Awarenergy
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Follow Awarenergy for daily curious facts about our fascinating Universe
The Higgs field permeates all of space and as particles travel through it, some get tangled in it, gaining mass and slowing down, whereas for other particles, such as photons, this field is completely transparent, and they go through it massless at the speed of light
February 12, 2026 at 12:25 AM
The Higgs field permeates all of space and as particles travel through it, some get tangled in it, gaining mass and slowing down, whereas for other particles, such as photons, this field is completely transparent, and they go through it massless at the speed of light
The rate of supernova explosions in our Galaxy is estimated at about two to three per century. However, since the last observed supernova—the Kepler supernova—occurred over 400 years ago, we are statistically overdue for another event
February 11, 2026 at 4:49 AM
The rate of supernova explosions in our Galaxy is estimated at about two to three per century. However, since the last observed supernova—the Kepler supernova—occurred over 400 years ago, we are statistically overdue for another event
The two space probes launched by NASA in 1977 are the only man-made objects to have left the confines of our solar system (Voyager 1 did it in 2012 and Voyager 2 in 2019), and they are both now travelling in interstellar space
February 10, 2026 at 2:04 AM
The two space probes launched by NASA in 1977 are the only man-made objects to have left the confines of our solar system (Voyager 1 did it in 2012 and Voyager 2 in 2019), and they are both now travelling in interstellar space
After more than 30 years looking for them, no experiment has detected axions yet. Axions are still among the leading candidates for dark matter
February 8, 2026 at 11:40 PM
After more than 30 years looking for them, no experiment has detected axions yet. Axions are still among the leading candidates for dark matter
Electron degeneracy pressure, a barrier to the gravitational collapse of white dwarfs, is an emergent pressure against the compression of matter into smaller volumes of space because two electrons cannot simultaneously occupy the same quantum state
February 8, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Electron degeneracy pressure, a barrier to the gravitational collapse of white dwarfs, is an emergent pressure against the compression of matter into smaller volumes of space because two electrons cannot simultaneously occupy the same quantum state
Pluto’s rotation axis is tilted 120 degrees, and as a result, its poles experience days and nights, each lasting over 100 years
February 6, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Pluto’s rotation axis is tilted 120 degrees, and as a result, its poles experience days and nights, each lasting over 100 years
For electromagnetic radiation, energy and wavelength are inversely related: shorter wavelength means higher energy, longer wavelength means lower energy
February 6, 2026 at 7:54 AM
For electromagnetic radiation, energy and wavelength are inversely related: shorter wavelength means higher energy, longer wavelength means lower energy
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics states that whenever a quantum event has multiple possible outcomes, the state evolves into multiple parallel, equally real worlds, each containing a consistent history of events
February 5, 2026 at 11:13 AM
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics states that whenever a quantum event has multiple possible outcomes, the state evolves into multiple parallel, equally real worlds, each containing a consistent history of events
Einstein’s most famous equation E=mc², tells us that energy and matter are two sides of the same coin. Matter can be converted into energy, and energy can become matter
February 4, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Einstein’s most famous equation E=mc², tells us that energy and matter are two sides of the same coin. Matter can be converted into energy, and energy can become matter
The Sun’s atmosphere extends millions of km into space and it is up to 2 million degrees Celsius hotter than the surface of the Sun. This is because magnetic fields transport and release energy above the surface, where thin plasma heats up dramatically instead of radiating it away
February 3, 2026 at 1:42 AM
The Sun’s atmosphere extends millions of km into space and it is up to 2 million degrees Celsius hotter than the surface of the Sun. This is because magnetic fields transport and release energy above the surface, where thin plasma heats up dramatically instead of radiating it away
The Kochen–Specker theorem tells us that quantum properties do not have pre-existing, definite values independent of how you choose to measure them. It is not that we don’t know the values, but they cannot exist in a consistent way before we measure them
February 2, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The Kochen–Specker theorem tells us that quantum properties do not have pre-existing, definite values independent of how you choose to measure them. It is not that we don’t know the values, but they cannot exist in a consistent way before we measure them
The Tarantula Nebula, 160,000 light-years away from us, is the brightest, largest, and most active star-forming region in the Local Group of galaxies (which includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and about 30 smaller galaxies)
February 1, 2026 at 3:01 AM
The Tarantula Nebula, 160,000 light-years away from us, is the brightest, largest, and most active star-forming region in the Local Group of galaxies (which includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and about 30 smaller galaxies)
