The bark of an older redwood tree is fireproof.
65
At room temperature, the average air molecule travels at the speed of a rifle bullet.
55
The weight of a carat (200 milligrams), standard unit of measurement for gemstones, is based on the weight of the carob seed.
51
Columbia University has developed an artificial tree that passively soaks up carbon dioxide from the air using "leaves" that are 1,000 times more efficient than true leaves that use photosynthesis.
15
0.3% of solar energy from the Sahara is enough to power the whole of Europe.
310
Only 12,000 years ago there was a species closely related to modern humans called Homo floresiensis that had been living on an Indonesian Island. They used fire and rather advanced tools, yet were only about 3 feet tall and weighed around 25kg.
15
Scientists at the Zhejiang University in China have developed an ultra-light material known as carbon aerogel.
3
The gas that gives rotten eggs their distinctive foul smell may slow ageing and block damaging chemical reactions inside cells, according to scientists in China.
5