Play fun quizzes daily to get smarter.
Try iBrainy now (free)!
android store apple store

50 Interesting Fun Facts About Earth

The earth as it looks from outer space.

Earth is, without a doubt, an awe-inspiring planet, so prepare to be amazed. Individuals living on this planet would agree that Earth is such a powerful and giant planet with exotic planetary scales and unbelievable facts to tell. It also cannot be denied that things and systems on Earth can be richly interconnected or intertwined. But regardless of that, this planet remains to be known for its majesty and magnificence. The more you get to learn fun facts about Earth, including its peculiarities, the more you will appreciate this planet and treasure its countless wonders, starting with the air that you breathe.

 

You have been living on Earth for years now. So, what are the fun facts about Earth that you have discovered and learned so far?

 

There are never-ending alien stories, but there are much more exciting Earth facts, which we call home waiting to be discovered. There are facts about meteor crashes, explosive volcanoes, collisions between rocky plates, fantasies in the deep oceans, and more worth learning and exploring.

If you seek the most interesting facts about Earth to feed your curiosity, you have come to the right place. This post will unveil 51 fun facts about Earth that will surely leave you to amaze and in awe.

 

Oh, if you also love trivia quizzes, don't forget to check our science trivia quizzes or the specific Earth trivia game. You can also check the Earth trivia questions and answers.

Amazing Fun Facts About Earth

1. The Earth Has a Waistline 

This might sound funny, but Earth really has a lavish waistline. The Earth's circumference at the Equator is 40, 075 kilometers, or around 24, 901 miles. In the Equator, you would weigh less than when standing at any of the poles. Some individuals may not know it, but some studies revealed that the planet really has a waistline.

Source: LiveScience

 

Earth Waistline.

2. Earth is Squashed Sphere

Earth's not a perfect sphere. As the planet spins, the gravity is pointed towards the center, and centrifugal force tends to push forward.

However, this gravity-contradicting force acts perpendicular to the Earth's axis.

The axis is inclined, and the centrifugal force at the Equator isn't restricted to gravity. Such imbalance is adding up at the Equator, where gravity pushes additional masses of water and Earth into a lump, or "extra tire" around the Earth.

Source: Science Focus

 

Interesting fact about Earth is that it's a squashed sphere.

3. Earth is Recycled 

 This is also one of the fun facts about Earth that will surely surprise you. The ground that you are actually walking on is recycled. The Earth's rock cycle is known to transform igneous to sedimentary rocks, to metamorphic rocks, and then back again. Now, if you think that only material things can be recycled, well think again. Earth is also recycled.

Source: LiveScience

 

Earth is Recycled

4. Planet Earth is Third Rock from the Sun, orbiting the sun

Earth is the third planet from the sun, and this is the only planet that can support the atmosphere with free water, oxygen and can support life. Thus, the Earth is unique in comparison to all other planets orbited by the sun. Earth is one of the terrestrial planets, such as Mars, Venus, and Mercury. Earth is also the home of millions of species, and these include humans. Oh, and our home planet earth orbits the sun as well.

Source: Fandom

 

Planet Earth is Third Rock from the Sun, orbiting the sun

5. Earth is Old

It has been calculated by researchers that Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. Photos of the Nuvvuagittuq Belt were captured on Earth, the earliest known rocks on the planet, which are said to be 4.28 billion years old. Scientists have scoured the Earth looking for the oldest stones to date idiomatically.

Source: National Geographic Society

 

Picture of Earth looking very old.

6. The Moon Quakes

Moon quakes or "earthquakes" on the Moon do happen but are less intense and less frequent than those on Earth. Moonquakes are somehow associated with tidal stress. These tend to occur at much greater depths. The Moon is said to be tectonically active, just like the Earth.

Source: Space.com

 

Image of the moon's surface.

7. Earth's on the Move 

You might think that you are standing still, but you are actually moving. Depending on your location in this world, you can be spinning across space at only more than a thousand miles every hour. 

Source: OlogyHome

 

Earth's on the Move

8. People Do not Really Know Who Give the Name "Earth" 

This is one of the fun facts about Earth. Some planets have historical data that can be accessed from a group or a person but not Earth. This might sound funny, but nobody can tell who gives Earth its name. This is also the only planet that isn't named after a Roman or Greek God. If you are a geography fan, we recommend you will try to answer some geography questions and answers, play geography trivia quizzes, or discover some geography fun facts!

