Our Planet

The first soft landing on the far side of the Moon was performed on January 3, 2019, by China’s Chang’e 4

Panorama of the far side of the moon (cropped)

On January 3, 2019, China’s lunar lander and rover Chang’e 4 achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon in the history of humanity’s space exploration. It’s a space exploration success no nation or space agency (including NASA) has accomplished even as of January 2023.

How long do great white sharks live?

Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) can live for a very long time, with an estimated lifespan of 70 years or more. However, it is difficult to determine the exact lifespan of the great whites because they are not easy to study in the wild. And they cannot be kept in captivity, they start to weaken when they are put in a pool or a tank – even a big one. They constantly run into the glass until they get exhausted and die.

How many elephants are left in the world? [2023]

Elephants are wonderful creatures for many reasons! They are intelligent and social animals that form close bonds with one another and live in complex family groups. They are also highly adaptable and can survive in a variety of different habitats, from the savannas of Africa to the rainforests of Asia. In addition, they play important roles in their ecosystems as keystone species, meaning that their presence can have a significant impact on the overall health and balance of their habitats. Finally, elephants have unique and fascinating biology, including their large size, long lifespan, and remarkable memory.

Sponge City Concept can be an answer to increased flood and water crisis

Modern panoramic skyline of Chongqing, China, a sponge city

Sponge City is a concept in urban planning and design that aims to make cities more resilient to flooding and other natural disasters by designing urban areas to absorb, store, and use water more efficiently. This can be achieved through a variety of strategies, including green infrastructure, permeable pavement, and rainwater harvesting systems.

If every people jumped into the ocean at once, how much would the sea level rise?

If every person on Earth were to jump into the ocean at once, the sea level would rise only about 1.3 micrometers

If every people on Earth were to jump into the ocean at once, the sea level would not rise significantly. The total volume of water added to the oceans by all the people on Earth jumping into them would be relatively small compared to the total volume of the oceans, which is about 1.35 billion cubic kilometers (about 320 million cubic miles).

Why the Himalayas are so high? [Explained]

The Himalayas are a mountain range in Asia that stretches for about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) through parts of India, Nepal, and China. The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world, with many of its peaks reaching elevations of over 8,000 meters (26,000 feet).

What is the optimum human population for planet Earth?

It is difficult to determine an exact optimum human population for the earth, as there are many factors to consider and different perspectives on what constitutes an ideal population size. The earth’s carrying capacity, or the maximum number of people that the earth’s resources can sustainably support, is determined by a variety of factors, including the availability of resources such as food, water, and energy; the impact of human activities on the environment; and the level of technological development.

The first soft landing on another planet (Venus) was performed by Venera 7 on December 15, 1970

On December 15, 1970, Soviet Union’s Venera 7 spacecraft landed on Venus’ surface and became the first spacecraft to perform a soft landing on another planet. It also transmitted information to Earth for 53 minutes, 23 minutes of them from the Venusian surface, another first in the history of space exploration (the first data transmission from another planet).

How Do Mountains Form? [Explained]

Most people know that mountains are tall, rocky formations that jut up from the Earth’s surface. However, fewer people know how these behemoths are actually formed. In short, there are five main ways mountains can form:

Does the Sun rotate?

Yes, the sun rotates on its axis. The sun is a giant ball of gas and plasma, and like most objects in space, it rotates. The sun takes about 25-35 days to complete one rotation on its axis, depending on the latitude. This rotation also plays a role in the creation of the sun’s magnetic field, which in turn drives phenomena such as solar flares and sunspots.