Amazing Science Facts That Are Weird, Wild and True
From rd.com
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Earth’s oxygen is produced by the ocean
Have you ever stopped to think about where oxygen comes from? Your first thought may be of a rainforest, but here’s a cool science fact for you: We can thank plant-based marine organisms for about half of the Earth’s fresh air, according to the National Oceanic Service. Luckily, this isn’t one of those ocean mysteries we’ll never solve. Scientists have learned that plankton, seaweed and other photosynthesizers produce more than half of the world’s oxygen.
Ocean animals use Earth’s magnetic field for orientation
Lost land animals aren’t the only ones who can find their way home; it turns out, some sea animals can too. But sea creatures use a completely different means of navigation. Here’s one of the coolest animal facts you’ll ever learn: According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), some animals, like sea turtles and salmon, have the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field and can use this sense like a compass for navigation.
A cloud can weigh around a million pounds
Your childhood dreams of floating on a weightless cloud may not withstand this science fact: The average cumulus cloud can weigh up to a million pounds, according to the USGS. That’s even heavier than a Boeing 747 jet completely full of cargo and passengers. So why do they float? The moist air in clouds weighs less than the dry air below.