Source: LiveScience

 

The letters of "Earth"

9. A Teaspoon of Soil can Contain few Billions of Microbes

A teaspoon of Earth's soil is estimated to be equal to the number of individuals living in Africa, which is around one billion. Also, there's more life underneath the soil than above it. In a teaspoon of soil, there are about 50 billion microbes. And though invisible to the naked eye, nearly 3 million to 500 million bacteria are present.

Source: Cedar Circle Farm and Educational Center 

 

Close-up image of Soil.

10. More Viruses are in the Universe than Stars 

 Earth is packed with viruses. The planet has an estimated ten nonillion viruses. This is even enough to assign a virus to each star in the universe a hundred million times over. But though there are over quadrillion individual viruses existing on Earth, most of these aren't poised to hop to humans.

Source: National Geographic

 

Viruses in the microscope.

Interesting facts about planet earth

11. The Planet Had Two Moons Once 

 The Earth once had two moons. A second moon that spans about 750 miles or 1,200 kilometers wide and might have orbited the planet before it was slammed to the other one catastrophically. The tidal forces from the Earth are said to be the reasons that both moons migrate outward.

Source: Nature 

 

 

Earth with two moons.

12. Rocks on Earth Can Walk 

Rocks are said to walk on planet Earth. They do this at least on Racetrack Playa, a pancake-flat lakebed found in Death Valley. A perfect storm there can move rocks that sometimes weigh tens or even a hundred pounds. According to NASA researchers, rocks encrusted by ice get inundated by meltwater coming from the hills on top of the playa.

Source: LiveScience

 

A Rock that look like it walking on Earth

13. Lakes Explode 

 This isn't a joke. Lakes really do explode, and this is a fun fact. Cameroon has three deadly lakes: Kivu, Monoun, and Nyos. These are crater-like lakes sitting above the volcanic Earth. Magma underneath the surface tends to release carbon dioxide to the lakes resulting in a carbon dioxide-rich and deep layer right over the lakebed. Carbon dioxide can be produced in an explosion.

Source: University of Melbourne

 

 

Kivu lake.

14. Earth Was Once Purple

 Earth used to appear in purple color. Early life on Earth might be as purple as how it is as green today. A microbiologist explains that the ancient microbes used molecules instead of chlorophyll to harness the sun's rays, giving organisms the purple hue. There is NASA-supported research that revealed that the purple-tinged molecule known as "retinal" might give the Earth its distinct look.

Source: Big Think

 

A Purple image of Earth.

15. Earth is Electric

Lighting and thunder reveal the fiercer side of the planet Earth. One stroke of lightning has the power of heating the air to about 30,000 degrees Celsius or 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The most electric place on Earth is said to be a lake in Venezuela. You can see their lightning flashes 28 times per minute.

Source: BBC Earth

 

Earth is Electric and shows with electricity around it.

16. The Earth is Full of Riches 

 This is also one of the fantastic and fun facts about the Earth. There are over 10 million tons of pure gold in the vast oceans, and un-dissolved gold is said to be stuck in seafloor rocks. If this can be easily extracted, then many individuals can get hold of this shiny and valuable stuff. But according to National Ocean Service, Earth's oceans hold 20 million pounds of gold in a typical sweater.

Source: Geology In

Image of gold - Earth is Full of Riches.

17. The Earth is Powerful and Fast Moving Spacecraft 

 Humans are actually living in a high-speed spacecraft. Regardless of if you are just resting in your chair, you fly throughout the space quicker than the quickest object ever created or built by humans, about 1.3 million miles every hour.

Source: Our Planet

Fast Moving Spacecraft.

18. The Rotation of the Earth on its Axis Isn't Really 24 Hours 

 Earth's rotation to its axis approximately takes about 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. Such rotation is linked to far away from fixed stars known as the sidereal day. This day pertains to the period it actually takes for a planet to rotate from a distant star perspective.

Source: Space Place

 

Earth is rotating.

19. Without Spacesuit, You Won't Really Explode in Space 

 This one common myth tells that the body will explode in space when the spacesuit isn't worn. The human skin tends to be strong enough, and this can keep the human body from bursting. You can even survive for about two minutes in outer space unprotected. But of course, this is just a maximum of two minutes, or else you will die. If you love reading about space, you will love our space trivia quiz. You can also try to answer some space trivia questions and answers.

Source: SLATE

 

A white Spacesuit.

20. A Person Can See Around 2500 to 4000 Stars in the Earth's Sky with their Naked Eyes 

 In a moonless and clear sky far away from light-polluted places, young up to middle-aged persons with normal visions can see 2500 to 4000 stars in the sky.