If spacetime were not fundamental, but emergent, then instead of saying “physics happens in spacetime”, we should say “spacetime happens because of physics”
January 31, 2026 at 1:12 PM
If spacetime were not fundamental, but emergent, then instead of saying “physics happens in spacetime”, we should say “spacetime happens because of physics”
Because Uranus is tipped over at 98 degrees, its poles point almost directly at the Sun. One pole receives continuous sunlight for about 21 Earth years, while the other is shrouded in a frozen, pitch-black winter for the same duration
January 30, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Because Uranus is tipped over at 98 degrees, its poles point almost directly at the Sun. One pole receives continuous sunlight for about 21 Earth years, while the other is shrouded in a frozen, pitch-black winter for the same duration
Galaxy MoM-z14, which existed just 280 million years after the Big Bang, is the most distant known object in the Universe
January 29, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Galaxy MoM-z14, which existed just 280 million years after the Big Bang, is the most distant known object in the Universe
In theory, according to general relativity, time stops flowing at the centre of a black hole, where all its mass is concentrated in a zero-volume singularity with infinite density, and infinite curvature of space-time
January 28, 2026 at 12:45 PM
In theory, according to general relativity, time stops flowing at the centre of a black hole, where all its mass is concentrated in a zero-volume singularity with infinite density, and infinite curvature of space-time
The Standard Model was complete in its theoretical form by the mid-1970s. It is an extraordinarily accurate quantum field theory that describes all known fundamental particles and three of the four fundamental forces
January 27, 2026 at 10:56 AM
The Standard Model was complete in its theoretical form by the mid-1970s. It is an extraordinarily accurate quantum field theory that describes all known fundamental particles and three of the four fundamental forces
Our Sun was born 9.2 billion years after the Big Bang, and now, 4.6 billion years later, it is believed to be halfway through its life as an active star
January 26, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Our Sun was born 9.2 billion years after the Big Bang, and now, 4.6 billion years later, it is believed to be halfway through its life as an active star
Quantum mechanics subverts the classical view of a fixed reality; it suggests that objects do not simply exist out there, but are instead defined by their interactions with the observer
January 25, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Quantum mechanics subverts the classical view of a fixed reality; it suggests that objects do not simply exist out there, but are instead defined by their interactions with the observer
The speed of light is a universal constant: every observer, regardless of their motion or the motion of the light source, will always measure the same value
January 24, 2026 at 3:44 PM
The speed of light is a universal constant: every observer, regardless of their motion or the motion of the light source, will always measure the same value
Quantum mechanics cannot be explained by hidden variables that assign definite values to all observables in advance, independently of the measurement context
January 23, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Quantum mechanics cannot be explained by hidden variables that assign definite values to all observables in advance, independently of the measurement context
From approximately 380,000 years to 100 million years after the Big Bang, the Universe lacked any sources of high-energy photons. As a result, it entered the so-called Dark Ages, which came to an end with the formation of the first stars and the re-illumination of the Universe
January 22, 2026 at 3:20 PM
From approximately 380,000 years to 100 million years after the Big Bang, the Universe lacked any sources of high-energy photons. As a result, it entered the so-called Dark Ages, which came to an end with the formation of the first stars and the re-illumination of the Universe
According to Hawking, it is a mistake to ask, "What happened at the beginning of the Universe?" as if there were a recorded tape playing back. Instead, he suggested that the Universe has no single history, but rather every possible history exists simultaneously in a quantum state
January 21, 2026 at 11:26 AM
According to Hawking, it is a mistake to ask, "What happened at the beginning of the Universe?" as if there were a recorded tape playing back. Instead, he suggested that the Universe has no single history, but rather every possible history exists simultaneously in a quantum state
Qbism, one of the most radical modern interpretations of quantum mechanics, argues that quantum states are beliefs of observers, not scoops of reality. What I observe now forms the states I assign to the past. For Qbism, creation is going on all the time
January 20, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Qbism, one of the most radical modern interpretations of quantum mechanics, argues that quantum states are beliefs of observers, not scoops of reality. What I observe now forms the states I assign to the past. For Qbism, creation is going on all the time
Axions are hypothetical particles, almost invisible to detection and not yet proved to exist, that are theorised to make up the dark matter that holds galaxies together
January 19, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Axions are hypothetical particles, almost invisible to detection and not yet proved to exist, that are theorised to make up the dark matter that holds galaxies together