Lightning is about five times hotter than the Sun’s surface
A bolt can heat the air around it to roughly 30,000 °C. The Sun’s surface is a comparatively mild 5,500 °C.
More science facts
See all →Hot water can freeze faster than cold water
Known as the Mpemba effect, it has been observed for centuries — Aristotle mentioned it — and scientists still debate exactly why it happens.
Read the fact →Glass is not a slow-moving liquid
The old story that medieval windows are thicker at the bottom because glass flows is a myth. The panes were simply made unevenly. Glass is an amorphous solid.
Read the fact →Water can boil and freeze at the same time
At a precise pressure and temperature called the triple point (0.01 °C at 611.7 pascals), ice, liquid water and water vapour all exist together.
Read the fact →