Source: Our Planet


A night full of stars.

21. Earth's Atmosphere Extends Beyond the Moon 

The exosphere extends from 630,000 kilometers away or about 50 times the planet's diameter, wherein this merges to the solar wind. The Moon and the Earth are 384, 400 kilometers, or 238, 855 miles. This means that the outer edge atmosphere of the Earth extends further beyond the Moon. There are also data showing that the outermost portion of the Earth's Atmosphere, known as Geocorona extends beyond the orbit of the Moon.

Source: EarthSky

 

Earth's Atmosphere Extends Beyond the Moon

22. Earth's Water Fits in Sphere 1384.04 Kilometers or 860 Miles in Diameter 

 The Pacific is undeniably big, and 71% of the surface of the Earth is ocean-covered. However, regardless of that, the amount of water of the Earth, lake water, river water, and liquid freshwater can actually fit the sphere 1384.04 kilometers or 860 miles in diameter.

Source: Ourplnt.com

 

Earth's ocean.

23. The Core of the Earth is as Hot as the Sun's Surface 

 The inner core of the Earth has a temperature of about 6000 degrees Celsius or 10,800 Fahrenheit. This temperature is blazing hot to an extent beyond comprehension, and it's as hot as a star. Scientists in France have conducted a study regarding this matter. They came to a remarkable conclusion after their experimental setting through the use of X-ray diffraction, which showed the iron crystals form and melt under unbelievable pressure. Oh, another earth fact is that the outer core is very hot as well, although no as the inner core.

Source: The Atlantic

 

The Core of the Earth

So, you are a science lover? Check out our science quiz of the day (it's updating daily - fresh quiz every day).

Cool Facts About Earth

24. The Earth's Weight is Mind-Blowing 

 The Earth approximately weighs 5,974,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms or nearly about six septillion kilograms. This is the same weight as 54,807,339,449,541,284,403, approximately 55 quintillion of Blue Whale, the world’s heaviest creature.

Source: CoolCosmos

 

Human hands holding the Earth.

25. In the Solar System, Earth is the Densest Planet 

 The planet Earth is closer to anything else in the Solar System. Its combination of dense composition and enormous self-gravity makes it 18 times as massive as Mercury. These facts also position Earth as one of the densest planets in the Solar System.

The Earth's density varies in every part of the planet. For example, in the core, it's denser than in the crust. That said, the average density of Earth is 5.52 grams for every cubic centimeter.

Source: Forbes

 

The Solar System

26. Plants Play a Big Role in Giving Higher Amount of Oxygen on Earth 

 A higher amount of oxygen on the planet comes from plant life's carbon dioxide consumption during photosynthesis. So if you think that plants have no significant role on Earth, think again. Photosynthesis is important because this makes the Earth habitable.

Source: PennState

 

Oxygen molecules.

27. Tides are Results of Gravity Between the Moon and Earth

 Gravity between the Moon and the Earth results in tides that occur on the planet. Such an effect on the Moon means it's locked to Earth tidally, and its period of rotation is similar to its time of orbit. It, therefore, always represents the same face to the planet.

Source: SciJinks 

 

Tides on the coast shore.

28. Earth Has Ultimately Powerful Magnetic Field 

 This powerful field protected the Earth from solar wind effects and was assumed to be the product of the planet's nickel-iron core and its fast rotation. 25 Gauss measures the average strength of the magnetic field in the outer core of the Earth. This is 50 times stronger than the magnetic field at the surface.

Source: web.ua.es

The magnetic field of the Earth.

29. The Very First Life on Earth Came from the Oceans

 The very first life known on Earth is believed to develop into the oceans by means of a process called abiogenesis. This is referred to as a natural process wherein life evolves from non-living matters such as simple organic compounds.

Source: Planetary Sciences, Inc.

 

Sea plants on the ocean surface.

30. Earth's Water Was First Trapped Within the Planet 

 The water was initially trapped but was brought to the surface over time through volcanic activities. The water on Earth may have originally been formed through chemical reactions deeper within the Earth's mantle. This research was led by the University College of Dublin.

Source: PHYS.ORG

 

River water trapped between the land.

31. The Hottest Desert on Earth

 Satellite temperature data shows that Iran's Lut Desert is the hottest place on Earth. About seven years of satellite data on temperature shows that the Lut Desert, located in Iran, is the hottest place on Earth. It has the highest overall temperature of 70.7°C or 159.3°F recorded in 2005.

 Source: Earth Observatory

 

Lut Desert is the hottest place on Earth

32. Earth's Core Leaks 

Studies revealed that the list of fun facts about Earth includes its core leaks. The magnetic field of the Earth tends to protect the planet and make it habitable by means of stopping high-energy and harmful energy particles from the sun. The major source of such a magnetic field is the core at the Earth's center. Also, the molten core of the Earth might be leaking iron.

Source: Science Daily

 

Earth's Core Leaks

Weird Facts About Earth

33.When the Cores Cool, Magnetic Field of the Earth Disappears

If the molten core cools and turns solid a long time in the future, the Earth's magnetic field disappears. If this happens, the compass will stop working and pointing North, the birds won't be able to know where to fly as soon as they migrate, and the atmosphere will disappear as well. 

Source: The Conversation

 

Magnetic Field of the Earth

34. Earth Has Just One Natural Satellite 

As the rate of the size of the body that it orbits, Moon is considered the biggest satellite in the solar system. But in real terms, it's only fifth among the biggest natural satellite. The Moon helps in stabilizing the Earth's wobble and stabilizes the climate as well. The distance between Moon and Earth is 240,000 miles or around 385 000 kilometers. It's crucial to understand that the Moon is the biggest satellite that orbits the Earth, not to be confused with Uranus and Neptune, which are the biggest known planets in our solar system. 

Source: NASA Science

 

The Natural Satellite of earth.

35. One Year on Earth is not Really 365 Days 

 A year on Earth is actually 365.2564 days. The .2564 extra days are the reasons why there are leap years. It is also, for this reason, people tack on one extra day in February each year divisible by 4 (but it won't happen if it is divisible by 100 and or it is divisible by 400).

Source: Space Facts

 

The number 365 written on the beach sand.

36. There are Different Percentages of Water of the Planet

 Earth is composed of only 3% is fresh water, and 97% is salted. Of the 3%, more than 2% tends to be frozen in glaciers and ice sheets. This simply means that one percent of freshwater is found in rivers, lakes, and underground. About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and oceans hold approximately 96.5%. Water even exists in water vapors, lakes, glaciers, ice caps, and more.

Source: USGS

 

The water of the sea.

37. There's a Septillion Drops of Snow Crystals Every Winter 

 The possibility that two snow crystals or flakes would be exactly the same in molecular structure and appearance is minimal. Proving this isn't easy. But every winter, there is one septillion or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or a trillion snow crystals dropping from the sky.

Source: smithsonianmag.com

 

Drops of Snow Crystals

38. 60 Tons of Cosmic Dust Fall to the Earth every day 

This sounds fun and magical, but more likely. You have inhaled a good amount of cosmic dust when you go out and head for work. Every day, dust from comets, meteorites, and other solar bodies usually falls into the Earth in very small particles, increasing iron and sodium levels in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists revealed that all together, this phenomenon brings about 60 tons of cosmic dust into the Earth daily.

Source: NOVA

 

Cosmic Dust

39. Some parts of the Earth Has Less Gravity than the Others 

 Due to the planet's uneven shape, its gravity is distributed unevenly. Therefore, some parts of the Earth have higher or lower gravity than the others. Gravity on Earth actually varies on different parts though people often think that it's a ball. The Earth actually bulges at the Equator. This gets flattened at the poles because of its rotation. The mass of the Earth isn't spread out in a proportional manner; therefore, this can shift positions over time.

Source: HowStuffWorks Science

 

Water coming out of a tap is going upwards.

40. Earth's Layer is Composed of Crust and Mantle with Fun Side Facts 

The layers of our Earth are composed of crust that is also comprised of different plates that float on Earth's mantle that also moves at a similar rate that an individual's fingernails grow. There have been numerous debates regarding this. There are even scientists suggesting solutions to the mystery surfacing theory of tectonic plates.

Source: ScienceDaily

 

Earth's Layer

Unknown Facts About Earth

41. The Earth's Name Means Ground 

 The Earth's name was derived from combinations of Germanic and Old English taken from 'ertha' and 'eor (th)e', which means ground. However, the handle's creator is not known. One of the interesting facts about the Earth is that this is the only planet not named after Roman or Greek Gods and Goddesses.

Source: LiveScience

 

Two hands holding the soil from the ground.

