The Wonders of the Universe

The Wonders of the Universe

BY: Ubaid

What is the universe? The universe is everything that exists — the Earth, the Moon, the Sun, the stars, and the planets. Some stars in the universe are so far away from Earth that we can only see them through telescopes. Others are even farther, so distant that even the most powerful telescopes cannot detect them.

Then, how do we know that such stars actually exist? Scientists have taken photographs using huge telescopes and special cameras, which show faint traces of these distant stars. They believe that far beyond what we can currently see, there are still countless stars waiting to be discovered — hidden deep within the endless expanse of space.


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How Did the Universe Begin?

Most scientists believe that the universe has always existed and will continue to exist forever — without a true beginning or end. However, stars and planets did not always exist in their present form. Each of them was born at some point in time, and since then, they have undergone many changes.

When stars grow old, their internal heat begins to fade, causing their light to dim. Eventually, a time comes when they die out completely. Yet, space never remains empty — new stars are born in their place. This cycle of birth and death among stars has been happening for billions of years, shaping the ever-changing face of the universe.


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How Did the Earth Become Round?

When you look outside your window, you see houses, streets, trees, fields, and mountains — thousands of things. But none of them can make you feel that the Earth is round. To your eyes, the ground looks flat. However, the truth is that our Earth is indeed round — like a gigantic ball.

You can’t see its roundness because you are too close to it. But if you travel high above the Earth in an airplane or a space rocket, you would clearly see its curved surface. The photographs taken from space also prove that the Earth is round.

Billions of years ago, the Earth did not look like this. It was once a shapeless mass of hot material. Due to the Sun’s strong gravitational pull, this mass began to move around it in a circular path. Over time, more matter from space joined in, forming a larger cluster.

Gravity — a force that pulls everything toward the center — caused all this material to squeeze together tightly. When everything is pulled toward one central point, it naturally takes a round shape. That’s how the Earth became round.

After millions of years, the outer layer of Earth cooled and hardened, forming a crust — somewhat like the peel of an orange. If you look closely at an orange, you’ll notice small bumps and dents on its surface. Similarly, the Earth’s crust has mountains and valleys. Just as an orange isn’t perfectly round, the Earth too is slightly uneven — but still round in shape overall.


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Why Does the Earth Revolve Around the Sun?

You may have played with a ball tied to a string. When you spin the string, the ball moves around in a circle. It seems as if the ball wants to fly away, but the string keeps it from escaping. As long as you keep spinning it, the ball continues to circle around your hand.

The Earth behaves in a similar way with the Sun. But in space, there is no visible string. Instead, there is an invisible force called gravity. The Sun’s gravity pulls the Earth toward it, just like the string pulls the ball.

At the same time, the Earth tries to move away from the Sun because of its motion. The pull of the Sun and the motion of the Earth balance each other perfectly. This balance keeps the Earth moving in a fixed path around the Sun, known as its orbit.


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The Endless Mystery of Space

The universe is vast beyond imagination. What we can see is only a tiny fraction of what truly exists. Every twinkling star in the night sky may have its own planets, moons, and mysteries. Scientists continue to explore space with ever more powerful telescopes and spacecraft, hoping to learn more about where we came from and what lies beyond.

From the glowing stars to the spinning Earth, from the shining Moon to the blazing Sun — every part of this universe tells the same story: a story of motion, balance, and wonder. The more we learn about the universe, the more we realize how little we truly know.

The universe is not just a collection of stars and planets — it is a living mystery that surrounds us, reminding us of how small yet how special we are within its endless expanse.