days, while a year is 88 Earth days.

6. Astronauts grow taller in space
Without gravity compressing the spine, astronauts can grow up to 5 cm taller.

7. Uranus smells like rotten eggs
Because of the hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, Uranus smells absolutely terrible.

8. The Moon is moving away from Earth
The Moon recedes from Earth at a rate of approximately 3.8 centimeters per year.

9. You can’t cry in space
In microgravity, tears form floating blobs instead of falling.

10. Metal fuses together naturally in space
When two pieces of the same metal touch in a vacuum, they can bond without heat due to atomic fusion.

11. There’s a planet made out of diamond.
55 Cancri e is believed to have a carbon-rich composition that may include crystallized diamond.

12. Space can ruin your eyesight
Fluid shifts in microgravity can flatten the eyeball and affect visual acuity.

13. Most of the universe is made of dark matter
95% of the universe consists of substances that cannot be directly observed.

14. There are massive clouds made out of alcohol in space
Sagittarius B2, near the center of the Milky Way, contains huge quantities of ethyl alcohol.

15. The universe has an average color
Scientists have determined the average color of all light in the universe is a beige color called “Cosmic Latte.”

1. Earth has more trees than the Milky Way has stars

2. The Moon quakes

3. The Sun isn’t yellow

4. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars

5. Mercury has a day longer than its year

6. Astronauts grow taller in space

7. Uranus smells like rotten eggs

8. The Moon is moving away from Earth

9. You can’t cry in space

10. Metal fuses together naturally in space

11. There’s a planet made out of diamond.

12. Space can ruin your eyesight

13. Most of the universe is made of dark matter

14. There are massive clouds made out of alcohol in space

15. The universe has an average color

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1. Earth has more trees than the Milky Way has stars There are about 3 trillion trees on Earth and about 350 billion stars in the Milky Way.

2. The Moon quakes Moonquakes, caused by tidal forces and thermal expansion, can crack the lunar surface.

3. The Sun isn’t yellow When viewed outside Earth's atmosphere, the Sun emits all visible wavelengths equally, appearing white.

4. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars Olympus Mons is about 13 miles high.

5. Mercury has a day longer than its year One day on Mercury (sunrise to sunrise) lasts 176 Earth days, while a year is 88 Earth days.

6. Astronauts grow taller in space Without gravity compressing the spine, astronauts can grow up to 5 cm taller.

7. Uranus smells like rotten eggs Because of the hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere, Uranus smells absolutely terrible.

8. The Moon is moving away from Earth The Moon recedes from Earth at a rate of approximately 3.8 centimeters per year.

9. You can’t cry in space In microgravity, tears form floating blobs instead of falling.

10. Metal fuses together naturally in space When two pieces of the same metal touch in a vacuum, they can bond without heat due to atomic fusion.

11. There’s a planet made out of diamond. 55 Cancri e is believed to have a carbon-rich composition that may include crystallized diamond.

12. Space can ruin your eyesight Fluid shifts in microgravity can flatten the eyeball and affect visual acuity.

13. Most of the universe is made of dark matter 95% of the universe consists of substances that cannot be directly observed.

14. There are massive clouds made out of alcohol in space Sagittarius B2, near the center of the Milky Way, contains huge quantities of ethyl alcohol.

15. The universe has an average color Scientists have determined the average color of all light in the universe is a beige color called “Cosmic Latte.”