42. You Can Drill a Tunnel on Earth 

 If you drill a tunnel on Earth and then jumped in, it would actually take 42 minutes for you to get into the other side. If you dig a tunnel, you can still take full advantage of the gravity of the Earth. Rather than traveling between two antipodes, you can travel shorter distances without really piecing down so far. And as mentioned, this amazingly takes only about 42 minutes.

 

Tunnel inside the Earth.

43. Earth is a Great Place to Explore and Live 

 Earth is such a beautiful place to explore and live. This has countless features that support life. Actually, Earth is the only planet known to support and sustain life. These features continue to change and evolve. There are many great reasons people must be grateful for living on Earth. These include but not limited to, taking cleansing and deep breaths. There is solid ground to step and stand on. Seasons go round and round. People can enjoy the breeze and more.

Source: NASA

 

An image of earth from outer space during nighttime.

44.The Earth's Poles Flip 

 For more than 20 million years, magnetic poles flip-flopped every hundred of thousands of years. This simply means that if you have a compass for 800,000 years, it will tell you that Antarctica was in the North. Although scientists were certain that the planet's molten and churning iron core triggers these polar acrobatics, it isn't entirely clear what triggers such actual reversals. The Earth's North magnetic pole crept about 40 miles per year northward and provided that the last major reversals of poles occurred 780,000 years ago. We're long overdue for a flip.

Source: SPACE

 

Image of Earth with compasses.

45. The Biggest Mammal Migration on Earth is Airborne 

You might think that 1.5 million wildebeest hoofing their way between Tanzania and Kenya were on top. Well, this is not the case. Millions of bats definitely fly between Kasanka National Park in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With over 10 million cat-sized echolocating and mango-munching involved, this is said to be the Earth's biggest mammal migration.

Source: Zambia

Big bats flying in the sky.

46. The fungus is Actually the Largest Creature on Earth 

 When talking about the most prominent living things on the planet, it's easy to talk about trees, elephants, and blue whales. You might even recall coral reefs as the largest critters' conglomerates. It has been reported that the largest single living thing is the Armillaria Mushroom found in Oregon.

Source: Business Insider

 

The Armillaria Mushroom

47. Some of the Clouds are Alive 

 There are instances that shape-shifting, dark and dusk clouds appear close to the ground. As these morphs and swirls, the clouds seem alive positively, and this is because they actually are. Formed by thousands of starlings that fly in tandem, this phenomenon is referred to as murmuration. Clouds are also said to be alive, with the tiniest bacteria grabbing water vapor in the atmosphere, making cloud droplets.

Source: LiveScience

 

 Clouds during sunset time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

48. A River is Boiling on Earth

Once believed as a legend, but there is really a boiling river concealed in the Peruvian Amazon. It is not literally boiling, but this comes within few degrees of such mark and still hot enough to somehow transform an already rainforest to a mystical and steaming paradise that can even cook small and clumsy live animals.

Source: Science Alert 

 

A River is Boiling on Earth

49.Spaceship Earth 

 The Earth is a planet giving individuals the best opportunities to fully understand the planet in detail and helping people see how other planets behave and even the distant stars. Scientists are, therefore, monitoring the Earth from space. NASA got many missions designed to solve the mysteries of the planet.

Source: Stanford Libraries

 

Watching earth from a spaceship.

50. There's a Cost if You Plan to Buy the Earth's Atmosphere

 Some kept asking if the Earth's atmosphere is available for sale, how much would it cost? This is one fun and interesting question to ask. The manner in which Science factors this was through the use of small numbers and adding them up.

When seeking to buy CO2 at a measure of 1.3p for every cubic meter, the factor can jump far. You will not just need to begin small. However, you need to factor this into the entire atmosphere. The thing is, this might end at around $4,300,000,000,000,000, which is also equal to $4.3 Quadrillion.

Source: Science Sensei

 

Earth's Atmosphere

When talking about the Earth, it seems that there are things that people take for granted. Some interesting and fun facts have been known thousands of years before, and some were just recently discovered and reported. Still, regardless of that, the planet Earth is undeniably packed with amazing things that will surprise you and leave you in awe.

 

At the end of the day, the people who cared about the planet will take time to learn more fun facts about the Earth, more old and recent discoveries, and more major things that will educate them and let them understand why this planet is incredible in many ways. 

May the 51 interesting and fun facts about Earth leave not just knowledge but also appreciation to this planet and life here on Earth in general. The facts presented here will surely pass down into generations to learn about this beautiful planet.   

 

For more interesting blog posts, we recommend you will check our educational blog. If you love trivia, check our trivia quiz games, or read more fun facts.

More Articles