1.The Biggest Volcano in the Solar System

Olympus Mons is the biggest volcano in the solar system and it is on Planet MARS or where we call ‘Red Planet’. It is a “Shield” volcano – a wide volcano with shallowly slopping sides resembling a warrior’s shield lying on the ground with flowing lava fluid.

So how big is the Olympus Mons? It is 27 km tall and 600 km wide, which means three times higher than the Mound Everest on Earth and ten times longer than the distance between Hong Kong and Macau!

2.Why Would Astronauts Get Taller in Space

Under the microgravity condition in space, people or objects seemed to be floating and weightless. Without the gravity pulling us down on Earth, the vertebrae (i.e., the spine) of the astronauts can expand and relax more in space, which allows them to actually grow taller.

Past studies have shown that astronauts can grow up to three percent (3%) taller in space. For example, a 6-foot-tall (1.8 meters) person could gain as many as 2 inches (5 cm) while he/she is in orbit. Therefore, if you can spend a few months in space, you could get a bit taller too.

 

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