A lot of people think, that we are not going to learn anything interesting about water anymore, but the water is hiding so many mysterious things and every day scientists discover more unbelievable facts. Everyone knows that water is the basis of life.
1. The age of water on Earth may be around 4.5 billion years — roughly the same as the planet itself. According to research, some water molecules could have formed in interstellar space even before the Solar System was born.
2. Water can form through some chemical reactions, but in such tiny amounts that it doesn’t affect the planet’s overall supply. That’s why the total amount of water on Earth stays nearly the same — we’re unlikely to ever have much more or much less than now.
3. The total volume of water on Earth is about 332.5 million cubic miles, or roughly 1.386 billion cubic kilometers, including all water in oceans, rivers, glaciers, underground, and in the atmosphere.
4. More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, but only about 2.5% is freshwater, most of which is trapped in glaciers and ice caps, particularly in Antarctica and Greenland. Only a small fraction of freshwater is found in rivers, lakes, and underground sources, and even less is accessible for drinking.
5. If all the glaciers on our planet were to melt, more than 12% of the land would disappear underwater, and the water level in the oceans would rise by approximately 70 meters. This would significantly impact coastal areas and low-lying countries.
Most of an iceberg mass is underwater.
7. Open water reflects only about 7% of the sun's incident radiation, absorbing most of the energy. In contrast, snow-covered sea ice reflects around 85%, and bare sea ice reflects about 65%.
8. A single teaspoon of water contains about 1.67×10²³ molecules. To put that in perspective, there are only around 7.5×10¹⁸ grains of sand on all the world’s beaches. That means one teaspoon of water has tens of thousands of times more molecules than all the sand on Earth.
9. Joseph Priestley, an English scientist, invented the first artificial carbonated drink in 1767. While experimenting with gases, he accidentally discovered soda water by dissolving carbon dioxide in water.
10. In different countries, carbonated water goes by different names. In the United States, it’s called “soda” or “seltzer,” in the United Kingdom — “fizzy water” or “sparkling water,” and in Canada — “pop” or “soda water.”
11. Water is the only substance in nature that can exist in three different states – solid, liquid, and gas – under the same temperature and pressure conditions, making it unique in its ability to transition naturally between all forms.
12. Hot water can freeze faster than cold water, a phenomenon called the Mpemba effect. While the reasons behind this are not fully understood, it may be caused by factors such as water evaporation, changes in ice structure, and other physical processes.
Ice forms on the surface of lakes, allowing fish to survive beneath in cold weather.
14. Scientists have discovered ice on several planets and moons in the Solar System, including Mars, Mercury’s poles, and Jupiter’s moons like Europa and Ganymede. Europa, fully covered in ice, and have a subsurface ocean, making it a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life.
15. Water is a universal solvent, essential for transporting nutrients and removing toxins from the body. Water helps dissolve and carry nutrients to cells while flushing out waste products. It constitutes 60-80% of the human body, with the percentage varying based on age, gender, and body composition.
16. Water plays a vital role in maintaining proper circulation and brain function. When the body is dehydrated, it can lead to headaches, mental fatigue, and reduced cognitive performance. Our brain is over 75% water, and our blood is about 80% water.
17. Thirst is an indicator that the body has lost 0.8-2% of its water. When this loss reaches 2%, mental and physical performance decreases by 20%, affecting concentration, reaction times, and overall physical activity.
18. Losing more than 10% of body water can lead to auditory and visual hallucinations, explaining phenomena like desert mirages. A loss of 12-13% can be fatal without medical help, and a loss of 20% of body water is considered fatal.
19. Depending on climatic conditions, a person can survive without food for up to two weeks, but without water, survival is typically limited to just a few days to a week. Meanwhile, one-third of the world's population already faces freshwater scarcity, and more than a billion people lack access to clean water.
