45 Fun and Cool Science Facts for Kids

Looking for random science facts and fun STEM-related trivia for kids? Look no further! We've rounded up some awesome science facts from great resources like National Geographic, Nat Geo Kids, and Live Science. Check out some of our favorite space, animal, nature, and other science facts now.

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Space Facts

1. These animals have all been in outer space: chimpanzees, monkeys, dogs, mice, and a guinea pig.

2. Venus spins backwards.

3. On the planet Mercury, days are longer than years on Earth.

4. Dwarf planet Pluto was named by an 11-year-old girl.

5. At least 12 rocks from planet Mars have landed on Earth.

6. The first food eaten in space by an American astronaut was applesauce.

7. On Neptune, the wind blows over 1,000 miles per hour. 

Earth Facts

8. Scientists estimate the Earth is around 4.5 billion years old.

9. Around one million Earths could fit inside the sun.

10. Earth is the third planet from the sun.

11. Earth is the fifth largest planet in our solar system.

Animal Facts

12. A flamingo can only eat when its head is upside down.

13. Walruses can sleep while floating in water, thanks to air sacs in their throats that can function as inflatable pillows.

14. Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world and can weigh up to 800 pounds.

15. Panda bears eat for up to 12 hours a day, and around 90 percent of their diet is bamboo.

16. Honey bees can fly at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.

17. Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish, and can grow up to 19 feet long (about half as long as a bus).

18. An elephant is the largest land mammal.

19. Cows and horses sleep standing up.

20. Crows can recognize human faces.

21. Rats laugh when being tickled.

22. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly sideways, backwards, up and down, and hover in mid-air.

23. Ostriches can run faster than horses.

24. Dogs have two different air passages, one for breathing and one for smelling.

Nature Facts

25. The Amazon Rainforest produces over 20 percent of the world's oxygen supply.

26. Hot water freezes faster than cold water.

27. A cloud can weigh over one million pounds.

28. Nearly 85 percent of all plant life on Earth is found in the ocean.

29. Some plants, like the Venus Flytrap, are carnivores—meaning they eat tiny insects for nutrients.

30. Ginko Biloba is the oldest living tree species, at around 250 million years old.

Food Facts

31. Bananas contain a chemical (tryptophan) that can make you feel happy and relaxed.

32. Avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers are fruits.

33. Honey never goes bad.

34. You can fry an egg on a hot sidewalk when it's reached 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

35. 20 percent of the food we eat is used to fuel our brain.

36. Strawberries are the only foods grown with seeds on the outside.

27. Pineapples take two years to grow.

38. Apples consist of about 25 percent air, which is why they float in water.

Human Body Facts

39. It takes the human body about 12 hours to digest food after it's been eaten.

40. Your mouth produces about 1 liter of saliva a day.

41. Human bodies give off a tiny amount of light that is too weak for our eyes to see.

42. Your left lung is about 10 percent smaller than your right lung.

43. The human body has up to 206 bones.

44. About half of your body is bacteria.

45. Men are more likely to be colorblind than women.