universe

Someone on AskReddit got a thread going about the times that people asked for signs from the universe, and then received what seemed to be startlingly clear signs. Sometimes we find ourselves at various points in life, facing a crossroad, completely unsure of where to turn to next, and boom, some unexplainable sense of clarity, direction seems to shine through that muddled state of chaos. It can be awesome, and quite humbling. 

A group of international researchers and scientists have shed light on one of the central mysteries of solar physics: how energy and heat from the Sun is transferred to the Sun's upper atmosphere, heating it to more than 1 million degrees Farenheit - temperatures that are hotter than the Sun's surface. 

With new images taken in granular detail by the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO), the researchers discovered that jets of magnetized plasma (spicules) spurt like geysers from the sun's upper atmosphere into the corona (the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere). These spicules are between 125 and 310 miles wide and erupt continuously across the Sun's surface. Images of the jets also shows how they are made and the paths they travel (at 62 miles per second).

The corona is invisible to the human eye and the source of the mechanisms has been a confounding mystery for astrophysicists - until now. The GIFs below show granular details of the new images taken by the Big Bear Solar Observatory. 

When you start thinking about your life in the grand scheme of things, nothing truly matters because we're all just tiny specks of dust existing on a stupid little rock that's floating in circles around a slightly bigger rock that happens to be on fire. Anyway, ignore that existential bit and enjoy some fascinating nerdy facts about space!

It's pretty well known that Tumblr can escalate quickly, such as taking a small thing and making it snowball into a grandiose rumination on life and everything. Just one image of a laminated paper towel inspired questions about life, existence and purpose.

These'll stop you in your tracks. If you're after some seriously mind-bending facts that will not just make you think, but make you ponder existence itself, feel the inevitability of time, and question the nature of the universe, then you're in the right place. Not only will these facts make for some interesting shower thoughts, they will also up your trivia skills. Two birds, one stone. Prepare your brain for what you're about to read. 

If you've been in the dark (ha, get it?) about the news lately, then you may have missed the announcement yesterday that the first-ever images of a black hole were captured - a feat that many scientists believed was impossible until recently. 

While this news is obviously interesting AF to nearly anyone with eyes, memers seem to care more about the fact that the image itself is a little more blurry than they'd like. That, and the fact that the cloudy pic has been making for some pretty great (and very stupid) dank memes.

And in case you missed our first round of these fresh and totally ridiculous black hole memes, check 'em out here! Or check out this hilarious rare steak meme that has found a resurgence in usage.

If you've been in the dark (ha, get it?) about the news lately, then you may have missed the announcement yesterday that the first-ever images of a black hole were captured - a feat that many scientists believed was impossible until recently. 

While this news is obviously interesting AF to nearly anyone with eyes, memers seem to care more about the fact that the image itself is a little more blurry than they'd like. That, and the fact that the cloudy pic has been making for some pretty great (and very stupid) dank memes.

And in case you missed our first round of these fresh and totally ridiculous black hole memes, check 'em out here! Or check out this hilarious rare steak meme that has found a resurgence in usage.

Sometimes one bit of knowledge can turn your world as you know it, inside out, and open your eyes to another one you never knew existed. There's so much out there that we can sink the teeth of our hungry minds into, if we don't lose our appetite along the way. These 19 mind-boggling facts might rock you to your very core. 

The universe makes my brain hurt. 

These'll stop you in your tracks. If you're after some seriously mind-bending facts that will not just make you think, but make you ponder existence itself, feel the inevitability of time, and question the nature of the universe, then you're in the right place. Not only will these facts make for some interesting shower thoughts, they will also up your trivia skills. Two birds, one stone. Prepare your brain for what you're about to read.