From plasma to cosmic explosions: 5 unique things that only happen in space

Even after years of efforts, humans still have not been able to understand the planet and its phenomena. Thus, space as a concept is even more enigmatic and further from our understanding. In space, there are various unknown forces we don't usually feel and matter that we have never seen. These are five unique phenomena that only happen in outer space.

While on Earth, matter exists in three forms: solid, liquid or gas; in space, 99.9% of the matter exists as plasma. Formed of loose ions and electrons, this substance exists in a supercharged state beyond gas. While we may not have direct access to it, plasma can be seen by us in the form of stars and the sun, which are mostly made of plasma. Plasma conducts electricity and is influenced by electromagnetic fields that control the movement of charged particles in the plasma and create waves that accelerate their movements to high speeds.

Earth as a planet experiences an extreme range of temperatures, from extreme cold in Siberia to fatal hot temperatures in the Sahara. The temperature can go as high as 134°F (57°C ) and as low as -129°F (-89°C). However, you will be shocked to know that these temperatures are average in space. On Mercury, days can have a temperature of 840°F (449°C), whereas nights can go as low as -275°F (-171°C). Interestingly, the temperature difference is so high that the sides of a single spacecraft have different temperatures. This is why satellites, instruments and even spacesuits are specifically designed to withstand extreme temperatures.

When the Universe was born, it mostly contained hydrogen and helium. It was the fusion of stars and supernovae that led to the creation of more than 8-0 elements, many of which make life possible. The sun itself fuses hydrogen into helium at its core and this process of joining atoms under high pressure and temperature to create new elements is called fusion. Fusion also releases energy and particles of light called photons.

Each day in space consists of loads of explosions! Yes, when the solar wind pushes against the magnetosphere, the environment that surrounds and protects Earth, it tangles the planet's magnetic fields with the Sun. Eventually, the magnetic fields snap and realign, shooting away the nearby charged particles, leading to an explosion called the magnetic reconnection.

While on Earth, energy is transferred through touch or movement, space does not need much effort. There, particles transfer energy through the form of invisible structures known as shocks, which transfer energy through plasma waves and electric and magnetic fields. Shock waves are formed when objects in space move at supersonic speed.