Intriguingly, about 95% of the universe remains a mystery to the human race. So far, humankind has only explored the eight planets in our solar system, moons, a couple of asteroids, and stars. However, scientists estimate that the radius of the universe is around 46.5 billion light years. Therefore, there is a lot to be discovered. Even so, here are some cool things we already know can only be found in outer space.
1. Galactic Cannibalism
In outer space, large galaxies can consume smaller galaxies. This often happens due to a gravitational pull, creating an even more prominent but irregular galaxy. Galactic cannibalism occurs gradually., with Andromeda being the closest galaxy to ours from 2.5 million light years away. There are claims that Andromeda will “cannibalize” the Milky Way in five billion years.
2. Magnetic Cloud
Solar winds can create a magnetic cloud on the Sun’s surface. As the name implies, this is a cloud with a large magnetic pull. Magnetic clouds do not last for very long, though, and they require very special environmental conditions to occur.
3. Supernova
Supernova is a relatively popular term amongst space enthusiasts; it refers to when a star explodes. While supernovas occur twice every century in the Milky Way Galaxy, they occur at least every second in the outside universe.
When a supernova occurs, the explosion is 100 times brighter than the Sun and only lasts for a short while. While at it, note that stars don’t just die via a supernova; they can also cease to exist through an unnova. This is when a star collapses on itself without emitting large particles.
4. Alcohol Cloud
It is in the public domain that space clouds are made out of different materials. However, there is a particular space cloud located 6500 light years from Earth that comprises mainly of ethanol, the key ingredient used to make alcohol. The alcohol cloud is so big that it covers 300 million miles of outer space.
Scientists believe that cloud contains alcohol that can fill billions of beer pints. The existence of alcohol clouds shouldn’t be shocking, considering ethanol is made up of ingredients commonly found in space: oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.
5. Pillars of Creation
The Hubble Telescope took a picture of the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula, roughly 7,000 light years away from Earth. What’s fascinating about the Pillars of Creation is that they resemble a swirling landscape similar to the one found in the deserts here on Earth. The only difference is that it comprises dust particles and hydrogen. The Eagle Nebula was discovered in 1745 by Jean-Phillipe Loys de Cheseaux.
6. An Actual Shooting Star
The standard definition of a shooting star here on Earth is a meteorite that is traveling too fast and creates a tail of the burning matter. However, there is an actual shooting star called Mira. It’s a red giant star traveling relatively fast across the galaxy with a tail. Unfortunately, the Mira shooting star can only be seen using a telescope.
7. A Diamond Planet
The 55 Cancri E is a planet whose core comprises of diamonds. Scientists came to this conclusion after exploring the temperature and pressure of the planet’s surface. It has a bigger mass than Earth and takes 18 hours to revolve around the Sun. Scientists believe that 55 Cancri E has diamonds worth 27 nonillion dollars. While it’s true that the first person to step foot on this planet will be extremely rich, the chances of that happening in the near future are extremely slim.
8. Freezing Star
In 3rd grade science class, teachers explain that stars are bodies made up of hot gases and chemical reactions. However, they probably don’t mention that there are also cold stars, with a good example being the WISE 0855-0714, discovered by Kevin Luhman in 2014. This star has freezing temperatures ranging from -48 to -13 degrees Celsius.
9. Solar Flares
Solar flares are fiery radiation bursts released near the Sun’s surface. They are estimated to be a million times more powerful than nuclear bombs. That, coupled with the fact that they are very unpredictable, can cause significant damage to satellites roaming closer to the Sun.
10. Antimatter
Fans of The Flash must have heard about antimatter being discussed in depth at S.T.A.R Labs. Interestingly, this phenomenon only exists in outer space. Antimatter comprises antiparticles that make up normal matter, and it was created during the Big Bang. It’s a pretty mysterious substance, and scientists know little about it.
11. Cosmic Voids
As the name suggests, cosmic voids are empty spaces within the cosmos. In these bubbles, there are no galaxies, planets, or even stars. NASA has yet to figure out why cosmic voids are empty, but they are hinted to contain traces of dark energy and dark matter.
12. Wormholes
Sci-fi movies have tried to explore the science of wormholes, but they remain a strange aspect of outer space. Wormholes are shortcuts in the cosmos that connect different parts of the universe and allow light to travel much quicker between two locations. If scientists could understand wormholes, things like time travel would have been possible.
13. Oort Cloud
The Oort Cloud is the perfect example of a snow globe; everything here has been frozen. There are claims that the meteors that fly through our skies come from the Oort Cloud. Very little is known about it, though.
14. Magnetars
Magnetars are powerful stars that have a relatively strong magnetic field. As a result, they produce bursts of light filled with gamma and X-rays. Though small, their magnetic forces can stretch all the way to Earth.