# Surprising Facts About Our Planet You Never Knew
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Chapter 1: Fascinating Insights About Earth
Despite living on this planet for so long, there's still so much we don’t know about it.
> "The more we learn, the more we realize how little we know."
Section 1.1: Gravity Variations
You might be surprised to find out that you weigh less at the equator compared to the poles. This is because Earth is not a perfect sphere; rather, it bulges at the equator. The poles are slightly closer to the center, resulting in a stronger gravitational pull there. For instance, a person who weighs 100 pounds at the poles would only weigh about 99.65 pounds at the equator—a difference of approximately 5.5 ounces.
Section 1.2: Earth's Mini Moons
Although the moon we see each night is Earth’s primary satellite, it isn’t the only object that orbits our planet. Occasionally, asteroids can be captured by Earth’s gravity, temporarily becoming "mini moons" before eventually breaking free.
Subsection 1.2.1: The Rare Explosions of Lakes
Limnic eruptions, though exceedingly rare, occur when large amounts of carbon dioxide trapped at the bottom of a lake suddenly rise to the surface, creating a deadly gas cloud. Fortunately, documented instances of this phenomenon are limited to just two events in Cameroon—Lake Monoun in 1984 and Lake Nyos in 1986.
Section 1.3: A Purple Past?
The Purple Earth hypothesis suggests that, billions of years ago, photosynthetic organisms could have used retinal instead of chlorophyll, resulting in a planet that appeared purple. This theory dates back to around 2 billion years ago, before significant changes in the atmosphere during The Great Oxidation Event.
Section 1.4: The First Earth Map
The earliest known map of Earth, the Babylonian Map of the World, dates back to the 6th century BC. Created on a clay tablet, this map features inscriptions in Akkadian and is centered around ancient Babylon and the Euphrates River, showcasing various Mesopotamian cities and geographical features.
Section 1.5: Cosmic Dust Accumulation
Earth receives a significant amount of cosmic dust from comets, totaling around 5,200 tons each year. While this may sound like a lot, it is minuscule compared to the overall mass of our planet, having little impact on our daily lives.
Chapter 2: The Vastness of Space
In the first video titled 10 Facts About: Planet Earth, viewers can explore various astonishing facts about our planet that highlight its unique characteristics and mysteries.
Section 2.1: The Distance to the Sun
Earth is situated nearly 93 million miles from the sun. To put this into perspective, if you were to drive at 50 miles per hour, it would take an astonishing 210 years to make that journey. If we scale it down to just one inch for the distance to the sun, the closest star, Alpha Centauri, would be 4.4 miles away.
Section 2.2: The Role of Clouds
Clouds play a crucial role in regulating Earth's surface temperature. If clouds were to vanish, global temperatures could rise by as much as 13 degrees Fahrenheit—more than the temperature shift experienced during the Ice Age.
Section 2.3: The Microscopic Abundance of Viruses
It’s estimated that there are around 10 nonillion (10 to the 31st power) viruses on Earth, outnumbering the stars in the universe significantly. These viruses inhabit various environments, including land, water, and even the air.
Section 2.4: The Mystery of Earth's Name
Interestingly, the origin of the name "Earth" dates back to the eighth century, derived from Old English and German words meaning "ground." Unlike other planets, which are named after mythological figures, Earth’s name remains a mystery.
Chapter 3: Expanding Knowledge
In the second video titled 10 Facts About Our Planet You Didn't Learn In School, viewers will discover additional surprising facts about Earth, expanding their knowledge of our fascinating home.
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The original version of this article can be found here.