The Mysteries of the Cosmos

The mysteries of outer space have always fascinated mankind. From the early years of stargazing to the advanced telescoping techniques of today, we have been finding and observing bizarre objects in the cosmos, some of which defy conventional understanding. Let’s dive into some of the more extraordinary examples.

Diamond Stars

Stars are colossal spheres of hot gas, predominantly hydrogen and helium. But what happens when these stars exhaust their fuel and shimmer their way to death? Some of them transform into unremitting chunks of diamond. Stars commonly die to become white dwarfs – relatively small and extremely dense star remnants. Astronomers discovered a crystallized dwarf star brilliantly named BPM 37093, or for the less science-minded, “Lucy” (after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”). This giant cosmic diamond weighs approximately 10 billion trillion trillion carats!

The Hidden Depths of Gliese 436b

Gliese 436b is an exoplanet that orbits a red dwarf star about 30 light-years away from our solar system. What has scientists scratching their heads about this strange planet is its “hot ice”. Despite the scorching temperatures that reach upwards of 570 degrees Fahrenheit, the surface of Gliese 436b is swathed in a high-pressure form of water ice known as “Ice-X”. This form persists due to the tremendous pressure exerted on the water, making this ice hot and dense.

Space Booze

The universe, it seems, has its own vineyard. In 1995, astronomers discovered a vast, alcohol-filled cloud hovering in space. Known as Sagittarius B2, the cloud contains billions of liters of alcohol. But don’t break out the space glasses just yet, the majority of this alcohol is methanol, unfit for human consumption. Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating demonstration of the diverse chemical compositions found in unexpected corners of the universe.

The Loneliest Planet

The exoplanet dubbed PSO J318.5-22 stands out in space for being incredibly isolated. This strange planet subgroup, labelled ‘rogue’ planets, float freely through space without orbiting a star. PSO J318.5-22 is particularly noteworthy as it’s relatively close to the Earth in cosmic terms – only 80 light-years away. This means we can study it in detail and gain vast insights into these wandering celestial bodies.

The Sounds of Space

Although there’s no medium for sound to travel in the vacuum of space, NASA has managed to capture “Star Music”. These sounds recorded are conversions of the radiations emitted by celestial bodies into audible waves. These radiant bodies, specifically pulsars, are rapidly rotating neutron stars that send out a beam of radiation. Whether this counts as “music” may be subjective, but it’s certainly a peculiar and intriguing feature of our universe.

Dark Matter

Despite its prevalence in the universe, dark matter continues to remain a pervasive mystery. It is believed to make up almost 85% of the matter in the universe, but it is intangible to current scientific instruments. Scientists have only inferred its existence through observing its gravitational effects on visible matter. Dark matter could hold the keys to understanding the formation and spread of galaxies across the universe.

In Conclusion

These are just some of the strange and incredible phenomena that outer space has to offer. Through future advancements and explorations, there’s no telling what other oddities and wonders we will unveil. One thing’s for sure though – the universe is full of surprises, and we’ve only scratched the surface of its endless peculiarities.