The jet stream is a band of fast-moving air at high altitudes that can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour.

A bolt of lightning is only about as wide as a thumb — the bright flash makes it appear much wider.

Titan arum, the corpse flower, has the largest unbranched inflorescence (flower cluster) of any plant.

The Banyan tree can spread horizontally indefinitely through aerial roots that become new trunks.

Akrotiri was preserved under volcanic ash on Santorini.

The Ice Age featured massive glaciers covering large parts of Earth.

Truffles grow only in symbiosis with specific tree roots — they cannot be cultivated reliably, keeping them expensive.

A single lightning bolt can contain enough energy to power a home for several days.

Deforestation is responsible for about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually.